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Vioxx Medication Recall: Medication, Side Effects, Strokes And Heart Attacks
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Published: September 5, 2007
People who suffer from arthritis know the condition is brutal. Not only does arthritis cause pain, but it also causes stiffness of the joints. It is only natural that people with arthritis would turn to medicine to reduce their pain. To help aid patients, doctors used to prescribe a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug called Vioxx.
However, a heightened risk of heart attacks and stroke forced the Food and Drug Administration to announce a Vioxx Medication recall in 2004.
Six years ago, there was an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association stating the "available data raise a cautionary flag about the risk of cardiovascular events" with COX-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx. The article also stated that in particular, Vioxx was very risky. The article went even further by saying that Vioxx elevated the risk of side effects such as of heart attacks, stroke and even death. Despite these statements, the Vioxx medication recall did not happen for another three years.
After the publishing of this bold article, the FDA warned Vioxx about misrepresenting the safety of the prescription. The FDA found the promotional activities and materials for Vioxx were misleading and they violated Drug and Cosmetic Act. Several months later, the FDA approved of new labeling for Vioxx which stated that the drug elevated the risk for side effects. Once again, in spite of huge side effects, the Vioxx medication recall did not happen.
Finally, thanks to dwindling sales, in 2004, the FDA finally pushed for the Vioxx medication recall. The Vioxx medication recall came at the same time as a global colon cancer trial found Vioxx raised the risks for cardiovascular problems after 18 months of taking the medication. In an earlier analysis of the drug, Vioxx was linked to more than 27,000 heart attacks or sudden cardiac deaths in the U.S. from its release in 1999 to 2003. After the Vioxx medication recall, the drug expert who led the study came forward to say the FDA had threatened him and intimidated him into keeping quiet about his findings. In other words, the FDA knew Vioxx was harmful to those who took it, but they did not share this intelligence.
According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the cause of the life-threatening side effects is the increased production of a protein that encourages blood clotting. The study, which was performed on mice, found that this over-production of the protein, know as tissue factor, forms blood clots, which are the causes of heart attacks and strokes. The over-production of tissue factor may account for the increased risk that necessitated the Vioxx medication recall.
Many people have sued the drug manufacturer, Merck, since the Vioxx medication recall. In August of 2007, a couple sued over Vioxx-related injuries and won $13.5 million against Merck. Now lawyers urge people who have suffered injuries due to Vioxx to sue the company. For more information about the Vioxx medication recall, including information about attorneys, go to davisandfeder.com. To thousands of families, the Vioxx medication recall came too late.
So although suffering from arthritis may be unbearable for some, the alternative of taking Vioxx may have been worse. The FDA cover-up seems to come straight out of Hollywood, but unfortunately for thousands of people the delay of the Vioxx medication recall is true. Celebrex, another less dangerous COX-2 inhibitor, is still on the market. Without a doubt, the Vioxx medication recall was necessary, and if it came sooner, the Vioxx medication recall could have saved the lives of many people.
Sources:
"Vioxx Drug Recall." Davis & Feder. 2004. 30 August 2007. http://davisandfeder.com/CM/DrugsandMedicalDevices /Vioxx.asp.
"Possible Cause of Vioxx Heart Attack Risk Discovered." 27 August 2007. News Inferno.com. 30 August 2007. http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/1753.
"Vioxx: Side Effects and Drug Interactions." RxList, Inc. 2007. 30 August 2007.http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/rofecox_ad. htm.
Six years ago, there was an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association stating the "available data raise a cautionary flag about the risk of cardiovascular events" with COX-2 inhibitors such as Vioxx. The article also stated that in particular, Vioxx was very risky. The article went even further by saying that Vioxx elevated the risk of side effects such as of heart attacks, stroke and even death. Despite these statements, the Vioxx medication recall did not happen for another three years.
After the publishing of this bold article, the FDA warned Vioxx about misrepresenting the safety of the prescription. The FDA found the promotional activities and materials for Vioxx were misleading and they violated Drug and Cosmetic Act. Several months later, the FDA approved of new labeling for Vioxx which stated that the drug elevated the risk for side effects. Once again, in spite of huge side effects, the Vioxx medication recall did not happen.
Finally, thanks to dwindling sales, in 2004, the FDA finally pushed for the Vioxx medication recall. The Vioxx medication recall came at the same time as a global colon cancer trial found Vioxx raised the risks for cardiovascular problems after 18 months of taking the medication. In an earlier analysis of the drug, Vioxx was linked to more than 27,000 heart attacks or sudden cardiac deaths in the U.S. from its release in 1999 to 2003. After the Vioxx medication recall, the drug expert who led the study came forward to say the FDA had threatened him and intimidated him into keeping quiet about his findings. In other words, the FDA knew Vioxx was harmful to those who took it, but they did not share this intelligence.
According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the cause of the life-threatening side effects is the increased production of a protein that encourages blood clotting. The study, which was performed on mice, found that this over-production of the protein, know as tissue factor, forms blood clots, which are the causes of heart attacks and strokes. The over-production of tissue factor may account for the increased risk that necessitated the Vioxx medication recall.
Many people have sued the drug manufacturer, Merck, since the Vioxx medication recall. In August of 2007, a couple sued over Vioxx-related injuries and won $13.5 million against Merck. Now lawyers urge people who have suffered injuries due to Vioxx to sue the company. For more information about the Vioxx medication recall, including information about attorneys, go to davisandfeder.com. To thousands of families, the Vioxx medication recall came too late.
So although suffering from arthritis may be unbearable for some, the alternative of taking Vioxx may have been worse. The FDA cover-up seems to come straight out of Hollywood, but unfortunately for thousands of people the delay of the Vioxx medication recall is true. Celebrex, another less dangerous COX-2 inhibitor, is still on the market. Without a doubt, the Vioxx medication recall was necessary, and if it came sooner, the Vioxx medication recall could have saved the lives of many people.
Sources:
"Vioxx Drug Recall." Davis & Feder. 2004. 30 August 2007. http://davisandfeder.com/CM/DrugsandMedicalDevices /Vioxx.asp.
"Possible Cause of Vioxx Heart Attack Risk Discovered." 27 August 2007. News Inferno.com. 30 August 2007. http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/1753.
"Vioxx: Side Effects and Drug Interactions." RxList, Inc. 2007. 30 August 2007.http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/rofecox_ad. htm.
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