Find A Lawyer
Near You

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with a qualified attorney near you.

Vioxx Victims

A Vioxx victim is any individual who has suffered as a result of serious Vioxx side effects. Vioxx is a COX-2 selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was originally approved in 1999 to treat the pain associated with arthritis, menstrual cramps, and other chronic pain conditions. On September 30, 2004 Merck and Co. (the makers of Vioxx) voluntarily pulled Vioxx from the shelves. This recall was prompted by the high number of Vioxx victims in clinical trials who suffered a heart attack, stroke, or other serious side effect as a result of taking this prescription painkiller.

Vioxx victim cases indicating that Vioxx users were at risk of serious side effects have been surfacing since this drug was first approved by the FDA. Vioxx, and other COX-2 selective NSAIDs were designed in the 1990s with the hopes of providing powerful pain relief without the gastrointestinal side effects associated with traditional NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen.

In 2002 the results of the VIGOR clinical trial were released. This nine-month clinical trial was designed to study the gastrointestinal toxicity of naproxen compared to Vioxx. The results showed that patients taking naproxen were significantly less likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke compared to Vioxx users. However, patients who suffered serious adverse thrombotic cardiovascular events were not portrayed as Vioxx victims. Instead Merck claimed that naproxen actually prevented these complications, though this was later disproved. The VIGOR clinical trial also found that patients who had a history of heart conditions were five times more likely to become a Vioxx victim of heart attack or stroke compared to other patient populations.

In addition to the increased rate of cardiovascular side effects, gastrointestinal side effects also caused great injury to Vioxx victims. For years, Merck was aware that Vioxx users were at an increased risk of suffering gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and serious stomach and intestinal damage, yet did nothing to protect potential Vioxx victims. Three to four percent of all Vioxx users who took this drug for at least one year developed serious gastrointestinal side effects. The risk of becoming a Vioxx victim was even greater for older patients, those with a history of gastrointestinal problems, and a number of other contraindication factors.

The APPROVe trial was designed to test the effect of Vioxx on polyps, but was halted as a result of the large number of Vioxx victims who suffered a heart attack or stroke during this clinical trial. The results of this trial prompted Merck to pull Vioxx off the market. Many argue that this decision was not made soon enough because of the large number of Vioxx victims that had already suffered serious injury as a result of this defective drug.

Since the Vioxx recall, more than three hundred lawsuits have been filed on behalf of Vioxx victims. If you or a loved one became a Vioxx victim as a result of serious Vioxx side effects, please contact us to confer with a qualified attorney who can determine your rights and options in a legal case to seek compensation for your losses

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.