has the experience
and resources to
handle complex claims involving prescription medication.
Bextra
The information on this page is provided for informational purposes only. As of 2011, the Simmons Law Firm is no longer accepting cases involving Bextra.
Filing a lawsuit
Initial reports treated drugs like Bextra as miracle drugs, as they seemed to work better than traditional nonsterodial anti-inflammatories (NSADs) like ibuprofen or aspirin. Even better, they provided pain relief without the serious problems from stomach ulcers, including bleeding, that was associated with long-term use.Unfortunately, Cox-2 Inhibitors were later cited in several studies as significantly increasing the chance of heart attack or stroke in people who have taken the drugs. As a result on April 7, 2005, the FDA withdrew Bextra from the market.
See the Bextra timeline of events.
What is Bextra?
In 2001 Bextra joined the then-growing list of Cox-2 Inhibitors on the billion-dollar pain reliever market. Cox-2 Inhibitors are used to treat osteoarthritis, acute pain and painful menstrual cycles.
Other popular Cox-2 Inhibitors are Vioxx and Celebrex. For more information see:
FDA Warnings
The FDA removed Bextra from the market due to its dangerous side effects.
* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results.
Bextra Side Effects
Bextra (Valdecoxib) belongs to a family of medications referred to as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS. Treatment with Bextra is prescribed primarily for pain associated with arthritis. Bextra has also been used to treat painful menstrual cramping.
The most dangerous Bextra side effects are:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
Less serious and most common Bextra side effects include:
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Flatulence
- Insomnia
Timeline of Events
November 2001 - Bextra is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treatment of osteoarthritis, menstrual pain, and acute pain in adults.
November 2004 – A key Cox-2 researcher is asked to leave an FDA panel after he finds that Bextra doubles the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
December 2004 - The New England Journal of Medicine states that Bextra increased the risk of serious cardiovascular outcomes (heart attacks and strokes) by a factor of approximately three.
January 2005 -- Public Citizen consumer group issues petitions to remove Bextra.
February 2005 - New England Journal of Medicine article states the use of Bextra after bypass surgery was associated with an increased incident of cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke).
February 2005 - CBSnews.com cites a new study indicating Bextra increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by 50% .
April 2005 - Bextra is withdrawn from the market by the FDA
Resources for Clients
- FDA MedWatch for Bextra
- United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
- New England Journal of Medicine
- American College of Rheumatology
- The Arthritis Foundation
- The National Databank for Rheumatoid Diseases
- American Heart Institute
- American Stroke Association