Bextra – Drug History
Bextra was created in the late 1990s by the G.D Searle & Co. division of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals for the handling of arthritis, inflammation, and painful menstrual cramping without the risk of severe stomach irritation. Clinical tests of arthritis patients over six months showed the relative safety of Bextra, and it was approved by the FDA on November 16, 2001. Bextra became one of the best selling drugs on the market, with sales in the tens of billions of dollars. Doctors were happy with the low percentage of stomach irritation, and patients were pleased with the boost in quality of life that these alleged “wonder drugs” provided.
Then on October 15, 2004, the FDA warned of harmful complications in patients who took Bextra directly after having heart surgery. Later, in November of that year, the American Heart Association released the results of its own clinical test, showing that Bextra had heightened the risk of heart attack and strokes. A prominent FDA reviewer proclaimed that Bextra was one of five different drugs listed as “unsafe” to prescribe.
After careful studies of the risk of not only heart attack and strokes, but also the frequency of potentially fatal allergic skin reactions, the FDA re-evaluated the drug and on April 7, 2005, they asked Pfizer to remove Bextra from American and European markets. Widespread prescriptions of Bextra had already caused significant damage, and may victims of the drug’s side effects continue to suffer from the terrible consequences.
If you are one of the millions who took Bextra, contact your doctor immediately. The side effects of the medication may take some time to appear and the earlier that treatment is given, the better the outcome for the patient. If you feel that you’ve been a victim of these types of side effects, contact an experienced Bextra lawyer who can help you fight for what you deserve!