Can I File a Claim for Drug-Induced Side Effects?

After experiencing unwarranted, serious, and in some cases, life-threatening side effects, it is possible to file a lawsuit for the financial damages associated with them. This recovery is helpful for patients who find their lives interrupted by the side effects and the income they lost during an already difficult time. No one should have to pay both physically and financially for another’s negligence. Let’s look at how drug-related side effects affect our lives, why side effects exist and what can be done to recover damages.

Olinde Law Firm

At the Olinde Law Firm, our attorneys fight to protect our clients’ rights to be compensated when they suffer any injury related to another’s negligence. Medication side effects cause real damage and are often the result of negligence, be it manufacturing errors or medication design. The bottom line is medicine is used to treat an illness, not initiate some other type of harm. If this has happened to you, reach out to us at (800) 587-1889 to schedule a free case consultation. Our injury lawyers will review your case, answer your questions and discuss your options going forward with you. You can also contact us online

What Are Side Effects?

Side effects from medication are considered to be an adverse reaction that produces undesirable effects. Pharmaceutical companies are charged with making safe products for consumers, and the FDA is mandated to ensure that manufacturers live up to this standard. 

While this game plan works for the majority of drugs, some medications cause serious side effects that can be life-threatening. For the most part, consumers and physicians are able to learn about the side effects. Patients can prepare themselves for the side effects or decide whether or not to use a particular medication with their doctor’s assistance and trade it in for another. 

Harvard University stresses that prescription drugs have a 20 percent chance of a serious, unreported side effect even after the drug has been approved. In some cases, a recall is ordered, and the drug is removed from the shelves. In addition, drug companies may hide side effects from the FDA and the public, only to be noticed after many patients suffer from them. A pharmaceutical company may not disclose particular side effects. When someone is seriously injured due to this action, a lawsuit might be contemplated because of a failure to warn consumers of the risk. 

Manufacturing Flaws

In some cases, mistakes are made during the manufacturing process. In this situation, the Olinde Law Firm is able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer much as we would if a tire defect caused a motor vehicle accident. Finally, the prescribing doctor may be sued if he or she did not correctly address the potential risks or properly prescribe the drug.

Example of a Drug Side Effect

The Olinde Law Firm is active in taking Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim to task for side effects caused by taking the heartburn drug, Zantac. Numerous patients have developed cancer after taking Zantac. The reason for this was the use of the carcinogenic chemical N-nitrosodimethylamine (“NDMA”) in Zantac 150 tablets. 

The concentration of this drug was found to be 3,000 times greater than the FDA’s daily intake limit. The evidence supports that the drug firm may have known about the link of NDMA to cancer and hid it, putting many patients at risk. The most common cancers associated with Zantac are:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Rectal cancer
  • Colon cancer 
  • Kidney cancer
  • Stomach cancer

Olinde Law Firm

At the Olinde Law Firm, we stand ready to protect your rights when it comes to problems associated with drugs. Just because the drugs might be pulled from the market does not mean that you have not already contracted a life-threatening illness. If you are concerned that happened to you, call us today at (800) 587-1889.