What is
Vioxx?
Vioxx is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAID)
recommended for:
- Relief of
osteoarthritis (the arthritis caused by age-related "wear and tear" on bones and
joints)
- Relief of
rheumatoid arthritis in adults
- Management of
acute pain in adults (like the short-term pain you can get after a dental or
surgical operation)
- Treatment of
menstrual pain (pain during women's monthly periods).
How does
Vioxx work?
The human body produces two enzymes called COX-1 and
COX-2. COX-1 helps regulate normal cell function in the stomach and blood. COX-2
plays a role in causing arthritis pain and inflammation. Vioxx is one of the few
products that targets only the COX-2 enzyme.
Who
should not take Vioxx?
Vioxx is not
recommended for people who have had allergic reactions such as asthma attacks,
hives or swelling of the throat and face to aspirin or other NSAID's (for
example, ibuprofen and naproxen).
Vioxx should not be taken by people who
have had an allergic reaction to refecoxib, which is the active ingredient of
Vioxx or any of the inactive ingredients of this medication.
Women who are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant or who are breast- feeding or plan to
breast-feed should not take Vioxx.
Do not share Vioxx with anyone else;
it was prescribed only for you. It should be taken only for the condition for
which it was prescribed.
What
should I tell my doctor before and during Treatment with
Vioxx?
Medical
information our Doctor should be aware of:
- Personal or
family history of angina, heart attack or a blocked artery in your heart.
- Kidney
disease
- Liver
disease
- Heart
failure
- High blood
pressure
- Allergic
reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs
- Serious
gastrointestinal problems in the past.
- Any other
medical problems or allergies you have now or have had.
- All medicines
that you are taking or plan to take, even those you can get without a
prescription.
Tell your
doctor if you develop:
- Serious
stomach problems such as ulcer or bleeding symptoms (for instance, stomach
burning or black stools, which are signs of possible stomach bleeding).
- Unexplained
weight gain or swelling of the feet and/or legs.
- Skin rash or
allergic reactions. If you have a severe allergic reaction, get medical help
right away.
Can I
take Vioxx with Other Medicines?
Your doctor may want to check
that your medicines are working properly together if you are taking other
medicines such as:
- Warfarin (a
blood thinner)
- Theophylline
(a medicine used to treat asthma)
- Rifampin (an
antibiotic)
- ACE
inhibitors (medicines used for high blood pressure and heart failure)
- Lithium (a
medicine used to treat depression).
Vioxx cannot
take the place of aspirin for prevention of heart attack or stroke. If you are
currently taking aspirin for this purpose, you should not discontinue taking
aspirin without consulting your doctor.
What are
the possible side effects of Vioxx?
Serious but rare
side effects that have been reported in patients taking Vioxx and/or related
medicines have included:
- Rare but
serious stomach problems, such as stomach and intestinal bleeding, can occur
with or without warning symptoms. These problems, if severe, could lead to
hospitalization or death.
- Heart attacks
and similar serious events have been reported in patients taking Vioxx.
- Serious
allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat
which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing and wheezing occur rarely but
may require treatment right away. Severe skin reactions have also been
reported.
- Serious
kidney problems occur rarely, including acute kidney failure and worsening of
chronic kidney failure.
- Severe liver
problems, including hepatitis, jaundice and liver failure, occur rarely in
patients taking NSAIDs, including Vioxx. Tell your doctor if you develop
symptoms of liver problems. These include nausea, tiredness, itching, tenderness
in the right upper abdomen, and flu-like symptoms.
In addition,
the following side effects have been reported: anxiety, blurred vision,
confusion, decreased levels of sodium in the blood, depression, fluid in the
lungs, hair loss, hallucinations, increased levels of potassium in the blood,
insomnia, low blood cell counts, palpitations, pancreatitis, severe increase in
blood pressure, tingling sensation, unusual headache with stiff neck (aseptic
meningitis), vertigo.
More common,
but less serious side effects reported with Vioxx have included the
following:
Upper and/or
lower respiratory infection and/or inflammation, headache, dizziness, diarrhea,
nausea and/or vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain and upset, swelling of the legs
and/or feet, high blood pressure, back pain, tiredness, urinary tract
infection.
The side
effects described above do not include all of the side effects reported with
Vioxx. Any time you have a medical problem you think may be related to Vioxx,
talk to your doctor.
