• Home
• Defective Drug Index
• About A Drug Recall
• Contact A Defective Drug Lawyer

We Can Help.

Celebrex Problems

Another popular arthritis painkiller, Pfizer's Celebrex, has been linked to serious safety concerns. Celebrex is part of a newer class of drugs called COX-2 inhibitors, which includes Merck & Co.'s recently recalled drug Vioxx and Pfizer's other arthritis drug Bextra. COX-2 inhibitors are a new generation of painkillers that were seen as breakthroughs in pain management because of its ability to block a protein called COX-2 that has been linked to inflammation without the risks of gastrointestinal side effects associated with older non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines.

Studies done when Vioxx and Celebrex were approved in 1999 suggested the same mechanism that inhibits inflammation and makes the drugs easier on the stomach also blocks a substance that prevents heart problems, scientists have said. These earlier studies now seem significant after Pfizer's most recent announcement that Celebrex problems have been discovered.

When Merck announced September 30, 2004 that Vioxx was being taken off the market because a study found a significant increase in heart attack and stroke risks, Pfizer issued a news release expressing its confidence that there were no Celebrex problems despite the drug's similarity to Vioxx. The president of worldwide development assured the public that cardiovascular Celebrex problems were not of concern saying, "Pfizer is confident in the long-term cardiovascular safety of Celebrex."

It appeared the company's reassurances were accepted, despite the financial and public relations disaster the withdrawal of Vioxx created for Merck. Even though both U.S. and European regulators have been investigating the safety of the entire class of COX-2 drugs since the Vioxx recall, Celebrex sales in the first full month after the Vioxx withdrawal topped $260 million, or 63.5 percent of the market for COX-2 inhibitors. Doctors and patients were under the impression that any Celebrex problems present were much less risk than Vioxx.

Still, many remained skeptical and felt it was only a matter of time before Celebrex problems emerged as well. Public Citizen consumer group has been preparing a petition to the FDA for the immediate removal of Celebrex and Bextra. On December 17, just 10 weeks after the Vioxx recall, Pfizer announced a government-sponsored trial of Celebrex was halted after patients taking the medicine had more than twice as many heart attacks as patients taking a placebo.

Just a couple weeks before Pfizer announced the cardiovascular Celebrex problems, it said Bextra is linked to an elevated risk of blood clots and heart attacks and strokes in cardiac surgery patients. The additional Celebrex problems can have potentially damaging effects on the world's largest pharmaceutical company. Merck's legal liabilities are estimated at up to $18 billion and its shares have dropped by nearly one-third since the Vioxx recall announcement was made.

Scrutiny of COX-2 drugs in the wake of a very concerning couple months will be discussed in a 2005 FDA advisory committee meeting that was planned prior to the announcement of the latest Celebrex problems. Experts are still unclear why Vioxx and Celebrex problems may raise the risk of heart attack or stroke.

If you have taken Celebrex arthritis drug and have suffered from Celebrex problems, please contact us to speak with a lawyer.

More Celebrex Resources

MedLine Plus Drug Information - Guide to prescription and over-the-counter medications provided by the United States Pharmacopeia.

Celebrex - A source of information about relief from arthritis pain including Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

• Reglan
• Raptiva
• Yaz Birth Control
• Nuvaring
• Duragesic Patch
• Heparin