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Bextra Important Facts

Bextra Important Facts

What is Bextra?
 
 
Bextra is a pharmaceutical product, developed in 2001, categorized as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).  It is often used for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstruation.  It is a product of Pfizer inc. and was removed from the market in 2005 over possible increased risk in heart attack and stroke.
 
 
What are the side effects of Bextra?
 
 
Upon certification by the FDA there were 20 known side effects associated with Bextra.  Of the most serious are skin conditions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and Toxic epidermal necrolysis.  Stevens-Johnson syndrome is characterized by inflammations of the skin and mucous membranes.  Toxic epidermal necrolysis takes the form of, what look like second degree burns.  Both are serious side effects associated with the drug.
 
 
Government Regulation
 
 
Bextra has been associated with the same serious side effects as Vioxx, which was produced by Merck and subsequently removed from the market.  In 2004 the FDA considered adding a "black box" warning to Bextra, the highest government warning available, but neglected to do so after the removal of the product from the market in 2005.  In 2005, over concerns that the benefits of using the drug outweighed the possibility of adverse and dangerous effects, specifically the findings that use of Bextra was associated with increased cardiovascular risks, the lack of data that was available about cardiovascular risks and the increase in reports of life threatening skin conditions such as those mentioned above.
 
 
Lawsuits
 
 
In 2009 Pfizer inc. was forced to pay $2.3 billion in fines to settle criminal and civil charges surrounding the promotion of Bextra.  The lawsuit contended that Pfizer was promoting the drug for "off-label" usage.  This is usage that is not prescribed by the FDA.  Although it is not illegal to use a prescription drug for non-FDA approved uses it is illegal for the makers of the product to promote or market the drug for those uses.  The complaint alleged that Pfizer promoted the drug for treatment of acute pain and pre-operative and post-operative pain, all of which were not approved uses designated by the FDA. 
 
 
As of 2007 Pfizer had settled some 90% of personal injury litigation involving serious side effects concerning Bextra and Celebrex.  These injuries ranged from heart attack and stroke to the serious skin conditions noted in the "side effects" portion of this article. 
 
 
What if I took Bextra?
 
 
If you or someone you know has taken Bextra or any other form of Cox-2 inhibitor such as Vioxx then you should immediately consult a physician about ending usage of the drug.  All Cox-2 inhibitors are currently off the market due to serious conditions associated with them.  If you have had a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular condition as a result of using any of these drugs then you should consult an attorney, specifically one specializing in class actions against pharmaceuticals or a personal injury lawyer with knowledge of litigation in the field.