Pharmaceuticals & Dangerous Drugs Lawyer

Thousands of people rely on both prescription and over-the-counter medications to heal. When drug manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies fail to warn consumers on the extreme dangers associated with the medication, they need to be held responsible for their actions. 

When you have been prescribed medicine for treatment, you do not expect that it will make you feel worse. It is known that most prescription medication comes with particular negative side effects, but when there are extremely dangerous side effects, you need to contact an experienced dangerous drug lawyer.

How Drugs Can Cause Harm

Pharmaceutical drugs are specifically designed and tested to ensure that they offer a medical solution to a patient’s problem. As medications are ingested or applied to the body, they have a direct influence on how the rest of the body functions. When the drugs do not work as expected, it causes significant harm, especially side effects that the user may not expect. These negative side effects typically occur because of an error in:

• Testing and Approval when drugs are not properly tested and approved, they also contribute significantly to harm and negative side effects. While drugs require extensive testing and approval, when there are mistakes and oversights it can cause unforeseen problems.
• Incorrect Prescriptions when someone is prescribed the incorrect medication or dosage, it can cause serious harm to the consumer. Several factors go into prescribing someone a medication and if that information is incorrect, the drug will have unexpected effects to the consumer
• Manufacturing and Distributing similar to any consumer item, drugs can be ruined or tempered with, causing serious consequences. There are several drugs that are manufactured outside of the United States, making their manufacturing and distributing much more difficult to oversee and manage. When protocol is not met, it can ruin the efficacy of the drug and cause serious harm to consumers. 
• Side Effects almost every single drug has side effects that should be explained to the consumer prior to their consumption of the drug. The side effect warning enables the consumer to prepare for changes as well as understand what to expect. If the side effects are not properly explained to the consumer, they may experience unforeseen negative side effects.

The Process of Filing a Dangerous Drugs Lawsuit

Both the Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center have done research to find out that almost 70% of people in the United States take at least one prescription drug, with more than half of Americans taking two.

While many of these prescriptions have side effects, they are not supposed to be extreme. If you have developed any sort of unexpected extreme illness or injury as the result of taking your prescription drugs, you deserve compensation.

Each person’s reaction to a drug or pharmaceutical is different. That said, you should never experience side effects that make you sick or injured. You have legal options when you have experienced these negative side effects. Our dangerous drug and pharmaceutical lawyers will work with you to determine what the best course of action is for you. We will work with you to determine who is at fault for acting negligently and holding that party accountable.

The Negative Side Effects from Elmiron

Elmiron contains the active ingredient pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS). The drug, now manufactured by Janssen, a pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson, is a common first-line therapy prescribed by urologists to patients who suffer from interstitial cystitis, also known as painful bladder syndrome. Elmiron is designed to provide a coating to the bladder to help protect against bladder irritation and discomfort.

Recently, there has been medical literature has found a significant link between Elmiron and a particular eye disease. Specifically, the condition is known as macular degeneration or maculopathy – a disease that affects the macula, the part of the retina that is responsible for producing accurate and highly sensitive vision. In a study conducted by researchers from Emory University, they discovered that retinal maculopathy developed at a dangerously high rate for those being treated for painful bladder syndrome. In Emory’s study, using advanced retinal imaging, scientists discovered that all of the affected patients were women. 

The Negative Side Effects from Valsartan

Valsartan (originally marketed under the brand name Diovan) is prescribed to treat high blood pressure, heart disease and other conditions. It can be found in numerous branded and generic products.

On July 13, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall of Valsartan after some was discovered to contain N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA)- a known carcinogen more commonly used to make rocket fuel and pesticides. Additionally, recent testing has shown another impurity in Valsartan products: N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) according to an updated FDA release on August 23, 2018. Both NDMA and NDEA have been associated with an increased risk of cancer. The FDA has since expanded tests to other Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), also referred to generally as sartans. At the end of October 2018, the FDA expanded the recall of NDEA-contaminated drugs to include Irbesartan.  

What You Should Do If You Experience Extreme Side Effects from Medication

Continue Taking your Prescription

Until you talk with your doctor, do not adjust your medication, although you should proceed with caution. The FDA has issued a warning to consumers: you should continue taking your current medicine until your doctor or pharmacist gives you a replacement or a different treatment option. Untreated hypertension (high blood pressure) leads to an increase in the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Untreated heart failure increases the risk of hospitalization and death. 

Save Your Prescription Bottle and Any Information From Your Doctor 

This can contain vital information to document whether the batch you have taken may be contaminated. Check the following links to see if your drug is listed as one of those recently recalled. Valsartan Recall List Irbesartan Recall List

Contact Your Personal Injury Lawyer As Soon As Possible

When you begin working with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible, they will be able to help you understand your options and how to proceed. They will protect your rights while advocating on your behalf.

What to Expect When You Meet With Our Dangerous Drugs and Pharmaceutical Lawyers

When you meet with our legal team, your first meeting with us is free. We will meet with you to discuss your dangerous drug claim and the situation that led up to your illness and prescription. We will discuss your options  to determine the best course of legal action to pursue and we will work with you each step of the way.

Our dangerous drug and pharmaceutical lawyers will ensure that your legal and procedural rights are protected throughout the entire process of your claim. We understand the legalities surrounding dangerous drugs and pharmaceuticals and will work with you to serve your needs.

We can help negotiate the best possible settlement for your injury claim, which may include alternative dispute resolution measures such as mediation and settlement conferences. If your motorcycle accident case requires a court hearing, we are prepared to represent you. Insurance companies know that your last resort for resolving your claim is in the courtroom. Our motorcycle accident lawyers start preparing your case for the eventuality of going to trial from the very first time that they meet with you and we will make sure that you are prepared for trial as well. Trial does not intimidate us and insurance companies will not be effective in using the trial as a means to deny you the compensation that you deserve.

Contact Our Legal Team Today. We Are Here To Help.

At The Joel Bieber Firm, our personal injury lawyers take pride in the legal guidance that we provide for our clients. Part of our duty to you is to be a counselor who will advise you based on our legal experience in and out of the courtroom. Our dangerous drugs and pharmaceuticals practice is highly informed. Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer at The Joel Bieber Firm today for your free initial consultation. We will fight for you.