Vioxx complaints tip of the iceberg, claims legal firm

COMPLAINTS received by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) about the controversial arthritis drug Vioxx are only the tip of the iceberg, an Irish law firm has maintained.

Raymond Bradley of Malcomson Law says US statistics suggest about 500 people in Ireland are likely to have developed heart, stroke or kidney problems as a result of using the drug.

He is also surprised the IMB received just eight reports of cardiovascular- type reactions to Vioxx, first licensed here in 1999.