Vioxx Withdrawal

Question: What actions should be taken regarding patients and the withdrawal of the medication Vioxx? Should a letter be sent out to the patients taking this medication?

Answer: Patients taking Vioxx should consult with their physician about alternative treatments.

If you are able to identify all your patients on the drug, it would be great to send them a letter to this effect. You might consider a call to your malpractice carrier for its advice as well. And consult with your practice's doctors on the clinical implications - they probably don't want their patients stopping cold turkey.

Merck will reimburse patients for unused supplies of Vioxx.

Visit the Vioxx web site www.vioxx.com/rofecoxib/vioxx/consumer/index.jsp - to get forms patients can use to get a refund and info that you can pass along to patients.

It might be a good link for your schedulers and triage nurse to have handy - patients may be calling in and everyone should be on the same page. Get these folks in for an appointment.

Merck also has set up a hotline that could answer related questions: (888)368-4699.