Causes of Cardiovascular Events
Medical science has long identified contributing factors to cardiac events. Some are more natural, and other causes, such as damaging medications, have only recently been associated with heart issues. The most commonly known triggers are listed below:
Antibiotics Linked to Aortic Dissection
Fluoroquinolones have been linked to higher than average rates of Aortic Dissection and other cardiac events in a varied and growing body of medical literature. Studies by the American Medical Association, and numerous medical journals, show a link between the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics create a substantial risk for drug-induced aortic aneurysms and aortic dissections. The 2015 studies identify an association between these drugs and potentially fatal cardiac injuries. Popular fluoroquinolones include:
• Moxifloxicin
• Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
• Levaquin (levofloxacin)
• Noroxin (norfloxacin)
Testosterone Cardiac Injury Lawsuits
Based on a review in 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) concluded that there is a possible increased cardiovascular risk associated with testosterone use. Based on the findings, the FDA also required the drug manufactures to supplement the warning labels to include additional testosterone therapy side effects.
Therapy with testosterone products has been suspected of contributing to a high risk of heart attacks, pulmonary embolus, deep vein thrombosis, and strokes. Specific products named include the following drugs:
• Androgel
• Fortesta
• Depo Testosterone
• Axiron
• Androderm
Uloric Cardiac Injury Lawsuits
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has added a Boxed Warning to Uloric (febuxostat), warning of an increased risk of cardiovascular death for gout patients. During recent testing, Uloric presented more of a cardiac risk to patients than other alternative gout medications.
Uloric injury may include drug-related cardiac events such as cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, and unstable angina. FDA officials have urged gout patients currently taking Uloric to seek medical attention if they experience cardiac injury symptoms.
Drug Related Cardiovascular Events
The question of causation in toxic tort and medication injury cases is always complex and requires expert testimony that is based in reliable data and facts, reliable scientific methodology, and application of the facts to the methodology. Credible medical literature and foundational case specific facts are paramount.
Under Ohio law and the law of many states, it is not necessary that the Plaintiff prove that the medication was the sole cause of the injury. In toxic tort cases, Ohio Courts have applied the “substantial contributing factor” test on causation.
In layman’s terms, risk factors do not preclude a finding of liability. As long as the medication played a substantial role in causing the cardiovascular event, in combination with the risk factors, the law supports a finding of liability against the drug company for failing to warn about the side effect.
Medication Injury Litigation
There are a host of drugs on the market that can harm a patient more than benefit them. Entire classes of drugs may be risky, including some antibiotics, testosterone therapy treatments, and others. When a drug company fails to warn consumers on the cardiac risks of their product, or downplays the injury risks, they may be liable when injury occurs.
Joe Lyon has successfully represented plaintiffs in Vioxx, Yaz, and Avandia cases.
The Lyon Firm represented numerous women who suffered pulmonary embolus, DVTs, and gallbladder disease following the ingestion of the birth control pill, Yaz and Yasmin.
The Lyon Firm is currently representing Plaintiffs in Testosterone Replacement Therapy lawsuits and making similar arguments on the mechanism of injury between the medication and association with cardiovascular events. For questions related to cardiovascular events and medication, contact The Lyon Firm.
