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)
{ 91 comments }
I would like to know the outcome of the lawsuite filed against Merck by Carolyn Baker. Please let me know how much they settled for if and when it becomes available. Also, when will they be going to court?
Please E-Mail at your earliest convenience. Thank you.
My husband was prescribed Vioxx for arthritis, after being on Vioxx for over a one year period, he suffered a heart attack, he no prior history of heart disease, hypertension, or high cholesterol. We also are filing suit against Merck. I work in the health care industry and the pharmacy we deal with took Vioxx out of our facility. I to would also like to know when is Merck going to accept responsibility when peoples lives are being threaten.
Please provide the name of the lawfirm for Ms. Carolyn Baker. I am the legal representative for my Mother who died March 2001 of which I believe was due to the intake of VIOXX up until three days prior to her death. My Mother’s side effects were identical to Ms. Baker’s inaddition to kidney and gastrointestional problems. Only until the last three days of her life did the hosptial progress notes document to “discontinue VIOXX!”,
I just started taking Vioxx 2 months ago or so and already I am having a problem with higher blood pressure. I don’t think I’ll join a lawsuit; but I am thankful to Carolyn Baker, et. al for their comments. I am going to quit taking the junk as of today.
I am a physician writing a book on the adverse effects-and general lack of benefit–of anti-inflammatory drugs. I am searching for patients or their family members wiling to go on record regarding their experiences with these–particularly with the COX-2 inhibitors, Celebrex, Vioxx, or Bextra. Contact me via e-mail as posted.
I took Vioxx and it caused me to have permanent heart condition…atrial fibrilation..I am interested in joining a class legal action…Marlene Briskin
My grandmother was on vioxx for 4 months. During those months she started burbing alot after every meal. She was referred to a specalist who told her to stop taking Vioxx, because it had given her stomach ulcers. She had them carterized and we thought it was over. Not hardley, every 2-3 months she has to go again and get them carterized. She was told this will continue the rest of her life. At 92 years old this is procedure is quite difficult. Would this type of difficulty be included in the law suite. Thank you.
Please post my e-mail address with my message dated Oct. 27, 2003, above.
Did you write the publication “Game Face”?
If so, I read your book and enjoyed it. Very interesting read…
I suffered a massive P.E. because of vioxx. How do I know this? I am young and fit with no health problems other than simple athletic tendons injury. My doc gave me RX for tons of vioxx and that is the only thing that changed in my life. Funny thing…the spokesman for Merck has this one liner for everything that he releases about the company…”Merck will contest this lawsuit vigorously, and we believe that the…” spokesman Chris Loder.
I know the guy is just doing the job he gets paid to do but man, how does he sleep at night. I’d like to write a book about his life/job with Merck when he leaves or retires from them.
Just my 2 cents. Take a childrens asprin once a day and hydrate well.
Peace.
Alex–Yes, I am the author of Game Face, and thank you for your comments. If you would like to chat about your case (or the book!), feel free to e-mail me at gameface@doctorjim.org. From there we can make arrangements to touch base by telephone if you would like. Dr. Jim
I was prescribed Vioxx in 2000 and by May of 2001 my family physician handed me paper work to fill out to be placed on the donor list for heart transplant. I had recieved an EKG (normal) and an echo cardiogram (normal) before starting Vioxx. My blood pressure had been border line for severl months before beginning Vioxx. With in six months my blood pressure had increased, I began having a very dificult time breathing. My family physician found that I had developed cardiomyopathy, CHF and left bundle branch block. I told my doctor that I felt that Vioxx was the cause and he told me that the studies done by Merck didnot show any connection between Vioxx and cardiac events. He also stated that if I did not want to take Vioxx that I should stop. As soon as I stopped taking Vioxx my cardiac condition began to improve.
