Vioxx and Heart Attacks

The most common risk factors for cardiovascular disease are age, family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, inactivity, poor diet, weight, and other health problems. Another risk factor appears to be the pain killer Vioxx.

On Monday, closing arguments were made in one of almost 10,000 trials. The current trial involved two men who suffered heart attacks after taking Vioxx. Merck argues that the two men already had many of the risk factors that predisposed them to heart attacks. The plaintiffs counter that Merck knew for many years Vioxx was linked to heart attacks and strokes and the drug should never have been considered an option for people with cardiovascular risk factors.

So far, Merck has won two trials and lost one. I haven’t formed an educated opinion on this one yet. Have you?

The Washington Post, April 3, 2006