VIOXX ® Lawsuits  

VIOXX ® use leads to a kidney transplant for a former Southern Mississippi tailback

Source: USA TODAY
Published: June 4, 2003 

 

Former Southern Mississippi tailback, the only player in history of his school to run for more than 1,000 yards in his first two seasons, has just undergone a kidney transplant. The surgical procedure has put the chances of an NFL career to rest and Nix has had to exchange his football for a dialysis machine. Nix filed a VIOXX ® lawsuit and Celebrex lawsuit after alleging the use of the anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed for his sprained ankle led to his need for the kidney transplant. His doctors have said that VIOXX ® and Celebrex use led to the kidney ailment that causes extreme protein loss called membranous glomerulonephritis, which does not allow the kidney from properly filtering waste from the blood. Characterized by high blood pressure and fluid retention, Nix fought through the kidney condition and returned for the 2002 season after sitting out for most of 2000 and 2001 recovering. Tests following the 2002 season revealed that Nix's condition had worsened and that a kidney transplant was necessary.

In addition to the cost of the kidney surgery, Nix will incur thousands of dollars worth of continuing medical care in the future, all because of the use of VIOXX ® and Celebrex he believes. VIOXX ® and Celebrex makers continue to maintain the anti-inflammatory is safe.

 

 

Calif. VIOXX ® Lawsuit Claims 'Life-Threatening' Side Effects

 Source: Reuters
Published: July 02, 2003

Carolyn Baker has filed a lawsuit against Merck & Company claiming she suffered serious side effects after taking the drug maker's arthritis painkiller, VIOXX ®. Baker is seeking unspecified damages and compensation to enabler her "to treat and monitor the dangerous, severe and life-threatening side effects" caused by VIOXX ®, the court papers said.

The side effects are describes as "edema, changes in blood pressure, cardiovascular events, cerebrovascular events and death."

"Merck stands behind the efficacy and safety profiles of VIOXX ® and will vigorously defend the lawsuit," Chris Loder, Merck spokesman, said. "Merck considers patient safety to be of the utmost importance."

Reuters reported that, "Baker's lawsuit blames Merck for playing down the results of a 2000 study that linked VIOXX ® and drugs of its class, called COX-2 inhibitors, to "several severe and life threatening medical disorders" similar to the ones she experienced."