New research from a long-term study of individuals taking the arthritis drug known as Vioxx offers confirmation that the drug increases the risk of stroke or heart attack by 50%. Reported on Reuters.com, the research suggests that other arthritis drugs of the same class (Cox-2 Inhibitors) may pose the same risks of heart attack and stroke.
On a brighter note, the new research suggests that the risk of stroke levels off and goes down to normal approximately 1 year after a patient has discontinued using the drug. There was some speculation in the past that Vioxx could pose a continuing problem for users, even for years or decades after patients had stopped using the drug. The new evidence suggests this is not the case.
It was back in 2004 that Vioxx was first suspected, and later identified, as a potential risk for coronaries and stroke. Vioxx manufacturer, Merck ceased production of the painkiller in late 2004. But Merck’s’ legal problems surrounding the drug continued: in 2007 the company agreed to pay $4.85 billion to patients of a class action law suit whose health had been damaged by Vioxx.
Although the latest research suggests that patients who took Vioxx had double the risk of heart attack or stroke than those who took a placebo, representatives from Merck continue to dispute the evidence, suggesting that the research was tainted by “using limited data from a prematurely terminated study.”
Additionally, a statement by Merck said that the data from the study should be “interpreted very cautiously.” The company is also trying to link Vioxx to other anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, which can contribute to heart problems when used in high dosages. However, the preponderance of evidence leaves little doubt that the risk of using Vioxx is far greater than that of other anti-inflammatory painkillers, including Naproxen, Ibuprofen or common aspirin.
The fact is that all anti-inflammatory medications carry certain risks. Aspirin, for example, can pose a risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and contribute to the development of ulcers when used in high dosages. The same can be said for other painkillers, but Vioxx has been proven to pose an increased risk of serious illness when taken at even low levels — a major difference between Vioxx and some of the other pain relievers available for arthritis.
Some critics suggest that Merck’s defensive tone regarding Vioxx is simply a legal strategy, designed to minimize the company’s liability for the damage potentially caused by the drug. Before it was pulled from distribution, Vioxx generated approximately $2.5 billion in annual sales for Merck.
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