Dangerous Drugs

When you take medications or prescription drugs, you expect to feel better. You don’t expect the medicine will cause dangerous, harmful and sometimes irreversible or even fatal illnesses or injuries. But that’s exactly what happens to many unfortunate people in Missouri, Illinois and across the country who unknowingly take unsafe medications. If you or a loved one has become ill or suffered an injury due to a drug or medication, you need to keep yourself informed of your legal rights.

If you suffered an injury or illness from taking a medication, contact the Missouri dangerous drug attorneys at The Cagle Law Firm at (800) 685-3302 or use our online form to request a free consultation. You can count on our legal team to handle your claim aggressively so that you get the money you need and deserve with minimal distractions from the most important thing — recovering from your illness or injuries.

We serve clients throughout Missouri and southern Illinois, including St. Louis, Columbia, O’Fallon, St. Charles, St. Peters, Florissant, Chesterfield, Belleville, Oakville, Wildwood, University City, Ballwin, Mehlville, Kirkwood, East St. Louis, Collinsville, Edwardsville and Arnold.  

Injuries From Dangerous Drugs In Missouri & Illinois

The St. Louis personal injury lawyers at The Cagle Law Firm have the experience and legal knowledge that you need when you are considering filing a lawsuit over an unsafe medication. Our knowledgeable attorneys can help you with your situation, including if you have had an undesirable or dangerous reaction to any of the following drugs:

• Avandia – Used to treat Type 2 diabetes by controlling blood sugar levels, Avandia has been linked to congestive heart failure and other heart problems like primary pulmonary hypertension and also has been known to contribute to osteoporosis.
• Chantix – An anti-smoking medication, the FDA warned about Chantix in early 2008 because it had been found that this drug had been associated with a risk of suicidal/homicidal thoughts.
• Fen Phen – A diet drug, Fen-Phen was widely prescribed and taken by millions of people across the United States before it was found to have serious and even fatal effects on the heart and lungs.
• Fosamax – Used to treat or prevent osteoporosis, Fosamax has been prescribed to both men and women to treat loss of bone mass. Unfortunately, this drug can cause serious jaw and tooth problems, such as osteonecrosis of the jaw, loose teeth, oral infections and jaw pain.
• Gadolinium – Recent FDA reports have strongly correlated the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, a condition occurring in people with kidney disease that affects the skin, with exposure to gadolinium-containing MRI contrast agents.
• Ketek – An antibiotic that is used to treat mild to moderate respiratory-related infections, such as community-acquired pneumonia, Ketek was first approved for use by the FDA in 2004. Less than two years later the FDA sent out an alert regarding Ketek and liver disorders.
• Kugel Patch – Designed to aid ventral hernia sufferers by making operations easier and reducing pain that occurred after the surgery, the Kugel Patch was made of synthetic mesh surrounded by a plastic ring. Cases of the plastic ring breaking or malfunctioning caused several dangerous conditions, including bowel perforations, bowel obstruction and chronic intestinal fistulae.
• Levaquin & Cipro – These drugs are used to treat severe infections caused by bacteria. The drugs are linked to side effects such as toxic epidermal necrolysis, tendon rupture, tendonitis and tendon damage.
• Oral Sodium Phosphate – Typically used for bowel cleansing prior to a colonoscopy, in 2008 the FDA announced that oral sodium phosphate may cause acute phosphate nephropathy, a very serious kidney injury. In severe cases, acute phosphate nephropathy may lead to acute renal failure and even death.
• Ortho Evra – The Ortho Evra patch is a type of birth control in which hormones that inhibit ovulation are distributed through the skin. In November 2005, Ortho Evra was linked to increased occurrence of blood clots in women and in 2008, the FDA issued a warning that Ortho Evra patch users have a higher risk of blood clots.
• Pergolide – Also known as Permax, Pergolide is a drug targeted at treating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In 2007, the FDA announced that the drug was being voluntarily removed from the market due to its association with heart valve problems.
• Prempro – Often prescribed to menopausal women in order to combat hormonal changes, Prempro is a hormone replacement therapy drug. Women taking Prempro were found to have a significantly higher risk of suffering from blood clots, cancer, strokes, heart disease and other similar health issues.
• Reglan – Typically prescribed for gastro esophageal reflux disease, diabetic gastro paresis and delayed gastric diseases, Reglan has been known to lead to a serious condition called tardive dyskinesia after chronic use or high dosages. Tardive dyskinesia is a serious condition which causes involuntary, repetitive and purposeless physical movements.
• YAZ/Yasmin – Both of these birth control pills have been linked to serious health issues, including gallbladder damage, unsafe levels of potassium (hyperkalemia), blood clotting, pulmonary embolism, stroke and deep vein thrombosis.
• Zelnorm – A drug prescribed to treat symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, the FDA asked that the manufacturer remove Zelnorm from the market after patients taking the drug were found to have a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues.
• Zyprexa – An anti-psychotic prescribed for the treatment of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and manic depression, Zyprexa can also be prescribed for other mental disorders such as aggression in children. In 2003, several serious side effects of the drug were relayed to the FDA, and the administration ordered the manufacturer to warn potential and current patients of the health risks of taking Zyprexa, including diabetes, ketoacidosis, stroke, high cholesterol and seizures.

Missouri Dangerous Drug Cases and Our Experienced Legal Team

When a pharmaceutical manufacturer markets, sells and distributes a medication or drug, they have a responsibility to ensure that their product does not create undue danger, hazard or other undesirable situations related to the consumer’s health. These drugs are created to better the lives of the patient or consumer – not create dangerous and potentially fatal health situations.

With the help of a Missouri dangerous drugs lawyer, you can take the necessary steps to file a lawsuit targeted at recovering compensation for your health issues caused by the drug or medication you were taking.

You could be eligible to obtain compensation for medical expenses, lost wages due to missing work, future medical expenses and other economic losses that were a direct result of your illness or injury related to the pharmaceutical product that you were taking. You could also be able to recover money damages for non-economic losses such as pain, suffering and loss of enjoyment of life. 

Let Our Missouri Dangerous Drug Attorneys Help You Now

Get help from an experienced St. Louis dangerous drug lawyer at The Cagle Law Firm. We will aggressively fight for medical and rehabilitation costs, as well as pain and suffering and financial losses that resulted from your illness or injury.

If you or a relative is living with illness or injury due to a dangerous drug, call The Cagle Law Firm at (800) 685-3302 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case review.