Why Drugs May be Recalled

There are millions of drugs prescribed in the United States each day and unfortunately many of those drugs have adverse side effects. Many drugs are recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent serious medical problems. Drug recalls are classified according to the following criteria:

Class I

There is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.

Class II

Use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

Class III

Use of or exposure to a violative product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.

Source:

American Pharmacists Association

Frequently Asked Questions of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

Fosamax linked to Osteonecrosis (fossy jaw)

Merck’s osteoporosis drug Fosamax has been named in a lawsuit filed by a woman suffering from osteonecrosis of the jaw, a rare but debilitating and disfiguring condition in which soft tissue in the jawbone dies from infection. It is an irreversible condition. Unfortunately, simply halting Fosamax therapy may not limit your risk if you’ve been taking Fosamax. If you’ve experienced dental pain, “heavy jaw feeling,” or swelling in the jaw and take Fosamax, you may want to consult with a lawyer to protect your rights. For more information …

Six Women Dead After Taking Mifeprex/Misoprostol “Abortion Pill”

Over 600 adverse events involving the Mifeprex/Misoprostol regime have been reported to the FDA (Source:Newsinferno.com, March 18, 2006). There is concern that adverse events may be underreported because the FDA has not made a causal link between the drug and the fatal infections of women. If you know of someone who died after taking the abortion pill regime of Mifeprex and Misoprostol, you may want to discuss your case with a lawyer. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin is experienced in wrongful death cases. Call or contact us today for a free conversation about your situation. There is never any obligation to hire our law firm.

Vioxx doubles risk of stroke and cardiac death

Have you or a loved one recently suffered from a heart attack or stroke? Merck & Co. announced on September 29, 2004, that they are recalling Vioxx, a prescription drug commonly used to relieve arthritis and menstrual pain. Merck recalled Vioxx on September 29, 2004, due to information it released from a three-year clinical trial. The study found …

Viagra linked to Vision Loss

Viagra is the most popular pill in the U.S., according to its manufacturer, Pfizer, Inc. Viagra has long been known to cause visual side effects and has now been linked to NAION, a “stroke of the eye” that causes permanent loss of vision.

Bextra may cause Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Heart Attacks

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a Public Health Advisory on April 7, 2005, to warn the public that it has requested that Pfizer, Inc., manufacturer of the COX-2 inhibiting drug Bextra, to voluntarily recall the drug. Bextra has been linked to heart attacks, stroke, and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare but serious allergic reaction that can be fatal. If you’ve experienced any of these life-threatening complications while on Bextra, call us now about your case. For more information …

Learn More About Accutane

Since its debut on the market in 1982, Accutane has been linked to severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicidal behavior in patients. It has also been linked to severe brain and heart birth defects in children born to women who were pregnant while taking Accutane.

Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch - Blood Clots and Strokes

Some women who have worn the Ortho Evra birth control patch have suffered severe, debilitating and long-term side effects as a result, including blood clots, migraine headaches, and strokes. At least one woman has died while on the patch, and the patch may be linked to 10 other deaths according to an Associated Press investigation (July, 2005). Ortho McNeil …

Celebrex

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently halted a long-term trial on the effectiveness of Cox-2 inhibitors at treating cancerous polyps because of the increased level of adverse cardiovascular events among patients in the study. Patients receiving a 400-mg. dose of Celebrex were 3.4 times as likely to experience adverse cardiovascular events than with a placebo. For patients receiving the 200 mg dose of Celebrex, the risk was 2.5 times as great …

Effexor

Effexor (venlafaxine) is an antidepressant with a structure that does not resemble those of any other currently used antidepressant. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, makers of Effexor, sent a two-page letter in August 2003 to healthcare workers in the US warning about the hazards of prescribing Effexor for children. The Wyeth letter states that Effexor was not effective in treating depression or anxiety and that there were increased “reports of …

Oxycontin

Oxycontin is a narcotic drug approved for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. Oxycontin contains oxycodone, a very strong narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine. The FDA has strengthened the warnings and precautions sections in the labeling of the Oxycontin Tablets because the drug is highly addictive and has been linked to numerous fatalities.

Paxil

The FDA has been investigating the potential harmful side effects the drug Paxil causes its users since June of 2003. There are reports that the drug has caused an increased risk of violent behavior, suicidal thinking, and suicide attempts, especially in adolescents. The FDA currently recommends that …

Prozac

Prozac is an antidepressant of the class of medications known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs. One of the most common side effects of the prescription drug Prozac is tardive akasthia, in which the patient possesses …

Serzone

Cases of life-threatening liver failure necessitating a liver transplant and/or death have been reported in patients treated with Serzone. In December 2001, the FDA added a “black box” warning to Serzone’s prescribing information labeling for doctors. Black box warnings call attention to situations involving considerable risk that might require additional information or monitoring to prevent an adverse effect, and are considered the most stringent warning the FDA can administer…

Seroquel linked to diabetic complications

Extreme hyperglycemia, or elevated blood sugar, has been reported in patients treated with Seroquel. Seroquel has also been associated with ketoacidosis (insulin deficiency), coma or death, all stages of metabolic dysfunction common in untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus. If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes while taking Seroquel, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries. For more information …

Trasylol (aprotinin) Linked to Kidney Failure - Heart Attack - Strokes

Trasylol (aprotinin) is a clotting agent injected during coronary artery bypass surgery to prevent excessive blood loss. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in January 2006 found that administration of trasyslol at least doubles the risk of kidney failure and stroke in cardiac patients and raises the risk of heart attack or heart failure by 55%. As many as 10,000 people may now be on dialysis as a result. If you have suffered any of these injuries after being injected with trasylol during coronary artery bypass surgery, you deserve the counsel of an experienced legal team.

Zoloft

Zoloft is an anti-depressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRIs) class. It is primarily prescribed for depression, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Zoloft can cause a number of distressing side effects, notably …

Zyprexa linked to NMS

Zyprexa (Olanzapine) is a psychotropic agent that belongs to the thienobenzodiazepine class. Zyprexa is indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia. Zyprexa has been linked to Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal symptom complex and Tardive Dyskinesia, a syndrome of …