Pursuing Litigation For Medication-Related Personal Injuries

If you developed an illness or became disabled as a result of taking a prescription medication, you may need to consult with a personal injury lawyer. Certain prescription drugs, even when used in accordance with the manufacturer's prescribing recommendations, can lead to severe illnesses, and in some cases, may be life-threatening. Here are some commonly used medications that are well-known to many personal injury attorneys.

Lipid-Lowering Medications

Drugs used to manage high cholesterol are known as statins or lipid-lowering medications. They typically lower total cholesterol levels, while increasing HDL cholesterol. Also known as high-density lipoproteins, HDL cholesterol is thought to be protective against cardiovascular disease.

Lipid-lowering medications also help decrease LDL cholesterol, also known as low-density lipoproteins. LDL cholesterol is thought to increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. While effective in treating blood lipid disorders, statin drugs can cause severe muscle pain and liver problems.

They can also raise your risk for a life-threatening condition known as rhabdomyolysis, which is a disorder that causes muscle fibers to slough off into your circulation, leading to severe pain, liver damage, and in some cases, renal failure.

Your personal injury lawyer will work with your physician to review your medical records to determine if your medication led to liver and renal failure. If so, your attorney may advise you to pursue legal action. If you win your lawsuit, you may be entitled to a substantial monetary award for your pain and suffering and for future medical care.

Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are prescription drugs used in the management of osteoporosis. They may help slow the progression of this brittle bone disease and may lower the risk for fractures. Bisphosphonates, however, raise your risk for osteonecrosis of the jaw, a disabling and disfiguring disease that can cause jaw bone destruction and cause your jawbone to protrude through the soft tissues inside your mouth.

Your personal injury lawyer, with their expert medical consultant, will review any "black box" warnings associated with bisphosphonates and review any x-rays or blood tests you may have had while taking the medication. While osteonecrosis of the jaw can be treated, you may be left with permanent disfigurement and may be unable to open and close your mouth properly. 

If you have taken any of the above medications and developed an illness or disability, make an appointment with a personal injury lawyer. They may offer you a complimentary phone consultation to evaluate your case and to determine if you should proceed with a lawsuit.