Report on Vioxx Side Effect and Usage by AskDocWeb

About Vioxx

What is Vioxx?

Generic Name: ROFECOXIB (ro-fa-COX-ib) This medicine is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) known as a COX-2 inhibitor used to relieve pain, the symptoms of osteoarthritis and to treat menstrual discomfort.

Ordering Vioxx

Update 9/30/2004: You can no longer order Vioxx as it has been pulled from the market. According to the FDA, a worldwide recall of Vioxx was announced today due to an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes. If you are a Vioxx patient, call your doctor about switching to an alternative medication.

There will soon be Vioxx lawyers as the Vioxx litigation of several Vioxx lawsuits are combining to form a Vioxx class action lawsuit.

How does Vioxx work?

Vioxx works by inhibiting the COX-2 enzyme that triggers pain and inflammation while it spares the related enzyme (COX-1) that helps maintain the normal stomach lining so most stomach upset is avoided.

What side effects do users of Vioxx report?

Side effects that may occur while taking this medicine include weakness or nausea. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor.

What are the symptoms of overdose or something gone wrong?

No cases of overdose have been reported, although a severe reaction may include a severe rash, hives, breathing difficulties, or dizziness.

Contact your doctor immediately if you experience swelling of hands, face, lips, eyes, throat, or tongue; difficulty swallowing or breathing; hoarseness; flu-like symptoms; sluggishness; yellowing of the skin or eyes; stomach pain; dark urine or pale stools; or unusual fatigue. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately.

If you miss a dose of Vioxx

If you miss a dose of this medicine and you are taking 1 dose daily, take the missed dose if you remember the same day. Skip the missed dose if you do not remember until the next day. DO NOT take 2 doses at once.

Conditions you should tell your Doctor about before taking Vioxx:

Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including aspirin-sensitive asthma, allergies, heart, liver or kidney condition, pregnancy, or breast-feeding.

For women: if you plan on becoming pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using this medicine during pregnancy. It is unknown if this medicine is excreted in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine. Do not use Vioxx during the last trimester of pregnancy.

Tell Your Doctor if you’re taking any of the following medicines:

Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with this medicine. Inform your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking.

Aspirin as prescribed by your doctor for reasons such as heart attack or stroke prevention (i.e., non-arthritis doses) should be continued.

Do not take this medicine if you have had a severe allergic reaction to aspirin or any medicine containing aspirin or to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (such as Feldene, Motrin, Naprosyn, and Clinoril).

Additional monitoring of your dose or condition may be needed if you are taking an ACE inhibitor, an anticoagulant, furosemide, lithium, methotrexate, rifampin, thiazide diuretics, or warfarin.

Use care when taking this medicine with other anti inflammatory drugs, because stomach irritation can result.

Storing Vioxx

Store this medicine at room temperature below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) in a tightly closed container, away from heat, moisture, light and children. Do not refrigerate.

General Notes

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read it carefully. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist any questions that you may have about this medicine.

This medicine may be taken on an empty stomach or with food.

Do not take any more doses of this medicine unless your doctor tells you to do so. Do not exceed the recommended dose or take this medicine for longer than prescribed without checking with your doctor.

Keep all doctors and laboratory appointments while you are using this medicine.

Alcohol warning: If you consume 3 or more drinks that are alcoholic every day, ask your doctor whether you should take this medicine or other pain relievers/fever reducers.

No special problems are expected with people over 60, though therapy should be started with the lowest recommended dose.

Common Misspellings for Vioxx: Vioxx is often misspelled as many people hear the word verbally and write it down or spell it incorrectly. Here are a few of the most common misspellings for Vioxx: Viocks, Viox, Vaoxx, Voxx, Vioks, Viaox.

Vioxx Feedback

If you’ve used Vioxx, please help others by sharing your experience with side effects. What would you tell someone considering using this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history. You can use the form below to add your comments, feedback or Vioxx review.

Subj: info on vioxx
Date: 1/22/2003

I have been taking Vioxx for over three years, A little history, Retired military, 100% disabled, I have osteoarthritis bi-lateral knees, bi-lateral hips and right shoulder, Spinal Laminectomy of C3 through C7 and T8 thought T11. Prior to taking Vioxx, merely getting out of bed was an adventure in pain. I can now entertain my 8 year old son for a sustained period of time, no I’m not an aerobics instructor, but I can sit and roll on the floor with him, go for walks and even swing a golf club from time to time. On several occasions I have had to stop take Vioxx, and within a few days, the pain returns!

Vioxx believer!

John

Subj: Data information
Date: 1/10/2003
I would be very interested to find out if other users of Vioxx experienced the side effects of swollen ankles, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Jan

Subj: info on Vioxx
I’ve been taking Vioxx for almost a year. Works well for my headache and back pain.

