A heart attack occurs every 20 seconds, with a heart attack death occurring every minute. In other words, more than 1.5 million people suffer from a heart attack in the United States each year, with 500,000 of those cases resulting in death. The heart attack or "myocardial infarction" can occur when the blood supply to the heart is restricted. Many things, including a blood clot and extremely low blood pressure, can cause such a reduction in blood flow. Early heart attack symptoms may include pain in the chest, left arm, jaw, neck, or back. Many people suffer from other symptoms, and with minor heart attacks, some have very mild or no symptoms at all.

Cox-2 inhibiting drugs Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra have come under fire for unreasonably increasing the risk of heart attacks, and pharmaceutical companies such as Merck have neogtiated settlements with attorneys and law firms representing persons who have taken these drugs and suffered injuries as a result. Those who have suffered heart attacks or strokes (or any other serious and life-threatening side effects) as a result of using Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra may seek the advice of an attorney with regard to their claim. In 2004, Merck performed a voluntary Vioxx recall in light of the heart attack and stroke data concerning the drug.

COX-2 selective inhibitors are a form of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that directly target COX-2, an enzyme that produces inflammation and pain. Selectivity for COX-2 reduces the risk of peptic ulcers and is the main feature in drugs such as celecoxib (Celebrex), as well as other drugs in this class.

November 2007 - Vioxx Settlement Announced

Nearly three years following Merck's removal of Vioxx from the market, Merck announced a settlement of nearly $5 Billion to compensate plaintiffs who suffered heart attacks and strokes as a result of the drug. The MDL (Multi District Litigation) Plaintiffs' Steering Committee, made up of leading firms representing Vioxx claimants and their families, has established a website which contains a Vioxx settlement calculator as well as a number of important legal documents regarding the Vioxx settlement. This is an excellent resource for your questions regarding Vioxx litigation.

To inquire with an InjuryBoard attorney as to whether you may have a claim as a result of an injury caused or contributed by Vioxx, please use the form at right or here.

April 2006- Vioxx Lawsuits

On April 5, 2006, a New Jersey Jury found that Vioxx was responsible for the heart attack suffered by a long-term user of the drug. This was the first case, involving a plaintiff who had been taking Vioxx for an extended period of time to reach trial. The jury awarded the man $4.5 million in damages.

February 2005 – Black Box Warnings

In February 2005, the FDA requested all NSAID package inserts, including such drugs as Celebrex, be revised to include a “black boxed warning” highlighting potential increased risks of suffering a cardiovascular event, as well as the risk of bleeding stomach ulcers that can be fatal in some patients. The FDA further requested that all package inserts for NSAID medications be revised to state that patients who have just had heart surgery should not take NSAIDs.

April 2005 – Bextra

Pfizer first acknowledged cardiovascular risks associated with Bextra, in October 2004. In April 2005, Pfizer officially withdrew Bextra, (Valdecoxib), yet another arthritis drug in the COX-2 family, from the U.S. market citing an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Following Pfizer’s announcement to remove Bextra from the market, the FDA began recommending doctors consider prescribing other medications. The FDA has come under fire and been criticized heavily by many for being slow to react when reports first began surfacing about the significant health risks associated with Vioxx use and other like medications.

December 2004 - Celebrex

In December 2004, Pfizer announced the results from a study that revealed Celebrex (Celecoxib), more than doubled the risk of patients’ suffering heart attack or stroke. This news was less than three months after Merck pulled the similar drug, Vioxx, from the market.

September 2004 - Vioxx Taken Off Market

In September 2004, Vioxx (Rofecoxib) was voluntarily withdrawn by Merck & Co. after reports suggested the drug increased cardiovascular problems in some patients. In the five years that Vioxx was on the market, FDA analysts estimate that the drug caused between 88,000 and 139,000 heart attacks. 30 to 40 percent of those incidents were most likely fatal. Vioxx was one of the most widely used drugs to ever be withdrawn from the market.

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack:

Seek medical treatment immediately. The moments immediately following a heart attack are crucial to the survival of a victim of a heart attack. If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack due to using a COX-2 inhibitor drug, or experienced serious side affects, please see your doctor immediately. It may be important to contact an attorney who can help protect your legal rights. It is important to keep in mind that there are time limits in which you must commence a suit, known as "statutes of limitation" which may vary by state or depending on your circumstances.

Attorneys associated with InjuryBoard.com will evaluate your inquiry at no charge.

 

 
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