Vioxx and Bextra Lawsuits Could Tie Up Courts for Years
In September, 2004, pharmaceutical giant Merck voluntarily withdrew its painkilling medication Vioxx from the market. Studies show that Vioxx increases the risk of heart attack and stroke among patients who have used the drug for longer than 18 months. Vioxx, a drug from a family of Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known as COX-2 inhibitors, is one of only a few drugs specifically designed to minimize inflammation while avoiding the stomach disorders long associated with other anti-inflammatory medications. Since its introduction in 1999, Vioxx has been a huge success, and sales of the drug worldwide topped $2.5 billion in 2003. That is certainly a great deal of money, but it pales when compared to the amount that Merck stands to lose through product liability lawsuits, which will soon come to court.
As of this writing, several thousand lawsuits have been filed nationally, but attorneys estimate that the total number of lawsuits filed could reach a staggering 100,000.One hundred thousand lawsuits is certainly a formidable number, but that figure could represent only half of the number of lawsuits related to COX-2 inhibitors. Earlier this year, Pfizer voluntarily withdrew its similar medication Bextra from the market, as studies linked the use of Bextra to increased heart attack risk and to a rare skin disorder known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Bextra, another drug in the family of COX-2 inhibitors, works very similarly to Vioxx, and many patients who formerly took Vioxx switched to Bextra after the former was removed from the market last fall. Given that sales of Bextra rose to near Vioxx levels before it was removed from the market, it seems likely that the number of lawsuits filed by patients who claim to have been harmed by their use of Bextra could eventually equal the number of Vioxx lawsuits. Two hundred thousand is a staggering number of lawsuits, and unless they are consolidated into just a few class-action suits, they could keep our courts working on little else for the next decade.
Patients who believe that they may have been harmed through the use of either Bextra or Vioxx would be well advised to contact an attorney who specializes in pharmaceutical lawsuits now. The wait for a resolution in court , particularly for Vioxx lawsuits, could be a very long one. Those who file quickly may get the fastest results..
?Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including Bextra-Info.net, a site devoted to the withdrawn drug Bextra and StructuredSettlementHelp.com, a site devoted to structured settlements.Adventures in Learning French
Adventures in Learning French
Hi, we're Ron and Kate and we're originally from England. We spent about 15 years holidaying in France before we moved here permanently. In that time we tried quite a few different ways to learn French - some of them more successful than others!
Today we get along with the French language pretty well - but there's still room for improvement so we continue to try new ideas, programs, software and books as they come along. We're also having lessons with a retired teacher who we met locally.
What we're hoping to pass on, via a series of articles, is our experiences (both our successes and our failures) in order to perhaps be of some help to those of you who are visiting France ? whether that's just for the occasional holiday, in search of a second home or moving here permanently. Here we go then?
There are many ways to learn French.
Kate and I both have our preferences and you will probably...
Adventures in Learning French
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Aromatherapy Candles Release Stress
Have you been feeling so stressful and almost losing your patience over anything? Everything seems to be shattered and you think that you cannot handle it anymore. This is definitely the perfect time to lighten the burden! Aromatherapy is a great conclusion. Some scented aromatherapy candles will help you out! What are aromatherapy candles anyway? Let's find out about them in here.However, before we jump into aromatherapy candles, it's better to get to know what aromatherapy is and how it works. Aromatherapy is a body healing treatment that uses essential oils with certain scent or aroma with the intention of physical as well as psychological comfort. Candles are just one of the varieties of aromatherapy diffusers.
The aroma of essential oils will be dispersed by the candles and therefore will fill up an area or a room with the natural fragrance. You can also use other diffusers available in your household equipments like clay pot, electric heat, and fan. Of course each has different...
Aromatherapy Candles Release Stress
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Why You Need Skin Care Products
Our outer being is determined by our skin. Healthy skin is important since people typically first notice a persons appearance. You can show how you care for yourself by having healthy skin. The importance of skin care is known by everyone. Since there are a variety of skin care products on the market everyone is bound to find a product that works for them.
There are many benefits to having good skin.
Your self esteem will be boosted through good skin and this will help your ability to interact with other people. In addition, good skin will improve your daily activities and help you feel refreshed, relaxed and clean. By not taking care of your skin you will often look more mature than your real age and your appearance may be dull and lifeless. Since many don't want this to happen it is important to develop a skin care routine and take special care to maintain good skin.
In addition, those around you will be effected by your liveliness so other people...
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Medical Alert Bracelets for Diabetics
If you or someone you love has diabetes, getting a diabetic medical alert bracelet is imperative. Because of the nature of the condition, diabetics can have medical emergencies at any time. If they're not with someone who knows their medical condition's specifics, medicinal mistakes could be made. To be proactive about diabetic care, investing in a diabetic medical alert bracelet is a good idea.
Diabetes is such a tricky disease; one never knows when they may need medical attention. Due to the nature of the disease, fainting or passing out is not uncommon.
When being revived by paramedics, it's important for them to know that you are diabetic and require specialized care.
Diabetic medical alert bracelets can come in plain metal, or with stylish beads and metal charms. Due to the large number of diabetics, especially in the United States, a wide selection of styles is available so that people can choose a style that suits them best.
...
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New Ways to Use Old Christmas Cards
Forty years ago when I was growing up on our dairy farm in Wisconsin, my mother always saved the Christmas cards she had received in the mail. In those days, people sent many more Christmas cards than they do now. Today, I still find myself saving the cards that I get each Christmas. When the holiday season is over, I take them down off the dining-room side of our kitchen cabinets. I look at each one and think about the person who sent it.
Then I tuck the cards into Christmas canisters...
christmas
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Vioxx and Bextra Lawsuits Could Tie Up Courts for Years electric generators
Recognizing The Warning Signs Of A Sick Car
Okay, something's wrong with your car. You know it. It just doesn't "feel" right.That may sound lame when you're talking to your mechanic, but believe me, it's not something you want to ignore.Maybe you feel like the car is difficult to handle. Maybe the ride just seems less smooth and stable. Perhaps there's a vibration that wasn't there before.These symptoms almost always indicate a problem.Is it harder to steer your vehicle? Do you have difficulty steering in a straight line? This might mean...
tires Vioxx and Bextra Lawsuits Could Tie Up Courts for Years Recognizing The Warning Signs Of A Sick Car Suits
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Cartridges
"Cartridge" refers to a detachable sub-unit that is held within its own container. They were popularized by early home computers like Commodore 64 and early TV games systems. The advantage of cartridges lies in the fact that they facilitate quick loading of software from one media format to another. It also helps maintain the software in a sturdy and damage-resistant form.
Throughout the 80s and the 90s, all home video game systems were cartridge-based.
As technological advancements...
Cartridges ink cartridges Vioxx and Bextra Lawsuits Could Tie Up Courts for Years
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Moving Day Made Easy with Tips from ShipnShred.com
Denver, CO (ContentDesk) April 13, 2006 ShipnShred.com, the document shredding and recycling service experts, have some useful moving tips for consumers as the beginning of moving season approaches. As you get ready to move into your dream home, the best moving advice is, dont move the things you no longer want or need, says Steve Hastert of ShipnShred.com. This is especially true of old clothes, childrens toys, and documents in your filing cabinet that are ten years old or more. Filing...
Moving Day Made Easy with Tips from ShipnShred.com
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