Defective Drugs
By Aaron Larson
March, 2005
Contents
Defective Medications
There has been a lot of controversy in recent years over medications, and the approval process by which drugs reach the market. Reasons dangerous and defective medicine can reach the market include:
Human Error: Sometimes a medication will be defective as a result of a mistake made in its manufacture, or in quality control. Sometimes a drug will be rendered unsafe by improper storage or handling.
Deception: Sometimes a manufacturer will intentionally mislead the FDA and the public about the safety of a drug, in order to achieve faster approval for the drug and to achieve larger market share. Given the very high cost of developing a new medication and bringing it to market, and the high profits associated with many drugs while they remain under patent protection, there is a huge profit motive for a manufacturer to get a product to market as quickly as possible. Some manufacturers have concealed or misrepresented information which might delay or prevent approval, sometimes at great risk to the public.
Inadequate Testing: The FDA is simultaneously under pressure to get new drugs to market as quickly as it can, while preventing any potentially dangerous drugs from reaching consumers. Expedited approval can benefit the public by bringing new, effective medications to consumers, but when the safety process fails unsafe drugs may be approved.
Possible Injuries
A defective drug can cause a great range of injuries, possibly including organ failure and death. Some medications can have significant, perhaps catastrophic, effects on a developing fetus if taken by a pregnant individual.
Allegedly Dangerous Drugs:
The following drugs have been the subject of controversy, with some alleging that they are defective and dangerous. Some of these medications have been withdrawn from the market, and some have been the subject of class action litigation. Some of these medications truly were unsafe, while others may well be better described as victims of bad publicity.
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Accutane - An acne medication alleged to cause depression and suicidal behavior.
- Bextra - A pain medication similar in nature to Vioxx.
- Celebrex - Another pain medication similar in nature to Vioxx.
- Crestor - A cholesterol medication which may on rare occasion cause a condition known as rhabdomyolysis.
- Fen Phen, Pondimin & Redux - Diet drugs known to cause primary pulmonary hypertension.
- Paxil - Antidepressant medication alleged to cause violent behavior in children and teenagers.
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Prempro - Hormone replacement medication, alleged to cause health problems in older women.
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Rezulin - A diabetes medication associated with liver failure.
- Serzone - An antidepressant medication which is associated with liver disease.
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Vioxx - A pain medication which was voluntarily withdrawn from the market by its manufacturer.
- Zyprexa - An antipsychotic medication which may cause diabetes and related conditions.