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Important information about Vioxx

Notify your doctor immediately if you develop abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; nausea; blood in your vomit; bloody, black, or tarry stools; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash; itching; yellowing of your skin or eyes;"flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

What is Vioxx?

Vioxx is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Vioxx works by reducing substances that cause inflammation, pain, and fever in the body.

Vioxx is used to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis; to manage pain in adults; and to treat menstrual pain.

Vioxx may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

How should I take Vioxx?

Take Vioxx exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Take each dose with a full glass of water.

Shake the Vioxx suspension well before measuring a dose. Use a dose-measuring cup or spoon, not a regular table spoon, to measure the liquid form of Vioxx to ensure that you measure the correct amount of medicine. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.

Vioxx can be taken with or without food or milk.

Store Vioxx at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose as directed. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless your doctor directs otherwise.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a Vioxx overdose are not known.

What are the possible side effects of Vioxx?

Notify your doctor immediately if you develop abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; nausea; blood in your vomit; bloody, black, or tarry stools; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash; itching; yellowing of your skin or eyes;"flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Vioxx and seek medical treatment or contact your doctor immediately: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives); abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort; bloody, black, or tarry stools; nausea or heartburn; blood in your vomit; unexplained weight gain; swelling or water retention; unusual fatigue or lethargy; a skin rash or itching; yellowing of your skin or eyes; "flu-like" symptoms; or unusual bruising or bleeding.

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Vioxx and talk to your doctor if you experience: dizziness; mild fatigue or weakness; or diarrhea.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Vioxx?

Before taking Vioxx, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs: aspirin or an aspirin-like medication such as salsalate (Disalcid), choline salicylate-magnesium salicylate (Trilisate, Tricosal, others), and magnesium salicylate (Doan's, Bayer Select Backache Formula, others); an over-the-counter cough, cold, allergy, or pain medicine that contains aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or ketoprofen; a diuretic (water pill) such as furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, others), chlorothiazide (Diuril, others), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), and others; an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), and others; a steroid medicine such as prednisone (Deltasone and others), methylprednisolone (Medrol and others), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred, and others), and others; an anticoagulant (blood thinner) such as warfarin (Coumadin); methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Folex); theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theobid, and others); lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid, others); or rifampin (Rimactane, Rifadin, Rifater).

You may not be able to take an Vioxx, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Vioxx. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including herbal products.