Parker Waichman LLP

Vioxx Heart Risks Long-Lasting

Heart risks from Vioxx, the defective painkiller pulled from the market in 2004, lingered long after many patients stopped taking the drug.  According to a report in The Washington Post, a study conducted by researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX found that Vioxx increased the risk of heart attack and stroke […]

Heart risks from <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/vioxx">Vioxx, the defective painkiller pulled from the market in 2004, lingered long after many patients stopped taking the drug.  According to a report in The Washington Post, a study conducted by researchers at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX found that Vioxx increased the risk of heart attack and stroke by “close to twofold, and the risk persisted for approximately a year”.

The authors of the study, which was published online by the journal Lancet, also believe that long-term use of other NSAIDs, including now-banned Bextra, as well as Celebrex, and over-the-counter versions of ibuprofen and naproxen,  increase stroke and heart attack risks to some extent.

Vioxx was approved for use in 1999, and quickly became a blockbuster for Merck, with annual sales of $2.5 billion. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ordered the painkiller off the market after an analysis of patients using Vioxx linked the defective drug to more than 27,000 heart attacks or sudden cardiac deaths in the U.S. from 1999 through 2003. The Vioxx recall led to thousands of lawsuits.

This latest Vioxx study involved  followed people who had participated in the international APPROVe trial, which compared Vioxx to placebo over 3 years in an attempt to see whether the drug could cut the recurrence of cancerous colon polyps. The trial was stopped early in 2004 because of the increased risk for heart attacks and stroke. Nearly 2600 people participated in the APPROVe trial, and the authors of the Lancet study said they were able to contact about 84 percent of them.

According to the study, former Vioxx users still had a 79 percent increased risk of heart attack, stroke or death compared with those who had received placebo.  Individual patients faced double  the risk of heart attack or stroke in the year after stopping the drug. The increased risk of dying was 31 percent compared with those who had taken placebo, the researchers noted.

Co-author of the study, Dr. Robert Bresalier, told the Washington Post that it is probable that all non-aspirin NSAIDs can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.  “Similar data has been evident for some of the other cox-2 inhibitors,” Bresalier said. “In fact, it seems to be a class effect for most if not all NSAIDs.”

Bresalier said that certain patients – those with pre-existing cardiac problems – should avoid long-term use of these drugs.  However, the risk is small when NSAIDS are taken for short periods of time for intermittent pain relief.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism , Responsiveness For such a bad situation the kindness, always willing to call you back within a few hours. If they don't know something they go on a search. These are the lawyers that give lawyers a GOOD NAME!!!! Gina Viti is a fantastic person to have asa point of contact I can not say enough about her.
BIG ECO
3 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Gary C. January 2022 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in 2017. Which was caused by breathing in the toxic air from the WTC attack. I reached out to Parker Waichman for guidance in dealing with Victims Compensation Fund. My paralegal is Ms. Nicole Copertino.. There isn't enough words to describe her knowledge, professionalism and all the help she has provided during these stressful times. Without any hesitation I would recommend Parker Waichman to family, friends and business associates. Kudos to Ms. Copertino and her team at Parker Waichman.
Gary Chastven
2 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Michelle Josama was absolutely fantastic. Glad we got her for our case. Had a great experience!
Rafael Garcia
5 years ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038