New drug or new drag on the market?

As everyone knows Vioxx was the blockbuster anti-inflammatory drug that was recently pulled from the market because of severe side effects, many of which did not become evident for years after the drug was introduced (however, some evidence points to knowledge about adverse effects long before the official withdrawal of the drug). The morale in this is clear: don't be the first to jump on the new drug bandwagon-perhaps had to do these days with relentless advertising by drug companies in all media. Since it may and often does take years for a drug's full potential for harm can be tracked, best exercise some caution when the siren call of "new and improved" is blasted at you.

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