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Vioxx Heart Attack

Vioxx heart attack and stroke are potential adverse side effects that can occur as a result of taking Vioxx for an extended period of time. Because of this threat, the makers of Vioxx, Merck pharmaceuticals, voluntarily pulled this product from the market in September of 2003. The possibility of suffering a Vioxx heart attack or stroke outweighs the intended benefits of using this pain relief medicine.

Vioxx is a COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti inflammatory (NSAID) prescription drug that has been prescribed to treat acute pain, including the pain associated with arthritis, severe menstrual cramps, and for post surgery recovery. This type of NSAID was developed with the aim of relieving pain without the adverse gastrointestinal side effects that are caused by other types of pain medication. When Vioxx was first approved by the FDA in 1999, experts were unaware that Vioxx heart attack and stroke risks were elevated in patients taking this prescription drug.

Recent clinical evidence from internal drug trials showed that when taking Vioxx, heart attack and stroke risks become two times more likely than the risk to the general population. The first study to hint at this threat was called VIGOR. VIGOR was a study conducted by Merck to test the effects of Vioxx on the gastrointestinal system. Researchers concluded that Vioxx caused less aggravation to the gastrointestinal track but that the risk of a Vioxx heart attack was greater than the risk for heart attack associated with taking original types of NSAID pain medication.

The second Merck clinical study, called APPROVe, was conducted to study the effects of Vioxx on the colon. After eighteen months of study, the trials were cut short when Vioxx heart attack and stroke began afflicting the study's Vioxx patient population. In this same time period, other government studies concluded that the risk of a Vioxx heart attack or stroke was significantly greater that the risk posed to the general population.

The symptoms of a Vioxx heart attack can include: chest pains, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, tiredness and fatigue, loss of appetite, and confusion or impaired thinking. When a patient stops taking Vioxx, the risk of a Vioxx heart attack is no longer a threat. There are also several alternative pain relievers available that to not carry the same Vioxx heart attack related risks

If you have suffered a Vioxx heart attack, you may wish to contact a professional legal expert who can evaluate your case. A qualified attorney can maximize and protect a victim's interest in a Vioxx heart attack case. An attorney can help you recover damages associated to your Vioxx heart attack injuries, including reparations for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of income.

For more information on a Vioxx heart attack case, please contact us.

More Vioxx Resources

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

Vioxx.com - Official Vioxx Roxecofib site from Merck.

Vioxx Drug Warnings - Vioxx side effects information including lawsuit information and vioxx warnings.