Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the most important information I should know about Vioxx?
• What have been the most serious health concerns raised regarding Vioxx?
• What should I tell the doctor if I suspect I have arthritis?
• What questions should I ask before leaving the doctor's office for treatment of arthritis?
• What should I do if I think I have been injured as a result of taking Vioxx?
• How could I succeed in suing the manufacturer of a drug like Vioxx?

What is the most important information I should know about Vioxx?
If you will be taking this medicine for a long time, your doctor should check your progress at regular visits. Serious side effects can occur during treatment with this medicine. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; nausea; blood in your vomit; bloody, black, or tarry stools; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash; itching; yellowing of your skin or eyes; "flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding.

What have been the most serious health concerns raised regarding Vioxx?
Vioxx has been linked to possible cardiovascular complications, including blood clots, heart attacks and strokes, and to kidney failure.

What should I tell the doctor if I suspect I have arthritis?
The following includes some of the things you should tell your doctor: where you have pain or stiffness; when you have pain or stiffness; what the pain feels like (sharp/stabbing, dull/aching), how long the pain lasts, how long you have had the pain, what tasks you find difficult to do now, if you ever injured your joints or overused them in a job or a hobby, if anyone in your family had problems similar to yours, if you exercise, what kind of exercise you do and how often you do it.

What questions should I ask before leaving the doctor's office for treatment of arthritis?
What can I do to help relieve my pain and live more comfortably? What are the advantages and disadvantages of my various treatment options? When might I expect to start feeling better? What can I expect over the coming months/years? Under what circumstances should I call your office?

What should I do if I think I have been injured as a result of taking Vioxx?
If you have experienced unusual side effects after taking Vioxx, you should consult your physician immediately. Thereafter, you might want to contact an attorney experienced in product liability litigation to discuss potential legal claims you might have to recover for injuries Vioxx caused you.

How could I succeed in suing the manufacturer of a drug like Vioxx?
A drug manufacturer has a duty to inform physicians adequately regarding the known risks associated with its drugs. If a manufacturer fails to do so, it can be held responsible to patients who are injured as the result of inadequate warnings, under a product liability theory. Drug manufacturers can also be held liable for injuries to consumers based on theories of negligence, or even intentional or malicious conduct.