Arthritis affects 49 million people in America today, and roughly $86 billion is spent to assist with arthritis issues, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vioxx, a Merck & Co. arthritis drug designed to treat the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis, gained FDA approval in 1999.
Vioxx became one of the company’s top-selling drugs and one of the top medications prescribed in 2001. However, after an internal study showing that cardiac events were more likely to occur in patients taking the drug, Merck & Co. voluntarily recalled Vioxx from distribution.
Associated Link between Vioxx and Heart Problems
A study by the Food and Drug Administration found that over the three-year period that Vioxx was on the market, thousands of heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths could have been avoided if another competing drug had been prescribed. The heart-related problems seen in some patients using Vioxx are:
- Blood Clots
- Heart Attacks
- Strokes
- Death
When defective drugs are involved in a dispute, federal laws govern the litigation of these cases. However, state statutes of limitation laws may be in effect. The experienced attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers have handled many of these claims, and we can make sure your suit is filed before these important deadlines pass.
If you or a loved one has suffered any of the serious medical conditions described above after taking Vioxx, please contact our defective drug lawyers today to schedule your confidential, no-cost consultation. Jacoby & Meyers has offices throughout the U.S.