FORMER USERS OF MERCK & CO'S VIOXX ARTHRITIS DRUG COULD BE AT RISK OF DEVELOPING STROKES FOR YEARS, A PROMINENT PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT SAID ON THURSDAY AFTER EXAMINING NEW DATA FROM THE DRUGMAKER.' REUTERS REPORTED. "IT MAY BE THAT VIOXX IS CAUSING PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, ACCELERATING ATHEROSCLEROSIS OR A SUSTAINED INCREASE IN BLOOD PRESSURE," SAID DR. CURT FURBERG, A MEMBER OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION'S DRUG SAFETY AND RISK MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. FURBERG, A PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH AT WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, SAID HIS STROKE CONCERNS STEM FROM A NEW 107-PAGE REPORT ON PATIENTS WHO WERE FOLLOWED FOR A YEAR AFTER THEY STOPPED TAKING VIOXX. THE DRUG, USED BY 20 MILLION AMERICANS, WAS RECALLED IN LATE 2004 AFTER IT WAS SHOWN TO DOUBLE HEART ATTACK RISK AMONG PATIENTS TAKING IT 18 MONTHS OR LONGER. --More
