March 8, 2019
Proton Pump Inhibitors Are Dangerous
Researchers in San Diego recently determined that certain drugs, including Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium, can increase your risk of developing kidney disease. This is the latest study supporting the argument that a popular class of medications – known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – can put your health at risk. Pharmaceutical companies behind these popular drugs have recently come under fire for not warning patients about health risks.
Drug Dangers Often Not Discovered Until After FDA Approval
Prescription medications must be thoroughly tested before they can be approved for use by the FDA and sold in the United States. Clinical trials help to determine whether a drug is safe and effective. Trials are also used to identify any potential side effects or health risks that may be associated with the use of a drug. Companies in California are legally required to disclose these risks and dangers. As a patient, you’re entitled to have all the relevant information that’s available. This is the only way you can make an informed decision.
When a drug is approved, you expect that it will help you more than it will hurt you. Unfortunately, it can take years to fully understand how a particular drug will affect patients and their health. As a result, many side effects and dangers associated with prescription medications aren’t known until long after those drugs have been used by patients for years.
California’s Laws Concerning Dangerous Drugs
Under California state law, pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to make sure that their products are safe for patients to use. If a company allows a dangerous drug to hit the market, it can be liable for injuries and harm that result. Specifically, drug companies can be strictly liable for defects in the design, manufacture, or marketing of their products. Strict liability means that a company doesn’t have to be negligent to be responsible for injuries. Instead, liability attaches simply because the company’s product is unreasonably dangerous.
California’s product liability laws encourage pharmaceutical companies to put a lot of time and effort into designing, manufacturing, and selling their medications. They risk serious legal consequences if they aren’t careful and vigilant.
What happens if a company learns about health risks associated with one of its medications after it’s already sold in the state of California? There are two things a drug company can and should do.
First, recall the medication to prevent patients from suffering from potential injuries. Once a drug recall is issued, the company can study the problem and attempt to fix it.
Second, issue a warning. Provide patients with detailed information about the possible risks associated with their medication.
Drug companies can be liable for harm caused by medication if they know or should know about health risks, but fail to warn patients. Companies can be sued if they fail to take any action after discovering possible risks associated with their drugs.
Pharmaceutical Companies Sued Over Dangerous PPIs
Thousands of patients across the country have filed proton pump inhibitor lawsuits. These lawsuits accuse several manufacturers of:
- Negligently selling a dangerous medication, and
- Failing to warn patients about health risks.
The plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that they developed severe health issues while taking a proton pump inhibitor. They argue that they could have opted for a different heartburn treatment if they’d known about the risks associated with their PPI.
Proton pump inhibitors are some of the most widely-consumed medications in the United States. Do not hesitate to contact a personal injury attorney if you’ve developed health issues while taking a prescription or over-the-counter PPI. Injury Trial Lawyers offers a free consultation, so call for help today.