Amy

Subj: bad reaction to vioxx
Date: 8/21/2003
My wife has a cousin that is a surgeon and warned her aunt not to take vioxx. Her aunt took two pills and had serious stomach problems and discontinued vioxx. She was lucky to have had a nephew to warn her and she stopped because of the warning. That was three weeks ago and she still doesn’t feel normal.

My mother started taking vioxx in November and took this product for three months. She has lost thirty-seven pounds that she did not want to loose. She has stomach problems -reflux- no appetite- dry mouth-general discomfort. She has been to her doctors- had a MRI-CATSCANN- several physicals and been to a Dr. of nutrition. This is very distressing to her and the whole family. She is 71 years old and was fine until she started this vioxx treatment. She trusted her doctor and took this medication for too long. Unlike my wife’s aunt who stopped after two pills and still feels lousy, my mother looks bad and feels bad and is still looking for answers that are not forthcoming.

Subj: Vioxx recommended
Date: 10/16/2003
I take Vioxx for numerous reason (back pain, knee pains, headaches, etc.). It has always worked for me and I have not experienced any of the side effects mentioned in the label. I’ve even tried some of the others (i.e. Bextra and Celebrex) and I have found the pain relief Vioxx provides is MUCH BETTER!!! Bextra did not help my back pain at all! I am a firm believer in Vioxx and would recommend it!

John

Subj: Vioxx not recommended
Date: 10/30/2003
Vioxx was prescribed for my Rheumatoid Arthritis. It did not work very well on the pain and it raised my blood pressure to scary levels. Prior to the Vioxx, I have never had high blood pressure in my life. Also, it affected my kidneys. I would not recommend this medicine to anyone

Lisa

Subj: Vioxx
Date: 12/30/2003
I would never take Vioxx again. My legs swelled to twice there size and itched real bad, plus my kidneys started to ache, weight increased and i had facial swelling. Nine days after taking Vioxx I suffered a seizure and almost died. Doctors were going to give up hope when my blood pressure finally stabilized at 80/40.

Vioxx is dangerous when every person receives the same dosage. It is called an overdose. I was in the hospital for a week, lost my job, my health insurance. Now since my injury was work related (fell off shelf) and it was my employers doctor who prescribed this drug to me I have to fight this battle through workers comp, had to hire an attorney and I can’t do anything to the doctor who prescribed this drug for me. I cannot go back to work either because I still have the injury from falling off a shelf last year.

Never take Vioxx; try all other methods first. Even if others say they have had good results from this drug, long-term affects can be hidden, such as kidney malfunction.

Sharon

Subj: Unusual experience
Date: 3/12/2004
I have a heel spur as well as other pain related problems. Since I have GERD, my podiatrist recommended Vioxx instead of Ibuprofen. I took my first pill this morning and had a very “unusual” experience where I felt like I came out of my shoes along with a quick burst of, I guess you would call it dizziness. It scared me to the point I don’t think I am going to take any more pills. Even though my heel spur pain seems better, I am afraid to take any more.

Dee

Subj: Pain in jaw
Date: 3/13/2004
I took Vioxx for only a few days and experience pain in my jaw, sometimes sharp. I discontinued and it went away. I took it again and the pain came back. Strange. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience as my pharmacist didn’t think it was the Vioxx.

Libby

Subj: Huge headache
Date: 4/4/2004
MY doctor Prescribed Voixx for my musculer pain. I took it for 4 days and I have a huge headache. Has any one out there felt any headaches,afer few days of taking Vioxx.

Sal

Subj: What to do now?
Date: 4/7/2004
I have very bad knee athritis. 2 yrs ago Dr recommended Vioxx but on looking at side effects I held off -stayed with asprin. 2weeks ago I tried Vioxx, one half of a 50mg tablet. The relief was almost immediate so I continued for a few more days at 25mg. Then I got burst blood vessel marks on my arms, slight stomach upset and swelling ankles. Stopped for a week then restarted at one quarter of a tablet- say about12.5 mg. milligrams. Helped the kneee pain and stifness OK but ankle swelling and arm blotches returned. What to do now???

Eddie

Subj: Wonderful drug
Date: 4/10/2004
I have used Vioxx for about three years since I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Personally, I have experienced nothing but pain relief. It is a wonderful drug for my pain relief and I recommend it highly.

Dennard

Subj: Back pain
Date: 5/5/2004
I have used Vioxx for about 6 month now for bulging cervical disc problem at level c6 & c7 and I have tried other pain killer medicines but they did not work for me. Recently my back pain and arm pain are reduced significantly and I am able to participate all the activites which I used to do. I would recommend Vioxx to any one who has back pain (disc)problem

Crystal

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Last post: July 2, 2010