Cox 2 Inhibitors are new drugs in the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug family, otherwise known as NSAIDs. NSAIDs include common over the counter drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Researchers have long been working on an NSAID that does not present side effects on the stomach and liver. Most NSAIDs are used to treat the conditions like arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, gout, dysmenorrheal, metastatic bone pain, headaches and migraine, postoperative pain, pain due to inflammation and tissue injury, pyrexia and renal colic.
COX 2 drugs have been specifically targeted (marketed) towards arthritis sufferers, specifically osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis. They have also been popular for treating intense menstrual cramping. Unfortunately, Cox 2 inhibitors have been tied to heart problems. Many people who were prescribed these drugs then suffered major cardiovascular events like heart attacks, strokes and blood clots which led to serious injury and in some cases, death.
When Vioxx was aggressively launched to the market, it quickly became an amazingly popular medication. It was popular among both doctors and patients but in 2004 a study showed that people taking Vioxx doubled their risk of heart attack and stroke. Merck, the pharmaceutical giant behind Vioxx pulled the drug from the market and this action was followed by the release of more studies and evidence relating to Vioxx and heart problems. In fact, in a study released just after the Vioxx was pulled, out of 1.4 million patients of the Kaiser Permanente HMO, more than 27,000 sudden cardiac deaths were linked to Vioxx.
Bextra is another Cox 2 drug that has also been linked to heart attack and stroke as well as the fatal skin disease Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). SJS is a powerful and bad reaction to drugs in most cases causing blisters and peeling skin. Pfizer did quickly add a black label warning about the potential of developing Stevens Johnson Syndrome as a result of taking the drug. After reports indicated that Bextra might be more dangerous than Vioxx, it too was pulled from the market.
Celebrex, marketed by Pfizer, remains on the market as the only COX II Inhibitor available. On March 1, 2006, a New Zealand based research group said that upon a re-analysis of older studies conducted on Pfizer's pain reliever Celebrex they have discovered that the drug can indeed raise the risk of suffering a heart attack. The drug, like other Cox 2 inhibitors Vioxx and Bextra can nearly double the risk of heart attack in patients.
The idea behind Cox 2 inhibitors was sound – isolate the anti-inflammatory benefits, among others, and try to eliminate problematic side effects that damage the stomach and renal systems. Sadly, because of inadequate testing and trials and a massively successful marketing campaign, thousands of people suffered painful injury and many people died. There are many lawsuits pending against Merck and Vioxx for the defective drugs they offered to the market. If you have been injured by Vioxx, Bextra or Celebrex you should contact a product liability, medical malpractice or defective drug attorney as soon as possible.