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Article Summary: New Government Study Finds Bextra To Be Similar To Vioxx In Causing Heart Attacks
New Study Finds Bextra To Be Similar To Vioxx In Causing Heart Attacks
COX-2 inhibitor drugs are developed to relieve pain without causing ulcers. COX-2 drugs are in a class of medicine that includes Celebrex, Vioxx, and Bextra. Dr. Garret A. Fitzgerald, a cardiologist and pharmacologist at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the world’s leading experts on COX-2 inhibitor drugs. He provides results from his studies that show that COX-2 drugs may lead to heart troubles. Using mice, he found that inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme might reduce the heart protection of estrogen.
A new study pulled data from 5,930 patients given Pfizer’s painkillers taking part in 12 trials. The study found patients taking Bextra had 2.19 times the heart attacks or strokes than the patients given placebos. Vioxx, which has recently been pulled, also doubles the risk of heart attack and stroke. This study was presented at the American Heart Association meeting in New Orleans.
Vioxx, which is made by Merck, had $2.5 billion in sales last year, while Celebrex had $1.8 billion and Bextra had $687 million. Celebrex and Bextra, which are made by Pfizer, had much more in sales this year. Vioxx, which contributed to 11 percent of Mercks sales last year, has created a financial drop in the company. Merck has also had hundreds of filed lawsuits from lawyers with patients that have claimed to have suffered from the drugs ill effects. Mercks $4.9 billion in long-term debt was cut two levels from Aaa to Aa2 by the Moody’s Investors Service. Bextra, which has in rare instances been known to cause a fatal skin rash, will most likely be receiving a “black box” warning to it’s label. A "black box" warning is the most serious warning placed in the labeling of a prescription medication. Advertisements that serve to remind health care professionals of a product's availability (so-called "reminder ads") are not allowed for products with "black box" warnings.
Neither Celebrex or Bextra has been proven to be any safer on the stomach than ibuprofen or naproxen. They also haven’t been proven to alleviate pain any better than those of the older, cheaper medicines. Bextra was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat for migraines, but was approved to treat for arthritis pain.
Dr. Fitzgerald said the latest findings added to his worries that all COX-2 inhibitors may lead to heart troubles and should be used with great caution.
If you or anyone you know has taken BEXTRA and has experienced the above symptoms or side effects, contact our BEXTRA lawyer and receive a free case evaluation.
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