Celebrex linked to Heart Attack

On Dec-17-04 Pfizer revealed that one of two clinical trials showed an increased cardiovascular risk for patients taking the arthrtitis medication Celebrex. Pfizer is taking steps to discover why there is a discrepancy between the two trials, but is not removing Celebrex from the marketplace. Doctors, however are becoming worried about possible heart attack and stroke for patients using Cox-2 inhibitor drugs, and are advising patients with heart disease not to use drugs such as Celebrex.

Vioxx, another Cox-2 inhibitor, was withdrawn from the marketplace in September 2004 when a link to serious heart problems was found in Vioxx users.

Celebrex (Celecoxib) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 31, 1998 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteo-arthritis, and on December 23, 1999 as a drug treatment aimed at reducing the number of intestinal polyps in patients with a rare genetic disorder called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). Celebrex is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), and is in a class of drugs commonly referred to as a "Cox-2 inhibitor."

In September, 2001 the American Heart Association, the National Stroke Association and the Arthritis Foundation asked Celebrex' manufacturer (Pharmacia Corp.) to test whether Celebrex increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The US Food and Drug Administration sent Celebrex' manufacturer (Pharmacia Corp.) a "Warning Letter" on February 1, 2001. The warning letter required Pharmacia Corp. to cease certain promotional activities for Celebrex.

Celebrex Articles

Celebrex Heart Attack: Risk Factors Remain, and so does The Drug
First the good news"it appears that Celebrex taken at lower doses pose less of a risk for heart attack, than when Celebrex is taken at a higher dose. The bad news? There is a risk for heart attack either way.

Celebrex Poses More Catastrophic Risks to Patients with Heart Ailments
A closer examination of the pain medication Celebrex is giving doctors cause for concern. The drug is showing the potential to cause serious health risks to those suffering from heart problems or at risk for such health conditions. Medical experts have recommended that doctors prescribing Celebrex prescribe it in the most miniscule doses possible for heart patients. The findings are based from six studies implemented by Pfizer. Analyses from all six studies have been placed together to come up with this conclusion.

Nephrologist Blamed Celebrex for Kidney Problems and Hypertension
Bess W. was referred to a nephrologist to evaluate her kidney function. "All this time she was still on 200mg of Celebrex daily," says her husband Reid. "The specialist reported to her primary care physician that she had progressive renal insufficiency due to analgesic neuropathy from many years of non-steroidal and COX-2 use. He also said that her accelerated hypertension and edema are probably related to her worsening renal disease and Celebrex.

Grieving Daughter talks about Celebrex
"Whatever comes of me telling this story, my main motivation is that I want to save other people from taking drugs like Celebrex," says Andrea Whittaker. "My mother was misled when it came to Celebrex. If my mom had known the warning signs, if she had been given the option, she would never have taken it." Whittaker's mother died in October, 2002.

Celebrex In the News

FEB-27-06: The first Celebrex lawsuit filed on behalf of a stroke victim, the plaintiff had been taking Celebrex for hypertension when she suffered a stroke. Celebrex is the only remaining pain reliever left on the market after the recall of Bextra and Vioxx. [CNN]

JAN-13-06: New Warnings Added to Celebrex; FDA Approves New Use [MARKET WATCH]

APR-15-05: The Intensive Medicines Monitoring Programme of New Zealand has published important safety data on patients taking COX-2 inhibitors. According to a new study, patients taking the arthritis drug Celebrex have a similar risk of heart attacks and stroke as those taking the withdrawn drug Vioxx. [SCOOP INDEPENDENT NEWS]

APR-07-05: The U.S. FDA has asked manufacturers of all marketed prescription Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, including Celebrex, to include a boxed warning. The revised labels will highlight the increased risk of cardiovascular events and the potential life threatening gastrointestinal bleeding associated with their use. [U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION]

Celebrex Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered from the side effects of Celebrex, please click the link below to send your claim to a lawyer for a free case evaluation with no obligation.