Wichita Dangerous Drug Lawyer

Every day, many Americans rely on pharmaceutical drugs to maintain their overall health and well-being. In doing so, we trust that the medications we take have been thoroughly tested by the companies that manufacture them and are safe for our consumption. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, and when pharmaceutical companies put profit over people, serious injuries can occur.

There are many known harmful drugs, some with current lawsuits and many still on the market for consumers. If you or someone you know has suffered harmful side effects from medication, you can seek legal guidance from a qualified Wichita dangerous drug lawyer at Prochaska, Howell & Prochaska LLC.

What Makes a Medication Harmful?

A large amount of our population uses and relies on prescriptions for their daily health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 48.6% of Americans use at least one prescription drug during a 30-day period, while 24% use three or more prescription drugs. With that many people using prescriptions, it’s important that those medications are safe for consumer use.

If you look at the label of any type of medication, you’ll usually see instructions for its intended use. That label may list the specific age groups who should or shouldn’t take the medication, and it may also list warnings for possible side effects. What the label might not say, and your doctor might not tell you, is some of the more severe side effects that are considered rare. But those side effects are important for consumers to know.

The United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has specific guidelines and regulations in place for the manufacturing, processing, and packing of all pharmaceutical products. These medications are required to undergo testing and gain FDA approval before they can be released to the consumer market.

However, even with these regulations in place, some drugs are not tested thoroughly enough, or pharmaceutical companies may withhold data that may keep their drug from going to market. When this happens, drugs that are supposed to help people regain their health end up causing damage and harming those who take the medication, sometimes resulting in wrongful death.

Harmful Drug Cases Our Office Handles

As mentioned previously, there are a number of known harmful drugs that have negatively affected many Americans. Some of the more infamous ones that almost every Wichita dangerous drug lawyer in our office has handled cases regarding include:

• Abilify: Prescribed as an antipsychotic to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, and more, it has been linked to cases of compulsive gambling, and the FDA has also linked Abilify to increased risk of death in elderly adults and increased risk for suicidal thoughts or actions in children, teens, and young adults.
• Nexium: Most commonly prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other acid-related damages to the esophagus and stomach, studies show that the use of Nexium is associated with acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), which causes rapid inflammation of the kidneys, in some cases leading to chronic kidney disease.
• Ozempic: Although it was designed to help regulate blood sugar levels and increase the secretion of insulin, Ozempic was incorrectly prescribed to many patients to manage weight loss. For those who took the drug for weight loss purposes, patients suffered serious health issues such as stomach paralysis (gastroparesis), intestinal obstructions, and many more.
• Taxotere: Developed as an anti-cancer chemotherapy medication to treat breast cancer, advanced stomach cancer, head and neck cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, and non-small lung cancer, Taxotere has been linked to cases of permanent hair loss and poses a greater risk of death to patients with liver problems, have taken chemotherapy medications that contain platinum and other dangerous chemicals.
• Tylenol: Possibly the most common over-the-counter (OTC) drug used for pain and inflammation, Tylenol has recently been linked to cases of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children whose mothers took the drug while pregnant. The risk of these disorders developing was shown to be greater when Tylenol is taken for longer periods and during the second and third trimesters.
• Xarelto: Designed as a blood thinner to prevent clotting in patients with atrial fibrillation or who have hip or knee replacements, Xarelto has been linked to cases of uncontrollable and fatal hemorrhaging (both external and internal) and severe post-surgical complications.
• Zofran: A very commonly used anti-nausea medication, Zofran has been linked to cases of birth defects in children whose mothers were given the medication to treat symptoms of morning sickness during pregnancy, specifically during the first trimester. Zofran was never approved for this use and is connected to cases of children being born with heart defects, cleft palates, and cleft lips.

These are just a few of the many dangerous drugs that have been proven to harm patients. Unfortunately, most of them are still widely available despite multiple lawsuits from those who have suffered due to severe side effects. Some of the drug manufacturers relabeled their medications to include these more serious side effects and updated information on who should or shouldn’t take their drugs; however, the damage has already been done.

Legal Help Is Available

If you or someone you love has suffered adverse effects or has died from dangerous medications, you can join others who have been similarly harmed by fighting against the manufacturers of these drugs. Our Wichita office handles cases just like yours and will assist you in making your claim against the companies that caused your suffering.

By hiring a skilled Wichita dangerous drug lawyer, you will have experience and legal knowledge on your side, ensuring that your case will be taken seriously and filed in a timely manner. Contact our office by phone or online today and speak with one of our attorneys in a free consultation.

We understand how complex pursuing legal action against big companies can be, but we want you to know that you’re not alone in this fight. We’ll make sure your voice is heard and that you receive the compensation you deserve.