Carolyn Baker has filed a lawsuit against Merck & Company claiming she suffered serious side effects after taking the drug maker’s arthritis painkiller, Vioxx. Baker is seeking unspecified damages and compensation to enabler her “to treat and monitor the dangerous, severe and life-threatening side effects” caused by Vioxx, the court papers said.
The side effects are describes as “edema, changes in blood pressure, cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events and death.”
“Merck stands behind the efficacy and safety profiles of Vioxx and will vigorously defend the lawsuit,” Chris Loder, Merck spokesman, said. “Merck considers patient safety to be of the utmost importance.”
Reuters reported that, “Baker’s lawsuit blames Merck for playing down the results of a 2000 study that linked Vioxx and drugs of its class, called COX-2 inhibitors, to “several severe and life threatening medical disorders” similar to the ones she experienced.”.
(via Reuters)
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The Dr’s Gave me Vioxx back in March 2001 for period’s and cramping I was 16 year’s old and the problem’s I had was I felt dizzy and I had shortness of breath and I had pain’s in my chest like pressure it felt more like contration’s in my chest I quit taking the med’s when I was 17 and I still have the shortness of breath here and there but that is when im running and I dont have pain’s in my chest only if it’s heartburn and I dont feel dizzy that much either .I had a Dr about a year ago that wanted to put me back on vioxx she rote me a script I tryed to tell the Dr that I had problem’s taking the med’s of course the Dr just ignored me and went about her buisness so I threw the script in the trash I told her I wasen’t going to take it she just ignored me ……….so to say I dont have that dr no more …….
I began taking vioxx in March 2000, for rheumatoid arthritis.I had a heart attack July 27 ,2001.I had a stent put in but damage was done to my heart muscle. At the time of the MI I was 48 years old, slender, with no history of high blood pressure. I’m now on several heart medications and cannot take certain drugs that would help my arthritis because of congestive heart failure.
I don’t know why I waited so long to take the reports on Vioxx seriously. It really helped my rheumatoid arthritis – I’ve been on it since it first came out. I’ve had the gastro side effects other here have mentioned but a frightening incident of chest pain and a sharp pain between my shoulder blades that was so painful it woke me from sound sleep. I ended up in the emergency room for it, I was given an anti-inflammatory drug by injection and it eased the pain and I was sent home. I have since had similar episodes which I have dismissed and rapid and irregular heartbeat. I’m off of it now and am wondering what to do next. I also take Enbrel which has been known to cause death in some instances. I know I wouldn’t be walking without NSAIDS, I am 46 and have had arthritis since I was 19. I also have a family history of heart disease. I think I’m going to try aspirin for a while. I wonder what side effects stopping vioxx is going to cause?
I am wondering if there are any withdrawal symptoms after taking vioxx for 3 months. After I quit taking the vioxx I noticed head aches,nausea, fatigue. It has been 2 weeks and I am still feeling very weak. Could this be from stopping the Vioxx? Also. do you think from taking that short time I could have suffered any other problems? Once you stop are you still at risk for problems?
Here is my email address if anyone has had similar complaints?
I became disable couple of years ago for back damage, arthritis and high blood pressure. Right from the beginning my doctor gave Vioxx prescriptions that I have been taken for the last 3 years. I just ran out of it last month. My back pain never went away and I have many other problems. I noticed that this month without Vioxx and taking other drogs i have actualy lowered my pains and have sleep better.
In 2001 I had what my doctor called ” A light stroke that put me in bed for 3 days without walking. I have experience hard breathing and weakeness many times like if my lungs not working. Please I am scared, is all this normal?
Anthony
Long term vioxx user with some side effects througout…worried of any long term damage done.
wondering if there is some open community where we can all share information about this. Please forward any address on to me scilynt[at]yahoo[dot]com
I have been taking Vioxx for years. I was wondering why I felt much better when I switch to another pain killer. With Vioxx I felt strange, sharp chest pain, insomnia, dizeness, weakness, variation of blood pressure. After I switch to Celebrex some of these simptoms started to go away.
I also would like to know about the lawsuit against Merck. I may need to take action myself if my problems will continue.
