Brian White | August 11, 2015 | Personal Injury

Pharmaceutical drugs are a huge industry in the U.S., and the medicines they produce are often a huge help to the average citizen, especially when it comes to serious illnesses and rare diseases. It’s crucial, though, to know which drugs are safe and which could lead to illness, injury, and death. Below, Brian White and his staff have listed ten of the most dangerous pharmaceutical drugs in today’s market.

Actos

Actos is a type 2 diabetes drug hailed as a breakthrough when it received FDA approval in 1999. However, in 2007 the FDA had to give it a black box label because patients taking Actos risked heart failure. In 2011, professionals also discovered long-term use of Actos increases the risk of bladder cancer by 40%.

That risk has climbed to about 83% in the intervening years according to more recent studies. Actos has been prescribed to at least 10 million patients, some of whom have filed lawsuits after contracting cancer and enduring rigorous treatment.

Avandia

Avandia is another type 2 diabetes drug that has gotten plenty of bad publicity in recent years. Like Actos, Avandia was first approved in 1999, but has since been linked with heart attacks and resulting deaths. The FDA estimates that Avandia caused about 83,000 heart attacks in the first eight years after its approval. Avandia and drugs like it have been under government investigations; findings indicate the company producing Avandia knew about heart failure risks but concealed the information.

Prednisone/Cortisone

These drugs are already known for several adverse side effects, such as weight gain and hormonal imbalances. Recent investigations have found prednisone and cortisone may also cause high blood sugar, as well as bone thinning and fractures that can actually make arthritis and osteoporosis worse.

Cumadin/Warfarin

These two drugs are anticoagulants, or blood thinners, used to decrease or eliminate blood clotting in patients who have clotting disorders, have experienced strokes, or otherwise experience blood-related issues. The drugs’ side effects are often overlooked because they are heavily prescribed. However, long-term use of Warfarin or Cumadin can lead to hemorrhaging. Vitamins C and E are often recommended as alternatives.

Chemotherapy Agents

Chemotherapy is one of the leading cancer treatments in the U.S., but unfortunately, it poisons the patient’s system. Methotrexate is particularly culpable. Toxicity, depressed immune systems, reactions with other drugs, and brain damage are all possibilities depending on how much methotrexate is used and what type of cancer it’s meant to target.

Cholesterol-Lowering Agents

Again, cholesterol-lowering agents are prescribed in doctor’s offices around the country, and some are less dangerous than others. However, most heavily prescribed cholesterol drugs lead to muscle inflammation and in rare cases, rhabdomyolysis. This condition can severely damage muscles, kidneys, bloodstream functions, and other essential systems. It may lead to kidney failure or other system failure and cause death.

Anti-Depressants

Some anti-depressants, particularly Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft, and Lovan, have been linked to severe physical and emotional symptoms. These include increased anxiety, irritability, weight gain, constipation, and blurred or otherwise impacted vision.

Ritalin/Adderall

A 1990s study from Dr. Olson Huff revealed that ADD/ADHD symptoms originate in the part of the brain we know the least about. Perhaps this is why some ADD/ADHD medicines are so dangerous. Additionally, they’re linked to a variety of severe physical and mental symptoms; in rare cases, these include psychosis and suicidal behavior.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are difficult to pin down because they’re part of a whole group of drugs. Drugs used to treat other conditions may also function as beta blockers in some patients. They’ve been shown to lead to respiratory problems, heart palpitations, and heart failure.

Risperdal

An anti-psychotic used to treat schizophrenia, this drug has been linked to breast development in males, breast milk production, and increased risk of psychological damage.

The attorneys at Brian White and Associates want the citizens of Houston to be aware of these drugs and their dangerous side effects. Don’t wait to contact us if you or a loved one has been affected by these unhealthy substances.

Contact the Houston Personal Injury Lawyers at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers For Help

For more information, contact the Houston personal injury law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 224-4878. 

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