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WhatÂ’'s Wrong with Bextra?

On April 7, 2005 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that Bextra be withdrawn from the market. Manufactured by Pfizer, Bextra is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that relieves pain by “inhibiting” – slowing or stopping – the chemicals that cause inflammation, pain, fever, and other symptoms. It is most often used for arthritis pain and severe menstrual cramping, although it can be used for other types of pain as well including severe headaches.

Like its sister drugs Vioxx and Celebrex, Bextra is a specialized drug. It is “selective,” working directly on the COX-2 gene responsible for making the chemicals that cause painful inflammation. Unlike general (“non-selective”) NSAIDs, COX-2 inhibitors do not interfere with the COX-1 gene, responsible for maintaining the stomach lining so users are less likely to experience side effects like bleeding ulcers and other stomach-related problems.
In recent years this whole class of COX-2 inhibitors have been found to carry an unacceptable risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other heart problems. The most talked about cases right now involve Vioxx, perhaps because it was the most prescribed of the class, but the risk is still present in Bextra. There have also been reports of skin rashes and a rare condition called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), a severe adverse reaction to the medication leading to severe skin reactions and blistering. People with SJS also have a higher risk of developing asthma, lung damage, blindness, and loss of nail beds. Approximately 3-15% of people diagnosed with SJS die every year.
In fact it is these skin reactions that prompted the FDA to pull Bextra and not Celebrex from the market. The reactions are possible in all COX-2 inhibitors, but preliminary evidence suggests that the risk is higher with Bextra than with the others, and therefore it does not outweigh the pain relief benefits. Pfizer produces both Bextra and Celebrex.
If you have used Bextra and experienced skin rashes, heart problems, or any other serious side effects, contact your doctor or go to a hospital or clinic immediately. You should also strongly consider discontinuing your medication until you have a chance to talk to a medical professional. Any side effects you are experiencing now could get worse with continued use.

Contact a Jim S. Adler & Associates personal injury attorney today to find out your options. COX-2 inhibitors have been suspected of severe side effects as long ago as the mid-1990s, but it is just now that the manufacturers and the FDA are recognizing the potentially fatal results. You may be entitled to compensation package to help you with additional medical bills, pain, and suffering. Click the link on this page and submit your case for a free, no-obligation review. At Jim S. Adler & Associates, we’ll let you know what your rights are, and help you protect them.

Bextra Lawyer | FDA requests Pfizer withdraw Bextra | How does Bextra cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome? | Bextra may pose health risks