Special Report Monday November 08, 2004 Australian Newsletter's Warning Over Common Prescription Drugs Source: The Age Published: October 13, 2003 Australia's October newsletter for Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (ADRAC) warns that commonly prescribed drugs for arthritis, depression and epilepsy have been linked to a variety of potentially adverse health effects including heart attacks, convulsions and birth defects. The newsletter contains warnings about the arthritis drugs Celebrex and Vioxx, the anti-depressant mirtazapine (marketed as Remeron, Avanza and Mirtazon) and the anti-epilepsy drugs Epilim and Valpro. According to ADRAC, "There may be an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease" with Celebrex and Vioxx. "The increase in risk seems to be higher in those with pre-existing cardiovascular disease," the committee reported. Read Full Story at The Age 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