Note from the National Guideline Clearinghouse: This guideline references a drug(s) for which important revised regulatory information has been released.
On September 30, 2004, Vioxx (rofecoxib) was withdrawn from the U.S. and worldwide market due to safety concerns of an increased risk of cardiovascular events. See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Web site for more information.
Subsequently, on April 7, 2005, after concluding that the overall risk versus benefit profile is unfavorable, the FDA requested that Pfizer, Inc voluntarily withdraw Bextra (valdecoxib) from the market. The FDA also asked manufacturers of all marketed prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including Celebrex (celecoxib), a COX-2 selective NSAID, to revise the labeling (package insert) for their products to include a boxed warning and a Medication Guide. Finally, FDA asked manufacturers of non-prescription (over the counter [OTC]) NSAIDs to revise their labeling to include more specific information about the potential gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) risks, and information to assist consumers in the safe use of the drug. See the FDA Web site for more information.
Most recently, on June 15, 2005, the FDA requested that sponsors of all non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) make labeling changes to their products. FDA recommended proposed labeling for both the prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs and a medication guide for the entire class of prescription products. All sponsors of marketed prescription NSAIDs, including Celebrex (celecoxib), a COX-2 selective NSAID, have been asked to revise the labeling (package insert) for their products to include a boxed warning, highlighting the potential for increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events and the well described, serious, potential life-threatening gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding associated with their use. FDA regulation 21CFR 208 requires a Medication Guide to be provided with each prescription that is dispensed for products that FDA determines pose a serious and significant public health concern. See the FDA Web siteFDA Web site for more information.
