What are the Side Effects of Vioxx?

Like any other medication, Vioxx has its share of side effects. Unlike many medications, however, the side effects of Vioxx can frequently be fatal. The Food and Drug Administration requested Merck Pharmaceuticals recall Vioxx from the market in September 2004 in order to better reassess its danger/benefit profile.

Vioxx can produce a number of serious side effects. In addition to elevated risks of heart attacks and strokes, many people who took Vioxx reported experiencing:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Dyspepsia (stomach ache)
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Heartburn
• Water retention
• Urinary retention (inability to urinate)
• Heart failure

Aggravation of hypertension, chest pain, ringing in the ears, stomach and intestinal ulcers, bleeding, blurred vision, anxiety, weight gain, flu-like symptoms, drowsiness and weakness also frequently occurred in patients taking Vioxx.

Your doctor can help recover your physical health after taking Vioxx. Medical bills are expensive, and unexpected reactions to medication require numerous follow up appointments and complicated tests. It is unfair that you must pay for a pharmaceutical company’s negligence. Contact a lawyer today.

Cardiovascular Events

“Cardiovascular Event” is a rather innocuous term for one of the deadliest health emergencies that an individual can experience. The circulatory system cannot endure any form of “event” because every part of our body must have a constant and interrupted flow of oxygen. Strokes and heart attacks kill millions of people every year, and thousands more must cope with a vastly different quality of life because of these so-called “cardiovascular events.”

It is understandable how doctors will go out of their way to prevent such occurrences, especially when they are within their control. Even though Vioxx was effective at reducing the negative gastrointestinal discomfort associated with other similar drugs, it increased the number of “cardiovascular events” unacceptably high. The chemicals in Vioxx affect the way the kidneys regulate blood pressure, which lead many people with no history or circulatory problems to develop arrhythmias which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Recently discovered documents reveal that Merck Pharmaceuticals may have known the dangers of Vioxx before they released it, but chose to downplay the danger and mislead doctors about the potential for cardiovascular events. Although these tactics led to $2.5 billion in sales, it also caused between 88,000 and 139,000 heart attacks, which claimed the lives of 30-40% of the people.

If you or someone you know has suffered a “cardiovascular event” as a result of Vioxx, you could be entitled to compensation based on your condition. Take a stand – for yourself and for your family. Contact a lawyer today, and start on the road to justice tomorrow.

Vioxx and Heart Attacks

Although it is a very common term, few people actually know what a heart attack truly involves. A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is the death of heart tissues caused by a lack of blood. The pain people feel in the left side of their chests is actually their heart dying; as it dies it can no longer pump blood efficiently, so system after system shuts down like a row of dominos.

While many factors can contribute to a heart attack, one of the most common is an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is an irregular heart beat; either the heart beats before it has enough blood to pump, or when it has too much blood to pump. Arrhythmias can lead to fibrillation, which is a sort of heart muscle spasm, which in turn leads to a heart attack.

Vioxx causes heart attacks because it affects the same chemicals in inflamed tissue that are similar to what the kidneys use to regulate blood pressure. After the kidneys filter the impurities out of the blood, they re-circulate it back into the circulatory system. Should this delicate system get out of alignment it can cause a drop in blood pressure which can start the chain of events that can lead to a heart attack. The FDA speculates that in the five years between 1999 and 2004 Vioxx may have caused between 88,000 and 139,000 heart attacks, of which almost 30-40& were fatal.

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack because of Vioxx, you should join the 4,200 other people who have taken action against Merck. You deserve to be treated with honesty and dignity by drug makers. Contact a Vioxx attorney today.

Vioxx and Strokes

A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, occurs when blood supply to the head is interrupted. They are one of the deadliest types of medical emergencies because they have few outward symptoms, can strike at anytime, and can be immediately fatal. Even when people survive strokes they often must struggle with permanent mental or physical disability.

Medical professionals understandably advise people to avoid any type of situation that can cause a stroke. Unfortunately drugs like Vioxx can disrupt the way the kidneys regulate blood pressure which can prevent an adequate amount of blood to the brain. Once this vital circulatory path is affected many people who have no history of cardiovascular incidents suddenly developed life threatening complications due to Vioxx usage.

