Bextra

Bextra is the brand name for a COX-2 Inhibiting drug known generically as valdecoxib. It is routinely prescribed for conditions such as menstrual pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It belongs to a family of drugs known as NSAIDS. NSAIDS are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to relieve pain and to also reduce swelling and inflammation. It is important to note that several other COX-2 Inhibitor drugs in this same family have recently been recalled.

Bextra was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in 2001, and millions of people began using it almost immediately in an effort to relieve pain associated with arthritis. However, at the time it was approved for use, little was known about the potential it had to cause serious life threatening skin conditions, as well as cardiovascular problems. As consumers began filling their prescriptions, they were given much the same advice as what follows in the paragraph below.

As with any prescription drug, Bextra can cause some side effects. The most common side effects that are associated with the use of this drug are cough, water retention, dizziness, headache, heartburn, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, stomachaches, nausea, high blood pressure and shortness of breath. Some of the more serious side effects that can occur with the use if Bextra include difficulty hearing, loss of appetite, mental confusion, swelling of legs and feet, vomiting blood, unexplained weight gain, dizziness and blurred vision. These side effects should never be ignored, and must be reported to a physician at once.

In April of 2005, the Food and Drug Administration asked Pfizer, the manufacturer of Bextra, to recall the drug from the market. Even though Pfizer publicly disagreed with the Food and Drug Administrations claims regarding the risks associated with the use of Bextra, Pfizer issued a recall on April 7.

It is interesting to note that a study, whose results were presented in November 2004, showed that compared with patients given a placebo, the patients who used Bextra were 2.19 times more likely to experience a stroke or heart attack. At this time, Pfizer denied these results stating that they had not been independently reviewed, nor had they been published in any medical journal.

Bextra is now a recalled drug, and trials are being heard in courtrooms across the country as patients claim numerous, serious side effects of using the drug. Some of the life threatening conditions Bextra is believed to have caused include heart attacks, strokes, and serious skin diseases such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Bextra News

Although Bextra, a recalled drug, has not been in the news very recently, news about lawsuits concerning the drug have been. Bextra, which was a drug widely prescribed to relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis and menstrual cramps, has been the topic of many lawsuits as of late.

Bextra was found to significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, as well as serious skin conditions, and as a result was recalled. Those filing claims and seeking compensation are finding that there are numerous types of awards that they may be entitled to.

Lawsuits are being filed by the previous users of the drug, as well as their family members in cases where the user has died as a result of Bextra use. Although laws are different for every state, generally, those filing such suits may be entitled to monetary compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering as well as the loss of any future earning capacity. Punitive damages may also be awarded if the manufacturer of the drug is found to have committed fraud in its release of information concerning the actual safety of the drug. Some of these cases are settled out of court, while others will go to trial and are heard before a jury.

Since so many related problems have been linked to Bextra, it is important to consult a qualified attorney if you or someone you love has suffered kidney problems, liver problems, serious skin reactions, acute allergic reactions, heart attacks, blood clots, stroke, stomach or intestinal bleeding, or any other cardiovascular or gastrointestinal problems, during or after stopping the use of Bextra. If any of the aforementioned has been experienced, the patient may have grounds for a lawsuit.

A reliable attorney, one who is familiar with drug recall cases, will be able to effectively review your information and inform you of any possible compensation that you may be eligible for. Before meeting with an attorney, it is imperative to have your prescribing doctors contact information, pharmacy information, as well as information regarding what dosage of Bextra was taken, as well as for how long it was taken.

Since there does exist a statue of limitations for these particular types of cases, time is of the essence when contacting an attorney. The drug companies have an entire group of competent attorneys working for them; the consumer whose life has been impacted by a faulty drug should also have competent representation to insure that a just compensation will be awarded.