Those Who Took Bextra May Need the Assistance of a Lawyer

Kahn Gauthier Swick law firm is investigating claims against pharmaceutical company Pharmacia on behalf of patients who have been prescribed the painkiller Bextra (valdecoxib) and later suffered problems such as heart attack, stroke, severe skin reaction, or other adverse effects. Bextra, a COX-2 inhibitor, was approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 16, 2001, and was marketed in March, 2002. It can be prescribed for osteoarthritis, adult rheumatoid arthritis, and primary dysmennorhea.

One study has demonstrated that Cox-2 inhibitors inhibit prostacylin formation in the cells lining blood vessels. Prostacylin is a naturally occurring substance that tends to dilate blood vessels and prevent clotting. The study, which was published in the August 14, 2001, issue of the medical journal Circulation, concludes that its results "raise concerns regarding an increased risk of acute vascular events in patients receiving COX-2 inhibitors."

Another study, published in the August 29, 2000 issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluded that COX-2 has a "cardioprotective" effect. This suggests that blocking COX-2 may increase the risk of heart disease.

Do you want to contact a Bextra lawyer? Then use our claim form and tell an attorney about your potiental claim.