Idaho Vioxx Lawyer

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Vioxx was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and released for public use in 1999. The pharmaceutical giant that was responsible for the creation and launch of Vioxx was Merck and Co. The University of Pennsylvania conducted a clinical study that showed a direct link between the prolonged use of Vioxx and the increased chances of suffering from a heart attack. The New England Journal of Medicine conducted their own study, which yielded similar data.

Vioxx was considered to be part of a new-era of wonder drugs. These drugs were categorized as COX 2 inhibitors, a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medication, much like naproxen and ibuprofen. Vioxx was designed to treat arthritis pain without any of the side effects that occurred when taking older medicines. In fact, Vioxx was prescribed to an overwhelming 91 million people in the United States alone. Over 80 million people were taking the drug worldwide. Vioxx was most commonly prescribed for arthritis pain, acute pain in adults and pain associated with menstrual cramps. It was such a huge leader among other prescription drugs, to the point where it brought in over $2 billion dollars in profits for the company. This generated an average of 12 percent of the yearly revenue for Merck and Co. Because of these astronomical figures, many believe the company manipulated results from clinical studies in an effort to withhold critical medical information from the public and the FDA, causing fatalities.

Vioxx is associated with dangerous side effects, such as liver complications. Symptoms of liver problems include tiredness, tenderness in the upper part of the abdomen, nausea, itching, and other flu-like symptoms. Many people prescribed with the drug have suffered from kidney failure and the worsening of chronic kidney diseases. Intestinal and stomach bleeding have occurred in Vioxx users without any prior symptoms or warning signs. Allergic reactions have also been reported, causing difficulties when breathing and swallowing. These allergic reactions can appear as swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and throat. Some of the less severe side effects that have been associated with the use of Vioxx are swelling in the legs and feet, tiredness, urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, respiratory inflammation, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn, high blood pressure, and back pain.

Mainly, the drug poses the greatest risks to patients 65 and older and people taking the drug longer than 18 months. Later studies concluded that the drug's lethal side effects were present within the first two weeks. Merck's deceitful manipulation of data from clinical studies resulted in thousands of lawsuits against them. It is estimated that, by 2007, the company spent over $4.85 billion dollars in settlements for personal injury and product liability claims. Moreover, many of the claims were still pending at the time. Since then, Merck & Co. and the FDA have worked to improve drug safety regulations.

On September 30, 2004, Merck and Co. issued a worldwide recall of Vioxx from all pharmacy shelves. Unfortunately, this action occurred too late. People have died as a result of the company's medical negligence. It seems that they let profits influence their decisions. Ordinary citizens should not have to pay such high consequences for a company's mistakes. If you are a resident of the state of Idaho and have needlessly suffered as a result of the use of Vioxx, please contact an attorney. By contacting an attorney, you are able to process a claim, and you can find out what monetary compensation you are entitled to. You must act quickly, however, since Idaho statute of limitations laws only allow a product liability or personal injury claim to be filed within two years. Research the attorneys in your area to help you with all the legalities of you case. More importantly, do not allow pharmaceutical giants to take advantage of your rights. By filing a lawsuit, you are setting a precedence for all companies to follow, and encouraging them all to adhere to more strict federal regulations concerning the safety of prescription medications.

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