Q: What is Bextra?
A: Bextra is a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Bextra was available via prescription and was intended to relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in adults and to relieve painful menstrual cycles

Q: What is the most important information I should know about Bextra?
A: On April 7, 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has asked Pfizer, Inc. to voluntarily withdraw Bextra (valdecoxib) from the U.S. market. Pfizer agreed to suspend sales and marketing of Bextra in the U.S., pending further discussions with the FDA.

Q: What should I do if I'm taking Bextra?
A: Contact your physician to discuss discontinuing use and alternative treatments. Any decision about which drug product to take to treat your symptoms should be made in consultation with your physician based on an assessment of your specific treatment needs.

Q: Why did the FDA request that Pfizer voluntarily withdraw Bextra from the market?
A: The FDA concluded that the overall risk versus benefit profile of Bextra is unfavorable. You can read more about the reasons behind the FDA's actions here.

Q: If I have rheumatoid arthritis, what pain medication should I now be taking?
A: You should consult your doctor to discuss the best course of action.

Q: What should I tell the doctor if I suspect I have arthritis?
A: The following include some of the things you should tell your doctor: where you have pain or stiffness; when you have pain or stiffness; what the pain feels like (sharp/stabbing, dull/aching); how long the pain lasts; how long you have had the pain; what tasks you find difficult to do now; if you ever injured your joints or overused them in a job or a hobby; if anyone in your family had problems similar to yours; if you exercise, what kind of exercise you do and how often you do it.

Q: What questions should I ask before leaving the doctor's office for treatment of arthritis?
A: What can I do to help relieve my pain and live more comfortably? What are the advantages and disadvantages of my various treatment options? When might I expect to start feeling better? What can I expect over the coming months/years? Under what circumstances should I call your office?

Q: What should I do if I think I have been injured as a result of taking Bextra?
A: If you have experienced unusual side effects after taking Bextra, you should consult your physician immediately. Thereafter, you might want to contact an attorney experienced in product liability litigation to discuss potential legal claims you might have to recover for injuries Bextra caused you.

Q: How could I succeed in suing the manufacturer of a drug like Bextra?
A: While all medications have certain, anticipated side effects, a drug manufacturer has a duty to make its pharmaceutical products as reasonably safe as possible, and to inform the medical community and the public of known risks associated with its drugs. If a manufacturer fails to do so, it can be held responsible to patients who are injured as the result of inadequate warnings or the unreasonably dangerous nature of the drug, under a legal theory called "product liability."