Which people are at highest risk for cardiovascular adverse events associated with NSAIDs?
A. People who have coronary artery disease (known angina or who have had a heart attack), people who have high blood pressure, and people who have had a stroke are at the greatest risk. Also, people who have just had cardiovascular bypass surgery are at risk for heart attacks with use of NSAIDs. Q. Which Cox-2 selective inhibitors have been taken off the market? A. Merck voluntarily withdrew Vioxx (rofecoxib) in 2004 after finding out the results of a study that showed patients who took Vioxx had a higher risk for heart attacks than patients who took a placebo. FDA asked Pfizer to withdraw Bextra (valdecoxib) from the market in 2005 because the overall risk/benefit profile was unfavorable. The request was based on many factors. Along with the other risks associated with NSAIDs, there were a higher than expected number of reports of serious and potentially life-threatening skin reactions, including death. An increased risk of cardiovascular adverse events has been shown for all COX-2 in
