Suffered harm from Bextra? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.

Bextra is the brand name for valdecoxib, one of a class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs) called COX-2 inhibitors. The drug, designed and sold by Pfizer, Inc., from November 2001 to April 2005, was prescribed in the United States for relief of pain, inflammation, swelling, tenderness, and stiffness caused by arthritis and painful menstrual periods. Bextra’s effect is similar to that of other NSAIDs such as Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen). It is usually in 10 or 20mg-tablet form, taken once or twice a day.

On April 7, 2005, the FDA requested Pfizer to remove Bextra from the market because of the increased risk both of heart attack and stroke and rare but serious skin reactions. Pfizer officially disagreed with the FDA’s assessment, but acceded to the FDA’s request and yanked its product off pharmacy shelves. The risk of skin disorders specifically is what separates Bextra from other NSAIDs. Bextra has been positively associated with toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and erythema multiforme. These skin reactions can cause injury or death, and may develop at any time during treatment, although they are most common during the first two weeks.

Bextra lawsuits, including Bextra class action lawsuits, are increasingly common as more Bextra users find out about the drug’s side effects . Bextra lawsuits are filed as “product liability” cases. Products liability refers to anyone with responsibility for that product within the chain of commerce, from the supplier or manufacturer to the seller, if that product causes injury or damage due to a defect. This basically means that Pfizer, the manufacturer of Bextra, may be held legally responsible for injuries if its Bextra product was not safe for its intended use and that Bextra users were injured. Claims involving defective products are governed by the laws of individual states.

Suffered harm from Bextra? You may have a lawsuit. Click here, for a top rated law firm to evaluate your legal rights.