Bextra

Bextra (valdecoxib) is in a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It works to reduce substances in the body that cause swelling, soreness, and fever due to osteoarthritis and adult rheumatoid arthritis.

On April 7, 2005 the FDA asked Pfizer, Inc. to withdraw Bextra from the US market due to the overall risk versus benefit being unfavorable. The FDA also asked Pfizer to include a boxed warning in the Celebrex (celecoxib) label highlighting the potential for increased risk of cardiovascular events and gastrointestinal bleeding. Pfizer agreed to suspend sales and marketing of Bextra in the US due to the increase risk for serious cardiovascular events and increased risk of serious skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, erythema multiform). More information is available here.

Pfizer took a further look at Bextras clinical trial database after Merck’s intentional removal of its best selling drug, Vioxx. Vioxx was shown in clinical trials to include the increased risk of stroke or heart attack in patients who had coronary artery bypass surgery. A prelude study confirmed that the occurrence of strokes and heart attacks among patients that took Bextra was in excess of double that of those given placebos per The American Heart Association (November 2004).

  • Serious, possible side effects of Bextra
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
  • Epidermal Necrolysis (large sections of the skin turn red and peel like a burn)
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Bloody, Black or Tarry stools
  • Nausea, Heartburn, Diarrhea or Headache
  • Unexplained Weight Gain
  • Jaundice
  • Flu-like Symptoms
  • Unusual Bruising or Bleeding
  • Water Retention

If you experience any of these Bextra side effects you should notify your doctor immediately.

Bextra Lawsuit

You may have the right to monetary damages in a Bextra Lawsuit including reimbursement for medical expenses, any loss of income, pain and suffering, and even punitive damages. Our Bextra lawyers are ready to help. Two recent small studies run by Pfizer, Inc. have shown that heart bypass surgery patients taking Bextra (valdecoxib), an anti-inflammatory that serves a similar function as the withdrawn drug Vioxx, had a higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Bextra is also being linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or SJS, which is a rare inflammatory skin disorder that can be life-threatening. Up to 27% of those affected incur long term eye damage or vision loss, and up to 15% die.

Have you been taking Bextra? If so, you may have a claim for compensatory damages. Contact a personal injury attorney at the Stenger Law Firm, LLC regarding your Bextra lawsuit. If you feel that you or a loved one has been adversely affected by Bextra, please fill out the form below for your Free Case Evaluation.