Feel free to contact me at: antonga@lycos.com
Thanks
I had been taking Vioxx for 4 or 5 years, not sure of exact number. I am a 36 year old female that was diagnosed with DVT (severe blood clots in my left leg and foot an 2 blood clots went to my lungs –pulmonary embolisms). I was hospitalized for 11 days and have to take Coumadin for 1 yr.+. I have severe pain and swelling in my leg and foot and have to wear a compression stocking for the rest of my life because the blood clots have damaged the valves in my veins.
I started taking Vioxx after a bicycle accident in April 2003. Literally, the weekend before the annoucement by Merck, I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrilation. My heart beat so quickly, left me out of breath. I am now on a beta-blocker. My stress test, echo-cardiogram were all normal. Dr is baffled by the experience. Anyone else have a similar episode? Can this be linked to Vioxx?
I took Vioxx for 2 days in 2001. By the end of the 2nd day, I was vomitting up bile and had a racing heart. I went to the emergency room. I stayed in intensive care for 7 days. I was diagnosed with tachycardia and pancreatitis. I was out of work for 3 months after that and was very weak. I was 39 years old at that time and previously in good health. One of the specialists attributed my symptoms to the Vioxx.
The day before father’s day this year my husband was hospitalized and told that he had a pulmonary ebolism. We did not give much thought to why only that he was very sick and came very close to dying. We were very lucky. My husband is only 37 and in the military so he was in very good health until this happened. You can understand our shock when we heard the news about vioxx. My husband had been on vioxx before and after his back surgery. Now like other people on this site he is now on blood thinners and will remain on them until atleast January. At which time they will determine if he needs to remain on them longer or not. However there is the matter of my husband’s career in the military. He may be put out on a medical discharge. We are not at all happy about that. Then there is future health trouble to worry about. Ann Kudray October 13, 2004
Began taking vioxx when diagnosed with fibromyalgia – was taking 50Mg for a few years at most. In this time my cholesterol started to climb and my last bloodwork has shown me to be at high risk for heart attack/stroke – other cardiac items in bloodwork came back showing this risk. Pulled off the vioxx completely, my pain is once again back and I have felt terrible and dizzy and also had some tingling in hands and arms and face. I am terrified that stopping this medicine this quickly will also cause problems and wonder what Merck plans to due for all of us now having cardiovascular problems that either increased i.e. cholesterol or suddenly appeared after taking vioxx.
My mom has been a longterm user of Vioxx–right up until the recall announcement. I am suspecting that the additional health problems she has suffered from may have developed as a result of Vioxx.
I would appreciate relevant updates.
I took vioxx for fibromyalgia. One night I had strong heart palpations. The following morning I had very severe diarrhea. Lasted a day. Similar to food poisoning.
Here is a number to call if you don’t have one. 1 888 846 9913 its free, just tell them you need help, good luck!
friend
I had talked to becker law office and they told me they are only looking for people who had either a heartattack or strok what about the other symptom’s …
My mother died of a massive cerebral aneurysm on January 7 2001 in CA. We have believe that Vioxx caused this. She was taking 50 mg/day for osteoarthritis. I cannot believe that the people that put this drug out can sleep at night. My life will never be the same again, I lost my best friend, who just happened to be my mom, too.
I would very much like to hear from anyone who has experienced a cerebral aneurysm, who believes it was due to Vioxx use. I am doing whatever I can to assist my family’s attorney. If your family member is still alive, count your blessings and go give them a hug. If not, I share your grief, and consider yourself hugged. Lisa
Back in 1999 I was in a serious accident with an 18-wheeler where I had to go to therapy 3 times a week for a year. There I was prescibed Vioxx. I started experiencing weakness almost immediately as well as severe stomach pain. It was so bad that even drinking water made me feel sick. After going to the emergency room with no diagnosis I was sent to a GI doctor where I was finally diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. It was definitely due to taking vioxx! I was not under any other medication and do not have a family history of this disease. I am now taking upto 12 pills a day and was recently put on steroids at 23 years of age. Is there anyone with the same problem?
I was diagonised with fibromayligia in
1999. I was put on Vioxx. It made my stomach bleed. I did not know why i kept taking it. after about 3 perscription . I refused to take any more. Ihad fatigue @ headaches from it.
I had seriously hurt my back in a job related accident and was prescribed Vioxx (and had taken it for nearly two years straight) up until approximately a year ago. I’ve had chest pains (and still do occasionally), weakness in my lower extremities to the point of collapsing, headaches, and irregular heartbeats. This scares me to find out about how this drug may have done more harm than good. If California opens a Class action suit, I’d be more than interested.
