Vioxx

Pronounced: VYE-ox
Generic name: Rofecoxib

Vioxx is a new kind of painkiller used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea), and other types of acute pain. It is part of a class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) called "COX-2 inhibitors." Currently, the only other drug in this class is the new arthritis medication called Celebrex.

Like older NSAIDs such as aspirin, Motrin, and Naprosyn, Vioxx and Celebrex are believed to fight pain and inflammation by inhibiting the effect of a natural enzyme called COX-2. Unlike the older medications, however, these newer drugs do not interfere with a similar substance, called COX-1, which exerts a protective effect on the lining of the stomach. Vioxx and Celebrex are therefore less likely to cause the bleeding and ulcers that sometimes accompany sustained use of the older NSAIDs.