Tylenol Lawsuit

A Brief Guide to Filing a Tylenol Lawsuit:

What is Tylenol?

Tylenol is the brand name of Acetaminophen—a drug used to relieve mild to moderate pain stemming from muscle aches, headaches, menstrual periods, sore throats, backaches and to reduce fever. Tylenol belongs to a class of medications called antipyretics (fever reducers) and analgesics (pain relievers). The drug is effective by altering the way the body senses pain.

Tylenol Side Effects:

Tylenol is a popular over-the-counter pain medication. Although commonly-used for the aforementioned reasons Tylenol carries an assortment of side effects. Some Tylenol side effects may be serious; contact your doctor if you develop any unusual reactions while taking Tylenol.

Serious Tylenol Side Effects Include: rash; hives; swelling of the throat, tongue, lips, eyes, feet, ankles or lower legs; difficulty swallowing or breathing; hoarseness; itching

Tylenol side effects may take on other forms. Again, please contact your doctor if you experience any adverse reactions to the medication. If you sustain serious Tylenol side effects, you or doctor may file a report to the Food and Drug Administration MedWatch Adverse Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch or via phone at 1-800-332-1088.

Tylenol Lawsuits:

Though Tylenol is available over-the-counter, the drug’s side effects can be dangerous even to users who adhere to intake instructions. That being said, the bulk of serious Tylenol side effects result from an excess dosage (more than 4 mg per day).

It is possible to file Tylenol lawsuits with regards to the development of serious side effects. However, patients who disregard package warnings and exceed the maximum daily dose will be found liable of self-inflicted damage, thereby ridding Tylenol of blame and impeding your ability to file Tylenol lawsuits.

A number of studies affirm a correlation between regular intake of a Tylenol dosage and serious liver damage or failure—the vast majority of Tylenol lawsuits are initiated because of this Tylenol side effect. In response to such findings, the FDA ordered the institution of a warning label to be placed on all medications containing acetaminophen--the active ingredient of Tylenol.

In 2010, two voluntary recalls were issued on various forms of Tylenol concerning the manufacturing process. Both recalls were designed to limit the risk of Tylenol from being contaminated by chemicals and bacteria. The second set of recalls was followed by an FDA investigation into a Pennsylvania manufacturing plant. The FDA noted various problems with cleanliness and management creating the potential for Tylenol side effects due to the presence of bacteria.

Both reports of liver damage and recalls have led many consumers to file a Tylenol lawsuit. Both of these situations regarding a Tylenol dosage can be argued to have caused damage to patients. Tylenol lawsuits filed on the grounds other than Tylenol side effects have widely been unsuccessful.

In 2012, a class-action Tylenol lawsuit combining the claims of multiple consumers was launched. The plaintiffs alleged economic damage and requested a full refund for a Tylenol dosage that was recalled. This Tylenol lawsuit; however, was eventually dismissed by the court system.

Most attorneys will only represent clients in Tylenol lawsuits if the medication yielded a substantial side effect following normal Tylenol dosage. For example, in 2012 two parents sued the company over a Tylenol dosage which was recalled. Use of the recalled product ultimately resulted in the death of their infant son. This Tylenol lawsuit was viable because it established that consumption of the poorly manufactured drug resulted in fatal side effects.

It is relatively simple for Tylenol lawsuits to establish a direct link between a Tylenol dosage and adverse effects. As studies continue to examine this link, further litigation will help affirm liability. To date, no successful class action Tylenol lawsuit concerning Tylenol side effects has been reported. However, those who experienced liver and kidney failure can easily find a lawyer willing to evaluate the success of their proposed Tylenol lawsuit.

Sources:

1. United States National Library of Medicine “Acetaminophen” retrieved from:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000521/

2. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/23/your-money/23iht-mjj_ed3_.html?pagewanted=1

3. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm239747.html

4. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm239821.html

5. http://money.cnn.com/2011/03/10/news/companies/johnson_mcneil_fda_action/index.html