Zyvox Lawsuit

A Brief Guide to Filing a Zyvox Lawsuit:

What is Zyvox?

Zyvox, which is the brand name for Linezolid, is used to treat infections, including infections of the blood and skin and pneumonia. Zyvox belongs to a class of medications called oxazolidinones; it is effective by halting the growth of bacteria. Zyvox is not effective in treating the flu, colds and other viral infections. Zyvox comes as a liquid and tablet; the drug is taken orally with or without food twice a day.

Zyvox Side Effects:

Zyvox side effects, in general, are classified as marginal. However, you must contact your doctor if you experience the following Zyvox side effects:

• Common Zyvox side effects include: headache; vomiting; stomach pain; difficulty falling or staying asleep; dizziness; development of white patches in the mouth; diarrhea; and changes in the color of the tongue.

Some Zyvox side effects are classified as severe. If you experience any of the following Zyvox side effects, please contact your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:

• Serious Zyvox side effects include: itching; rash; hives; difficulty breathing or swallowing; loss of coordination; swelling of the throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, ankles, lower legs or feet; hoarseness; overactive reflexes; cough, sore throat, chills and other signs of infection; blurred vision; seizures; peeling of the skin; and blisters

Zyvox side effects can come in other forms as well; if you experience any serious Zyvox side effects, you or your doctor may file a report with the United States Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at http://www.fda.gov./Safety/MedWatch or via the phone at 1-800-332-1088.

Zyvox FDA Regulations:

The United States Food and Drug Administration updated information concerning the interaction between Zyvox and serotonergic psychiatric medications. This update stemmed from reports of serious central nervous system reactions when Zyvox was given to patients taking psychiatric medications that pass through the serotonin system of the brain. As a recommendation, Zyvox should not be given to patients who are using serotonergic drugs.

Zyvox Lawsuits:

Use of the antibiotic Zyvox, as with any prescription medication, carries significant medical risks. That being said, the only notable Zyvox lawsuit to date involved mis-marketing and fraud—Zyvox lawsuits regarding the drug’s side effects is rare. That being said, when the drug is mixed with other medications, the presence of severe side effects is possible. If you were not warned of these side effects or if your doctor put you at risk, you are likely to succeed in filing a Zyvox lawsuit.

Zyvox lawsuits against Pfizer concerning side effects are most notably filed for the development of serotonin syndrome. These Zyvox lawsuits are connected to the FDA warnings listed above. To file successful Zyvox lawsuits, you must affirm the link between use and side effects; moreover you must demonstrate that you used the drug according to doctor recommendations or prescription directions. There are two avenues for filing Zyvox lawsuits—a Zyvox lawsuit may filed against Pfizer (the drug’s manufacturer or your prescribing doctor if he/she was negligent in prescribing the medication).

Zyvox Lawsuits: Serotonin Syndrome

Serotonin syndrome occurs in the presence of multiple drugs that attempt to adjust the body’s serotonin levels. It is believed—as reflected by the FDA—that such a drug reaction causes an unsafe build-up of serotonin in the brain. The reaction that ensues may spark mental change (hyperactivity, memory problems and confusion), excessive sweating, trouble with coordination, diarrhea and shaking or shivering.

Serotonin Syndrome, which again is the basis for the bulk of Zyvox lawsuits, does not cause severe health events once serotonin levels are adjusted back to normal; however, if untreated, the condition may lead to fatal results.
In 2007, the FDA issued a warning reporting that increased fatalities were noted in men given the medication while receiving treatment for catheter-area blood infections. Relatives of those who died before the publication of the warning are likely to succeed in filing Zyvox lawsuits. Manufacturer-provided prescription information now warns physicians and patients about these potential Zyvox side effects.

Zyvox Lawsuits: Famous Zyvox Lawsuits

In 2009, a Justice Department Zyvox lawsuit against parent manufacturer Pfizer resulted in a large settlement, including $100 million regarding the mis-marketing of the drug. The government charged that aggressive marketing encouraged physicians to prescribe the drug for non-FDA purposes. Charges in this Zyvox lawsuit also stated that the company had deliberately misrepresented the drug's uses and risks. This litigation did not concern Zyvox side effects. However, patients prescribed the drug for off-label may have grounds for a Zyvox lawsuit against the manufacturer.

While a significant Zyvox lawsuit—concerning side effects-- has not been reported, patients who experienced a serotonin overdose prior to the addition of this warning to may have grounds for a Zyvox lawsuit. To file sound Zyvox lawsuits, an attorney must prove that these potential Zyvox side effects were not properly warned against and that a manufacturer's negligence is directly responsible for adverse effects.

Sources:

1. United States Food and Drug Administration: “Zyvosx Drug Safety Communication” retrieved from

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/SafetyInformation/SafetyAlertsforHumanMedicalProducts/ucm265479.html

2. United States Library of Medicine “Linezolid” retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000186/

3. Stop Medicare Fraud, US Dept of Health & Human retrieved from: http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/pfizerfactsheet.html