DANGEROUS DRUG ATTORNEYS

Prescription medications are supposed to help the people to whom they are prescribed, not hurt them. The companies that manufacture pharmaceuticals, and the physicians who prescribe them, have a legal obligation to ensure that the drugs they are prescribing are safe for patients. When a pharmaceutical company prioritizes profits over peoples' safety, individuals can suffer long-term, life-changing injuries or even death. If a dangerous medication has caused you to suffer, we're here to help.

The North Carolina and South Carolina injury lawyers at Grimes Teich Anderson have been helping injured victims secure the compensation they need for over 40 years.* We strive to get justice for those suffering from hazardous drugs and hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for their irresponsible actions on behalf of our clients.

FDA approval does not 100% guarantee that a prescription drug will be safe. FDA approval only means that it has passed the required testing or approval process. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are responsible for what is released to consumers and are liable when their product is harmful or does not appropriately warn patients of potential risk. There are various reasons a drug may harm those that take it, and the causes are always preventable when the makers act responsibly. Some of the more common actions resulting in harm are:

The best recourse for patients and their families when a prescription drug has caused them harm is filing a lawsuit and seeking compensation from liable parties. Compensation is typically in the form of legal damages, a type of monetary award granted to make up for an injury or loss incurred by a defendant. You may be entitled to receive compensation for:

While prescription and over-the-counter medications have the potential to cause you harm or painful side-effects, some have become the subject of high-profile dangerous drug lawsuits. Listed below are some examples of these drugs that are known to cause detrimental side-effects.

Actemra: This common immunosuppressive drug is known to have serious potential side-effects for patients, including perforation (hole) in the stomach wall and an increased risk of cancer.

Pradaxa: The incidents involving Pradaxa seem to have arisen from internal bleeding caused by the drug itself, including gastrointestinal bleeding and brain hemorrhaging. Patients who have developed internal bleeding problems after using Pradaxa may be facing long-term bleeding problems, even after they have stopped using the drug.

Proton Pump Inhibitors: Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, Aciphex, Zegerid, Kapidex, and Dexilant are all considered proton pump inhibitors that treat stomach acid. Some serious issues have been reported after using proton pump inhibitors, including chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, heart attacks, myocardial infarctions, increasing propensity for fractures, infections, congenital disabilities, strokes, and hypomagnesemia. 

Taxotere: Taxotere (brand-name version of docetaxel) is a chemotherapeutic anti-cancer drug produced by the French global pharmaceutical corporation, Sanofi. In many cases, women who were prescribed Taxotere for breast cancer treatment have suffered from permanent hair loss. Women who took Taxotere say that their physicians did not warn them of the risk for baldness after their cancer went into remission.

Truvada: Hundreds of lawsuits claim that the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) drug, Truvada, causes kidney problems and bone loss. Additionally, they allege that the manufacturer, Gilead Sciences Inc., knew of Truvada’s harmful effects, did not disclose them to patients, and even allegedly withheld a safer alternative, tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF, to keep profiting off the drug.

Valsartan: Patients who took blood pressure medications containing valsartan as early as 2014 and were later diagnosed with cancer or liver damage are suing the companies that made and sold the tainted drugs. According to the lawsuits, valsartan batches were allegedly contaminated with toxic, carcinogenic chemicals N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and N-Nitrosodiethylamide (NDEA).

Zantac: Lawsuits claim that Zantac and other ranitidine products contaminated with N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) have caused patients to suffer various types of cancer. Those filing lawsuits against Zantac and ranitidine manufacturers are seeking compensation for illnesses potentially caused by NDMA exposure.

Zofran: Many of the possible side-effects of taking Zofran are stated on its label. However, Zofran is often prescribed to pregnant women to treat their morning sickness, which is an off-label application of the drug's abilities. Using Zofran during pregnancy is not approved by the FDA and has been linked to several severe birth defects. 

This list is not comprehensive. New drugs are being classified as dangerous and are recalled frequently. If you have taken any of the prescription drugs above and have suffered similar side-effects, you may be overwhelmed by the thought of going up against a well-known pharmaceutical corporation. A household name and a massive legal team does not excuse a company from negligence or malpractice. 

Has a dangerous or recalled drug seriously harmed you or a loved one? If so, it's essential that you obtain an attorney who is familiar with the symptoms associated with these medications and knows the possible future damages that may result from your use of the recalled drug. The dangerous drug attorneys at Grimes Teich Anderson have extensive experience in representing good people who were injured by dangerous or recalled drugs, and we know how to get you the compensation you deserve.* Call us today at 800-533-6845 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys or complete our free case evaluation form online.