Florida Vioxx Lawyer

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Vioxx was prescribed to patients who suffered from painful arthritis. Unfortunately, the new drug causes heart disease. Georgia Vioxx was released in 1999 by Merck and Co., as a product of a new generation of prescription medications. Vioxx is a COX 2 inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory, nonsteroidal medicine, much like ibuprofen and naproxen, which are still on the market today. Vioxx was used to treat arthritis pain, acute pain in adults, and pain associated with menstrual cramps. Studies have linked the use of Vioxx to an increased chance of suffering from a heart attack, stroke, or blood clots. Thousands and thousands of people have died due to Vioxx-related illnesses. If you are a resident of Florida and have suffered from medical complications due to the use of this drug, please do not hesitate to contact a lawyer. A lawyer can discuss your rights and options with you.

Some of the most common side effects of Vioxx use include diarrhea, respiratory inflammation, respiratory infections, headaches, dizziness, vomiting, stomach pains, high blood pressure, back pain, urinary track infections, swelling in the legs and feet, and a general sense of fatigue. More severe complications include heart attacks, strokes, and the occurrence of blood clots. Vioxx users have also suffered from liver problems, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, itching, flu-like symptoms, and nausea. People have had severe allergic reactions to Vioxx, including swelling of the face, throat, lips, and tongue, making it difficult to breathe and swallow. Vioxx use has been known to cause a person to have internal bleeding, especially in the stomach and intestines. This type of bleeding can occur quickly and without any prior warning signs.

In the United States, ninety-one million prescriptions for Vioxx were written in a span of five years. Eighty-four million people used Vioxx on a regular basis worldwide. The advertising campaign included endorsements from Dorothy Hamil, Olympic figure skater, and Sid Wolfe, head physician and director of the Health Research Group. It seems that Vioxx was being treated as a miracle cure to arthritis pain sufferers.

Arthritis is the painful swelling and gradual deterioration of cartilage surrounding the joints. This causes the bones to rub against one another, eventually wearing them down. If left untreated, arthritis pain can become crippling. Unfortunately, the side effects associated with Vioxx posed more problems for patients than the arthritis.

Within 18 months after taking the drug, complications appeared. Sometimes the onset of the side effects occurred in as little as two weeks. Nevertheless, it was cause for concern, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a request for a modification of packaging warning labels. Merck and Co. submitted to this request, but people still felt the effects of the devastating drug. Finally, the FDA decided to meet with representatives of Merck & Co. to review data from clinical studies that had been conducted. Dissatisfied with results, the FDA stated that it would monitor all future studies conducted by the company, and that results had to be submitted to them directly for review.

Many FDA representatives questioned the validity of the company's statements, saying that research data was inconsistent with warning labels. While some studies indicated severe cardiovascular risks, others did not. Also, there were inconsistencies concerning safe dosages of this medication. It was later speculated that Merck and Co. intentionally misled the public and the FDA by withholding critical medical data. They attempted to hide this information so that the sale of Vioxx would not be halted. At the time, the company had already made over $2 billion dollars in sales from the product. Later, they would face settlement costs, which far surpassed this amount. Consequently, lawsuits proved to be too costly, and the company voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market in 2004.

If you or a loved one have suffered from these potentially fatal complications, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. Florida statute of limitations laws prohibit individuals from filing product liability or personal injury claims after four years. One must also file fraud cases within four years. While this may seem like a generous amount of time, the lengthy litigation processes consume more time than most people are aware of. Contact a qualified attorney in your area who is willing to take on your claims.
residents may be entitled to compensation if they suffered from side effects.

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