Trio of Whitley County residents sue makers of Vioxx

Three Whitley County residents are claiming that a prescription painkiller caused them heart problems and strokes, and want the New Jersey maker of the drug to pay up.
A trio of lawsuits was filed in Whitley County Circuit Court last week regarding Vioxx, a painkiller that was pulled off the market in late Sept. 2004 by its maker Merk & Co., Inc. because of an apparent link between the drug and an increase of heart disease.
Attorneys for Anita Parks, Virginia Nadine Perry and John and Patricia Mullins all filed civil complaints against Merck seeking monetary compensation for damages they say their clients suffered as a result of taking Vioxx.
According to the lawsuits, Parks suffered several “mini-strokes” in late 2003 before suffering a significant stroke. Perry had a “massive and disabling heart attack” in November 2004 and John Mullins was diagnosed with “acute coronary syndrome” in Oct. 2004 that required treatment.
All three had no history of related medical problems before taking Vioxx, the lawsuits claim.
Attorneys for all three plaintiffs claim Merck & Co., Inc. misled users of Vioxx with a nationwide advertising campaign designed to highlight its effectiveness in battling arthritic pain, and downplay certain side effects. The drug was also commonly prescribed by doctors to treat other acute pain and menstrual symptoms.
More than 20 million Americans have taken the drug and sales of it exceeded $2.5 billion in 2003, the year before it was voluntarily pulled off the market by the company.
Attorneys claim the company knew the drug increased the risk of heart and related problems.
Vioxx has been the subject of government scrutiny and is the target of several class-action lawsuits nationwide.