My questions are;
1. Could Vioxx have been a factor in developing my health problems.
2. Have others to your knowledge had similar problems?
3. Are there any studies to support a connection between the cardiac events that I suffered and Vioxx?
4. Where can I purchase a copy of your book Gameface?
Thank you for any imformation and help you can give.
Judi Dorriety
Judith,
Because of legalities involved, I cannot deal with all of your questions in depth here. However, I can provide some general answers. First, studies have related congestive heart failure to NSAID use. The increased risk is roughly double for “all comers,” and ten-fold for those with pre-existing heart disease. COX-2 inhibitors (e.g., Vioxx and Celebrex) are associated with increased frequency of thrombotic (clot-related) pathology such as stroke and heart attack. Although preliminary data published in the JAMA showed these to be safer than older NSAIDS due to a decrease in risk of bleeding, the final data showed no overall safety advantage. The increased thrombotic incidents in the COX-2 group erased any safety advantage and morbidity and mortality rates were not statistically different in the two groups. Despite wide publicity and distribution of the original publication and preliminary data, I am not aware of any such concerted effort to make prescribers (me, for instance) of the final study outcomes. Vioxx has also been shown to be associated with blood pressure elevation and fluid retention. Game Face is available at Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and many other on-line bookstores–and should be coming to bookstores in the future.
My son is 19 and he has been on Vioxx for 6 months because of a back surgery from a baseball injury. Last night he had difficulty breathing and passed out. I am wondering if that could be do to the Vioxx? He is at College and I told him to stop taking them immediately. His doctor gave him handfuls of samples. We never even had to get a prescription for them. I don’t know if this was the cause of Vioxx but I have my suspicions.
Please contact me with any advice.
Thanks
Denise
I was prescribed Vioxx for a pinched nerve about 3 1/2 weeks ago and took 25mg. per day. I thougth everything was going weel until about 2 1/2 weeks into this drug I had soaring blood pressure, very high pulse rate and found it difficult to breath easily! i ALSO HAVE GAINED 8 POUNDS IN THREE WEEKS of being on Vioxx, it would usually take me at least a year to gain this, I am 5′7′ and normally weigh approx 114 pounds. I am so frustrated regarding not knowing if this event was truly caused by Vioxx or not. I have since stopped taking this drug and would never want anyone else to take it without knowing the potential serious side effects that are not listed on the contraindications!!
I was given vioxx by my doctor a few years back for back pain around that same period I had a pulminary embolism they told me it was most likely fron the estrogen I was taking due to a full hysterectomy I had 2 years earlier.i am only 33 now.But prior to the embolism I had increased heart rate for a number of months.Do you think this was estrogen or vioxx?
i have been on vioxx since 2000, off and on i have taken 25 mg. a day. since i have been on this medication, i have experencied waking up with my heart racing, indegestion and heartburn that i’ve never had before, and loss of breath that stops me in the middle of doing something. my hips and legs hurt in the bones. i have gained weight and have water retention in my legs and feet now. can all this be caused by vioxx?
June L Daniel
I have been taking Vioxx for at least a year. My doctor prescribed it for my arthritus. It has helped. I don’t think my blood pressure has gone up much. I am 45 yrs old and also in menopause since the age of 41. Just recently I’ve also been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.
I am worried about the side effects. If I don’t take it I can’t function. My whole body feels like a truck ran over me. I wouldn’t be able to cope if I didn’t have it. I can’t take Celexa, that makes me itch all over.
So I don’t know what else to take.
What do you suggest?
