Find Vioxx Lawsuit and Attorney Information |

As you may know, Vioxx has been recalled by Merck, its pharmaceutical maker. Many persons that may have been harmed are looking for Vioxx lawsuit, lawyer and attorney information.

What side effects are associated with this drug?

What side effects are associated with Vioxx include nausea, skin rashes, swollen feet or ankles, low energy, sudden weight gain, vomiting material that looks like coffee grounds, or blood in the stool or vomit.

Even more serious Vioxx side effects include swelling of the hands, face, lips, eyes, throat or tongue.

Other side effects include difficulty swallowing or breathing, hoarseness, flu-like symptoms, sluggishness, yellowing of the skin or eyes, stomach pain, dark urine or pale stools or unusual fatigue.

Once you know what side effects are associated with Vioxx, you may be interested in Vioxx lawsuit information.

Drug companies and physicians have the obligation to provide consumers with the assurance that their medications are reasonably safe when used as intended.

Before selling pharmaceuticals to the public, drug manufacturers are obligated to understand the drug’s dangers and possible side effects.

If a pharmaceutical company creates a drug by not properly researching its possible risks before placing it into the marketplace, harm may be caused to individuals taking the drug.

Just because a drug has been approved by the FDA does not guarantee its safety and will not keep a drug manufacturer from being held liable.

Seeking compensation against a drug manufacturer for loss or injuries caused by pharmaceuticals is the legal right of an injured consumer. And if the physician’s conduct is to blame, a negligence suit for medical malpractice would be justified.

The drug companies and physicians should expect that if their disregard for others safety causes damage, they will be held responsible.

If you or someone you know may have suffered injury or damage related to Vioxx, consider seeking the assistance of qualified legal counsel.

The information below describes what has happened.

Vioxx or oral rofecoxib (generic name) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that works by reducing substances that cause pain, inflammation and fever. It is used to reduce stiffness, inflammation or swelling and pain that are caused by rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and other forms of rheumatoid arthritis.

It is also used to manage acute pains in adults, treating migraines and menstrual pain. It was FDA-approved as a pain relief drug and was immediately successful after being distributed to 30,000 plus pharmacies after its approval.

In 2004, Vioxx was voluntarily withdrawn by its manufacturer from the USA and the worldwide market. The withdrawal was due to safety concerns with regards to increased risk in cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack in patients taking Vioxx.

Data from a clinical trial found out an increase risk for heart attacks and strokes in patients using Vioxx. The manufacturer of Vioxx – Merck – has been in the middle of lawsuits since then.

The manufacturer has been warned by FDA with regards to their misinterpretation of safety information and efficacy information in advertising. The data used came from a study showing how Vioxx (from 25 milligram dosage levels) prevents the recurrence of polyps in the rectum and the colon.

This trial was stopped when Merck discovered a very high heart risk to patients who used Vioxx as was compared to patients who were taking dummy pills in an 18-month treatment.

Possible Side Effects of Vioxx

There are a number of possible side effects of Vioxx that a patient may develop while undergoing this treatment. Such side effects are the following:

• Abdominal pain, discomfort, or tenderness
• Allergic reactions (such as closing of throat; difficulty breathing; swelling of lips, tongue, or face; hives)
• Blood in vomit (hematemesis)
• Swelling or water retention
• Unusual lethargy or fatigue
• Skin rash or itching
• Nausea or heartburn
• Yellowing of skin or eyes
• Tarry stool
• Flu-like symptoms
• Unexplained weight gain
• Unusual bleeding or bruising

Some of the less serious side effects may include mild fatigue, diarrhea and dizziness. It is best advised to notify your doctor immediately if any of the signs listed above are experienced. Stop taking Vioxx and seek medical advice immediately. You may already be suffering from serious side effects of the drug.

Another study that compared Vioxx with a traditional NSAID Naproxen has shown that in more than 8,000 patients, the risks were two times higher in patients taking Vioxx than the patients taking Naproxen. Such risks were cardiovascular problems that include chest pain, heart attack, blood clots and sudden deaths.

The manufacturing company of Vioxx is now facing thousands of personal injury lawsuits that will possibly cost them billions to solve.

The data from the trial that finally made Merck decide to completely recall Vioxx had shown that 15 cases of blood clot, heart attack or stroke per one thousand people every year for three years. The company also received a warning letter from FDA for downplaying the serious cardiovascular side effects findings.

The company settled the lawsuits by setting up a fund that will compensate the victims. They agreed to pay more than $4 billion to settle the legal claims that the drug caused to many patients.

Merck had undergone a total of 17 cases in court, winning 12 cases and losing 5. The company has always been denying the claims of negligence and standing by their reason of withdrawing the drug voluntarily in 2004.

With the settlement made by Merck, it says that the claimants will only receive the payment if they meet certain conditions. These conditions are:

• Settlement is valid if 85% of all the pending claims will agree to the offer by the first of March 2008.
• A proof supporting that they took Vioxx within around two weeks of suffering an illness must be provided.
• Evidence showing that they (the claimants) bought at least 30 pills of Vioxx should be provided.
• Medical proof of serious illness shall be provided by the claimants.

After four years of the Vioxx ban, an investigation showed more evidence indicating that the company, Merck, was well aware of the risks Vioxx was carrying from the time of its inception.

Although the company struggled to keep their image in the public as clean as possible, they have been failing to do so. More and more evidence were uncovered that the drug was really posing a cardiovascular risk.

If you have been using this drug as a treatment for an illness and have been experiencing the side effects, you may want to contact your doctor as soon as possible.