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rofecoxib (VIOXX)

• celecoxib (CELEBREX); meloxicam (MOBIC); rofecoxib (VIOXX); valdecoxib (BEXTRA)
  We list these drugs as Do Not Use drugs because they are no more effective than related drugs, most have not been shown to have a lower rate of ulcers than related drugs and some have been shown to cause heart disease.

• Arthritis and Inflammation [hide all summaries]
  At least 31.6 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis. The three most common types are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Each has a different cause, treatment, and probable outcome.
• Salicylates and Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) [hide all summaries]
  The salicylates are used to relieve pain and to reduce fever and inflammation. Aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is the most well-known and frequently used salicylate. Other salicylates discussed on this web site are salsalate and choline and magnesium salicylates.

• Update on Drugs that Can Cause High Blood Potassium [hide all summaries]
  (December 2008)
  This article lists 68 drugs that can cause high blood potassium (hyperkalemia) that can result in nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness or tingling sensations, as well as heart abnormalities (showing up as an abnormal electrocardiogram). In some cases it can be fatal. If you are taking any of these drugs, be especially careful if you have diabetes or kidney disease. If so, you are at increased risk, and your doctor will have to weigh the risk of giving you these drugs. Also, the older you are, the more likely you are to develop hyperkalemia. Also, make sure you are receiving appropriate laboratory monitoring.
• Blockbuster Arthritis Drug Rofecoxib (VIOXX) Withdrawn From Market [hide all summaries]
  (November 2004)
  Vioxx is the ninth prescription drug to be taken off the market in the past seven years that Worst Pills, Best Pills News readers were previously warned DO NOT USE. The average time between warning readers not to use these drugs and their removal from the market was one year and eight months.
• Arthritis Drug Rofecoxib (VIOXX) Linked to Increased Risk of Coronary Heart Disease [hide all summaries]
  (December 2002)
  Investigators from Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN, in a study published in the October 5, 2002 issue of The Lancet, found that patients taking 50 milligrams per day of the arthritis and painkilling drug rofecoxib (VIOXX) for longer than five days are 70 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) than nonusers of the drug.
• Drug Induced Psychiatric Symptoms [hide all summaries]
  (October 2002)
  This is the first of a two part series on drug induced psychiatric symptoms that is based on the July 8, 2002 issue of The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics. Regular readers of Worst Pills, Best Pills News will recognize The Medical Letter as a reference source written for physicians and pharmacists that we often use because of its reputation as an objective and independent source of drug information. The article lists the drugs and their psychiatric adverse effects.
• Merck’s Promotion Of Its Arthritis Drug Rofecoxib (VIOXX) Crosses Legal Lines And Poses Public Danger [hide all summaries]
  (November 2001)
  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 17, 2001 made public a Warning Letter it had issued to Merck & Co. about a false and misleading promotional campaign that the pharmaceutical giant had been conducting on behalf of its blockbuster arthritis drug rofecoxib (VIOXX).The FDA said, "Specifically, your promotional campaign discounts the fact that in the VIGOR study, patients on Vioxx were observed to have a four to five fold increase in myocardial infarctions (MIs) compared to patients on the comparator nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), Naprosyn (naproxen)."

• Painkillers and Terrorism. Letter to the Editor of the New York Times on Cox 2 Painkillers (HRG Publication #1727) [hide all summaries]
  Painkillers and Terrorism. Letter to the Editor of the New York Times on Cox 2 Painkillers (HRG Publication #1727)
• Testimony to FDA on Dangers of Cox-2 Drugs (HRG Publication #1725) [hide all summaries]
  Testimony of Sidney M. Wolfe, M.D. Director, Public Citizen’s Health Research Group (HRG) Before FDA Arthritis and Drug Safety Advisory Committees Concerning the Dangers of COX-2 Drugs
• Petition to remove the Cox-2 Inhibitors Celecoxcib (CELEBREX) and Valdecoxcib (BEXTRA) From the Market (HRG Publication #1720) [hide all summaries]
  Petition to remove the Cox-2 Inhibitors Celecoxcib (CELEBREX) and Valdecoxcib (BEXTRA) From the Market (HRG Publication #1720)
• Vioxx, Other “Super Aspirins” Are Super Disasters – Other Cox-2 Alternatives Have Safety Problems Too (HRG Publication #1707) [hide all summaries]
  Vioxx, Other “Super Aspirins” Are Super Disasters – Other Cox-2 Alternatives Have Safety Problems Too (HRG Publication #1707)
• Testimony before the FDA Arthritis Drugs Advisory Committee on the Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Celecoxib and Rofecoxib (HRG Publication #1555) [hide all summaries]
  A second box warning about cardiovascular toxicity needs to be added. It should warn of the lack of platelet aggregation inhibition of the drugs which protects those at risk from an increased occurrence of heart attacks. In addition, the evidence which is rapidly accumulating about the heart damage caused by these drugs must be mentioned in this cardiovascular box warning.

• COX-2 Inhibitors Vioxx and Celebrex: Keep Staying Away--It Gets Worse [hide all summaries]
  (March 2001)
   In light of the above discussion, we continue to advise the patient-protective five-year-rule for these drugs, as we do for all other new drugs that are not breakthroughs. Do Not Use.

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