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Why is Vioxx being recalled?

By Jonathan Cluett, M.D., About.com

Updated: December 25, 2006

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Question: Why is Vioxx being recalled?
Answer: Vioxx, a popular arthritis treatment medication, has been voluntarily recalled by its manufacturer, the Merck Corporation.

Vioxx is one of the newer arthritis treatment medication, in a class of medications called the COX-2 Inhibitors. These medications include drugs such as Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra. The medications were developed to have the same benefits as Motrin and Ibuprofen, without the potential stomach-related side-effects. For more information about these medications, read through the information on anti-inflammatory medications.

Vioxx was recalled because of the potential cardiac risks that were found in a recent study of this drug. In the study, patients who regularly took Vioxx for a period of 18 months or longer, had an increased risk of cardiac events, such as heart attack and stroke.

Because of the results of this study, Vioxx was abruptly removed from the market, and consumers must now find a new alternative for arthritis treatment.

For more information about Vioxx, and the Vioxx recall, please read the following:

In this information provided by Merck, you will find more information about Vioxx, why Vioxx was recalled, and what you can do if you were using Vioxx.
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