Tag: Rofecoxib

In 2004, Merck's voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx, a popular pain reliever, impacted an estimated 20 million Americans who had taken the drug [1.9.2]. The central question became, **what NSAID was taken off the market** and for what reasons? This event triggered a major re-evaluation of drug safety.

In one of the largest voluntary drug recalls in history, Merck & Co. withdrew its blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx (rofecoxib) from the worldwide market on September 30, 2004. The recall followed concerns and clinical trial data indicating Vioxx increased the risk of heart attack and stroke.

In 2004, the pharmaceutical company Merck voluntarily withdrew the blockbuster arthritis drug Vioxx from the worldwide market after new study data revealed an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Because of this recall, it is not possible to buy Vioxx anymore and has not been available for purchase for over two decades.