Dangerous Drugs

Dangerous Drugs: What Parents and Students Need to Know

When taking a prescription or over-the-counter drug, chances are the last thing on your mind is that you or someone you care about will suffer dangerous side effects. This is especially true when dealing with medication prescribed to children. However, some drugs have been proven to do more harm than good. Just ask any drug recall attorney.

Children, teenagers and other students may be at risk of sustaining serious injuries as a result of dangerous prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In fact, students might be more likely to suffer side effects from certain drugs than others for a variety of reasons

What are common examples of drugs that may be dangerous to students? A potential list is long and distressing, including the following types of over-the-counter and prescription drugs:

  • Adderall: Used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Adderall was linked to stroke, cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular side effects among children.
  • Ambien: Ambien is the top-selling sleep aid in the United States and used by millions each year. The drug has been linked to “Parasomnia,” a state of semi-consciousness in which users may perform activities while fully awake, including driving.
  • Five Hour Energy (and other energy drinks/supplements): Energy drinks are wildly popular among high school and college-age students. However, Five Hour Energy and energy drinks such as Monster, Red Bull, and Rockstar have been linked to increased blood pressure, dehydration, irregular heartbeat and cardiac arrest.
  • Percocet: People who experience moderate to severe pain may be prescribed Percocet, a powerful pain reliever that, as part of the opioid family of drugs, has been linked to liver failure, liver disease and death.
  • Ritalin: Ritalin is a popular drug used to treat ADHD in children. In addition to being habit forming, Ritalin has been linked to adverse side effects ranging from seizures and increased hyperactivity to withdrawal, depression and suicidal tendencies.
  • Tylenol (acetaminophen): Concerns have been raised in recent years over the dangers of Tylenol and other acetaminophen-containing over-the-counter and prescription medication. Acetaminophen overdose – especially when linked with alcohol use – has been linked to liver damage, acute liver failure and death.
  • Yasmin/Yaz/Ocella: Thousands of college-age women take oral contraceptives such as Yasmin, Yaz, and Ocella. These drugs have been found to carry serious side effects such as an increased risk of potentially fatal blood clots and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition related to the development of blood clots in large veins.

Can a lawyer help students and families affected by dangerous drugs?

Drug manufacturers have a moral and legal responsibility to test their products before introducing them to the market. This is especially true when drugs are marketed specifically toward children, teens and college students. Drugs such as Adderall or Ritalin have aggressively marketed to parents of children suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Five-Hour Energy and other energy “supplements” remain unapproved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their advertised uses but remain wildly popular among children and teens. When these drugs to more harm than good, you may have grounds to file a dangerous drug lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturer.

Drug-related injuries and illnesses cost families millions of dollars each year. You may be a parent whose child will no longer lead a normal life and require years of therapy and other treatment. You may be a college student facing expensive medical bills and injuries that leave you unable to work. Hold dangerous drug manufacturers accountable. A lawyer who’s familiar with dangerous drugs and knows how drug manufacturers respond when faced with a lawsuit can help you today.

 

 

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