One of our writers Mark Liam Piggott (author of the brilliant 'Fire Horses') had an interesting article published in the Times yesterday about the painkiller Vioxx:
When my father Michael was prescribed a new painkiller called Vioxx in 1999 he found it highly effective at reducing pain in his arthritic neck. Then, in 2004, aged 60, he suffered a near-fatal heart attack. During a life-saving angioplasty at a Dublin hospital a stent was inserted and now he’ll be on medication for the rest of his life. My father is convinced that Merck’s drug, Vioxx, is responsible — and he’s not alone.
For Gary Cummings, a former police officer, the heart attack also came out of the blue: “I’d served in the Police and Army for 30 years; I was in the Household Cavalry, worked in traffic patrol for 15 years and then worked with horses. I was fit and active — only 48.”
Years of horse-riding took its toll and Gary’s hip became painful; a hospital consultant recommended Vioxx in June 2002. That November he had a heart attack that almost killed him. He had angioplasties and a stent was inserted. Although still in his fifties, the attack changed him physically and psychologically. “I was shocked. I’ve never smoked, never taken tablets, always played rugby; my cholesterol levels have always been low and there’s no history of heart problems in the family. I’ve had health checks regularly all my life, you have to in my line of work, and no concerns had ever arisen.
To read the article in full click here
Lucy
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