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 Bextra Heart-attack
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 Bextra, manufactured by Pfizer, has been linked to heart attack, stroke and a serious skin disease. Bextra is a Cox 2 inhibitor, a drug class that interferes with the body's ability to reduce blood clots, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack. |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked the company to withdraw the drug from the marketplace because of the Bextra heart attack risks. A study by the American Heart Association, which pooled data from 5,930 patients taking part in 12 trials, found 2.19 times the number of heart attacks or strokes as side effects among patients given Bextra, compared with those given placebos.
Dr. Garret A. FitzGerald, a cardiologist and pharmacologist at the University of Pennsylvania, called the Bextra heart attack risk "a time bomb waiting to go off." FitzGerald presented the study.
Patients who have taken Bextra or any other Cox-2 inhibitor would be advised to seek immediate medical assistance if they experience any of heart attack symptoms. These patients should discuss any concerns and any signs of Bextra heart attack problems or other side effects with their doctor as soon as possible. |
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