My name is Pamela Erinle and i had a heart attack and went in to cardic arrest x2 from vioox and was in icu for nine days and had seziures and the increase blood pressure and all the side effects. and thank God i am a live i was on this medince for 21/2 years and my life isnow full of heart medicine they need to take this medicine off the market. But the drug companies are so greed they do not care about us all they care about is making money and getting richer and our Gov do not care either because when the first few died it should have been off the market.I know it was vioxx that gave me the heart attack because i never had none before and thank God for Jesus he saved my life so i can tell people not to take the medicine because it is know good for humans. Pamela ERINLE
Please i am asking the food and drug people to pull this drug off the market i would not want anyone to suffer like i did because of this vioxx it was a horrible thing i went through and still i going through. And these people meaning Merck need to be held responsible in a very big way for their actions. Jesus brought me back to life so i could tell people if it is anyone out there that can tell the fda please tell them so.I am still having fash back o the heart attack and barely can get through it sometimes.People just do not care of human life anymore. Pamela Erinle
I have taken Vioxx off and on since it was released about 2000, In 2002 it was again persribed. Early in 2003 I begain having trouble thinking clearly,and remembering.I also begain to have severe swelling in my legs all the way to my thighs.I couls not wake up, I feel asleep whenever,and would sleep indeffinately.I was hopitalized and cardiac workup was done and I don’t really know all of the results but they told me to stop the VIOXX. My blood pressure was borderline, I have since been put on blood pressure meds,and am still having sweeling problems but not so severe,total loss of energy,Weight gain of 30 lbs.I have been sure that this med,VIOXX was responsible for the episode in 2003 but have no idea if current urinary infection, Crohn’s disease was diagnosed in 2003 and all sorts of problems. Can you tell me if this all could be related
Hi, I have been on Vioxx for 1 year. My blood pressure used to be 124/65, it is now 145/93. I have angina and shortness of breath due to the Vioxx. I am now off of it and my BP is starting to go down—Stay away from this drug!!!
Hi, I have been on Vioxx for 1 year. My blood pressure used to be 124/65, it is now 145/93. I have angina and shortness of breath due to the Vioxx. I am now off of it and my BP is starting to go down—Stay away from this drug!!!
I too, was on vioxx and have developed irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, angina and breathing difficulities. I am thinking about getting my lawyer to look into a lawsuit because of these lingering problems.
I was taking 25mg a day of vioxx and it helped but i still had alot of pain,so my doctor uped my dosage to 50mg twice a day.(That’s 100mg a day)I ended up in the emergency room gasping for air.This was about 2 years ago and i’m still having chest pains , shortness of breath
and a high heart rate.Could this have been from the vioxx???
I have stopped taking Vioox today after hearing about the market withdrawal. Will I have the potential of the life threatening effects of this drug for some time to come?
I have been on VIOXX for almost 2 years. Many health problems have arisen over this time and I question that VIOXX might be to blame. I have had extensive swelling in my leg and foot even after elevation of extremity. I have palpitations that will wake me from my sleep. My stomach is almost always upset and blotted. In December of 2003, I was hospitalized with blood clots, one of which move to my lungs. Recently I have developed severe leg pain, and tests are now be done to see what the cause is. I am stopping VIOXX immediately. However, will any effects from this remain or will they easy up over time? Please keep me informed.
The first time I took Vioxx was in 1998 after I broke my knee. The Dr. did not want me to stay of Lortab (addictable)& put me on the Vioxx 2x’s/day. Since that time, I have had high blood pressure, Chronic Fatigue, sleeping as long as 22-24 hrs. at a time, extreme difficulty breathing and most important,3 blocked arteries in my heart, with two being fixed with stents. I will stop the Vioxx IMMEDIATELY 9/30/04.
This is not an ad. I am a reporter doing a story about Vioxx withdrawal, and would like to interview people about problems they had. Mostly looking for people in New York. Please email or call if you would like to talk: (631)843 2726
I was prescribed Vioxx for five months until I finally told my doctor I couldn’t take it any longer due to ill effects of the drug.
I have been taking vioxx off and on for the last three years, although I had not associated my symptoms with vioxx, I am now beginning to wonder.
a couple of months ago I was having short sharp pains in my head that really hurt. M blood presure has indeed been rising despite the fact that I have been on a blood pressure medication for years. I find that I now am having to take a double dose some days. I wake up tired and often dizzy when I get out of the bed. I was first prescribed vioxx in minnesota, now I live in georgia and recently filled another prescription, but they told me at the pharmacy that I could not get it any longer. Do you think I should see someone about my symptoms?
