Serious but rare side effects that have been reported in patients taking Vioxx and/or related medicines have included: Rare but serious stomach problems, such as stomach and intestinal bleeding, can occur with or without warning symptoms.

These problems, if severe, could lead to hospitalization or death, Heart attacks and similar serious events have been reported in patients taking Vioxx.

Serious allergic reactions including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing and wheezing occur rarely but may require treatment right away.

Severe skin reactions have also been reported. Serious kidney problems occur rarely, including acute kidney failure and worsening of chronic kidney failure.

Severe liver problems, including hepatitis, jaundice and liver failure, occur rarely in patients taking NSAIDs, including Vioxx. Tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver problems. These include nausea, tiredness, itching, tenderness in the right upper abdomen, and flu-like symptoms. In addition, the following side effects have been reported: anxiety, blurred vision, confusion, decreased levels of sodium in the blood, depression, fluid in the lungs, hair loss, hallucinations, increased levels of potassium in the blood, insomnia, low blood cell counts, palpitations, pancreatitis, severe increase in blood pressure, tingling sensation, unusual headache with stiff neck (aseptic meningitis), vertigo.

More common, but less serious side effects reported with Vioxx have included the following: Upper and/or lower respiratory infection and/or inflammation, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting, heartburn, stomach pain and upset, swelling of the legs and/or feet, high blood pressure, back pain, tiredness, urinary tract infection. The side effects described above do not include all of the side effects reported with Vioxx.