Practice Areas
 

Pharmaceutical Malpractice - Negligence

Prescription Drugs

One of the most rapidly growing categories of personal injury lawsuits is pharmaceutical malpractice, sometimes called pharmaceutical negligence. Pharmaceutical malpractice or negligence lawsuits involve prescription drugs and are based on:

• Drug recalls – A recall occurs after death or injury of users of a drug are reported.
• Product failure – A product may fail to perform as promised.
• Long-term side effects – Despite clinical trials, the long-term effects of drugs are difficult to determine. Only after a product has been on the market for an extended time do long term effects surface.
• Improperly prescribed medication – A doctor prescribes a medication those conflicts with another medication a patient is taking.
• Improperly filled prescriptions – A pharmacist may fill a prescription with an incorrect medication or provide the correct medication with the wrong dosage.

Pharmaceutical negligence cases can arise from many prescription drugs. The following are prescription drugs where litigation is ongoing because of deaths, injuries or questionable safety records:

Bextra: a COX -2 selective non-steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat patients, suffering from the severe pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary dysmenorrhea. The actions of Bextra on the body are similar to Vioxx, which has been recalled. Because of the similarities to Vioxx, Bextra warning concerns have been raised regarding the cardiovascular safety of taking the drug.

Celebrex: A Cox-2 inhibitor originally approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. The drug was later approved as a treatment aimed at reducing the number of intestinal polyps in patients with familial adenotamous polyposis. There are now concerns that Celebrex usage may increase the risk of heart attack or strokes in some people. As of 4/7/05, the FDA has allowed Celebrex to remain on the market, but the label must include a black box warning of the risk of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks.

Vioxx: a treatment for osteoarthritis, menstrual pain and management of acute pain in adults. Merck’s voluntary 2004 Vioxx recall was prompted by research findings, indicating patients taking Vioxx for eighteen months double their risk of suffering from a serious heart attack or stroke.

Zyprexa: an atypical antipsychotic used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and other psychological conditions, particularly Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. The drug is also prescribed "off label" by doctors who feel the drug's use may prove beneficial to patients for purposes other than those evaluated and approved by the FDA. In 2004 the FDA issued a warning that risk of diabetes, hypoglycemia, pancreitis, stroke, coma and death are associated with Zyprexa.

When prescription drugs harm you, there are legal remedies. It is important to consult a qualified personal injury attorney immediately. At Mazur & Kittel, PLLC our attorneys have a wealth of experience in dealing with pharmaceutical negligence cases. We stand ready to defend your rights and will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation to which you are entitled by law.

Call our office today at 800-990-6380 for a free initial consultation. There are no fees or costs unless we recovery damages on your behalf.