What You Need To Know About BEXTRA®

URGENT-BREAKING NEWS!

November 9, 2004-American Heart Association Conference presented preliminary results of a study linking Pfizer's painkiller BEXTRA® to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

At the American Heart Association Conference on November 9, 2004, Dr. Garret A. Fitzgerald, a cardiologist and pharmacologist at the University of Pennsylvania, presented preliminary results of a study linking Pfizer's painkiller BEXTRA® to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

The study, which pooled data from 5,930 patients taking part in 12 trials, found that patients who took BEXTRA® were more than two times likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke than those patients who were given a placebo (sugar pill). Speaking of the results, Dr. Fitzgerald said "This is a time bomb waiting to go off."

On November 10, 2004, the New York Times reported that a new safety study has established a link between BEXTRA® and serious side effects, including heart attack and stroke. BEXTRA® is a COX-2 inhibitor prescribed to treat those suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstrual cramping. Pfizer Inc. manufactures the drug, BEXTRA®.

Pfizer Inc. on October 15, 2004, said two small clinical trials showed heart bypass surgery patients taking BEXTRA®, an anti-inflammatory in the same class as the recently withdrawn drug VIOXX, had a higher risk of stroke and heart attack.

The FDA to treat arthritis pain approves BEXTRA®. But surprisingly, BEXTRA® has not been proven to alleviate pain any better than older, cheaper medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen. Nor has BEXTRA® been proven to be any safer on the stomach than those drugs.

Currently, Phillips & Associates is actively investigating injury claims on behalf of injured BEXTRA® users. If you or a loved one has suffered damaging side effects as a result of taking BEXTRA® contact Phillips & Associates immediately to discuss your legal rights.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a severe and sometimes fatal skin disease that causes painful blistering and erosion of the skin and mucous membranes. These symptoms often involve the:

• Mouth
• Nose
• Eyes
• Vagina
• Urethra
• Lower respiratory tract
• Digestive tract

Flu-like symptoms such as a fever and aches can be the precursor to SJS. Cough, malaise, swelling of the gums, lips or tongue, and difficulty breathing may be experienced. A red rash appears and spreads. Blisters begin to form on the skin and mucous membranes (i.e., the moist lining of body parts, such as the gums, nasal passages, and genital tract). SJS can be quite painful, and it causes much anxiety. SJS is more common among children and young adults, and up to 15% of SJS cases are fatal. Early diagnosis and treatment may stop its progression.

It's not always known what causes a given instance of SJS, but it has most often occurred as a reaction to certain drugs or medications, such as penicillin and phenytoin (Dilantin) and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including the pain management drug BEXTRA®.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and BEXTRA®

BEXTRA® was approved by the FDA in late 2001 for the treatment of pain caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and menstrual cramps. It's a Cox-2 inhibitor drug, in the same drug family as VIOXX®, Celebrex, and Naproxen. It had been prescribed to millions of people, sometimes for long-term use, when the link between BEXTRA® and SJS was first reported. The makers of BEXTRA®, the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer, voluntarily pulled BEXTRA® off the market in April 2005. Clinical trials had also linked BEXTRA® to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems such as chest pain, stroke, and heart attack.

The BEXTRA® Attorneys at Phillips & Associates

The attorneys of Phillips & Associates are committed to helping people who've taken BEXTRA®, and our team of BEXTRA® attorneys will review your case at no charge. We maintain offices throughout California and are prepared to fight for those experiencing the adverse effects of BEXTRA®. Contact Phillips and Associates for expert legal representation today.

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