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Pharmaceutical Litigation

When you go to the doctor and get prescribed a medication for an illness, you’d like to believe that these drugs are going to help you get better. But if you’re on this page looking for pharmaceutical injury lawyers, you already know that prescription and over the counter drugs can come with serious side effects.

Symptoms and Side Effects of Dangerous Prescription Drugs

When you’re ill, it can be difficult to tell if the reason you’re feeling bad is due to the medication you took or simply from being sick. It is important that you note any strange side effects your prescription may be known for, but also any side effects the manufacturer hasn’t mentioned. Some of pharmaceutical side effects symptoms may include:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Arrhythmia
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Development of lumps under the skin
  • Rashes
  • Jaundice
  • Kidney damage
  • Nerve injury

Unfortunately, many side effects end up causing life altering or even deadly injuries. Many drugs, such as testosterone replacement therapies, result in heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, and strokes. Diabetes drugs, such as Invokana, have led to amputations. Zantac, an antacid, has caused pancreatitis, liver damage, and multiple types of cancer.

Other symptoms from the use of prescription drugs do not always manifest physically. A famous example of this is the development of akathisia from taking Prozac. Akathisia causes individuals to be in a state of agitation, increasing hostility, the risk of violence, and even suicidal tendencies. In fact, many SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) have been linked to an increased risk of attempting suicide.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, so if you suspect you or a loved one is having an adverse drug reaction, it is important to see a physician immediately. Attending to you or your loved one’s health is especially important if you are confused about what is happening, but it is also critical you make sure these symptoms are documented in your medical charts. Make sure to verify with your physician that your complaints and symptoms are being noted in your records.

Dangerous Drugs – Why Are There So Many?

Many industry experts believe the pharmaceutical industry’s relationship with the medical profession as a plagued with conflicted interests. The pharmaceutical industry works to hide important research from doctors so they are more likely to prescribe certain drugs being promoted by pharmaceutical companies. Often, these drugs are less effective and more expensive than their less popular, less profitable alternatives.

The corporate influence of pharmaceutical companies has also creeped into the academic and scientific community through paying for the training of doctors and nurses in medical schools as well as funding medical research. The Center for Responsive Politics reported that there were over 1,100 lobbyists working in some capacity for the pharmaceutical industry. In just one fiscal quarter, the health products and pharmaceutical industry spent $78 million on lobbying members of the United States Congress.

This is the type of lobbying that leads to the passage of laws such as the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. This act allows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to approve drugs on a fast track basis. The faster these drugs are approved, the less time regulators have to vet their safety. This has disastrous consequences for patients.

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, and up to 6.7% of acute hospital admissions are due to dangerous drugs. These numbers take on a very personal meaning when you or a loved one is dealing with the fallout. There are real people with real lives behind these statistics.

Dealing with these adverse reactions also means dealing with expensive treatments, hospitalizations, and even death. Damages caused by dangerous drugs can also mean reduced income, inability to work, emotional stress, and lifelong medical care. If you or someone you love has been hurt by taking a dangerous drug, you may have legal options available to you to compensate you for these damages.

Bad Drug Lawsuits

In Texas, dangerous drug claims are considered product liability lawsuits. The law in Texas states that any company that manufactures or sells a harmful product, whether prescription or over-the-counter (OTC), can be held liable for the harm caused. While these options are available, they are not easy to pursue. It is in your best interest to find an attorney who has a record of successfully resolving claims against large, well-funded corporate defendants and their attorneys.

Deadlines to file a Pharmaceutical Injury Claim

The law sets a deadline within which you must file a lawsuit. The name of this deadline is called a statute of limitations, and in Texas you generally have two years from the incident to file a claim. With the complexities involved in this type of case, it is in your best interest to get your case investigated as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the less time your attorneys will have to determine the best course of action for you and your family. Contact us today to get a free consultation. There is never a charge to have your case reviewed.

Have you or a loved one been harmed in an accident caused by someone else? Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation.

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