Physicians and patients should remain alert for signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding. Common side effects reported in osteoarthritis clinical trials with Vioxx were upper-respiratory infection, diarrhea, nausea and high blood pressure. Safety and effectiveness in children below the age of 18 have not been studied. Information and links in this press release were accurate as of the date posted near the beginning of the release. You can search this site or check New Drug Approvals or Drugs in the News for updates or more recent information.
Rofecoxib is a white to off-white to light yellow powder.
It is sparingly soluble in acetone, slightly soluble in methanol and isopropyl acetate, very slightly soluble in ethanol, practically insoluble in octanol, and insoluble in water. The empirical formula for rofecoxib is C17H14O4S, and the molecular weight is 314.36. The 50 mg tablets also contain red ferric oxide. Both Cmax and AUC are roughly dose proportional across the clinical dose range. At doses greater than 50 mg, there is a less than proportional increase in Cmax and AUC, which is thought to be due to the low solubility of the drug in aqueous media.