Washington, D.C. ? A painkiller proposed as a successor to Vioxx should not be approved, a panel of federal health advisers overwhelmingly recommended Thursday.

The nonbinding 20-1 vote was on the prescription drug Arcoxia, made by Merck & Co. Inc.

A Food and Drug Administration drug safety expert had told the panel the drug may increase substantially the risk of stroke and heart attack and is no more effective for pain relief than other medicines in the same class.

Merck is seeking the FDA’s approval to sell Arcoxia, also known as etoricoxib, to treat the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis. Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., withdrew Vioxx in 2004 after the drug was linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart attack when compared with dummy pills.

The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its advisory committees, but the agency usually does. Merck expects the FDA will make a final decision by April 27.