I WAS DIAGNOSED FOR A SLIP DISC IN APRIL 2001 BY AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AND PRESCRIBED VIOXX.WHICH I WAS TAKING TO RELIEVE THE ACUTE PAIN I WAS SUFFERING DURING THIS TIME. IN NOVEMBER 2002 I FELT UNEASINESS AND TIGETNING IN MY CHEST AND PAINS AND PALPITATIONS AND REFERRED TO A CARDIOLOGIST, WHO PERFORMED STRESS, ECG AND EEG TESTS WHICH ACCORDING TO HIM SEEMED NORMAL. HOWEVER IN JAN 2003 I WAS ADMITTED TO THE EMERGENCY WARD WITH SEVERE CHEST PAIN AND ANGINA AND ANGIOPLASTY WAS PERFORMED ON ME FOR THREE BLOCKS, ONE OF WHICH WAS STENTED.I AM SURE NOW THAT VIOXX IS THE CULPRIT. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME TO SEEK JUSTICE. I AM FROM KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. AND CAN BE CONTACTED AT THE ABOVE EMAIL OR BY PHONE 603-4041 0017.
I was wondering if there is any evidence or studies done re breathing problems. I had a stroke in 1999 (minor) and about a year later was put on Vioxx for chronic headaches and pms and only stopped taking it when recalled. At first, while on Vioxx, I felt a lot of fatigue and assumed it was residual of a stroke (1 year later?), as we Canadians were not informed of the heart/stroke problems I never would have agreed, nor my doctor, to taking Vioxx. While taking Vioxx I was also starting to wake up in the middle of the night coughing and choking and unable to BREATH. My doctor assumed it was asthma. I was spending a fortune on drugs that were not helping my breathing problems. I couldn’t sleep on my back for over 4 years. I couldn’t walk more than a block without choking and coughing. I went into bankruptcy and was even homeless due to breathing problems. Aside from occasional childhood bronchitis and constant tonsillitis (removed at 16)never had any major health problems. About 2 years ago was admitted to hospital for suspected stroke, turned out to be a pinched nerve from laying on my right arm while bedridden for months at a time. I had a lung biopsy about 2 mos after the pinched nerve problem, nothing wrong with my lungs and no asthma. Then my doctor thought might be panic attacks, I had my doubts. The meds I was prescribed for panic attacks were not helping my breathing either. Since stopping Vioxx I am no longer choking in the middle of the night. Still have loads of phlem, but not as bad. Am now having an easier time walking without choking. For about a 2 year period I collapsed 3x on the street from breathing problems and taken to hospital by ambulance. I had an open order for the nebulizer at my walk-in clinic. I’m now 41 years old, this all started in 2000. If the above symptoms are not from my stroke in 1999 (and my doctor in 2000 thought not) I feel Merck owes me 5 years of a life. I had a job, apartment, family, and everything fell apart. I’m trying to get my health back and now I’m sure Vioxx did this to me. I’m already in a class action lawsuit in BC. So if there is any available research I would appreciate any info on it. Thanks, and good luck to all fellow Vioxx survivors.
will the company pay for an echocardiogram to check my heart
Does anyone have any information on the effects and correlation of taking vioxx two years ago for a period of 2 months and the sudden death of a heart attack two years later. Do you think the effects of vioxx could be long lasting and could contribute to the death of a healthy person. My mom died of a sudden heart attack while on vacation in September.
I was prescribed Vioxx in 2000 and I developed a irregular heart beat (AFIB) in 2002, do you hitnk that was because of Vioxx?
We filed 18 Months ago and our’s is the first case to go to trial.
Also, we have the best documented case against the manufacturer.
It has been determined that the fatal heart attack was directly due to VIOXX.
Since we have what has been described as the strongest case and expect to be awarded damages we will be happy to respond to inquires after the claim is setteled to aide others in their damages recovery.
As many of you here I too have had health problems due to VIOXX that have resulted in permanent nerve and vascualr damage requiring leg bracing and extensive surgery and medications. I am very interested if anyone could give any information on the outcome of Ms. Baker’s litigation. I’ll also be happy to help anyone in anyway I can.
