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Indiana Vioxx Lawyer

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Arthritis is the painful swelling that occurs in specific parts of the body. Many types of arthritis can be located where two joints connect, such as in the knee. Arthritis pain can range in intensity from moderate to crippling, and can cause sufferers to live with pain on a daily basis. Vioxx was created as a new generation of arthritis medications. These drugs were classified as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) with COX-2 inhibitors, and were designed to alleviate arthritis pain without the side effects, such as stomach problems, that were found in the older medications.

Vioxx, when released in 1999 after its approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), gained so much over-night popularity that 91 million prescriptions were written in the United States alone. Eighty-four million people were estimated to be taking Vioxx on a regular basis worldwide. Five years into the height of Vioxx's fame it was voluntarily recalled, pulled from pharmacy shelves, and no longer in production. Vioxx users were startled to find out that the chronic use of Vioxx had been linked to life-threatening medical illnesses, such as a heart attack, stroke or blood clots.

According to testimony offered before the United States Senate, it is estimated that between 88,000 and 139,000 Americans experienced heart attacks due to Vioxx, and around 30 to 40 percent of those actually died. Therefore, approximately 27,000 and 55,000 deaths could have been prevented if the truth about Vioxx had been reported. Eighty countries worldwide prescribed Vioxx on a regular basis. For many years, Merck denied concerns of Vioxx posing great threats to patients lives, and had they acknowledged the serious concerns, many Vioxx deaths may have been avoided. It seems as if the money flowing into Merck outweighed their morals. However, in 2001, the FDA (the Food and Drug Administration) issued a warning letter to Merck forcing them to change the packaging on Vioxx to clearly state the risk of heart problems. Unfortunately, this was years after the drug had already been on the market, and much of the damage was already done thousands suffered from heart attacks.

One of the reasons why Merck is being highly attacked is because of their masterful public relations and aggressive marketing. It is estimated that they spent close to $500 million on promotional tactics and direct consumer advertising. It is believed that Merck knew about the dangers of fatality and decided to cover up the clinical findings. Merck raked in $2.5 billion in sales that covered the globe in more than 80 countries. There is still debate about whether or not Merck was intentionally negligent about its drug's safety and, as more information has been revealed, there may be more evidence that the drug company misled the medical community and its patients. Particularly suspicious is the FDA's initial approval of Vioxx back in 1999.

If you had a long-time prescription to Vioxx and experienced unanticipated side effects of the drug, you should make an appointment with your physician immediately. Merck is liable for injuries caused by its product, and many former patients and their families have filed lawsuits to fight for compensation.
Product liability law is what keeps manufacturers in check, preventing them from creating defective products or advertising products deceptively. In the case of Vioxx, the drug was not accompanied by warnings about its dangerous health risks. An attorney/lawyer in Indiana may be an expert on product liability, Vioxx in particular, and can thus navigate the confusing legal world surrounding it. Thousands have already sued the pharmaceutical giant, and many of them have won financial compensation for their Vioxx-related health problems.

If you or a loved one are a resident of the state of Indiana and have suffered a heart attack, stroke or blood clot due to the use of Vioxx, contact an attorney immediately. An attorney can answer all of your questions as they lend a hand and an ear during this trying time.