Vioxx Questions
Q: What is Vioxx?
A: Vioxx is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), made by Merck since 1999. Other NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen, but these are not part of the withdrawal.
Q: How does Vioxx work?
A: Vioxx works by blocking enzymes that cause inflammation, pain and fever. It is used to treat arthritis, acute pain and painful menstrual cycles.
Merck pulled Vioxx from the market voluntarily, but the FDA agreed with this action due to safety concerns for patients.
Q: Why was Vioxx withdrawn?
A: New research has proven that Vioxx may raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Q: Did the Food and Drug Administration require Merck to pull Vioxx from the market?
A: No. Merck made this decision independently. But the FDA agrees that there are significant safety concerns for patients, especially those taking Vioxx long-term.
Q: If I have been taking Vioxx, what should I do?
A: The risk that a patient will have the side effect of a Vioxx-related heart attack or stroke is small. Still, people taking Vioxx should contact their doctor to discuss alternative treatments.
Q: Did the FDA know about the risk of heart attack and stroke when it approved Vioxx?
A: The FDA originally approved Vioxx in May 1999. This safety data, which included approximately 5,000 patients taking Vioxx, did not show an increased risk of heart attack or stroke. A study conducted in June 2000 showed that patients taking Vioxx had fewer stomach ulcers and less bleeding than those taking the over-the-counter drug naproxen. But it also showed a greater number of heart attacks in patients taking Vioxx. The new safety information from this study was added to the labeling for Vioxx in April 2002, at which time Merck began to conduct further trials.
Q: What other drugs are similar to Vioxx?
A: Vioxx is related to the over-the-counter NSAIDs aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen, the prescription NSAIDs
Celebrex and
Bextra (also called COX-2 inhibitors), and several other drugs. Of these drugs, only Bextra has been withdrawn.
Q: What are the time constraints on Vioxx lawsuits?
A: Each state’s law may limit the time you have to make a claim against Merck.
Q: Is my claim valid?
A: You would need to prove that
• you (or a loved one) took
Vioxx for arthritis, pain or polyps
• you (or a loved one) experienced health problems while taking
Vioxx, such as heart attack, stroke or blood clots
• a doctor diagnosed these health problems as Vioxx
side effects
