Vioxx • Bextra • Celebrex • Ephedra

Prescription Drugs

When improper or inadequate development, testing, manufacturing or labeling of drugs causes serious injuries or death, claims may hold drug companies, the manufacturers or distributors responsible for negligence.

Prescription drugs fall in the category of pharmaceutical products liability. One of the most rapidly growing categories of personal injury lawsuits, the cases are also referred to as pharmaceutical malpractice or pharmaceutical negligence.

Pharmaceutical malpractice or negligence lawsuits involving prescription drugs are based on:

• Drug recalls, which occur after reported death or injury of users of a drug.
• Product failure, when a product does not perform as promised.
• Long-term side effects, which emerge only after a product has been on the market for an extended period of time.
• Improperly prescribed medication may result from a doctor prescribing medication, which conflicts with another medication a patient is taking.
• Improperly filled prescriptions occur when a pharmacist fills a prescription with an incorrect medication or provides the wrong dosage of the correct medication.

Pharmaceutical product liability can arise from a long list of prescription drugs. At Solomon, Sherman & Gabay, we represent clients in several widely used prescription drugs where litigation is ongoing because of deaths, injuries or questionable safety records:

Vioxx is a drug used for treatment for osteoarthritis, menstrual pain and management of acute pain in adults. After research findings indicated patients taking Vioxx for eighteen months doubled their risk of suffering from a serious heart attack or stroke, the drug manufacturer, Merck voluntarily recalled Vioxx in 2004.

Bextra is an anti-inflammatory drug used to treat patients, suffering from the severe pain associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and primary dysmenorrhea. Bextra’s affects on the body are similar to Vioxx, which has been recalled. Because of the similarities to Vioxx, Bextra warning have been raised regarding the cardiovascular safety of taking the drug.

Celebrex was originally approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Later the drug was approved as a treatment aimed at reducing the number of intestinal polyps in patients with familial adenotamous polyposis. There are now concerns that Celebrex usage may increase the risk of heart attack or strokes in some people. The FDA has allowed Celebrex to remain on the market, but issued a “black box” the most serious health warning label, which lets consumers know label letting millions of consumers know of the risks associated with the drug including heart attacks, strokes, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Celebrex, a member of the same class of drugs as Bextra and Merck's Vioxx (Cox-2 inhibitors), is the only one of the three drugs remaining on the market after studies showed serious side effects of the medication.

The first Celebrex lawsuit in the United States, filed against Pfizer, the drug manufacturer, was set for trial in June 2006 in Alabama.

Ephedra is a drug used as a diet supplement. In December 2003 the FDA issued an Ephedra recall after the supplements were linked to 155 deaths. Research shows individual using Ephedra have suffered without exceeding recommended amounts and that adverse event reports received for Ephedra use have exceeded all other dietary supplements combined. Users of the drug have suffered death, stroke, arrhythmia, heart attacks, chest pain, seizures and hypertension.

If prescription drugs harm you, it is important to consult a qualified personal injury attorney immediately. There are legal remedies. At Solomon, Sherman & Gabay, our attorneys are prepared to defend your rights and will aggressively pursue the maximum compensation to which you are entitled by law.

Our law firm has decades of experience in dealing with pharmaceutical negligence cases and a noteworthy record of successful verdicts and settlements for our clients.

Call our office today at 215-665-1100 for a free initial consultation. There are no fees or costs unless we recovery damages on your behalf.