Celebrex (Celecoxib) is among a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs used to treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and menstrual pain. It is classified as a Cox-2 inhibitor and was marketed under the brand name of Celebrex by Pfizer. It was approved by the FDA in 1998.

In February 2005, following Merck’s withdrawal of Vioxx from the market, the FDA asked an advisory committee to examine similar Cox-2 inhibitors to determine whether the drugs offer enough benefits to stay on the market.

As a result of all the attention on Cox-2 inhibitors, during the advisory committee hearing, senior director of Merck Research Laboratories, Dr. Ned Braunstein, strongly suggested that the entire class on Cox-2 inhibitors elevated the chances of cardiovascular problems. Dr. Garret Fitzgerald, a Cox-2 inhibitors researcher at the University of Pennsylvania also told the panel that all pain drugs in the class known as Cox-2 inhibitors create an imbalance in the body’s cardiovascular system that leads to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Unlike similar medicines like Bextra and Vioxx, Celebrex was allowed to remain on the U.S. market and was mandated by the FDA to carry a black box warning to highlight the potential increased risk of cardiovascular events and potential life threatening stomach bleeding. In February 2007, the American Heart Association warned that Celebrex should be used “as a last resort on patients who have heart disease or a risk of developing it.” If you or someone you know has taken Celebrex and has experienced any of these negative side effects, please contact Goggins & Associates so that we may assist you in winning your case.