What You Should Know About Filing a Pharmaceutical Lawsuit

When Can I Bring a Pharmaceutical Lawsuit?

A claimant can bring a pharmaceutical lawsuit after suffering injuries from taking a drug. The statute of limitations is the time limit a person has to file a claim. The statute of limitations for a pharmaceutical lawsuit is generally two years, but varies from state to state. It is best to consult an attorney as soon as possible to find out more information about your state’s defective drug injury statute of limitations. To connect with an expert drug injury lawyer near you, call The Law Center at 866-465-1419 or fill out the form below.

Invokana 

This type 2 diabetes medication has been linked with limb amputations, serious and long term kidney failure, and ketoacidosis. Users who were injured or became ill from taking Invokana sued the drug maker for failing to warn users of these side effects.

Xarelto

Many people who took Xarelto, a drug used to treat or prevent blood clots, say they experienced infections and internal bleeding after taking the medication, leading to lawsuits against the drug manufacturers. 

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI)

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid are used to treat heartburn and acid reflux.

Zantac

Zantac (ranitidine) is used to treat and prevent stomach ulcers and is taken for heartburn and acid reflux. Due to an FDA recall, Zantac has been withdrawn from the United States market because of the presence of unacceptable levels of NDMA, a known human carcinogen. 

If you have taken Zantac or a ranitidine product and have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be eligible for significant compensation. Call 866-465-1419 or fill out the form below to be connected with the leading drug injury lawyer near you.

Zofran

Zofran is a drug used to prevent and help with nausea and vomiting in cancer patients and expectant mothers. Users of the drug have sued the manufacturers claiming Zofran caused significant birth defects in their children. 

Risperdal 

Risperdal (sometimes also referred to by its generic name risperidone) is an antipsychotic drug whose intended use was to treat schizophrenia, but has been widely used to treat various disorders in children such as aggression, autism, and bipolar disorder. Many child users of the drug claim it caused gynecomastia, male breast growth, leading to lawsuits against manufacturers of the drug.

Testosterone Therapy 

Testosterone therapy is used to treat conditions caused by a deficiency of this hormone, such as delayed puberty or growth. Also referred to as “Low T,”  these products are used in women to treat certain types of breast cancer and can be used for gender dysphoria. Testosterone therapy replacement has been linked to serious blood clotting, heart and attacks, and stroke, leading to lawsuits against the manufacturers of these treatments. 

Actos

Actos is used to help control blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Actos has been linked to bladder cancer, liver damage, and serious heart issues, leading many users to file pharmaceutical lawsuits against the makers of the drug.

Benicar

Benicar is used to treat high blood pressure. Lawsuits against Benicar claim the drug caused sprue-like enteropathy, a disease which affects the intestinal system, and other gastrointestinal issues.

If you have taken medication, including any of the drugs listed above, and became injured or ill from taking them, we are here to help. Call 866-465-1419 or fill out the form below to speak with an expert drug injury lawyer. 

Defective Drug Lawsuits

The claimant must show he or she was directly injured by a defective prescription drug in order to hold a pharmaceutical company liable and receive reparations. To help navigate your drug injury case and prove your injuries, call The Law Center at 866-465-1419 or fill out the form below to be connected with a premier drug lawyer near you.

Types of Pharmaceutical Lawsuits

The following claims can hold a drug company liable in a pharmaceutical lawsuit: 

• Failure to Warn Claims

This is the claim that improper instructions were given or the company failed to warn consumers about the dangers of a drug.

• Drug Design Defects

A plaintiff can claim the drug is defective in how it was designed. In other words, the way the drug was assembled is inherently defective and could be grounds for a lawsuit.

• Drug Manufacturing Defects

A plaintiff can claim a defect was formed during the production of a drug. Defects in the production of drugs could happen because of:

• Poor regulation 
• Contamination from an unhygienic environment
• Chemical impurities
• Incorrect product storage

Past Drug Lawsuit Settlements 

Below are some of the biggest drug lawsuit settlements in the United States’ history:

• Johnson & Johnson:

Johnson & Johnson has been involved in many controversies and lawsuits over the pharmaceuticals it sells. It has promoted defective drugs to vulnerable people, such as the elderly, children, and people with mental disabilities. Its highest lawsuit settlement amount was $2.2 billion in 2013 over selling Risperdal, a drug meant to treat schizophrenia, to elderly dementia patients. Johnson & Johnson committed healthcare fraud by downplaying the drug’s risks and labeling it as safe and effective for these patients. In reality, the drug increased many health risks for them, including the risk of strokes and diabetes. The company also allegedly promoted Risperdol to children with mental disabilities, when the drug was not approved for use in children because it posed risks to their developmental growth. 

• Pfizer:

As one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer has one of the highest lawsuit settlements of $2.3 billion in 2009. Pfizer was accused of committing fraud by promoting the sale of several pharmaceutical products that had safety concerns and were not approved by the FDA, including the sale of the anti-inflammatory drug Bextra.

• GlaxoSmithKline:

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) set the record for having the largest lawsuit settlement in 2012 of $3 billion. Selling a drug for purposes not approved by the FDA makes it an “off-label” or “misbranded” drug. GSK promoted the drug Paxil for off-label use to treat depression in patients under the age of 18 when it was not approved by the FDA to be used for minors. It sold the drug Wellbutrin for various off-label uses including weight loss, sexual dysfunction, substance addiction and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) when the drug was approved by the FDA to only treat Major Depressive Disorder. The company also failed to report safety data to the FDA about the diabetes drug Avandia. The failure of a pharmaceutical company to report safety information may cause the FDA to make false determinations about a drug’s safety and can put consumers at serious risk.

Get Help Today from a Leading Drug Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured or made ill from taking a drug, we know filing a lawsuit can seem daunting. That’s why it is integral to find a leading drug injury lawyer to help you navigate the legal process of an often complex drug injury lawsuit. You deserve to receive compensation for the suffering you have endured at the hands of irresponsible or fraudulent practices.

How The Law Center Can Help

Our mission at The Law Center is to connect those who have been wrongfully injured with the leading attorneys from across the nation who are best able to help. If you are a victim of a  defective drug injury, call us at 866-465-1419 or fill out the form below to be matched with a highly-skilled drug injury lawyer, who is standing by to devote themselves to your case.