Vioxx Recalled From the Market

On September 30, 2004 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Public Health Advisory to inform patients of the recall of the drug Vioxx (rofecoxib) from the market and to advise them to consult with a physician about alternative medications. The recall, and the warning, stem from the results of a study seeming to indicate a greatly increased chance of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular events in patients who take Vioxx on a continuing basis.

Merck & Co., the maker of Vioxx, is withdrawing the drug from the market after monitors overseeing a long-term study recommended that the study be halted because of an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, among study patients taking Vioxx compared to patients receiving a placebo. The study was being done in patients at risk of developing recurrent colon polyps.

Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Lester M. Crawford, stated: "Merck did the right thing by promptly reporting these findings to FDA and voluntarily withdrawing the product from the market. Although the risk that an individual patient would have a heart attack or stroke related to Vioxx is very small, the study that was halted suggests that, overall, patients taking the drug chronically face twice the risk of a heart attack."

Other studies have shown risks of "gastrointestinal bleeding and liver and kidney toxicity" to patients taking the drug chronically. If you or a loved one has taken Vioxx and suffered any side effects, you may be entitled to compensation.

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