Prescription drug manufactures are responsible for the medicinal well-being of the individuals who take their drugs. Medications that are originally designed to treat a disease condition or otherwise improve health or lifestyle, can potentially lead to serious health complications and even death due to drug side effects. Numerous drug companies have been investigated for hiding and falsifying drug study documents to obtain government approval of their products. These careless acts of negligence have led to thousands of unwarranted illnesses and deaths.

It is important that people are aware of their legal rights related to the manufacturers of defective drugs. Drug companies must be held responsible for not properly informing the public about the harmful side effects of their defective drugs possess.

Below is a list of potentially life threatening side effects that have been linked to widely prescribed medications. This is only a small sample of the defective drugs and conditions. Please consult our comprehensive list of potentially dangerous prescriptions to learn about other potentially harmful and defective medications.

Cardiac Risks

Cardiovascular problems and diseases are some of the deadliest defective drug side effects. Numerous studies have found a link between certain prescription medications and cardiovascular problems in some patients. Avandia, which is used to treat the symptoms of Type 2 diabetes, is known to increase the risks of heart attack and heart valve disease in some of its users. The popular diet drug Fen Phen can cause valvular heart disease, while Ortho Evra, the birth control patch, can cause blood clots to form in the body and potentially lead to deep vein thrombosis. COX 2 inhibitors, such as Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra, have a well documented history of increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks in patients taking this medicine.

Liver Damage

Any illness or disease affecting the liver can quickly lead to serious consequences. Several defective drugs are linked to liver damage, with Ketek being the most widely documented. Ketek is a tablet-form antibiotic used to fight infections related to specific respiratory ailments. The severe liver damage side effect that Ketek can cause is very serious, and one Sanofi-Aventis, its manufacturer has refuted. The manufacturer claims any link between the onset of liver damage and Ketek is due to misuse of the drug. Since the FDA began investigating Ketek in 2006, 12 cases have been discovered linking Ketek and severe liver damage. Of those cases, four have led to death.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a life-altering disease that affects millions of people in the United States. There are two well-known examples of defective drugs that are known to increase the risk of diabetes in certain users. Tequin is an antibiotic used to treat respiratory tract infections. Tequin can cause high or low blood sugar levels in certain patients. Extended fluctuations in blood sugar levels can lead to diabetes. Seroquel is another defective drug linked to the onset of diabetes in certain users. Users of this form of atypical antipsychotic medications should be monitored closely by their doctors to ensure they are not in danger of developing diabetes.

Respiratory Diseases

One of the most serious respiratory ailments linked to specific defective drugs is sudden asthmatic death. Several medications that lead to sudden asthmatic death are Advair and Serevent. Ironically, these medications are used to treat asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The fact that these defective drugs can be more detrimental than helpful for asthma sufferers is a serious oversight by their manufacturers. It is important you contact your doctor about your treatment plan.

If you have experienced any serious health issues such as cardiovascular problems, liver complications, the onset of diabetes or respiratory ailments due to a defective drug’s side effects, you need to be aware of your legal rights. The Law Offices of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz boast some of the most experienced personal injury attorneys in the United States. Contact the attorneys of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz today at (877) 810-4808 to learn more about your rights as a victim of defective drugs.