We all rely on drugs and medical devices to improve the quality of life for us and our loved ones. But sometimes drug and device companies put unsafe products on the market, ones that give us conditions that are worse than what we needed treatment for originally. When that happens, Drugwatch is here to help.
Sold and marketed by Bayer and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Xarelto is a popular blood thinner prescribed to treat or prevent blood clots. Like a similar drug, Pradaxa, Xarelto can cause serious internal bleeding, which can lead to death. People who lost loved ones who took the drug filed lawsuits claiming the drug maker did not provide enough warning about bleeding risks.
About 1 million pregnant women a year take Zofran, which originally was approved to treat nausea in cancer patients or following surgery. Doctors prescribe the drug despite the fact the FDA did not approve it to treat morning sickness or vomiting during pregnancy. Studies link the medication to severe birth defects that may be fatal, leading to lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline.
Some doctors call testosterone therapy the new fountain of youth for men who have Low T – a condition in which the body doesn’t make enough testosterone. Several studies link these drugs to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and prostate cancer. An increasing number of affected men are suing drug makers to recover damages.
Type 2 diabetes drug Actos was one of the most successful drugs on the market, generating billions of dollars for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. But the drug also is linked to a number of life-changing side effects, the alarming of which is bladder cancer. Takeda has settled claims that it failed to warn the public.
Thousands of women implanted with surgical mesh to treat incontinence or organ prolapse after childbirth or hysterectomies suffer from serious complications including organ damage, severe pain and inability to have intercourse. Mesh manufacturers paid millions to women and their husbands – and thousands of others await their day in court.
Manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip implants already paid millions to people who suffered disabling complications and filed lawsuits. These implants were supposed to last for decades, but faulty designs and inadequate training about installations lead them to fail too soon and lead to patients needing additional surgeries. Some companies recalled their devices.
Power morcellators are drill-like instruments that shred fibroids and tissue during less-invasive gynecological surgeries like fibroid removal or hysterectomies. But the FDA warned that 1 in 350 women that undergo procedures with morcellators risk having undiagnosed uterine cancer cells spread throughout their abdomen. Families of women diagnosed with uterine cancer after these routine surgeries filed claims against device manufacturers, claiming patients weren’t warned about risks related to morcellators.
For families that can’t care for older loved ones on their own, nursing homes and assisted living facilities represent a logical option. Children expect their aging parents are well-cared-for and safe, but rampant understaffing and the pursuit of profit over quality care often leads to neglect and abuse. Families of victims turn to the court system to hold companies accountable through multi-million dollar jury awards.
Intuitive Surgical marketed its da Vinci Robot as the future of surgery. The machine performs complex, minimally invasive procedures with great precision. Unfortunately, some patients operated on by the da Vinci ended up with severe complications like internal bleeding, organ damage and tissue burns. Some patients died, and their families sued, claiming the robot is defective.
Doctors prescribe antipsychotics Risperdal and Invega, sold and marketed by Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, to treat ADHD, depression and anxiety. But the drugs cause embarrassing and life-changing side effects like male breast growth in young men and boys, a condition called gynecomastia. Families are winning court cases against J&J.
Doctors prescribe Benicar, Azor and Tribenzor to control high blood pressure. Research indicates the drugs could cause serious gastrointestinal problems similar to Celiac disease – chronic diarrhea, severe weight loss and intestinal damage. The Mayo Clinic reported these findings to the FDA, which issued a warning and prompted patients to turn to litigation.
The mission at Drugwatch.com is to inform people about dangerous drugs and medical devices. Sometimes filing lawsuits is the only way for people injured by these products to get justice. We help these people figure out if filing a lawsuit is right for them, and connect them with lawyers who can determine if they have a case.
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