The FDA approved Vioxx in 1999. It was intended to reduce the pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis as well as menstrual pains. Afterwards, the FDA approved Vioxx for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The drug, which is a once-daily pill, was considered more effective than traditional pain killers and to cause fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

For many people, Vioxx is a drug they have taken for years. Until recently, it was prescribed for many reasons. It worked for so many people that taking it away seems unnatural. But, for others, Vioxx has caused quite a bit of damage within their lives. People who have taken Vioxx may have experienced heart attacks, strokes, or even death as a result.

Vioxx is a prescription medication that has been used primarily in the treatment of signs and symptoms of arthritis, but has also been prescribed to treat acute pain in adults and menstrual pain in women. It is a Cox-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or NSAID. Other Cox -2 selective NSAIDs on the market are Celebrex and Bextra. Vioxx is also related to nonselective NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and naproxen.

Recent withdrawals of prescription drugs Vioxx and Bextra due to unforeseen side effects have many people concerned. What should you do?

Bextra is used to take care of an assortment of different conditions, including arthritis, menstrual cramps, and other types of chronic inflammation or low level pain. Pfizer discovered in 2002 that Bextra offered an elevated risk of serious skin irritation during the beginning stages of treatment.

Recent withdrawals of Vioxx and Bextra have renewed interest in class-action lawsuits. What is a class-action lawsuit?

The drug Celebrex has been found to cause heart attacks and strokes but unlike Vioxx, a drug with similar dangerous side effects, Celebrex is still on the market. Celebrex side effects can be very dangerous and lawsuits are already being filed against Pfizer for Celebrex-related injuries and deaths.

The first Celebrex class action suit to be filed is believed to be the one submitted in Illinois, in December 2004. That same month, Pfizer announced that a recently performed clinical trial revealed that those taking Celebrex were at increased risk.

Eli Lilly & Company, the maker of the Zyprexa drug has set aside $690 million to pay patients who took Zyprexa before September 2003 and suffered damages. A class action lawsuit accuses Lilly & Co., the manufacturer of Zyprexa of aggressively promoting Zyprexa as a safe and effective drug for psychotic disorders, while concealing the risks of side effects from doctors and from the patients.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the linings of the heart, chest and abdominal cavity and is caused by exposure to asbestos, either first hand from working in (usually industrial) sites which used asbestos or second hand from coming into contact with the clothes of a family member who worked on one of these sites. It is a dangerous cancer because of its long latency period, 20 to 50 years, and because its initial symptoms are similar to normal colds or pneumonia. It is an expensive and hard-to-cure cancer, but a mesothelioma lawyer can help you win the compensation owed to you by the business that put you in contact with the deadly asbestos.

Mesothelioma lawyers deal specifically with cases concerning people being exposed to asbestos in the work environment.

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, and this cancer can reduce lifespan to a matter of months from the onset of symptoms. Over recent years, the number of mesothelioma cases coming to light has risen quite dramatically, and in line with this, the number of mesothelioma lawsuits being filed has also increased. Because mesothelioma lawsuits have become such big business, many law firms and lawyers now specialize in this area, making it easier for those affected by this disease to get the legal assistance they need to file a mesothelioma lawsuit

Having an experienced mesothelioma attorney for your mesothelioma case can help to speed the process, and can ultimately make the difference between a successful or a failed mesothelioma lawsuit.

Asbestos litigation can be a can of worms if you’re not careful. Here are some facts and figures that should help you navigate your way through the legal maze.

Medical advances have made it possible to keep people alive longer. This means many patients, families, and doctors have had to make some hard life-and-death decisions. Advance directives help ensure that these decisions are made by you.

Although wills are simple to create, about half of all Americans die without one (or intestate). Without a will to indicate your wishes, the court steps in and distributes your property according to the laws of your state. Wills are not just for the rich; the amount of property you have is irrelevant. A will ensures that what assets you do have will be given to family members or other beneficiaries you designate. If you have no apparent heirs and die without a will, it's even possible the state may claim your estate.