COX-2 Inhibitor Risks / Painkiller Lawsuits
On February 16, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration began advisory committee meetings on the risks posed by the popular prescription painkillers known as COX-2 inhibitors. Although drugs like Vioxx, Celebrex and Bextra have become household names, new evidence has emerged indicate these drugs can increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks and/or severe coronary episodes by more than 300%.
Even more startling are the questions that have been uncovered: how long have the drug manufacturers known about these fatal side effects? How many patients really needed to take these drugs at all?
As the FDA and the European Medicines Agency begin hearings on just how much of a threat COX-2 inhibitors pose to the general public, other organizations are not waiting for a recall. USA Today reported on how doctors are being urged to not prescribe COX-2 inhibitors to patients because of the risk of developing heart disease. British regulators have advised physicians to switch patients with heart disease to different drugs “as soon as is convenient”.
In January 2005, Kaiser Permanente, the nation’s largest not-for-profit HMO, ordered its pharmacies to stop dispensing Bextra because of the related heart risks. Such boycott’s are now common ground as the number of defective drug reports steadily increase.
“[COX-2 inhibitors] are doomed drugs that are in the twilight of their existence.” - Sidney Wolfe, director of advocacy group Public Citizen’s Health Research Group
If you or a loved one have taken a COX-2 inhibitor like Vioxx, Celebrex or Bextra and have experienced any side effects, including blood clots, heart attacks, strokes or even sudden death, please call us at (800) 966-4999 or fill out our online contact form for a free case evaluation.