If you or someone you know has suffered a stroke because of Vioxx, you may be entitled to seek justice against Merck. Contact a Vioxx attorney today, and take action to ensure that your suffering was not in vain.

Vioxx and Blood Clots

One of the dangerous consequences of Vioxx usage has proved to be the formation of dangerous blood clots, which can lead to serious health risks including strokes and heart attacks. Arteries and veins may be obstructed, leading to other complications. Blood clots may form as a result of a heart attack or cardiac arrhythmia. Because it has been shown to cause cardiac arrhythmia and increase the risk of heart attack, there is evidence that Vioxx contributes to the formation of blood clots.

In medical studies, Vioxx has caused an increase in the formation of dangerous blood clots. This risk is heightened among patients with a history of clogged arteries, angina, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, or other chest pain. Some news sources indicate that Vioxx manufacturer Merck knew of these risks as early as 1997, but Vioxx was not pulled off the market until 2004.

It is irresponsible and inexcusable for a pharmaceutical company to put patients at increased health risk for their own financial benefit. If you or someone you care about has taken Vioxx and developed blood clots, speak with an attorney immediately about your case. You may be entitled to monetary compensation for the heightened health risks you’ve endured. Know your legal rights and contact a lawyer today.

Vioxx and Blood Clots

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is the closing of a vein deep in the body by a blood clot. The condition is most commonly seen in the leg veins, but in some cases the veins of the arm are affected. DVT occurs in 1 out of every 1,000 people each year. Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include pain, swelling, and redness of the leg., and complications may arise that can result in death.

Vioxx has been linked to the development of blood clots and can increase one’s risk of suffering from deep vein thrombosis. DVT is a serious condition that requires immediate medical attention. Some Vioxx users have experienced deep vein thrombosis after prolonged use of the drug, causing health complications and unnecessary anguish. Although Vioxx was pulled off the market in 2004, there are potentially thousands of people who began to develop deep vein thrombosis before prescriptions ceased.

No one deserves to suffer from serious side effects such as deep vein thrombosis when taking Vioxx. If you have developed DVT since being prescribed Vioxx, discuss your case with an experienced attorney today. The time has arrived to seek justice against those who have made a profit by endangering your life. Speak with a legal expert today.

Ischemic Strokes

Ischemic strokes are a type of stroke usually caused by an obstruction or closing of blood vessels by blood clots in the body. Heart arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat can cause clot formation in the heart, which can block blood flow to the brain. Ischemic strokes can result in the loss of muscle function, vision, sensation, or speech.

About 80 percent of all strokes are ischemic. Medical evidence has indicated a strong link between Vioxx use and the risk of blood clot and stroke occurrences. When Vioxx causes blood clots to develop, the danger of ischemic stroke is dramatically increased. Risks to the cardiovascular system prompted Merck to take Vioxx off the market in 2004, a decision that suggests the drug manufacturer was fully aware of the link between Vioxx and ischemic strokes.

Suffering a stroke can put heavy financial and emotional stress on the victim as well as his or her family and friends. If your life has been impacted by an ischemic stroke caused by Vioxx use, it is important to be fully aware of your legal rights. By consulting with an experienced attorney you can determine the proper course of action to take against those responsible for the chaos arising from this medical condition.

Other Side Effects of Vioxx

There are many unfavorable side effects that can arise from Vioxx use. Some of the most dramatic conditions are cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes, blood clots, and deep vein thrombosis. Other side effects may include abdominal pain, tenderness or discomfort; vomiting blood; nausea; bloody, black or tarry stools; weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; skin rash; itching; yellowing of the skin or eyes; and unexplained bruising or bleeding.

In addition to the side effects of Vioxx alone, interactions with other drugs may also have dangerous consequences. Aspirin or aspirin-like medications, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, steroid medicines, anticoagulants, methotrexate, theophylline, lithium, and rifampin may be hazardous when taken in combination with Vioxx. Doctors have a responsibility to ask patients about other drugs they are taking before prescribing anything new. Given the serious side effects of Vioxx alone, the interactions of Vioxx with other drugs may be even more unfavorable.

If you have experienced painful and unexpected side effects after taking Vioxx, discuss your experiences with an experienced attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your suffering. By speaking with a compassionate lawyer you can determine what actions you can take to obtain justice.