Bextra is a Cox 2 Inhibitor, released by pharmaceutical company Pfizer and marketed towards arthritis sufferers. Bextra is in the same family as Vioxx, Celebrex and Naproxen and is technically in the non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug family, otherwise known as NSAIDs. Cox II inhibitors were developed to be the next version of NSAIDs – all of the anti-inflammatory benefits without the gastrointestinal and renal side effects.
On April 7, 2005, the FDA and European drug and medication regulators formally asked Pfizer to remove Bextra from the U.S. and European markets because they felt the risks posed by the drug far outweighed any benefits it might bring to patients. Pfizer immediately complied. This was not before thousands of people were hurt as a result of this defective drug.
Bextra, it was discovered, not only nearly double the risk of heart attacks, blood clots and stroke in patients taking the drug, but it was also linked with several instances of Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a potentially life threatening skin disease that is almost always developed in reaction to a drug. Symptoms of Stevens Johnson Syndrome include blistering on the face and near the mouth, high fever and coughing, fatigue and malaise, swelling and painful sores on the gums, tongue, or lips, excessive tear production and mucous production in the eyes, sores in the genital tract, widespread skin rash and difficulty breathing. Additionally it was discovered that patients who had severe allergies to antibiotics should not use Bextra because of adverse reactions. All of these Bextra side effects were frightening and debilitating.
Earlier in 2005, the FDA’s advisory committee held hearings to examine whether Celebrex and Bextra should be allowed to stay on the market after the abrupt removal of Vioxx. Ultimately they voted to leave Bextra available to consumers. Sadly, several members on the committee had close ties to the pharmaceutical companies and their motivations were seemingly based on profitability and benefits to the drug companies rather than on informed data about consumer health. As a result, this dangerous and defective drug was still in the hands of consumers.
Many now say that the intense marketing campaign and off-label promotions conducted by Pfizer for Bextra exposed millions of people worldwide to this defective drug. Although in most cases a drug can only be marketed for specific purposes as identified by the FDA, doctors are allowed to prescribe a drug for so called "off label" purposes. For instance, some doctors have used Prozac as an ADHD medication when it is not specifically identified for that purpose. It is alleged that Pfizer spent a great deal of marketing dollars convincing physicians to prescribe Bextra for unapproved uses.
If you or someone you care about was a victim of this defective drug, you should contact a qualified medical malpractice attorney, product liability attorney or defective drug attorney so that you can assess your individual situation and your potential compensation at the hands of a company who created a dangerous product. There are many Bextra lawsuits going through the courts and if you deserve compensation and justice, a Bextra lawyer can advise you on how to proceed.