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New Jersey Prescription Drug Recall Attorneys

In today's society there are a number of prescription drugs circulating throughout the United States.  The National Center for Health Statistics reported in 2011 that over 90% of all American's over the age of 60 were prescribed at least one form of prescription medication.  As a result of the ever increasing reliance on prescriptions, more and more drugs are being manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies that supply them.

Some of the drugs that are being produced are not properly vetted and therefore defective drugs have entered the marketplace.  There have been numerous instances where the pharmaceutical companies have been successfully sued for placing defective drugs in the marketplace.  Some of the lawsuits have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages paid out by the pharmaceutical companies.

Drug Recalls by the FDA

A drug recall occurs when the pharmaceutical company or the FDA renders a determination that the drug is not safe and should be removed from the marketplace.  Often times drugs are recalled due to the fact that they are fused improperly, may cause serious injury, or it may have been determined that the drug has dangerous side effects.

Recently Litigated Prescription Medications

Prescription Bottles There are different types of drug recalls.  The most serious of which is denoted as a Class One recall, issued when it is determined that exposure to the drug is likely to cause serious injury to the person prescribed the drug.  There are currently a number of “class action” cases and mass tort and drug litigation involving the following prescription drugs:

  • Accutane:  This medication was on the market and prescribed to reduce acne.  Accutane can be very dangerous for women who are pregnant.  There are currently restrictions in place regarding a woman of child bearing age's ability to use Accutane.  This medicine works by using a variant of Vitamin A to decrease the rate of production of oily substances in the skin that cause acne.  Accutane has been known to cause serious birth defects, inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's Disease.
  • Yasmin:  This medication is a form of birth control that has been known to cause heart problems or strokes in some women who use it.  Yasmin has been found to be dangerous in women who are older, who smoke or have had previous medical conditions.
  • Vioxx:  This medication was on the market until approximately 2005 and was used to treat numerous conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and migraines.  In the event you were prescribed Vioxx to treat arthritis and other conditions, you may be permitted to file a claim.  Various side effects associated with the use of Vioxx include heart attacks and fluid retention, to name a few.  Merck, the pharmaceutical company, recently settled a lawsuit brought by the Unites States Justice Department in the amount of one billion dollars as a result of the damages caused by this drug.  Merck was accused of downplaying early warning indications regarding the drug's effects on the heart.
  • Darvocet:  This is a prescription pain medication that was ordered to be removed from the market in 2010.  It was found to cause fatal heart rhythm problems in users.  Any individuals who used Darvocet should have been prescribed a different medication and advised to stop use of Darvocet after November of 2011.  Darvocet has been known to cause heart attacks, sudden death and congestive heart failure.
  • Avandia:  This is a prescription medication developed by Glaxosmith Klein for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.  It was confirmed by a recent medical study that Avandia increases the risk of heart attack by 50% in users.
  • Lexipro:  This medication is an antidepressant and it is not to be used while pregnant.  Lexipro usage has been correlated to congenital birth defects.
  • Depakote:  This medication is distributed by Abbott and is prescribed to treat migraines or chronic pain associated with neuropathy.  This medication has been linked to birth defects in women who were prescribed the medication while pregnant.  There are numerous devastating side effects associated with Depakote.  Approximately 20% of women who used Depakote while pregnant suffered some type of issue with the birth of their child.
  • Defective Diet Drugs:  A number of these so called “miracle” diet drugs, such as Fen-Phen, Xenadrine, Metabolife and Ephedra, may have extremely dangerous side effects.  These side effects include, but are not limited to, strokes, heart attacks and increased heart rate or blood pressure.  Unfortunately, while these drugs are marketed with helping people deal with obesity, they can have catastrophic side effects.

Call Us to Seek Compensation for Prescription Drug Recall

In the unfortunate event that you have been the victim of the effects of a defective pharmaceutical drug, you may be entitled to pursue a personal injury claim.  The New Jersey Prescription Drug Recall Attorneys at Villani & DeLuca may be able to assist you and get you the compensation you deserve.  Please call today to schedule your free initial consultation to review your case with our personal injury attorneys.

Contact Us Today

Villani & DeLuca, P.C. is committed to answering your questions about Divorce & Family Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and DWI & Traffic Law issues in New Jersey. We offer a Free Consultation and we'll gladly discuss your case with you at your convenience. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

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