News: Vioxx®, Bextra®, Celebrex® - Heart Attack and Stroke - Florida
If you are taking a prescription medication, you should be aware of all breaking news related to its side effects. While many drugs are approved for use by the public, side effects, as in the case of Vioxx®, Bextra®, and Celebrex® heart attack and stroke risks, are often unknown until a large number of people are taking the drug. Our Florida defective drug attorneys have developed this page to keep you abreast of breaking news that may affect you. You can read news about Bextra®, Vioxx®, Celebrex®, and breaking news on the likelihood of heart attack and stroke, as well as the dangers of other drugs in the following links. If you think you or a family member has suffered from the effects of prescription medication, we urge you to seek help for dangerous drug side effects.
FDA Scientists Announces 5 Most Dangerous Drugs In Congressional Hearing
Scientist Dr. David Graham, who has worked with the FDA for over 20 years, announced in a congressional hearing the top five most dangerous drugs available in the U.S. according to indications of FDA findings. While the FDA issued later statements asserting the safety of the five drugs, Dr. Graham presented compelling evidence that the drugs did pose a significant threat to their users. The five drugs were:
Study on Cholesterol Lowering Drugs
In November 2004, scientist David J. Graham presented the U.S. congress with data that indicate a link between a number of cholesterol lowering drugs and a muscle disorder known as rhabdomyolysis. The study included the drugs BAYCOL®, LIPITOR®, PARACHOL, and ZOCOR®, and showed that one in 23,000 users of these drugs developed the disorder, except in the case of BAYCOL®, whose users were 10 times more likely to develop the disorder than users of the other four drugs. BAYCOL® was taken off the market in 2001 after it was linked to 31 deaths from muscle disorders.
Bextra®
Pfizer, the makers of Bextra®, announced in October, 2004 that, in clinical trials, Bextra® was shown to increase risk of heart attack and stroke among patients who had undergone heart bypass surgery. Florida bypass patients should seek alternative therapies for pain relief if they are currently taking Bextra®.
Vioxx®
On September 30th 2004, Merck Pharmaceuticals withdrew Vioxx® from the market after the drug was shown to cause heart attack and stroke. A widely used pain reliever, it was estimated that more than 84 million people throughout the world had used Vioxx® at one time or another, and that 2 million people were using the drug when it was pulled from the market.
Neurontin®
On May 14th, 2004 Pfizer Inc. settled the case against its epilepsy drug, Neurontin®, agreeing to pay $430 million in penalties. The original producers of Neurontin®, Warner-Lambert, which was acquired by Pfizer in 2000, illegally marketed the drug as an effective treatment for bipolar disorder, a marketing campaign that enabled Neurontin® to become the best selling epilepsy drug in the U.S.
Protopic®
Protopic® is an FDA approved prescription ointment used for the non-continuous treatment of atopic dermatitis (eczema) in adults and children aged two years or older. In February of 2005, an FDA advisory panel recommended that the Protopic® label be updated to carry a warning of the possible risk of cancer associated with the drug. In January of 2006, the FDA approved an updated “black box” warning which clearly indicated the high risk of cancer, including skin cancer and lymphoma, associated with use of Protopic® ointment. The defective drugs attorneys with Timothy H. David, P.A. are now accepting cases involving the prescription drug Protopic®. If you or your child used Protopic® and suffered any adverse side effects, please contact us today to find out if you are entitled to compensation.
Elidel®
Elidel® is a topical cream prescribed to treat atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema) in patients as young as two years old. In March of 2005, the FDA ordered the makers of the prescription drug Elidel® to include a “black box” warning in their product label, alerting Elidel® users about the possible risk of cancer (including lymphoma) associated with the cream. The “black box” warning is the most serious warning issued by the FDA. If you or your child has suffered any adverse affects from the prescription cream Elidel®, please contact our defective drugs attorneys for a review of your case.
For more information on Vioxx®, Bextra®, and Celebrex® and the risk of heart attack or stroke, contact our Florida lawyers.
_________________
Our Florida Offices
100 East Faith Terrace
P.O. Box 940218
Maitland, Florida 32794
Toll Free: (866) 425-2734
_________________
124 South Florida Ave.
P.O. Box 8229
Lakeland, Florida 33802
Toll Free: (866) 425-2734