Pharmaceutical Lawsuit Attorneys

Lawsuits Filed Against Drug Manufacturers

Drugs must undergo a lengthy FDA approval process before they are legal for sale in the United States. Given the costs and time involved in securing drug approval, the temptation for drug manufacturers to withhold valuable information about the real and potentially harmful drug side effects can be overwhelming. If a drug manufacturer succumbs to this pressure, the cost in human suffering can be horrific.

A pharmaceutical litigation attorney represents the interests of those who have been harmed by or lost loved ones as a direct result of a dangerous prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication. A pharmaceutical litigation lawyer may represent an individual client in a defective drug case or take part in a mass tort action.

Pharmaceutical Mass Tort Actions

Mass tort actions are taken on behalf of large numbers of plaintiffs who have suffered harmful effects due to an unsafe drug. For a pharmaceutical litigation attorney, the commonality of the side effects these people have suffered paints a clear picture of negligence, which must be addressed in a court of law. Here are some of the unsafe drugs against which mass tort actions have been successfully pursued:

• Yaz and Yasmin
  The birth control pills, Yaz and Yasmin, utilize a new and dangerous type of progestin called Drospirenone that is known to cause hyperkalemia, or elevated levels of potassium in the body. Bayer deceptively marketed Yaz and Yasmin with commercials that exaggerated the effectiveness of the drugs and unsterstated their side effects.
• Vioxx
  A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug marketed for use in managing osteoarthritis pain. Extended use significantly increases the risk for heart attack or stroke in otherwise healthy patients. Merck, the maker of the drug, allegedly knew of these potentially deadly side effects, yet marketed the drug for sale.
• Accutane
  An acne medication linked to serious side effects, including birth defects, depression, psychosis and suicide.
• Bextra
  Bextra is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug marketed for the management of osteoarthritis pain, rheumatoid arthritis pain and severe menstrual cramping. Bextra may cause severe skin conditions and allergic reactions.
• Baycol
  This cholesterol-lowering drug was removed from the market in 2001 after causing over 100 deaths due to a severe breakdown of muscle cells, which triggered kidney failure and death.
• PPA
  An amphetamine-like drug used in appetite suppressants and nasal decongestants. PPA was withdrawn from the market in 2000 after causing a number of deaths due to hemorrhagic stroke.

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