A South Texas woman on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Merck & Company, alleging she had to undergo open-heart surgery after using Vioxx for less than a year to treat her arthritis pain.
On September 30, 2004 Merck announced that it was pulling Vioxx from all worldwide markets after a study confirmed that it increases a patients’ risk of cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke.
The lawsuit, filed by Olga Sanchez, 67, of Pharr, is among the first in Texas of what is expected to be a flood of patient Vioxx lawsuits.
“Merck pharmaceutical company aggressively marketed this drug directly to consumers knowing it carried significant health risks, Plaintiff’s attorney Ricardo Garcia said. “In doing so, Merck actively deceived consumers, which is a violation of Texas law.”
Merck has said that cardiac problems in its test groups surfaced only after 18 months of use. However, Garcia pointed out that Mrs. Sanchez had been using the drug less than a year.
“I believe we will be seeing more of this across the country as Vioxx users become aware of problems with this drug,” Garcia said.
The lawsuit accuses Merck of negligence for failure to warn consumers about potential risks or to adequately test the drug, knowingly distributing a defective product, misrepresenting or actively concealing known risks from the public, and violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Texas Food, Drug, Alcohol and Cosmetic Act, Garcia said in a press release.
Two doctors also are included as defendants in the lawsuit: Dario Arango, M.C., and Emery L. Suderman, D.O.
(via PR Newswire)
{ 6 comments }
i would like to know about vioxx, because i took vioxx for pain in my arms and other places. this was around 200 or 2001. i have since been going back and forth to the doctor fofr heart problems and i have developed high blood pressure that i’m having a hard time controlling. please contact me on this matter.
Nevermind that most of these people that are now complaining about heart problems have out of control cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes. Ambulance chasing at its best
I, too have had been on Vioxx and now being treated for heart problems.
i have a friend who does not have any history of heart problems and on june 2nd 2004 she went to the dentist and the dentist perscribed her vioxx 4 her root canal and on june 9 she had a heart attack. if any one can give me some info i would appreciate it. it would be a piece of mind to know what the cause if it was and it would help give her a piece of mind to finally get to the bottom of it. thank you
I was 39 when I took vioxx for a few weeks for a back problem, and six months later I suffered a heart attack due to a blood clot. BE CAREFUL if being prescribed Vioxx!!
on november 15th my mother who was 46 years old died suddenly to a massive stroke…wich led to severe bleeding in the brain (anurizm) she never had blood pressure problems before? but that week following she had surgrey to remove pins from her back…her blood pressure was rising and falling, but the docter did the surgrey any way? she was on vioxx for 4 years for her back pain….and now my sister, father,and myself are with out our best friend and mother…..tell me how this is okay? thease test that merck did were in 2000, the drug was released in 1999? they new about this and did nothing. i would like to talk to anybody that has sufferd a loss or injury to vioxx…you can reach me at 757 270-6074….my name is shane..thank you and god bless thoughs who have sufferd
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