On April 7, 2005, the FDA and European regulators formally asked Pfizer to suspend sales of Bextra in the United States and Europe. As a result, Pfizer agreed to discontinue sales of the drug in the United States and the European Union countries immediately. The FDA ruled that the risks posed by Bextra outweigh its benefits. These risks include a high rate of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular injuries, as well as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

FDA advisory committee hearings held in February 2005 examined whether Celebrex and Bextra offered enough benefits to stay on the market, whether they needed stronger warnings, and what further research was needed. The advisers met from February 16, 2005, through February 18, 2005, and ultimately voted to keep Bextra on the market. The New York Times reported that 10 of the 32 government drug advisers who voted to keep Bextra and the other COX-2 inhibitor drugs on the market had consulted for pharmaceutical manufacturers. If these 10 advisers had not cast their votes, the committee would have voted 12 to 8 that Bextra should be withdrawn.

Bextra (generic name: valdecoxib) is in the same drug family as Vioxx, Celebrex, and Naproxen. People prescribed Bextra have experienced a higher number of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular problems than the normal population. Bextra is prescribed for the treatment of adult rheumatoid arthritis and the pain associated with menstrual cramping.

Bextra has also been linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and other skin hypersensitivity disorders. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is an extreme allergic reaction to chemicals. Common causes are drugs including Arava (leflunomide), painkillers, and sulfa antibiotics. Bextra has now been linked to this potentially life-threatening syndrome. Symptoms of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome are blistering; fever; cough; malaise; swelling and lesions of gums, tongue, or lips; excessive tearing or "stickiness" of eyes; sores in the genital tract causing painful urination; skin rash; and difficulty breathing. Patients who have severe allergies to antibiotics should not use Bextra.

After a study in September 2005 showed that drugs like Vioxx doubled the risk of heart attacks in stroke patients who took the drug for at least 18 months, Merck voluntarily withdrew Vioxx from the market. After the recall, the health community began to question similar pain medications from Pfizer, Celebrex and Bextra, as well as nonprescription drugs such as Naproxen (Aleve). All pain drugs in the COX-2 inhibitor family increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to a top scientist. The body reacts in the same way to Merck's Vioxx and Pfizer's Celebrex and Bextra.

If you or a loved one took Bextra and suffered side effects, please contact us for a free case evaluation by a qualified Civil Justice Attorney.