Adderall Lawsuit

What is Adderall?

Adderall is a drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD is a condition where the individual has difficulty controlling actions, remaining still and focusing). Adderall combines Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine to control the aforementioned symptoms.

In addition to ADHD, this combination of drugs is prescribed to combat narcolepsy (a sleep condition that causes excessive daytime tiredness and sudden attacks of sleep). Adderall is classified as an amphetamine, a group of medications that stimulate the central nervous system. Adderall is effective by altering the amounts of natural substances in the brain.

Adderall comes as a regular and an extended-release tablet. The drug is taken orally, typically 2-3 times a day. The extended-release version of the drug is taken once a day. Regardless of prescription specifics, all users should follow the directions of their doctor or those outlined in their prescription. If abused, the presence of Adderall side effects will be intensified.

Adderall Side Effects:

Adderall side effects are likely; if you experience severe or persistent Adderall side effects please consult your doctor. Adderall side effects include:

• Nervousness, restlessness and difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Uncontrollable shaking of the body is an Adderall side effect

• Headaches, dry mouth and stomach pain are common Adderall side effects

• Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite, constipation and weight loss are common Adderall side effects

• Chest pains and shortness of breath are common Adderall side effects

• Motor or verbal tics are observed Adderall side effects

• Changes in sex drive or ability is a commonly-observed Adderall side effect

• Paranoia, mania and aggressive or hostile behavior are commonly-observed Adderall side effects

• Rash, hives and itching are listed Adderall side effects

• Difficulty breathing or swallowing are recorded Adderall side effects

• Swelling of the face, eyes, tongue or throat have been observed as Adderall side effects

Adderall may cause sudden death in youths, especially children and teenagers who have serious heart problems. Please talk with your healthcare provider or doctor before taking this medication. If you experience Adderall side effects, you or your doctor may send a report to the United States Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by phone at 1-800-332-1088 or online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch.

Adderall FDA Regulations:

The FDA institutes several warnings concerning Adderall. The following have been reported with use of Adderall and other stimulant medicines:

• Heart related problems including sudden death in patients with heart defects, stroke and increased heart rate/blood pressure.

• Mental Problems including new or worse bipolar, new or worse aggressive behavior and new or worse thought problems.

The time released version of Adderall is a federally controlled substance because it can be abused or lead to addiction. In addition to these warnings, the FDA has issued numerous regulations and alerts concerning counterfeit versions of the drug.


Adderall Lawsuits and Legal Status:

Adderall, according to the United states Drug Enforcement Agency, is classified as a Schedule II substance. According to this agency, schedule II drugs face a high potential for abuse, but are attached with a legitimate and accepted medical use. This ruling makes it a criminal offense to possess Adderall without a prescription and limits the amount a provider can prescribe to a 90 day supply. Adderall prescriptions must come in three separate installments, each for a 30 day supply and with instructions to the pharmacy for when the prescription is filed.

Adderall lawsuits are filed for a variety of reasons; however, all legal action taken against the drug is initiated to secure an Adderall settlement. Adderall settlements are financial compensation used to offset the costs associated with the adverse reaction derived from taking the drug.

If you or a loved one used Adderall and experienced a serious side effect such as a stroke, heart attack or renal failure, you must contact an experienced lawyer to learn more about Adderall lawsuits. If you want to secure an Adderall settlement you should contact medical malpractice, drug or product liability lawyers.

Family of Adderall patients who experience sudden death may be eligible for an Adderall lawsuit through the filing of a wrongful death Adderall lawsuit. Recent studies demonstrate a possible link between the drug and deaths of at least 80 users. The FDA cautions that although no definitive evidence has been uncovered, doctors must be aware that the drug can cause life-threatening Adderall side effects such as heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure.

An additional problem with the drug—one that may prompt a significant number of Adderall lawsuits—is that Adderall is addictive. More specifically Adderall may cause chemical dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms. Based on black box warnings issued by the United States Food and Drug Administration, Adderall has a high potential for abuse, particularly among college students.

Adderall side effects prompted the Canadian drug regulatory agency, in 2005, to suspend the sale of Adderall XR (controlled release) in Canada. The Canadian agency opted to ban the sale of Adderall XR because of sudden death in 12 users. Of those 12 deaths, five occurred in patients with underlying heart defects.

Although the United States Food and Drug Administration have issued several alerts and warnings concerning the drug, there are few pending Adderall lawsuits in the United States. The bulk of Adderall lawsuits seeking Adderall settlements are/were filed by users or families who disobeyed or failed to adhere to their prescription instructions. This is not a justifiable means to secure Adderall settlements. That being said, Adderall is over-prescribed in the United States and Adderall settlements have been secured through medical malpractice Adderall lawsuits. Regardless of the likelihood of securing an Adderall settlement, you should consult with a drug, medical malpractice or product liabilities lawyer if you believe you are entitled to an Adderall settlement

In addition to above warnings, the United States Food and Drug Administration recently released a warning concerning counterfeit versions of Teva’s Adderall. The warning was specifically attached to the Adderall 30 mg tablet.


Sources:

1.FDA News Release May 29, 2012 retrieved from: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom

/PressAnnouncements/ucm305932.htm

2. United States National Library of Medicine "Dextroamphetamine and Amphetamine" retrieved from:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000166/

3 Public Health Advisory for Adderall and Adderall XR". Food and Drug Administration. 2009-04-30

4. ADDERALL (CII)" (PDF). Food and Drug Administration. March 2007. Retrieved 2009-06-23

5. Stimulant ADHD Medications - Methylphenidate and Amphetamines". National Institute on Drug Abuse