[shakes]

Ok I feel really odd posting this, but I wanted to get some opinions. If this is not appriopiate please tell me.
My boyfriends mother had a heartattack a week before Thanksgiving. She is ok, but come to find out she was on Vioxx for a long time before this happened. The doctors do not believe she has permanent damage..but there is some issue with her lungs and stuff.
I guess the question is... should we recommend that she pick up a lawyer? I have strong feelings against the philosophy that Americans can have about suing everyone... but I really feel as though (her doctor too) that the Vioxx caused her heart attack. Plus my boyfriend was on it for six months when he had lyme disease last year.
Is it wrong to sue the drug company??? Should she just forget it???

Jessica

[SeptemberMorn]

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Jess}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} When it comes to one's safety and health, I think a law suit is warranted. You'll probably hear that someone will start a class action suit. IMPO, I think the FDA has really been failing us big time! Have you heard the warnings on the commercials for new drugs out?? YIKES!! I'd rather live with what I have than to take a chance with those meds! Someone needs to raise the bar on the FDA!!

[wisewoman]

This is a very personal decision and there can be no proof that the drug caused the cardiac problems. Why not get a free consult with an attorney to discuss. Please make sure it is not one who has commercials on tv and is someone reputable and well respected.

[kimmydawn]

shakes,

i think she is justified in a suit if her dr's backing her up especially. i would not consider this a "frivolous lawsuit" by any means.

the only time i ever sued anyone in my life was when a pharmacist (come to find out later she had a major substance abuse problem) gave me the wrong drug! the dr had prescribed me an antidepressant and it was generic so i had no way of knowing it was the wrong drug. i called the dr in bad shape about a week and a half later and he said that she'd not only given me the wrong drug, but she'd given me some type of drug at a dosage that would be considered overdose! i lost the entire ten days that i was on it, until i could wake up enough to know something was wrong. i was alone at the time so no one else knew what was happening.

so, yes, i do agree that there's a time and a place when someone needs to be accountable and this sounds like one of those times.

be safe and let us know?

kd

[ktp]

((((((Jessica))))))

When it comes to one's health and future, we have to be our own advocates, no one will do that for us unless we put forth the effort. So....I think it's a very good idea for your boyfriend's mother to consult with an attorney. In her shoes, I definitely would.

Good luck!

Take Care,
Kimberly.

[shakes]

Sis Tomi,
I know...now Celebrex has been found to cause the same problems and the FDA does not want to pull it off the market. Plus I also heard that they found that Naproxen (the stuff in Aleve) has been causing heart failure and stuff.
Who tests these drugs before they go on the market? They have to be aware of the problems..do they just do a cost/benefit analysis??
Jerks!!!!

Jessica

[shakes]

Wisewoman,
The last thing that I want to go to one of those TV guys. I feel torn because who knows if Vioxx caused this to happen to her. I just feel like it is the reason.
After all it will be her decision. No pushing

Jessica

[shakes]

Kimmydawn,
I will be sure to keep you guys up to date. Thank you for your concern.

Jessica

[shakes]

Kimberly,
Thank you!!!

Jessica

[(JD)]

I agree with the free consultation, problem is, if you call a liability lawyer, he'll say yeah let's sue. (Kind of like asking a surgeon if he would do surgery.) Don't you have a family lawyer that will give you some level advice?

You must then take into account if the stress and problems filing a lawsuit is worth it emotionally. Do you realize that once you file, they will probably follow you all, research your past, your finances and accuse you of fraud and just trying to steal money from them?

[Larry_Hoover]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Who tests these drugs before they go on the market? They have to be aware of the problems..do they just do a cost/benefit analysis??

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

The tests conducted on these medications could not have revealed these problems. As soon as they were identified, full notification occurred.

You might be astounded to discover the true risk of aspirin (and other over-the-counter and prescription NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)).

http://www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/bo...nsae/nsae.html

The risk of dying from a GI-bleed due to NSAID use can be as high as 1 in 647 users, but that is age-related. (See Table 7)

The absolute risk, as deaths per 100,000 population in the U.S., is a little more than 6. (See Figure 6) And, it doesn't include fatalities due to other direct causes, such as hepatotoxic overdose. And yet, many of these drugs remain OTC.

Under current regulatory guidelines, aspirin could not be approved, if it was a new medication. Liver poisoning by tylenol, especially when taken while the body is exposed to alcohol, is exceedingly commonplace. Children, in particular, die of tylenol poisoning all the time, despite the existence of pediatric liquid formulations.

I think that this is simply a case of focussed attention. What seems to be missing from the press reports is a really important bit of information. All of the Vioxx heart risk occurs in a group of patients who were taking the drug at doses above that approved by the FDA. If Vioxx was being used as directed, there is no increased risk. The same goes for Celebrex. Only those patients exceeding the recommended dose are at risk. Moreover, the length of time on the excessive dose is another variable. It takes prolonged overdose to increase the heart risk. Somehow, the overdose issue never made it into the newspapers. It could be that the sickest people were put on the highest doses, and that sickness alone was responsible for these differences in cardiac mortality.

If you want a cheap and effective COX-2 inhibitor, just take a spoonful of turmeric in water. It tastes a little weird, but it works wonderfully. In my experience, one heaping teaspoonful of turmeric is more effective than 50 mg Vioxx for my joint pain. The active ingredient is curcumin. I've even seen curcumin tablets at my drug store.

Lar

[darkeyes]

Personally I am not a "sue crazy" person, but I would definately speak to a lawyer, as well as the cardiologist.
I know drugs go through extensive testing before FDA release, but I think trials should be further performed before final release to the public.
Just my own opinion.
Lots of luck with this situation.



DE