[TChris]

So, just how much of an increase in risk is there from Vioxx? I have heard from patients who use Vioxx that they're willing to accept the risk because it allowed them to live a normal life with their arthritis.

[Dont Mention the War]

So, just how much of an increase in risk is there from Vioxx? I have heard from patients who use Vioxx that they're willing to accept the risk because it allowed them to live a normal life with their arthritis.

IIRC (and I may not be), they found something like a 50% increased risk of heart attacks in those that took Vioxx for more than 18 months straight.

Really though, the recall of Vioxx is no big deal to the overwhelming majority of arthritis sufferers. Vioxx, Celebrex and other members of that class of medicines are not any better at controlling arthritis pain than plain old Advil or Aleve. Their only real benefit is that they don't cause upset stomachs in patients prone to that sort of thing.

[neverdem]

So, just how much of an increase in risk is there from Vioxx?

"Merck finally had to acknowledge the truth, but only by accident. The company undertook a large, randomized trial of 2,600 patients with colon polyps in hopes of proving that Vioxx could help their condition. In the process, though, Merck discovered that 3.5 percent of patients taking Vioxx suffered heart attacks or strokes as against 1.9 percent taking a placebo. Merck at last did the right thing by voluntarily and abruptly taking Vioxx off the market."

Good Riddance to a Bad Drug (Vioxx)