Vioxx was withdrawn from the U.S. market in 2004. The manufacturer of Vioxx has announced a voluntary withdrawal of the drug from the U.S. and worldwide market. This withdrawal is due to safety concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular events (including heart attack and stroke) in patients taking Vioxx.
Vioxx is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Vioxx works by reducing substances that cause inflammation, pain, and fever in the body.
Merck & Co. removed its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx (Generic: Rofecoxib) from the market worldwide because new data from a clinical trial found an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Merck decided to remove the drug from the market on September 30, 2004, after data from the trial showed an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and other cardiovascular complications.
The data comes from a three-year study aimed at showing that Vioxx at a 25 milligram dose prevents recurrence of polyps in the colon and rectum. The trial was stopped after Merck discovered the higher heart risk compared to patients taking dummy pills.
Before the withdrawal of Vioxx, the FDA announced that patients taking Vioxx have a 50 percent greater chance of heart attacks and sudden cardiac death. he study, presented at an epidemiologists conference, also found patients taking the highest recommended daily dosage of Vioxx had three times the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death as those not taking standard painkillers.
