Each year, pharmaceutical companies make billions of dollars off the sale of their drugs. Whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, there is a lot of money in these types of products. The biggest names in drug manufacturing, such as Johnson & Johnson, have made $65 billion in a single year.

Also, with the increase in prescription drug use across the United States, pharmaceutical companies are working hard to keep up, but also line their pockets with profits. While prescription drugs serve their purpose, there are defective drugs out there that can do more harm than good. In some cases, they can even lead to death.

Those injured by a defective drug can contact an accident lawyer in Hudson Valley to explore their options.

How Prescriptions Drugs and the FDA Work Together

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has guidelines and policies in place to ensure consumer safety with any medications they regulate. However, the process is extremely slow, and the FDA could take years before they have found the issues with a drug. Even more time will pass to remove that defective drug from the market.

Defective medications are distributed to thousands of patients each year – without anyone knowing about it. Thousands could be harmed or even die because of the defects. However, the victims and their families may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

There are, sadly, some instances where a person dies before they can take legal action.

A patient must do their own due diligence when taking a new medication. That includes reading all potential side effects and interactions for the new drug.

The FDA will react to only specific adverse events for a drug. When they do react, they may create a report, assemble a meeting, review the drug, request more trials from the manufacturer, or write letters to doctors letting them know about the effects found. In some cases, they could add additional warnings to the drug’s label or require that all patients enter a drug program to receive the medication. That way, the FDA can closely monitor the progress of the drug and potential effects it has.

When a Drug Company Acts Inappropriately

Plenty of medication injuries could be prevented, and it is the job of an accident lawyer in Hudson Valley to prove that the manufacturer is liable. The FDA also requires that there be adequate clinical studies performed before a drug is released. While some drugs have side effects that are not noted during these studies, most of the studies reveal important effects, and the pharmaceutical company contributes to the issue.

Some drug companies have been known to interfere with the accuracy of the trials or even conceal evidence about those trials to allow their drug to be released to the public.

There are a few defective medications currently on the market, and some have already been recalled and permanently removed from shelves. An accident lawyer in Hudson Valley could help file a lawsuit against these medications if one is injured. These categories of dangerous drugs include:

  • Type 2 Diabetes medications
  • Antidepressants
  • Birth control pills
  • Acne medications
  • Osteoporosis drugs
  • Stroke and heart disease drugs
  • Dialysis treatments
  • Antibiotics
  • Antipsychotics