I Had a Heart Attack Labor Day. Could Vioxx have caused this. I have been taking vioxx on and off for years. I noticed shortness, about 6 months after I started taking vioxx, but didn’t relate it to medication because it did help my joints.
Has there been any problems with patients having thin skin? I’m 52 and my skin is extremely thin. Any small scratch or other action that would normally cause a bruise on most people turns into red bloody spotting just under the skin.
My father passed away in January 2004 after taking VIOXX. He had no previous heart conditions, he experienced higher levels of blood pressure & sweated profusely. I need info on how to proceed against Merck. Any info will be appreciated. I miss my Father . . .
In october of 2000, I developed high blood pressure for the first time and suffered a heart attack which required an artery stent to be inserted. I was given Vioxx by my Ortopedic surgeon for a knee damaged by arthritis, in fact I was due for surgery on the knee when I suffered the heart attack. I had been perfectly healthy to that point. I took Vioxx for about three months. Now I suffer from extremely thin skin which bleeds easily, acky leg muscles, constantley being tired and a heart which I worry about constantly
I started taking Vioxx Aug. 99 for arthritis in my knees & back. Jan 00 I had a heart attack with no known cause. Perhaps the cause has just been discovered.
I have been taking vioxx on and off since 1999. It was giving to me for arthritis and a rotator cuff tear. I had periods of time when my enzyme levels of my liver were up and the doctor thought I was drinking heavy. I started bleeding and my stomach would hurt from time to time and I would stop taking it. I always told my doctor that I had pains in my heart but test never showed that I had any problems. I started to have high blood pressure problems. The worse thing is the menstral cramps. They are so bad that I double over from time to time. I’m not sure what is going on. But I was suppose to be on vioxx now. But have not taken it because I knew something was wrong. But no would ever listen. I took this drug for almost two years straight. Now look what I have to deal with.
Would like information on the lawfirm that is addressing this issue, for after taking vioxx for more then four years have now developed heart problems.
I took vioxx after having my wisdom teeth pulled. after taking them for about two weeks i feld skipping heartbeat, trouble breathing. i went to the E.R and my doctor said that im stressed out and thats it. im a nursing student and i know that i wasnt just stressed out i stoped taking vioxx and now im fine.
My Grandfather took Vioxx for two years. Eight months ago, he died of a massive heart attack. The doctors could not give us an explanation why he had a heart attack when six months before that he had been given a clean bill of health by his cardiologist. He has no history of any heart conditions either. I would appreciate any information regarding this lawsuit. Thank you.
My Mother was prescribed Vioxx. She had a history of high blood pressure and heart trouble. She took it for several months before she had a stroke in September of 2003 which she died from in October of 2003.
I would like information about the lawsuit, or if I should file my own.
In November of 2002 3 days before Thanksgiving my 69 year old dad died suddenly he had no heart conditions,high blood pressure,etc.
His only illness was he had been on Vioxx for 3 yrs for arthiritis.I also would like to know about class action law suit or any legal matter to pursue. Our family would like to have had dad around for a little while longer.
I have been on Vioxx for 3 years. I am wondering about withdrawal effects because of suddenly stopping the Vioxx.
I was 28yrs old I took Vioxx for a back problem that causes me chronic severe pain. I took it from approximately Aug. 2000 to Dec. 2001. I seen one lone comercial from a law firm saying Vioxx had been linked to heart attacks and strokes so I stopped. I had never had any problems of any kind with my heart. Two weeks later I go in for an annual and my heart rate is through the roof. I had to go through so many tests and now I have to take Toprol everyday to keep my heart rate normal. But it would be nice to know is this caused by a pill or is this something physical I should be watching for in my daughter. Mind you they never did give me a straight answer as to what was causing my heart problems. I experiencing several palputations a day and that is uncomfortable.
