Top Class Action Pharmaceutical Drug Lawsuits in 2017

Class action lawsuits are frequently filed against pharmaceutical companies for serious complications and harm caused by prescription medications.

These lawsuits can involve thousands of victims who were injured or died from using a medicine prescribed by a physician.  Many times, the risk of harm is not disclosed to the public or the medical community by the drug maker.

A “class action drug lawsuit” is one in which a group of people with the same or similar injuries caused by the same drug sue the pharmaceutical company as a group. This is done so that the courts do not have to litigate thousands of similar cases and it creates a formidable team of lawyers for the victims to battle the large drug makers.

Other names for lawsuits brought by a number of people who suffered similar harm or losses are “mass tort litigation” and “multi-district litigation” (“MDL”).

Current Drug Company Class Action Lawsuits

In 2017, the top class action drug lawsuits pending in courts throughout the United States are the following:

Abilify is a top-selling drug prescribed to treat depression and symptoms of psychotic conditions, including schizophrenia and manic depression. The drug is classified as an atypical antipsychotic, a class that also includes Risperdal, Seroquel, and Zyprexa.  Lawsuits allege serious side effects of this prescription drug including compulsive gambling, spending, and eating.

Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is a popular drug manufactured by Daiichi Sankyo that is used to treat high blood pressure. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2002, and today more than 10 million patients take Benicar every year. Benicar has been successful in reducing blood pressure in individuals who suffer from hypertension.  Lawsuits allege that Benicar causes serious side-effects including stomach problems and chronic diarrhea.

Fluoroquinolone drugs are a synthetic class of antibacterial drugs, or antibiotics, used to fight infections and treat various illnesses. The most common brand names are Cipro, Factive, Floxin, Avelox, Levaquin and Noroxin.  Lawsuits allege that users suffer peripheral neuropathy in the hands and feet from using the drug and that they can cause aortic aneurysms in those taking the medicine.

Onglyza (saxagliptin) is a type 2 diabetes medication that was approved by the FDA on July 31, 2009. The drug is used to help control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes patients who do not suffer from diabetic ketoacidosis — a condition where the body breaks down fat cells, creating a toxic amount of ketones in the blood stream.  Lawsuits allege that Onglyza causes pancreatic cancer and heart failure, including heart attacks in those who use this prescription drug.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are used for the treatment of acid-related conditions, like stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD).  The medication reduces the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid.  Common PPIs include Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Dexilant, Kapidex, and Zegerid.  Class action lawsuits against the drug companies allege that these medications cause kidney disease and kidney failure.

Risperdal (risperidone) is an anti-psychotic drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1993. It is used to treat certain mental/mood disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, irritability associated with autistic disorder.  Lawsuits allege that the drug causes gynecomastia, or male breast growth, in adolescents and young men and that Johnson & Johnson failed to disclose that harmful side-effect to the public.  Another similar drug, Invega, is also the subject of similar lawsuits.

Talcum Powder is a well-known consumer product often used daily by females from a young age throughout adulthood.  It is a soft, white powder that is developed from magnesium silicate. Lawsuits allege that use of talcum powder, in products like Shower to Shower and other baby powders, causes ovarian cancer in women.  Several lawsuits have resulted in large verdicts against Johnson & Johnson.

Taxotere (docetaxel) is a cancer chemotherapy drug has been used heavily to treat women with breast cancer.  Lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company allege that the drug causes permanent hair loss in women and that neither the patients nor their physicians were properly warned about this side effect.  Other drugs similar to Taxotere do not cause permanent hair loss and could have been prescribed as an alternative treatment for the disease.

Testosterone drugs (TRT therapy) are often prescribed by doctors to men with low testosterone levels to increase sexual function and restore youthfulness. The most commonly prescribed testosterone drugs are Androgel, Axiron, Bio T- Gel, Delatestryl, Dep-Testosterone, Fortesta, Striant, Testim, and Testopel.  Class action lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giants allege that these drugs cause heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots in men.

Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction. Lawsuits have been filed against drug maker Pfizer alleging that use of the drug increases the risk of developing skin cancer, or melanoma, in men who take the drug.

Xarelto (rivaroxaban) is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) medication used to help prevent the risk of stroke.  Xarelto is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients to reduce the formation of blood clots and to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Class action lawsuits are pending against the pharmaceutical company alleging that patients suffer serious bleeding complications, often leading to death, due to the use of this drug.

Zofran (ondansetron) is a medication to treat nausea. It is an FDA approved drug from GlaxoSmithKline that blocks the actions of chemicals in the body that can trigger nausea and vomiting.  Although created to treat patients after undergoing chemotherapy or surgery, many physicians prescribed it to pregnant women to treat their nausea.  Lawsuits allege that the drug causes birth defects in babies, including heart conditions and cleft palates.

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