Risks Associated with Pain Killers
The following painkillers have come under fire for their potentially dangerous side effects and associated risks:
OxyContin
OxyContin (oxycodone), produced by drug maker Purdue Pharma, is commonly prescribed to treat arthritis, back pain and cancer. It is also linked to over 100 deaths, and its addiction level compares to that of heroin.
In July, 2001, the manufacturer added a black box warning to its label at the request of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). Because it is so addictive, the FDA is asking doctors to prescribe OxyContin only for severe pain.
In July, 2007, the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen told the Senate Judiciary Committee, “The damage to the public from these white-collar drug pushers [doctors] surely exceeds the collective damage done by traditional street drug pushers of this drug.”
That same year it was announced that the government was imposing $634 million in criminal and civil penalties against 3 OxyContin company executives for misbranding this powerful narcotic.
OxyContin addiction continues to pose a serious and substantial danger to users and can lead to withdrawal, financial ruin, overdose and even death.
Vicodin
Vicodin (acetaminophen/hydrocodone) addiction is widespread. Actor David Spade once joked about it at the Golden Globe Awards and rapper Eminem sang about it in a song. Even actor Matthew Perry fought Vicodin addiction while appearing on the TV show ‘Friends’.
Manufactured by Abbott Labs and prescribed by both doctors and dentists, Vicodin has become the painkiller of choice for many Americans. What makes Vicodin different from over-the-counter painkillers is that it is derived from an opiate – which is the same drug used in heroin. This is why it is very difficult to return to sobriety after becoming addicted to Vicodin.
The body develops a physical craving for Vicodin within the first weeks of use. For the user to feel normal afterward requires a small but continued ‘fix’ of the drug. Most of the patients who attempt Vicodin withdrawal alone do not succeed. If Vicodin taken at high dosages is abruptly stopped, it can even lead to respiratory failure and death.
Drugs like methadone and naloxone are used to ease Vicodin detoxification and slowly break the Vicodin addiction.
Stadol
Stadol (butorphanol) can be taken in 3 forms, but when used as a nasal spray it has been described as the painkiller equivalent of snorting cocaine. It is most commonly used during labor and delivery as well as the treatment of chronic pain. It is also linked to more than 40 deaths.
Stadol can be habit-forming and can cause brain injuries because of carbon dioxide retention side effects as well as fluid build-up.It can also cause respiratory damage, liver and kidney disease, heart attack, stroke and injury to unborn and nursing babies.
The manufacturer Bristol-Myers Squibb has downplayed the significant number of deaths and addictions associated with Stadol. Stadol in the injectable form – which is used to sedate patients before surgery – is now labeled as a controlled substance and is difficult for doctors to prescribe.
According to MedWatch, a tracking system for drugs, Bristol-Myers Squibb received more than 150 complaints about the drug’s addictive nature but did nothing to alter the company’s non-addictive marketing campaigns or inform doctors of its addiction risk.
Celebrex
Celebrex (celecoxib) is among a new class of drugs called COX-2 inhibitors, which also includes the recalled painkillers Vioxx and Bextra. Once heralded as the new super painkillers because they promised effective pain relief with few side effects, they were targeted at arthritis suffers. While it is true that COX-2 inhibitors can relieve the pain, stiffness and inflammation associated with arthritis, they also pose frightening risks.
After the recall of Vioxx in September, 2004 and Bextra in April, 2005 – when both were found to at least double the heart attack rate – Celebrex has come under renewed attack.
On December 17, 2004, a government-sponsored study linked Celebrex to serious cardiovascular problems. Researchers halted the study when they discovered that Celebrex caused 2 ½ times greater the risk for a cardiovascular event than the placebo. While its manufacturer, Pfizer, has kept Celebrex on the market and stands behind its safety, it has agreed to end consumer advertising for the drug.
Celebrex now carries the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) most serious ‘black-box’ warning on its drug label.
Naproxen
Naproxen (naproxen) is an older non-steroid, anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which is sometimes used as an alternative for the COX-2 inhibitors. Naproxen has been on the market in prescription strength since 1976 and sold over-the-counter since 1994.
Naproxen is the generic name for the brand name drugs Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn and Naprelan.
Manufactured by German drug maker Bayer, Naproxen is used to treat a variety of ailments, including headaches, menstrual cramps, arthritis and gout. Used by millions of Americans, the safety of Naproxen was questioned after a 2004 government study revealed it may cause an increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems when compared to a placebo.
The FDA issued a warning that patients taking Naproxen should not exceed the recommended dosage and should not take it for more than 10 days unless directed by a doctor.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a popular painkiller – which is the only ingredient in Tylenol – that has been linked to an increase in fatal liver failure.
Public Citizen posted Acetaminophen on their WorstPills.org website. The percentage of all cases of acute liver failure in the U.S. associated with acetaminophen use rose from 28% in 1998 to 51% in 2003.
Consumers can prevent acetaminophen liver damage by carefully reading the labels on all over-the-counter drug products to see if they contain acetaminophen and by: 1) not taking more than 1 acetaminophen-containing drug, whether it is prescription or over-the-counter and by 2) not mixing acetaminophen with alcohol for a toxic cocktail.
In 2006, the FDA suggested that products containing acetaminophen should come in packaging that highlights the potential liver damage associated with its use. Americans consume over 8 billion Tylenol pills each year.
Acetaminophen can also be found in many other over-the-counter medications such as Nyquil, Robitussin, Benadryl, Excedrin, Midol, Theraflu and Alka-Seltzer. It is also the active ingredient in the prescription drugs Vicodin, Percocet and Darvocet.
Patients have filed lawsuits alleging that drug manufacturers have failed to warn that even a small amount of acetaminophen taken multiple times – such as 2 or more cold medications – can lead to severe liver injury.
If you experienced liver injury after taking acetaminophen, call a
Painkillers Attorney right away. A
pharmaceutical attorney who specializes in products liability can help you determine if you have a viable lawsuit.