Filing a Dangerous Drug Lawsuit
Almost 70% of people in the United States take at least one prescription drug, according to Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center researchers. More than half of Americans take two.
Sadly, many of these prescription drugs have dangerous consequences. Numerous drugs have been linked to serious side effects, including pain, birth defects, and heart defects.
If you have developed an injury or illness due to a prescription drug, you are not to blame.
Companies that made and sold these products may:
- Have hid the dangerous side effects from the public
- Have performed inadequate safety testing
- Be to blame for your personal injury
If a prescription drug led to an injury or illness in you or a loved one, a personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal options. You may be entitled to financial compensation to pay for any needed medical treatments and related expenses.
Choosing a Lawyer
Filing a lawsuit can seem like a stressful undertaking. However, with the right lawyer, the process can seem much more manageable and worthwhile.
If you are considering filing a dangerous drug lawsuit, it is important to seek out a lawyer with experience handling these specific types of personal injury cases. In addition to experience, you should work with a lawyer who has a national reach and can travel to you, taking this time-consuming burden off of you. Sokolove Law is one such firm.
Why Choose Sokolove Law?
- We have over 45 years of experience handling personal injury cases.
- We are a national law firm with a licensed attorney in almost every state.
- We have recovered over $1.49 Billion for clients who were hurt by drug companies.
Dangerous Prescription Drugs Facing Lawsuits
While all prescription drugs have the potential to cause harm or uncomfortable side effects, some drugs have been the subject of high-profile lawsuits over the years. Below are examples of prescription drugs that have been linked to dangerous side effects and are now facing lawsuits.
Antidepressant Lawsuits
Various antidepressant drugs, such as Zoloft®, have been known to cause serious side effects. Zoloft and other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been linked to an increase in suicidal behavior and self-harm in those using them. Young adults and children have the highest risk of developing these side effects.
Another side effect connected to SSRIs is birth defects in the children of mothers who take these medications. Zoloft is one of the most common drugs linked to birth defects.
Zoloft may cause birth defects such as:
- Cleft lip or cleft palate
- Club foot
- Heart and lung defects
- Spina bifida
If taking Zoloft or another antidepressant caused you or your child to become injured, you may be able to file a lawsuit and receive compensation.
Topamax® Lawsuits
Lawsuits surrounding Topamax, a drug used to treat and prevent seizures and migraine headaches, claim that the medication led to birth defects in children when women used the medication while pregnant. Examples of birth defects caused by Topamax are cleft lip and cleft palate.
Topamax may cause other birth defects, including:
- Hypospadias
- Spina bifida
- Heart defects, such as heart valve defects
Birth defects are a well known “secondary” consequence of Topamax use since they affect individuals other than those taking the medication, in this case, your baby.
However, those using Topamax may experience the following side effects:
- Anxiety
- Chest pain
- Decreased sweating
- Depression
- Kidney stones
- Metabolic acidosis (which causes tiredness, loss of appetite, and impaired consciousness)
- Sudden decrease in vision (acute myopia)
If you have experienced any of these Topamax side effects, contact your health care provider as soon as possible. Also, discuss your pregnancy, or plans to become pregnant, immediately with your doctor if you are currently taking Topamax.
Truvada® Lawsuits
In 2004, Truvada was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat and reduce the risk of contracting HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Over 1 million Americans live with HIV, and many believed this drug had the potential to help them.
Unfortunately, the active ingredient in Truvada, tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), has been linked to various harmful side effects involving the kidneys and bones.
Side effects of TDF include:
- Acute kidney injury
- Bone breaks/fractures
- Bone density loss
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- Osteoporosis
- Renal failure, impairment, or insufficiency
- Tooth loss
If you or a loved one used Truvada or another drug containing TDF and suffered from kidney or bone problems, you may be eligible to receive compensation through a lawsuit.
Dangerous Devices Facing Lawsuits
Medical devices are designed to treat various medical conditions and improve a person’s quality of life. Unfortunately, some devices do not accomplish this and instead cause serious harm. Learn more about dangerous devices that led to serious injuries and personal injury lawsuits.
Hip Replacement Lawsuits
Hip replacement surgery is an intense and costly procedure. What’s worse? Having to undergo revision surgery to replace a defective hip replacement device.
Each year, approximately 250,000 hip replacement surgeries are performed in the U.S. Over 30% of these surgeries involve a metal-on-metal implant
Over time, metal-on-metal hip devices may release tiny metallic particles which can be absorbed into nearby tissues and blood. This means that thousands of people who received metal-on-metal hip replacements are now at risk of dangerous side effects.
Side effects of metal-on-metal hip replacements are:
- Bone loss
- Groin pain
- Inflammation
- Mobility loss
- Tissue death in and around the hip joint
In the past 10 years, hip replacements or replacement parts from Johnson & Johnson®, Stryker®, and Smith & Nephew® have been recalled.
Transvaginal Mesh Lawsuits
Transvaginal mesh, or surgical mesh implants, are typically used in women to repair hernias or support organs in the pelvic area. Unfortunately, these devices have been proven to cause dangerous side effects that may be associated with their implantation.
Known side effects of defective transvaginal mesh include:
- Infection
- Mesh erosion
- Organ perforation
- Pain during or after sexual intercourse
- Painful urination
- Vaginal bleeding, pain, scarring, or shrinkage
Roughly 70,000 transvaginal mesh lawsuits have been filed to date. Among the manufacturers who made defective transvaginal mesh devices American Medical Systems®, Boston Scientific®, and Johnson & Johnson.
Seek Legal Help for Your Injury
Prescription drugs are designed to help, not harm.
If you have been injured or became sick due to a dangerous drug, it may be worth your while to take legal action and pursue compensation. If the drug you were exposed to is not listed above, view our complete list of case types.
Sokolove Law has over 45 years of experience handling cases for various dangerous drugs. We have recovered over $1 Billion for victims of dangerous drug injuries. We may be able to help you too.
To learn more about how Sokolove Law can help you, call (800) 995-1212 or contact us using the form on this page.
