South Florida Injury Lawyer Blog

While methadone is prescribed by doctors, nurse practitioners, and osteopaths as a painkiller to treat conditions resulting in severe pain, the drug is implicated in two times as many painkiller-related fatalities as the drugs Vicodin and OxyContin. According to Dr. Howard Heit, a pain medication specialist, many patients that take the drug as prescribed can suffer adverse side effects, including death.

Federal regulators admit that it took them awhile to recognize physician ignorance related to the drug and the dangers that could arise when doctors prescribe methadone as a painkiller. The government cites “imperfect” systems as a cause for the oversight. As late as 2006, the Food and Drug Administration-approved package insert was still recommending a dangerously high dosage.

The number of deaths citing methadone as a contributing cause between 1999 and 2005 was 4,462, which federal officials say may be an underestimation. In 2007, the state of Florida alone reported 785 deaths caused by methadone. Between 1998 and 2006, the number of methadone prescriptions grew by 700%, says the DEA.

One main problem is that many doctors don’t fully comprehend the way methadone metabolizes and how patients can have different responses.

Causes for error include:

• Prescribing too much methadone too quickly.
• Failing to warn patients that it is dangerous to mix methadone with sedatives or alcohol.
• Failing to follow up during the first week a patient is taking the drug.

The FDA is considering mandating that doctors take classes that focus on prescribing narcotics.

Federal regulators and drug manufacturers are supposed to make sure that any medications that are recommended, manufactured, and placed out in the market are safe for use. Allowing a dangerous drug into the marketplace or failing to warn of a drug's potential side effects can be grounds for a drug litigation lawsuit if someone gets sick or dies as a result. A doctor may be subject to a medical malpractice lawsuit if he or she prescribes a drug to a patient but fails to warn of dangers or doesn't prescribe the correct dosage.

Methadone is successful as painkiller, but can be deadly, Boston.com, August 17, 2008

Painkiller more available for abuse, USA Today, July 13, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Methadone, Drugs.com

Methadone, NIH

Continue reading "Methadone as A Painkiller Can Be Fatal For Some Users" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Drug and Medical Device Litigation

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According to British researchers, the use of Topiramate, an anti-epilepsy drug, increases the chances of pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects by up to 14-fold—especially when the drug is taken along with the drug Valproate. The study involved 203 women that became pregnant while taking Topiramate (Topamax is the brand name sold by Johnson & Johnson) alone or with other epilepsy medication.

Findings from the study included:

• 18 spontaneous abortions
• 5 induced abortions
• 2 stillbirths
• 178 births
• 16 infants were born with major birth defects
• 4 infants were born with cleft lips or palates
• 4 babies had genital birth defects

However, because the study involved only 203 women, experts have said that there is still statistical uncertainty related to this new data.

Topiramate has caused similar birth defects in animals. The fact that studies of other epilepsy drugs have revealed an increase in birth defect risks indicates that all of these drugs may affect the reproductive process.

Of the approximately 2.7 million Americans with epilepsy, Topamax makes up 1 out of every 5 prescriptions. Doctors say that even though there are risks involved with taking anti-epilepsy drugs, preventing epileptic seizures that would otherwise harm unborn babies—perhaps even more severely than the side effects that use of the drug can cause—is essential.

If you or someone you love was injured because of a dangerous pharmaceutical drug, you may be entitled to personal injury or wrongful death compensation. Drug manufacturers are supposed to test their medications before making them available to users and warn of any adverse side effects.

Our South Florida drug litigation law firm can determine whether you have grounds for a claim. If a drug maker or seller knowingly concealed risks, failed to conduct the proper and full product tests, or neglect to warn doctors and consumers of potential dangers, we know how to investigate any of these factors and prove your case.

Epilepsy drug Topamax linked to birth defects, Los Angeles Times, July 22, 2008

Study links epilepsy drug to increased birth-defect risk, USA Today, July 21, 2008

Related Web Resources:

Topamax

Epilepsy and Pregnant Women, MayoClinic.com

Continue reading "Report Links Topamax to Birth Defects" »

Posted by David J. Halberg, Esq. | Permalink | Email This Post

Posted In: Birthing Injuries , Drug and Medical Device Litigation

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