If you have been diagnosed with an arrhythmia, your doctor may have prescribed amiodarone for your symptoms. It has been successful in treating many people with this condition. However, it also comes with many serious side effects, which can even be fatal. You may be entitled to compensation if you have suffered from some of the side effects of this medication and weren’t aware of the dangers.
The medication amiodarone is often sold under the brand name Pacerone or Cordarone. It is often prescribed for ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, two conditions which cause irregular heartbeats. The medication adjusts the rhythm of the heart for those who have issues with the ventricles, which are the lower chambers of the heart. The job of the ventricles is to get blood to flow away from the heart.
Doctors often prescribe amiodarone for patients who have tried other medications without success. They give the patient the first doses while in the hospital to monitor the heart rate. The doctor may decrease another arrhythmia medication while giving amiodarone to the patient. It can take several doses before the patient notices improvement in the rhythm of the heart.
Amiodarone can help patients who suffer from life-threatening conditions, but it comes with several serious risks. Doctors will often require frequent testing while a patient is on the medication and even after they take the final dose.
It’s important to tell doctors before surgery that you are taking this medication. It can also affect the results of some medical tests.
Studies show that the drug can have serious side effects on the lungs, liver, heart and vision. Anyone who is allergic to iodine shouldn’t take the medication.
The patient needs to get medical help immediately if they notice any of the following symptoms after taking amiodarone:
You may experience some side effects which should be reported if they don’t go away. This includes loss of appetite, changes in your ability to smell or taste foods, difficulty falling asleep or insomnia, headaches and constipation. Other side effects require emergency medical care, such as the following:
One of the dangerous side effects from taking this drug is pulmonary toxicity. It can be fatal and causes damage to the lungs. Fluid can develop in the lungs as well as along the wall of the chest, which reduces the amount of oxygen you can take in. This complication has been seen in people with lung conditions as well as those with no history of lung issues.
Another serious concern is damage to the optic nerve, which can cause blindness. The medication can leave microdeposits on the cornea, which can cause inflammation and permanent damage.
Amiodarone-induced cirrhosis is similar to other diagnoses of cirrhosis in that it damages the liver. When the liver is damaged and no longer able to function normally, it leads to failure of other organs. The result is failure of the kidneys, bleeding, pressure on the brain and death.
Several lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of amiodarone for allegedly marketing the drug for uses other than heart arrhythmia. Because it is a dangerous drug, it should be prescribed only as a last resort, and only for conditions the FDA has approved.
A class action suit was filed which alleges that the manufacturers of the drug have been pressuring doctors to prescribe it for unapproved uses while making light of the serious risks. Consumer warnings were not present on the medication while it was being prescribed to people, according to further allegations. For instance, the patient shouldn’t drink grapefruit juice or eat grapefruits because it can increase the amount of the drug that gets into the bloodstream.
In spite of the fact that the FDA approved the drug only for use as a last resort, many doctors turn to it early in the diagnosis because of the way it has been promoted by the manufacturer. This negligent marketing has led to many serious and permanent illnesses and even death because the patient wasn’t informed about the dangers.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with one of the serious conditions listed above after taking amiodarone, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss. If a family member has died as a result of taking this medication, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
You can seek damages for lost wages as well as potential earnings if the resulting condition was permanent, such as blindness. You may also receive damages for pain and suffering.
Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to market their products according to the approved uses and guidelines of the FDA. If they encourage doctors to prescribe these medications for conditions other than what they have been approved for, they could be held liable for their actions.
Many people have taken this medication who would not have taken it if they had been made aware of the risks. When a manufacturer is negligent, they must be held accountable for that behavior.
Pulaski Law Firm has been fighting major drug manufacturers for decades on behalf of clients who have suffered loss from negligence. Our goal is to see justice done and for our clients to be compensated for their losses.
Amiodarone is a dangerous drug that often has risks that outweigh the benefits. The manufacturer has a duty to protect the people who take this medication and put their safety above any potential profits. If you have suffered from taking this drug, you can get a free consultation of your case to determine if you are eligible for compensation.
