2008 First Quarter Reports High Number of People Continue to Suffer Injuries from Prescription Drugs
Posted by Jessica Smagacz
October 26, 2008 1:49 PM
October 26, 2008 1:49 PM
The Legal Examiner Atlanta is brought to you by Childers, Schlueter & Smith
Childers, Schlueter & Smith
(800) 641-0098www.cssfirm.com
1932 North Druid Hills Road
Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30319
[Show Map]
Personal Injury Lawyers Serving:
Atlanta, Macon, Marietta, Norcross, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Buckhead, College Park, Covington, Conyers, Decatur, Duluth, Forest Park just to name a few. Also serving communities throughout the entire State of Georgia and across the nation for dangerous drugs and defective medical products cases.
Archives
Categories
- Automobile Accidents
- Defective & Dangerous Products
- FDA & Prescription Drugs
- Head & Brain Injuries
- Mass Transit (Airline, Cruise Ship, Train, Bus)
- Medical Devices & Implants
- Medical Malpractice
- Miscellaneous
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Nursing Home & Elder Abuse
- Property Owner's Liability (Slip & Fall)
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Toxic Substances
- Tractor-Trailer Accidents
- Uncategorized
- Workplace Injuries
- Wrongful Death
Subscribe to The Legal Examiner
Keep up with the latest updates using your favorite RSS reader

A study done by The Institute for Safe Medication Practices recently identified a record number of serious injuries and deaths associated with drug therapy the first quarter of 2008. As consumers, the following information is surprising concerning our safety.
This report, called the QuarterWatch, uses information reported to the FDA. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices found 20,745 new cases reported serious injuries (38% higher than the average for the past four quarters & the highest for any quarter reported in a calendar quarter since 2006). 4,824 deaths related to drugs were reported. This was a 2.6 fold increase from the previous quarter. There were also 1,465 of all cases of serious injuries attributed to identifiable medication errors.
Verenicline, an aid to help stop smoking, accounted for the most reported serious injuries compared to other prescription drugs, totaling 1,001 of the new cases. Verenicline accounted for 50 deaths. FDA released a public health advisory regarding varenicline. FDA warned people taking varenicline about possible side effects including severe changes in mood and behavior.
The second ranked drug with serious injuries was heparin. Heparin was the subject of a major product recall after a potential lethal contaminant was traced to suppliers in China. FDA received 779 reports of serious injuries from heparin, including 102 deaths.
According to The Institute for Safe Medication Practices, reactions to these drugs include disruptions in heart rhythm, suicide and self injury, and drug dependence and withdrawal. The drugs associated with these reactions were: suicide/self injury (varenicline—226 cases; oxyCODONE—89 cases; and acetaminophen/HYDROcodone—87 cases); hemorrhage ( Clopidogrel—170 cases; Warfarin—161 cases; and heparin –88 cases); and angioedema (Heparin—103 case; Pregabalin—58 cases; and Varenicline—52 cases).
Our safety and health is critical, especially when many of us take prescription drugs. It is important that you, as a consumer, are aware of the risks and side effects of each prescription drug you take.
For those who have sustained serious injuries and/or sickness from prescription drugs you may want to contact the attorneys at Childers, Buck, and Schlueter to see how they can help protect your legal rights.