Prozac Lawsuit
A Brief Guide to Filing a Prozac Lawsuit:
What is Prozac?
Prozac is the generic name of Fluoxetine and is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, eating disorders and panic attacks. Moreover, Prozac may be administered to relieve the symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including irritability, mood swings, breast tenderness and bloating. Prozac belongs to a class of medications known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; it works by increasing serotonin—a natural chemical in the brain that promotes mental balance.
Prozac Side Effects:
Use of Prozac may cause side effects. Please tell your doctor if any of the below Prozac side effects are severe or persistent:
• Common Prozac Side Effects Include: nervousness; dry mouth; drowsiness; weakness; uncontrollable shaking of the body; changes in sex ability or drive; excessive sweating; weight loss; loss of appetite; sore throat
Some Prozac side effects are regarded as severe; if you experience any of the following Prozac side effects or those listed in the IMPORTANT WARNING section of the drug’s packaging, please contact your doctor as soon as possible:
• Severe Prozac Side Effects Include: hives; rash; joint pain; fever; swelling of the throat, tongue, lips, eyes, feet, ankles or lower legs; difficulty breathing or swallowing; sweating, confusion, irregular heartbeat and severe muscle stiffness; hallucinations; seizures.
Prozac side effects, in addition to the above, may take other forms. Please contact your doctor if you notice any unusual reactions or problems while using the drug.
Prozac FDA Regulations:
The basis for the majority of Prozac lawsuits revolves around the following warning:
•The United States Food and Drug Administration reported that a small number of children, teens and young adults taking antidepressants became suicidal. The agency reported that, young people taking antidepressants to treat mental illnesses or depression may be more likely to become suicidal than children, teens and young adults who do not consume antidepressants.
Prozac Lawsuits:
Prozax, one of the first major antidepressants to hit the market, has been associated with a bevy of potential risks. However, the focus of people seeking a Prozac lawsuit has shifted. Initially approved by the FDA in 1987 for treatment of depression, Prozac side effects—listed in the prescription label--warned against the aforementioned increased risk of suicide.
The first prominent Prozac lawsuit was settled in 1994 when Prozac user engaged in a violent workplace shooting spree before committing suicide in 1989. This Prozac lawsuit claimed that the drug influenced the man to violence; the Prozac lawsuits alleged that the drug posed a major effect on the man and ultimately led him to murder and suicide. The plaintiff sparked an avalanche of Prozac lawsuits as the bulk of litigation regarding violent Prozac side effects increased throughout the 1990s.
In response to these Prozac lawsuits, multidistrict litigation was undertaken to expedite the swarm of cases. This consolidation enabled a federal court to render settlement decisions in Prozac lawsuits.
By 2000, it was reported that Pfizer had spent roughly $50 million to resolve every Prozac lawsuit.
In addition to suicidal behavior, a number of Prozac lawsuits allege that the drug increases the risk of birth defects. A 2006 study from the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that mothers using antidepressants are six times as likely to give birth to an infant with "persistent pulmonary hypertension." The FDA, in response to this study, issued a warning concerning anti-depressant use and birth defects.
Due to the volume of studies regarding Prozac side effects on children, it is impossible to provide a full list of conditions which may lead to successful Prozac lawsuits. Lawyers experienced in handling a Prozac lawsuit should be conversant with all new information related to this field.
Evidence has emerged that Prozac side effects include the possibility of developing a dependency or experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. However, no notable Prozac lawsuit has been publicly reported concerning this risk. A physician should make sure that such Prozac side effects are mitigated by gradually decreasing dosage.
Sources:
1.United States National Library of Medicine “Fluoxetine” retrieved from:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000885/
2.http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/PostmarketDrugSafetyInformationforPatientsandProviders/ucm109352.html
3. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm088999.pdf
