Patients currently using the anti-inflammatory drug, Vioxx, are asked to discontinue use of the drug at this time. Merck, the manufacturer of Vioxx have voluntarily pulled the drug from the market because of data from clinical trials that showed an increase risk of heart attack and stroke. The studies were performed in certain populations of patients with chronic use of Vioxx.. The risk of an individual patient suffering a heart attack or stroke from the use of Vioxx is very small. The FDA supports this voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx.