Dangerous drug lawsuits can be filed against doctors, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies if the drugs have negative or adverse side effects. Many times, the affected patients are not aware of the possible side effects and do not know who to target with legal action. One such drug that has resulted in harmful consequences is Nuedexta. Physicians that have prescribed the drug Nuedexta have come under fire for allegedly receiving money from the manufacturer to administer it to patients, even when those patients did not have the illness the drug was intended to treat. Avanir, the drug company responsible for manufacturing Nuedexta, has been deemed at fault by many for the injuries attributed to the medication. Our team of professional attorneys at Normandie Law Firm can help you file a lawsuit for Nuedexta side effects.
Nuedexta Information and Usage
Nuedexta is a drug that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat a condition called pseudobulbar affect (PBA), which makes victims laugh or cry uncontrollably. The condition is associated with diseases like Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and multiple sclerosis. The drug consists of two components, quinidine and dextromethorphan, that target a specific area in the brain to try and control the bursts of joy or sadness. The former affects the heart rate of patients while the latter is present in cough medication. Those who manufactured the drug have stated that its effects on the brain are not exactly known; regardless, the drug has been approved by the FDA.
However, PBA is not generally associated with dementia, and those suffering from dementia are the main recipients of the drug. This has led to many questions from patients and attorneys, but one of the most prevailing theories is that doctors believe that Nuedexta is the most effective way to manage the condition. Essentially, it has been deemed a worthwhile way to keep patients under control and not have potentially dangerous episodes.
Because the prime targets of Nuedexta are elderly patients, the majority of prescriptions are administered in nursing homes, long term care facilities, and similar establishments. The complaint has been based on an over-prescription of the drug.
For more details, consult with a lawyer for Nuedexta lawsuits.
Side Effects of Nuedexta
As with many medications, Nuedexta has multiple possible side effects that can cause harm. Patients suffering from PBA, dementia, Alzheimer’s, ALS, and other diseases already have a plethora of problems. They should not be subjected to medication that increases the potential harm they can suffer. Some of the side effects of Nuedexta include:
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Arrhythmic or irregular heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Gas
- Flu-like symptoms (chills, cough, sneezing, fever, dehydration, etc)
- Liver problems (abdominal pain, fatigue, jaundice, etc)
- Propensity to bleeding or bruising
- Increased serotonin levels (hallucinations, agitation, loss of coordination, etc)
A common side effect that has been the subject of lawsuits, however, is the increased likelihood of falls in patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s. This is primarily due to the loss of coordination that accompanies both the drug and the condition. Further, some patients have been reported to suffer seizures, hemorrhages, and more. You should look into filing a Nuedexta injury lawsuit with the assistance of an experienced lawyer in Los Angeles.
Legal Process
If you intend to file a lawsuit for suffering Nuedexta injuries, or if you wish to file a claim on behalf of a family member or loved one who suffered adverse side effects because of taking the drug, you should consult with an experienced dangerous drug lawyer today.
One of the main problems with filing a lawsuit against Avanir for Nuedexta side effects is that you cannot actually do so because of the protection afforded to the company by Supreme Court. Because Nuedexta has been approved by the FDA, you cannot sue the company for its side effects, even if it is proven that the side effects are present and particularly dangerous. You can still sue the doctor for prescribing the medication or sue the pharmacy for providing it, however.
You will also not file a medical malpractice lawsuit, but a product liability claim. Generally, product liability claims are based on one or more of three types of negligence. They are as follows:
- Design flaw: Prior to the manufacturing of the product, there were mistakes made in the way it was created, such as by knowing that the components could cause hemorrhages.
- Manufacturing defect: If a product were manufactured wrongly, such as with the assembly line or machinery causing a defect, you could sue the manufacturer.
- Failure to warn: Any potential dangers or hazards must be displayed on signs on the product’s packaging or on the product itself.
For a drug like Nuedexta, the problems are present on every level. Those who created the drug and administered trials likely found these issues, while some doctors likely did not warn patients or caretakers of the risks. In fact, there has been evidence that Avanir has provided doctors with money to prescribe Nuedexta to patients, despite the drug not being necessary in all situations. This is a conflict of interest, and a lawyer with experience in dangerous drug lawsuits can help you.
Statute of Limitations on Dangerous Drug Lawsuits
If you choose to file a product liability claim against a pharmacy or responsible doctor for injuries from Nuedexta, you only have a limited amount of time to do so before the deadline runs out. The statute of limitations is in place to speed up the lawsuit process and ensure that all evidence is kept safe and relevant, that witnesses do not forget important information, and that the injuries and expenses are dealt with as quickly as possible.
The time limit to file a product liability claim is two years from the date of the injury or discovery of the injury. It is therefore imperative that you seek legal help as soon as you suffer any side effects of Nuedexta or if a loved one is harmed because of the drug. There are some exceptions to the statute, however; commonly, in dangerous drug claims, you can have the statute temporarily extended if you were mentally or physically incapacitated and could not actually file a lawsuit. Further, if the defendant left the state or country, your deadline would not begin or resume until he returned.
To learn more about your eligibility for a temporary suspension of the statute of limitations, contact a qualified lawyer for Nuedexta injury claims today.
Compensation from a Claim
If you or a loved one suffered injuries from Nuedexta, you may be able to receive various types of compensation for the damages. Our team of expert lawyers can help you receive fair restitution. You should not be expected to cover the expenses related to your health problems if the problems were caused by a negligent pharmacy or doctor. Some of the coverage you can receive includes:
- Medical bills from the past and future medical expenses for any additional treatments or procedures
- Damaged or lost property from an accident
- Lost income or wages from work from both the past and the future
- Emotional pain and suffering damages that took a toll on your mental state, such as PTSD, psychological stress, anxiety, and more
- Wrongful death expenses, such as funeral and burial costs, pre-death pain and suffering and medical bills, loss of consortium, loss of expected savings and inheritance, and more
You should not try to file a dangerous drug lawsuit by yourself. Insurance agents are much more likely to ignore your claim and throw it out because of the lack of experience you have. Contact one of our Nuedexta lawyers today to have the best chance at recovering compensation.
Our Law Group’s Role
Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles is one of the top-rated legal groups in the state. Our team of attorneys will tirelessly work to bring you the compensation you deserve from the responsible party for your Nuedexta injuries. We will aggressively hunt for the maximum settlement we can bring you and will negotiate a satisfactory settlement; if necessary, we will go to court to win your case in front of a jury. You are the most important piece of our law group, and we make sure to treat all of our clients with the care and respect they need to get through a lawsuit.
Call our law offices today to set up a free legal consultation with one of our professional dangerous drug lawyers. We will talk to you about the legal process and what you can expect out of filing a claim. All of our consultations are completely confidential, and none of your private information will be shared elsewhere. You can ask us anything you want and we will provide you with accurate information to help you make an informed decision.
If you choose us to represent you, you will receive our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you will not have to pay any out of pocket expenses whatsoever for our services. We will only get paid if we win your case. The fees will be taken out of the settlement we negotiate. If we lose, you are off the hook and do not have to pay for any of our services; we will eat the costs of the case ourselves.
To speak with an attorney and take action after suffering Nuedexta side effects, contact Normandie Law Firm in Los Angeles.
