Drug Injury Lawyers Blog
We are fortunate to live in a time when medical technology and pharmaceuticals can save us from injuries and illnesses that would have killed us a half century ago. Medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes were death sentences in the not-so-distant past. Today, with prescription drugs, and certain diet and lifestyle changes, patients with these conditions can live long, healthy lives. Unfortunately, prescription drugs can also be harmful, even fatal.
Most medications have side effects, and some of these side effects can be especially dangerous. When pharmaceutical companies fail to warn about side effects, or neglect to perform proper testing on drugs before marketing them for certain uses, it can result in injury and death. Contact a Boston Drug Injury Lawyer Today.
Top 5 Dangerous Drugs
Most prescription drugs can be dangerous if used incorrectly. However, some drugs are associated with a significantly higher risk of injury and death. Below are the top 5 drugs currently involved in litigation for their link to deadly side effects.
- Invokamet: Designed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes, Invokamet is linked to multiple serious side effects. The drug is successful at managing insulin levels in patients by regulating the levels of glucose released by the liver. However, Invokament use can also cause urinary tract infections, nausea and vomiting, as well as an increased risk of bone fractures.
- Onglyza: Also prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes, Onglyza is linked to even more serious side effects than Invokamet. In fact, the FDA has recently released a warning that medicines like Onglyza “may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in patients who already have heart or kidney disease.”
- Risperdal: In patients with bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism, Risperdal may reduce aggressive behaviors. Unfortunately, it is also linked to gynecomastia, a condition that results in breast enlargement in male patients. Lawsuits allege that Risperdal manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, failed to warn patients and physicians about the risk of gynecomastia. Furthermore, the drug wasn’t even approved for use in adolescents, the group most affected by side effects. As a result, Johnson & Johnson recently paid $70M in penalties, fines, and victim compensation.
- Xarelto: Anticoagulants (blood thinners) have been used for decades to prevent blood clots and strokes in at-risk patients. For a long time, Coumadin was the main option for treatment. Although successful, Coumadin requires constant monitoring, a major inconvenience for patients. Recently, however, a new category of anticoagulants entered the market. Xarelto is included in this new category. This lower-maintenance alternative requires little to no monitoring but, unfortunately, is linked to life-threatening medical conditions. Although hemorrhaging is a risk with all anticoagulants, Coumadin has a reversal agent that stops excessive bleeding in its tracks. Unfortunately, the same is not true for Xarelto and similar drugs.
- Zofran: Designed to treat nausea in chemotherapy patients, Zofran’s manufacturer began marketing Zofran to pregnant women as a treatment for morning sickness. Unfortunately, the drug had never been tested on pregnant humans, and its use is now linked to severe birth defects.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Boston’s Premier Drug Injury Law Firm
When pharmaceutical companies put profits before the health and safety of patients, they should be held accountable. At Altman & Altman, LLP, our skilled drug injury lawyers have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for clients. We are as compassionate as we are aggressive. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
