Vioxx Increases Chance of Heart Attack Recently, information has surfaced connecting the pain-killing drug, VIOXX, most commonly used to treat arthritis, with an increased risk of heart attack. Kaiser Permanente, the nation's largest health management organization, found that heart attack rates and sudden cardiac deaths were tripled in patients taking VIOXX in doses higher than 25 milligrams a day when compared with other pain killers. When VIOXX initially hit the market, it was highly touted as being easier on the stomach than other pain relieving drugs; but this new research eclipses previously held notions of the drugs superiority. Other studies have had similar results. The VIGOR study, a prospective, randomized, double-blind, one year study, evaluated approximately 4000 patients on VIOXX 50 mg a day. While VIGOR corroborated VIOXX's gastrointestinal benefits, it also showed that there was a higher cumulative rate of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, angina pectoris, and peripheral vascular events. Still other studies have shown increased rates (between 14-24%) of heart attack for patients taking VIOXX. * *http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=518497 Lawsuit Claims Life-Threatening Vioxx Side Effects - An article describing a case brought against Merck & Co. for VIOXX's potentially deadly side effects. Source: (C) Copyright FDA - 2004. All rights reserved Find a Vioxx Lawyer Vioxx Resources Merck Merck Clarifies Number of Patients and Prescriptions for VIOXX Merck Announces Voluntary Worldwide Withdrawal of VIOXX Merck Vioxx U.S. Food and Drug Administration U.S. Food and Drug Administration Vioxx Center FDA Public Health Advisory on Vioxx FDA Vioxx Questions and Answers U.S. Food and Drug Administration