I personally MISS VIOXX..I could do so much more by taking Vioxx. I am now on Bextra and get no relief compared to my 23 mg of Vioxx. IF others are having problems……sorry…..I need my Vioxx to function properly. I would like to see it back on the market and taken in small doses like the Celebrex is. I cannot take Celebrex because I am allergic to Sulfa Products. IF you did not actually have a heart attack or stroke or death from Vioxx I do not feel you are entitled to a settlement from Vioxx. We all take the chances of taking medication every time we take it be it asprin, aleeve, or perscription….we just need to be careful, take it appropriately, and know our bodies and listen to them.We are also responsible to make sure we are not overdosing, misusing meds..be it perscription or over the counter, and we are all responsible to make sure we really need these meds instead of taking them because WE THINK they will help us feel better when we could possibly need to exercise more, meditate more, or just utilize our lives in a possitive direction.
i took Vioxx for approx.2 years and now I know that I am not crazy after reading all of the comments about Vioxx. For the past 2 years I have been suffering with PVC,S Irregular heart beats, you name it.I have been to two cardiologits, taken beta blockers, had all kinds of cardiac tests, you name it! I have always said it was the vioxx.When I first started having cardiac problems I knew that the vioxx was the the cause of it. I kept teeling my doctors, but none of them would acknowledge that the vioxx was the problem. Everyday that I live ,I have to live with these irrgular heart beats and some days I feel like my heart is going to jump out of chest. By the way , my physician has told my husband and myself, that I can have a heart attack at any time. Merck should be held responsible because that may have been an adverse reaction according to the P.D.R. , however it left out the fact that this was permanent. By the way the reason why I had access to a PHYSICIANS DESK REFERENCE P.D.R.is because I am a R.N.Most lay people donot have access to this book and the pharmacy was NOT sending out that information when they were dispensing the vioxx.I know when Merck was having some problems with the Vioxx, that is when the pharmacy started providing some information about cardiac side effects.Well, I rest my case! Merck should be held accountable! They did not test vioxx long enough.
I was very healthy and never had a problem with my heart or blood pressure. I woke up one morning after being on Voixx for about eight months post knee surgery with heart palpatations that wouldn’t stop. The paramedics took my heart rate and it was 256 beats per minute, I was only 38 years old at the time! They had to stop my heart and restart it to get a normal heartrate. I spent four days in the hospital and they never could tell me what caused it. Finally the ultrasound technicial admitted to seeing a few cases like mine in otherwise healthy younger people after taking Voixx. I now have very high blood pressure and have intermitant severe heart palpatations.
I just want this all to stop. The drug really helped my pain but it also almost killed me.
I was a career soldier who injuried my back in 1999. The doctor put me on Celebrex for a couple of months then switched me to Vioxx for the next 7 months. I had a heart attack in July 2000 which almost killed me. I was lucky the heart surgeon performed an angioplasty to save my life. I always suspected Vioxx was the cause due to my good health and recent medical check-ups. My ER triage report listed Vioxx as medication I was on, and the heart specialists wrote my family and medical history were “noncontributory”. So I was completely shocked to learn yesterday the FDA wants to approve Vioxx to return to the market. How many more people are going to die as a result?
I was always “healthy as a horse” till i broke my shoulder went on vioxx developed chf. never had a health problem of any kind do ya think vioxx changed all that?
I have an elderly client whose physician believes her kidneys have failed because of Vioxx. Has anyone else out there run into this and where can I find relevant information. Thanks:
I am concerned with my husbands health he was taking vioxx prescribed for low back pain due to injury from military he was taking it in 2003-2004 and was having lots of episodes of chest pain, he has had echo cardiograms, stress tests all kinds of stuff. then in jan 05- present he started having numbness and tingling in his hands and up to his elbows so bad that he could not stand it. we went to the doctor and they did tests on his nerves could not figure out what was causing this so MD referred my husband to Neurologist he did some nerve tests and then told my husband to take Gabapentin for 5-6 mos in the first month april, I told my husband I was calling the neurologist because he was having serious side effects such as memory loss, major mood swings fits of anger etc. the neurologist took him off the gabapentin and prescribed him Cymbalta 30mg at first now 60mg a day and he is still having tingling and numbness buzzing in hands not as severe but still happening but now has night terrors where he is physically punching at pillow in bed at night has slapped me in the face while I was asleep, screams, kicks, etc. H ereturned to the neurologist last week ans my husband told him that I was very concerned about this the neurologist stated they may never know what is causing this and my husband asked if he is just suppose to keep taking this medicine for the rest of his life? the neurologist said he would refer him to the university of Iowa City hospitals for more studies if thats what he wants to do otherwise he has no answers for us. To say the least I am really pissed off about this and I am sick of physicians amswering everything with a drug prescription. I f any one out there knows if this nerve damage and previous heart problems could be due to vioxx I really need to know. also my husbands cholesterol was 365. and his tryglercerides were 1250 the last time they were checked.
