When a pharmaceutical manufacturer rushes a new drug product to market, spends millions of dollars to aggressively market it to doctors, and then persuades consumers by television and online popup ads to request the product from the doctor, many patients are potentially at risk. It should surprise no one that pharma manufacturers sometimes place revenues over patient safety. Unfortunately, when the manufacturer’s balance sheet is more important than the well being of patients, innocent victims suffer.

Patients in Alabama assume that products or drugs sold over the counter or by prescription are safe. However, when a drug’s risks outnumber its benefits to patients, the product is considered defective or dangerous. FDA approves drugs before the manufacturer is allowed to make them available to consumers but, because of the urgency with which some manufacturers want to bring drugs to market, sometimes the company performs abbreviated testing. For that reason, the drug’s long-term effects may be difficult or impossible to recognize in advance.

Zithromax

This widely used antibiotic from Pfizer has been around for about 20 years. Many severe side effects, such as cardiac arrhythmia, liver failure, pancreatitis, abnormal heart beat (i.e. QT prolongation), and Steven Johns Syndrome (SJS), may result from taking Zithromax.

Gardasil

Manufactured by Merck & Co., this vaccine is used to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) strains linked to cervical cancer. Unfortunately, many serious side effects, including sudden heart attack, were reported. Some reactions caused death.

Accutane

This drug was intended to be offered as a chemotherapy drug for patients with pancreatic and brain cancers. Adverse effects associated with Accutane include inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s Disease, psychiatric issues, and suicidal thoughts. Mothers using Accutane delivered babies with birth defects, including visual/hearing impairments, mental retardation, missing/malformed pinna, and facial abnormalities.4. Vioxx. Many people were received Vioxx for pain. Although Merck knew the drug increased users’ risk of heart attack and stroke by 2000, they didn’t act until FDA warned the company and required additional labeling in 2002.

Xarelto

Xarelto’s serious side effects include excessive bleeding/bruising, heavy menses, weakness or dizziness, bloody feces, expectorating blood, and death due to hemorrhage or uncontrolled bleeding.

Lipitor

Manufactured by Pfizer, Lipitor is a cholesterol-lowering statin drug. Medical researchers know that Lipitor is associated with kidney and muscle damage and serious health risks.

Benicar

Manufactured by Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd. In Japan, Benicar is used to treat blood pressure disorders. FDA issued a warning in 2016. Problems have been recognized since 2008. Symptoms include diarrhea, rapid weight loss, vomiting, dehydration, and intestinal inflammation. Intestinal damage resulting in vitamin deficiencies, pain and indigestion, bloody/cloudy urine, fatigue, and malnutrition have occurred.

If you or someone you love has been injured because of a pharmaceutical company’s negligence, you need the Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyers on your side. Contact us today for more information and to schedule your consultation.