I have taken vioxx for about 18 months for a torn rotator cuff, and for the last year I have been dealing with irregular heartbeats, and acute angina. It makes it hard to work, I have to rest a lot. I have had to reduce my activities, and do not exercise as much as I used to. I am not able to play baseball or football with my kids like I used to. I have been very involved with them in the past, and in good physical shape for a 40+ year old, but now it is mostly as a spectator. I would like to be a part of an action to seek compensation for people injured by vioxx. I was hospitalized this year with severe chest pains for three days.
This is all very scary. I too had been on Vioxx for over 2 years due to several factors. In Oct. of ‘99 I hurt my lower back. I was put on many scary meds and one of them was Vioxx. In May of ‘01 I had to have back surgery. And once again on Vioxx. Started doing well by November ‘01. Then in Dec. ‘01 I was rear-ended. That created incredible pain in my back and many others problems. As the pain was intolerable and effecting my life, the doctor put me on Vioxx again. I was once again rear-ended in Sept. ‘02 setting off
a never-ending battle with pain. I had not even stopped the Vioxx from ‘01. Then in the summer of ‘03 I was at my wits end from the pain, so the doctor doubled my dose from 25mg to 50mg of Vioxx. I never put two and two together that any heart palpitations, funny heart beats, weird breathing, etc. might be caused by Vioxx. I had wondered about the potential liver issues. About 4 weeks after starting the double dose of Vioxx, I became extremely nauseous and thought I had stomach flu. I also had incredible burping that was quite embarrassing. I waited a week (but did quit all meds, as I thought I was going to vomit them up) and still feel just as sick. So I called my internist doctor and asked about any bugs going around. He said to come in. In the course of a couple of months nothing improved, so he referred me to a GI specialist. I went through so many tests and GI drugs that I lost count. Finally in early ‘04 the GI specialist sent me to a surgeon suggesting I may need to have my galbladder removed, but that he (the GI specialist was at his wits end as to what the cause was). This was almost 6 months after becoming so sick to my stomach I thought I’d never get better. All the tests came back within normal ranges. So the surgeon suggested it may be stress that caused everything. Who knows….I never did go back on Vioxx. And I am now concerned that there could be potential unknown repercussions from taking it. What kind of questions should I ask my doctor, what kind of follow-up tests should be done?
Thanks for having this chat available for those of us with concerns.
September 1999 – echocardiogram showed no problems with my heart. Good health! October 2000 – went on Vioxx for arthritis 25 mg. per day. March 2001 – blood pressure that had been slowly rising in the last year or so, was finally running 150s over 100 to 110. Went on 40 mg. monopril – later accupril. May 2003 – in an X-ray for possible chest congestion, doctor found aneurysm of ascending aorta (4.2 centimeters in the c-scan). In a follow-up c-scan six months later, aneurysm was 5 centimeters and I had open heart surgery to repair the aorta. I had been taking Vioxx this entire time. I began retaining fluid in my lungs during rehab after my surgery. So, I am now on accupril (lower dosage), lasix. I took myself off the Vioxx in June because I just couldn’t afford the cost each month. I am now taking Ibuprophen and doing well. Question: Could the Vioxx have caused the aneurysm? I was only 52 when I had surgery. There was no explanation for my aneurysm except possibly the high blood pressure. All of this came along after I began to take Vioxx. Would like for an doctor to answer my question. Please!
My mother died 2 yrs ago of a massive stroke. She had been taking Vioxx off and on for about 2 yrs. She was perfectly healthy until she collapsed one afternoon, she died the next morning. What does Merch have to say about this? I know in my heart and have no doubt that Vioxx caused this.
Is there a class action suit against Merck re: Vioxx.
My husband was once a professional football player…very healthy…except for a knee injury. He had surgery and was put on Vioxx by his doctor. He died 2 weeks later from a pulmonary embolism.
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