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Learn more about Celebrex
Celebrex is a popular arthritis drug first marketed to the general public in January 1999. The
drug enjoyed high record sales in the first year of its release. Yet early reports began to
show an unusually high relationship between Celebrex and serious side effects such as
gastrointestinal hemorrhages, cardiovascular problems, kidney and liver damages, and
ulcers. In response, the FDA began to issue warnings and expressed concern over the
manufacturer's promotional activities, claiming they were misleading regarding the
safety of Celebrex. The FDA was not satisfied with the company's response to their
criticisms and warned the manufacturer to stop engaging in misrepresenting the drug's
safety record. Notwithstanding, The manufacturer's advertising continued to claim that
this arthritis medication was safer and gentler on the stomach compared to older drugs. This
has led to a number of legal actions claiming that Celebrex was violating the law and engaging
in fraud and misrepresentation.
Pfizer's Celebrex, like Merck's Vioxx, is a COX-2 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It is
used to treat symptoms such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, related acute pain, and
menstrual cramping. The use of the drug has been associated in some patients with serious problems
with stomach ulcers, including internal bleeding. These types of medications have also been associated
with liver damage. Controversy over this class of drugs has recently increased following the recall of
Vioxx from the market.
Medical professionals and drug experts have argued that the drugs in this class have been over-prescribed
for treatment of pain that could be managed as well with older, safer and less costly medications. Moreover,
unlike Vioxx, Celebrex is not associated with a reduction in the incidence of gastric ulcers.
While Merck withdrew Vioxx, Pfizer still refuses to remove Celebrex from the market, arguing that
their drug is not unreasonably dangerous for its intended use and that the warnings on its drugs label
are adequate and complete. Many believe, however, that Celebrex, like Vioxx, is a potential time bomb
for those patients who regularly use the drug as well as for the manufacturers and distributors who
distributes it.
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