My husband of 30 years died 3 years ago of what the coroners documented on his death certificate as accidental overdose. He complained of burning in his stomach and horrible chest pains. His MD diagnosed him with RA and possible stomach ulcers, acid reflux, high cholesterol and depression. He was depressed because he had always been a hard working man, a strong man both physically and emotionally and a very healthy man. So, the doctor put him on Vioxx, Paxil, and Lipator and Prednisone. . We lived in a small town with , in my opinion, small thinking doctors. Not having much experience with medical problems and doctors my husband went with whatever they told him to do. Almost a year went by and my husband still complained of pain in his chest and by then his body also. I assume the doctors thought he was just after pain medications, which was far from the truth since he never took meds before this happened. One night he was having severe pain in his chest , but refused to go to the ER because they always said and did the same things that never helped. I do know that his doctors knew his triglyceride reading was over 1200 by then, but gave him no medication to bring it down. They just told him that if he didn’t lose some weight ( which he had gained from taking prednisone) that he would have a major heart attack. My husband and myself to be honest never took it seriously enough I guess since he had no heart problems like this before and that the doctors said it was the reflux. Anyway, without my or anyone’s knowledge of it, my husband was taking my medication that he had been prescribed for the so called panic attacks call Ativan. He took too many trying to stop the pain and died. He was miserable for the couple of year he endured the chest pains I know. And he really was severely depressed by then because there seemed to him and myself that the doctors weren’t helping him. So, I guess it was an accidental overdose. But, in the ER the night he died doctors told me his heart was like mush. He had been having heart attacks all along and finally had the major one the doctors predicted. I know the doctors could have helped him more, but I honestly believe in my heart from knowing how he suffered with his chest pain after taking the vioxx and considering he had no heart problems before that.. the Vioxx is to blame for his heart attack and his death. I lost a part of my heart that I had cherished since I was 15 years old. He was only 46 when he died. My 4 children still up to today cry and are very unhappy. To top that, now I have had a heart attack. I too was on Vioxx and I too had never had a problem with my heart. High blood pressure yes, from the kidney disease that caused me to have a transplant almost 11 years ago. But, when I complained about chest pains , I too, was told I was having panic attacks. This was about the same time the warnings about Vioxx were on tv and I got scared and stopped taking it. Soon after I had quiet a few small heart attacks and then a big one. When the doctors here (another state) checked finally by doing a cauterization of my heart I had two major arteries 100 percent stopped up. Now I am on many medications to try to prevent another one. Does anyone know if clotted arteries are one of the things Vioxx does to the heart? I am 49 now and afraid my children will lose their father and mother from this. Thanks. Please email me if you know at littlelamb56@hotmail.com
All meds have side effects:we all know that. But unless something comes out in the news about it;we would never associate our health problems with that particular med. A 3 year study on Vioxx showed that only after taking Vioxx for 18 months on a continuous therapy are there any raised risks for any cardiovasuclar problems. A 3 year prospective,controlled study!! Come on find something better to sue over!!
I live in Georgia. I suffer from several side effects from vioxx. I din’t die, and I din’t have a heart attack or stroke.. I need to find an attorney that will take my less severe case…. Near Savannah, Georgia
I WAS JUST READING THE COMMENTS FROM JUDDITH AND THOUGHT I WAS READING MY OWN SYMPTOMS. I ALSO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LEFT BUNDLE BRANCH BLOCK AND CARDIOMYOPATHY. I HAVE BEEN ON VIOXX FROM 2000 UNTIL 2004 DUE TO A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. SO FAR I CAN NOT FIND ANY ONE WHO CAN LINK MY CONDITION TO VIOXX. IF ANYONE CAN HELP ME PLEASE E-MALE ME AT WCMPCHIEF@JUNO.COM. BY THE WAY I AM ONLY 37 YEARS OLD AND DIAGNOSED TWO DAYS BEFORE THANKSGIVING 2005.
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