As consumers, we place a great deal of faith in doctors and drug manufacturers to provide us with products which are not only safe to use but also beneficial to us in some way. Sometimes, they are drugs that are meant to help us overcome an illness or disease, to manage the symptoms, or even to overcome minor problems on a day-to-day basis. One thing that we don’t expect and rarely ever consider is what happens when those drugs meant to help us actually end up hurting us, sometimes severely.
Drug lawsuits are nothing new. Every year, there is litigation surrounding a handful of prescription drugs or even over-the-counter products. Many times, this litigation acts as an impetuous to either remove unreasonably dangerous products from the market or to improve the drug in ways that don’t adversely impact their patients. One thing that does change from year-to-year, however, are which drugs are currently subject to litigation. Here are three common drug lawsuits in 2018.
Xarelto
Xarelto is an anticoagulant or blood thinner that is used to help reduce or prevent the risk of stroke.
Unfortunately, this drug has been associated with instances of severe internal bleeding and can lead to death. Until only recently, there was no known antidote to reverse excessive blood loss, and this caused a great deal of suffering for many patients.
Taxotere
Taxotere is a cancer chemotherapy drug which has been most frequently used to treat women with breast cancer. While hair loss is a frequent side effect of any chemotherapy treatment, that hair loss is only temporary.
Unfortunately, up to 75% of women who used Taxotere experienced permanent hair loss after stopping their chemo treatment. While many women may gladly trade their hair for saving their life, the fact is that there were similar drugs on the market which were proven to be just as effective but without the associated permanent hair loss. Additionally, the manufacturer appears to have known about these risks but hid evidence from doctors and patients.
Talcum Powder
Talcum Powder is a common, over-the-counter consumer product which is used on an almost daily basis by many men and women. This magnesium silicate powder is often used from a young age through adulthood in order to absorb moisture and reduce friction or chafing.
Unfortunately, the use of talcum powder by women may be associated with the development of ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson currently faces more than 6,000 talcum powder related lawsuits, as well as another set of lawsuits related to the development of mesothelioma in both men and women, likely due to the possibility of naturally occurring cross-contamination between talc deposits and asbestos deposits.
2018 Drug Lawsuits
While these are only three drug lawsuits that you are likely to hear about during 2018, there are many other drug lawsuits which are currently moving through various stages of the legal process. The fact is, many pharmaceutical drugs or consumer products are often rushed to the market without a full or clear understanding of the potential long-term complications they may cause. Just because a drug has received FDA approval does not mean it is 100% safe for consumers. Indeed, many times the FDA approves drugs with the implicit understanding that complications will only emerge once the drug has been used more widely and for longer periods of time.
If you or a loved one has been harmed by these or any other pharmaceutical drug, then you should contact the drug injury lawyers at Fears Nachawati to discuss your case, and we may be able to help you hold the responsible parties accountable.
Contact the experienced legal team at Fears Nachawati for a free, no obligation legal consultation to discuss the specifics of your case. Please call (866) 705-7584 or visit the offices of Fears Nachawati located throughout the great state of Texas, including in Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, and San Antonio.