Dangerous Drugs
At Albert G. Stoll, A Law Corporation, our attorneys have the knowledge, skills, and experience to stand up to the pharmaceutical giants when they push dangerous drugs on the market that cause serious injury or death.
The following drugs have been connected to serious side effects, including heart attacks, strokes, or even death:
- Accutane
- Ativan
- Avandia
- Bextra
- Boniva
- Byetta
- Celebrex
- Crestor
- Cymbalta
- Dilantin
- Enbrel
- Ephedra
- Fosamax
- Gadolinium
- Heparin
- Herceptin
- Ketek
- Meridia
- Norplant
- Ortho Evra (the Patch)
- Oxycontin
- Paxil
- Seroquel
- Vioxx
- Yaz, Yasmin
- Zicam
This is only a partial list of potentially dangerous drugs placed on the market in recent years. Some of these drugs have been voluntarily recalled by the drug companies, while others have been pulled from the shelves by the FDA or had “black box” warnings placed on them by the government. However, many others remain on the market, despite concern from doctors and consumer groups.
How do dangerous drugs get to market, and how do they stay there? The U.S. pharmaceutical industry generates over $300 billion a year in drug sales. Some of the biggest profits come from being the first to market with the latest blockbuster drug. This rush to market can compromise the research and approval process. The number, size or length of studies may not be sufficient or their results fully evaluated, and meanwhile political pressure is brought on government regulators by the powerful drug lobby to approve drugs faster and more frequently.
Once on the market, drugs are marketed heavily, not just in advertising to the consumer, but directly to doctors through the use of detailers, salespeople who regularly call upon doctors at their offices. With the pressure on doctors to prescribe drugs, and the media bombardment convincing people they need these drugs, certain drugs are being more heavily used than safe use dictates.
Another serious problem is the use of drugs for other uses than their original purpose. Sometimes a drug developed for one purpose will have an unintended side effect with beneficial uses of its own. The drug is then heavily marketed for this off-label use by the detailers in the doctor’s office and spread by word of mouth. The problem is that the drug was never tested for safety or approved by the FDA for this off-label use. Many times the off-label use will occur in dosages and frequencies several times their original approved purpose.
Whether from a side effect, off-label use, or a defectively manufactured drug, the effects of dangerous drugs can be severe, ranging from causing illness to permanent organ damage to death. If you or a loved one is experiencing ill effects that may be from the result of dangerous or defective drug, contact the personal injury lawyers at the San Francisco law office of Albert G. Stoll, Jr., A Law Corporation. We will work with you and a team of experts to determine the cause of your injuries and ensure that you receive the level of compensation you deserve.