Dangerous Prescription Drugs

Pharmaceutical Litigation Attorney

Prescription medication is a part of daily life for millions of people throughout the world. It is used to treat various medical conditions and can provide considerable relief for those suffering from pain and other symptoms associated with injuries or illnesses. Unfortunately, prescription drugs can cause more harm than good when they are poorly manufactured or tested. Drugs that contain insufficient warnings or improper instructions for prescription and administration can also cause serious injuries.

As pharmaceutical injury attorneys, we at Arnold & Itkin LLP are committed to holding manufacturers accountable when their drugs cause serious side effects in unsuspecting patients. We recognize the good that prescription drugs and even over-the-counter medication can do but are also aware of the catastrophic injuries they may cause when pharmaceutical companies place more of a focus on profits than on patient safety. Through the years, we have seen countless pharmaceutical drugs and medical devices recalled and pharmaceutical companies censored by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for their negligent and wrongful conduct.

Our legal team is dedicated to helping individuals and families who have suffered as the result of side effects or wrongful deaths caused by various pharmaceuticals, including:

Zoloft
Zoloft is a prescription drug used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, depression, panic attacks and post-traumatic stress disorder. This drug has been associated with serious birth defects, pregnancy complications and even suicidal tendencies.

SSRIs
An SSRI, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is a type of drug that is generally used as an antidepressant. Since their introduction on the worldwide market, SSRIs have been associated with serious side effects, ranging from pregnancy complications and birth defects to suicide.

Accutane
Accutane (isotretinoin) is a type of oral medication that was used to treat severe acne. This popular medication was prescribed to more than 13 million people but was linked to serious side effects, particularly in pregnant women. Birth defects, liver damage, suicidal thoughts and Crohn's disease have all been linked to Accutane.

PPIs
A PPI (proton pump inhibitor) is a type of drug that is used to reduce the production of gastric acid. PPIs may be used to treat peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia and similar conditions. Unfortunately, they have also been linked to serious side effects.

Avastin
Manufactured by Genentech, Avastin is a type of drug used to help with the treatment of cancers. The drug's approval for breast cancer treatment was revoked by FDA in 2011, stating the drug did not show benefits that outweighed the serious side effects, such as internal bleeding, gastrointestinal perforations and even heart failure. Avastin injections have also recently been linked to blindness.

Depakote
Depakote is a drug prescribed for the treatment of seizures and sometimes for the prevention of headaches or bipolar symptoms. The FDA has issued warnings about the drug stating that it has been linked to causing seizures, loss of liver and pancreas function, and some birth defects.

Actos
Prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes, Actos became popular as a safer version of Avandia. However, cases started surfacing which showed that Actos was linked to side effects such as back pain, headache, and bladder conditions. The FDA also issued a warning saying that Actos users who have taken the drug for an extended period of time are also more susceptible to bladder cancer.

Chantix
This drug is commonly prescribed to people who wish to stop smoking, but in 2007, the FDA issued reports warning that Chantix can cause suicidal thoughts and behavior and in some cases, cardiac complications among other less serious side effects.

Propecia
Propecia is an oral medication used to treat male pattern baldness. Side effects of this drug can be as mild as hives and mild pain but can be as serious as prostate cancer and male breast cancer.

Pradaxa
Pradaxa is a drug prescribed to those at risk for stroke and blood clots. It acts as a kind of blood thinner, but in many patients it has been causing severe side effects such as abnormal bleeding.

Risperdal
Used to help treat schizophrenia, as well as bipolar disorder and irritability related to autism, Risperdal was also specifically marketed to help treat adolescents. It, however, has been unfortunately linked to side effects ranging from weight gain & fever to gynecomastia (benign male breast tissue growth).

Diabetes Drugs
A recent study has shown a potential connection between the taking of type-2 diabetes drugs in the incretin mimetic class and pancreatic damage, such as acute pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Currently the FDA has made no conclusions, but is beginning to investigate into such possible correlations.

Contact a Drug Injury Lawyer

Finding the right lawyer to handle your case is of the utmost importance. Pharmaceutical litigation is a particularly complex area, and your opponent may be a large, multi-national corporation with considerable resources at its disposal to counter your claim. With our experience and our commitment to our clients, our legal team can provide the level of legal representation you need. If a dangerous drug has caused you or a loved one injury, now is the time to find out how we can fight for fair compensation.