Thoughts On Vioxx And Borderline Personality Disorder

Recently I have received several requests for information on Vioxx and Borderline Personality Disorder. If you aren't familiar with it, Vioxx is a drug made for by Merck & Co., primarily for the treatment of arthritis and other forms of chronic pain. Recently it was pulled off the market because it was linked to an increased risk of stroke or heart attack when taken for any length of time.

Now there are many looming lawsuits over Vioxx. According to some of the Vioxx ads for lawyers representing defendants, "you may be entitled to a large cash settlement."

I am not sure how much money you will get, because most class action lawsuits mean there are literally hundreds or even thousands of defendants who end up dividing up the settlement. However, I would suggest that you check out some of the websites offered by attorneys that are representing potential Vioxx defendants. This is a major case and the settlement will be huge, so even a small piece of the pie could end up being substantial.

Be careful not to sign anything until you fully know your rights. Do NOT give up your social security number. Do NOT make any commitments to any thing until you know all of your rights. I would evaluate at least five different law firms and see what each says. See what each has to say about Vioxx and how well they explain the situation to you. Remember to ask a few questions of your own about Vioxx and your particular situation. Take detailed notes during the conversation.

After you've talked to each law firm, compare your notes and see what you think. If there are discrepancies, you can call them back and ask for clarification. A class action suit can drag on for months or even years, so it isn't likely you will get a settlement any time soon - keep this in mind when you talk to them. You should do your research and do NOT just take the word of one person. I know this takes time but it's worth it. If your health was affected by Vioxx, however, this a serious issue and you deserve compensation. I have heard up to something like $18,000,000,000 (that's billion) may be awarded potentially in the future when it comes to this Vioxx situation. Even with thousands of other people in a class action suit, a portion of billions of dollars can add up to a lot of money.

When you talk to each law firm, however, you need to stress that you not only suffered in a direct sense (whether because you developed blood clots, had a heart attack, or suffered a stroke), but that you suffered indirectly because you were taking Vioxx and have Borderline Personality disorder. This is important. Why? Because if you had to switch to a different pain reliever, suffered additional pain when you had to stop taking Vioxx or went through an episode as a result of the stress after finding out about the recall, all of these may lead to an increased settlement portion for you. Discuss this with each attorney.

If you have records of emotional Borderline Personality disorder problems that coincided with your going off the Vioxx, the courts may determine that your Borderline Personality disorder was adversely affected by the recall and the subsequent need for adjustment of your medications, the pain you had to endure while adjusting to a new pain medication or any other side effects that may have occurred. If you had a heart attack or stroke that led to an episode, this may also mean a larger settlement or perhaps even a separate case for you apart from the class action suit.

Again, I'm not a lawyer, so I am only telling you what you should ask about and consider. The most important thing is to ask questions, compare information, do some research, and avoid snap decisions.

Finally, the most important thing is not whether you file a lawsuit or get any money - it is talking to your doctor and making sure that when you stop taking your Vioxx, it won't affect your health or your other medications. Although Vioxx is usually prescribed for arthritis or some other type of chronic pain rather than for Borderline Personality disorder itself, stopping any kind of medication abruptly can affect how your other medications work. You must talk to your doctor and see what you can use as an alternative so that you don't have an unexpected drug interaction problem.

You also don't want to become depressed because you begin to feel chronic pain. Any time your health suffers, you are more likely to experience a depressive episode. Don't let this happen, and don't self-medicate! Talk to your doctor about this. Whenever you have medical questions of this nature, it's best to talk to your doctor. Don't play guessing games.

Hopefully agencies like the Food & Drug Administration will work hard to prevent future problems with products like Vioxx.

About The Author

David Oliver is the founder of BorderlineCentral.com a one stop source of information on how to cope and deal with bipolar disorder.

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