Vioxx, a prescription pain reliever in the NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) class of drugs, was recalled by its creator and distributor, Merck & Co., Inc., on September 30, 2004. The Vioxx recall was the last step in a long process of discovery of side effects, lawsuits and FDA pressure. Vioxx first went onto the market in May 1999 to help with symptoms of osteoarthritis, primary dysmenorrhea, acute pain in adults, and was later approved to treat pain for rheumatoid arthritis in both children and adults.

The Vioxx recall was directly precipitated by a study called the APPROVe ( Adenomatous Polyp Prevention on VIOXX) trial, which was being conducted on patients at risk for recurrent colon polyps. Once evidence of increased risk of CV (cardiovascular) events such as heart attack and stroke became clear, Merck and the FDA met September 28, 2004, and Merck announced its withdrawal of the drug. The Vioxx recall was voluntary, but by that point, the intense pressure from consumers who were filing lawsuits as well as the FDA in the form of cautions and advisories about Vioxx made Merck’s decision simple.

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

Vioxx information was not easily available to most citizens between 1999 and the time of the first lawsuits in 2001. Although widespread disclosure was not made, both Merck and the FDA were well aware of issues related to the health of chronic Vioxx users. A published study on Vioxx in June 2000 revealed to Merck and the FDA the increased risk of heart attacks, although the purpose of the study was not to analyze this risk but to assess the drug’s potential for creating gastrointestinal (GI) problems.

As full Vioxx information has become more widely available, the number of Vioxx recall lawsuits has also increased. People are suing for some of the same issues and receiving some of the same damages as other types of personal injury cases. With Vioxx recall lawsuits, the main issue is that Merck and/or your doctor may be responsible for allowing you to take this drug and suffer your injury (some sort of CV event). Damages reach into the millions of dollars, but depend largely on the specifics of the case. See the following sections for more Vioxx information and Vioxx recall lawsuit information.

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