5 New Prescription Drugs That Are Causing Mass Lawsuits

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Whether you have trouble sleeping, struggle with symptoms of intense anxiety, or need help managing a medical condition, prescription medications are a necessity for many people. So, it can be extremely troubling when you see that your prescribed medication is causing a major lawsuit.You may feel as though you’re putting your own life at risk. With so many prescription drugs out there, it’s tough to know which ones are causing the most commotion in the medical world, so researching your medication or asking your doctor about risks is always a good idea. Here are five prescription drugs causing mass lawsuits you’ll want to keep on your radar.

1. Nexium

If you’ve suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease or peptic ulcer disease, you’ve probably been prescribed a proton-pump inhibitor for relief of your symptoms. Prilosec, the first proton-pump inhibitor introduced in 1998, needed some major improvements. This led to the creation of Nexium. This medication works by blocking the release of acid to the stomach.

While Nexium seems innovative for its new approach in the treatment of acid reflux, Drug Dangers explains lawsuits claim this prescription drug may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease, perhaps by as much as 50%. Proton-pump inhibitors have also been shown to increase the risk of heart attack, bone fracture, and may lead to a magnesium deficiency. Birth defects and liver toxicity are also risk factors associated with taking Nexium.

2. Avelox or Levaquin

Fluoroquinolones are class of antiobiotics used treat infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, or even urinary tract infections. While this class of antibiotics is known for its effectiveness, certain types, such as Avelox and Levaquin, are linked to serious side effects causing an uproar in the medical community.

Unfortunately, the negative side effects can take years to surface. Drug Watch explains these medications have lead to lawsuits regarding aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm, and nerve damage. Aortic dissection happens when blood seeps into the layers of the tissue in the aorta. This can lead to stroke, heart attack, or paralysis once the walls of the aorta begin to break down. Anneurisms and nerve damage can also be serious. Until recently, the risk of nerve damage wasn’t even addressed at the time the prescription was written.

3. Invokana

Diabetes can cause serious damage to the body, including blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Invokana was developed to help sufferers better deal with this disease in conjunction with a healthful diet and daily exercise. This prescription drug helps to lower blood sugar by allowing the kidneys to remove sugar from the body via the urine.

Current lawsuits state Invokana manufacturers failed to tell patients and physicians this drug could increase the risk of kidney failure, heart attacks, and ketoacidosis, which is a condition that occurs when there is not enough insulin in the body and ketones enter the bloodstream, WebMD explains. Levin Papantonio Personal Injury Lawyers outlines the lawsuit, explaining doctors would have monitored their patients more closely had they known of these threats.

4. Byetta

Byetta is another prescription drug that works to help those who suffer from type 2 diabetes. This injectable medication should not be taken with insulin, Diabetes.co.uk explains. It’s meant to help lower blood sugar without promoting weight gain. Overall, users have reported Byetta has helped them lose weight, giving it an advantage over other drugs are used to treat diabetes.

So what’s the problem? According to The Schmidt Firm, this medication has been linked to kidney failure, pancreatic cancer, and thyroid cancer. Plaintiffs in the lawsuits say the drug-makers failed to warn them of these potential dangers.

5. Benicar

Benicar is one of the top 100 selling prescription drugs in the U.S., and it was introduced in the 2000’s to treat high blood pressure. This drug works by blocking a protein produced by the liver known as angiotensin II. This protein can narrow the blood vessels, which can limit or reduce the flow of blood. Benicar works to relax the blood vessels, which decreases the pressure in the veins and lets the heart work more efficiently. Many side effects of Benicar are mild to moderate, including nausea, rash, hair loss, and chest pain, though lawsuits against Benicar are for far worse side effects.

Drug Dangers explains Benicar was promoted as safer than other blood pressure medications of its kind, but it’s been linked to gastrointestinal complications and disease, including celiac-like symptoms and serious stomach pain. Some have even reported extreme weight loss and the inability to absorb nutrients.

We’re not saying you should avoid taking all prescription drugs, but you should always have a thorough discussion with your physician before beginning a new treatment to make sure you understand the potential benefits and risks.

Filed under: General Problems