The recent rise in injuries and deaths as a result of defective pharmaceutical drugs is alarming. Unsuspecting patients rely on decisions made by their doctors with respect to the choice of medication prescribed to fight a given illness or condition. Unfortunately, several drugs have been recalled by manufacturers as well as the Food and Drug Administration out of growing concerns that particular prescription and over-the-counter medications are causing more harm than good.

The following list represents a few medications which have been identified as potentially dangerous products that could cause serious permanent personal injuries or even death:

• PPA
• Propulsid
• Fen phen
• Accutane
• Vioxx
• Lotronex
• Rezulin
• Ephedra
• OxyContin
• Baycol

Moreover, there are a growing number of medications entering the market which have not been completely studied or tested and whose side effects have not been fully disclosed. As researchers and government entities continue to test medications to determine whether they pose a human health risk, new discoveries are made which identify the extent and severity of risks associated with certain medications. Manufacturers do not always disclose the health risks associated with consumption of their product.

For instance, recent reports concerning Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which provide women with hormones from an external source, indicate that such treatment significantly increases a woman's risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers, as well as heart attacks, asthma and lupus. While HRT may seem common, it's only recently that the potential harms have been discovered by researchers.

Other drugs currently on the market that are considered dangerous include:

• Trovan
• Accutane
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Celebrex
• Depakote
• Halcion
• Hismanal
• Immune Globulin Intravenous (IGIV)
• Lamictal
• Lamisil
• Lovanox
• Mellaril
• Meridia
• Prempro (used in HRT treatments)
• Premphase
• Premarin (used in HRT treatments)
• Ritodrine
• Srentil
• Tasmar
• Topamax
• Viagra
• Zyprexa
• Zyvox
• Erythromycin
• Warfarin (Coumadin)

For more detailed information concerning these medications, click here.

Matthews & Fullmer Law Firm remains dedicated to fighting for individuals and families who have been injured and have suffered as a result of dangerous medications. If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of using a potentially defective drug, please contact us today.

For additional information on potentially hazardous medications, please visit the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.