Bextra

Bextra (valdecoxib) was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in November, 2001 to treat arthritis joint pain, inflammation, stiffness and painful menstrual cramps. Bextra is in a relatively new class of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) known as COX-2 inhibitors. Some other well-known COX-2 inhibitors include Celebrex (celecoxib), Vioxx (rofecoxib), and Arcoxia (etoricoxib). These arthritis medicines are touted as providing strong pain relief without irritating the stomach lining.

While Bextra has proved to be an effective medication for the relief of arthritis symptoms, certain dangerous side effects have been reported. In April 2005, the FDA requested that Bextra's manufacturer, Pfizer, remove the drug from the market because of health risks and side effects including a greater risk of heart attacks, strokes, cardiovascular events, "life threatening" skin reactions (Steven-Johnson Syndrome and toxic epidermal necrosis) and gastrointestinal bleeding in patients.

In 2004, almost thirteen million Bextra prescriptions were written and Pfizer reported an estimated $1.5 billion in Bextra sales.

If you or a loved one have taken Bextra and have experienced any serious side effects, please contact our Bextra lawyers today for a free claim evaluation. Our prescription negligence attorneys are available to discuss your potential claim.

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