Pharmacy Error Injury Lawyer Blog
When a doctor prescribes a medication to treat a health condition, patients will often make the effort to use the medication as prescribed. Patients rely on medications to treat their symptoms, and they trust that taking the proper dosage will improve their health. However, when pharmaceutical companies mislabels a medication, they place patients’ health at risk without their knowledge. A patient could follow the instructions on a label perfectly and still suffer injuries due to a mislabeled dosage. In fact, a recent nationwide recall occurred when a pharmaceutical corporation improperly labeled the dosage of each tablet in a medication box.
Recently, a news article reported that Marlex Pharmaceuticals has recalled two improperly labeled lots of medication. The pharmaceutical corporation incorrectly labeled boxes of Digoxin containing 0.25mg tablets as 0.125mg, and incorrectly labeled 0.125mg tablets as containing 0.25mg each. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the mislabeled drugs could cause overdosing or underdosing in patients who believed they were taking the correct dose. Overdosing on Digoxin can lead to significant drug toxicity, including dizziness, memory loss, and fainting. Underdosing can potentially worsen a patient’s heart failure, which Digoxin typically treats.
What Legal Claims Can You Bring After Maryland Drug Mislabeling?
If you have suffered injuries from an improperly labeled drug, your legal claim for damages will likely depend on the cause of the injury. Many lawsuits over mislabeled drugs allege that the label failed to warn the plaintiff of the medication’s potential risks. The manufacturer will often argue that their label adequately warned consumers. However, the plaintiff may be able to argue that the warning label was somehow deficient. For example, a manufacturer may fail to fully warn consumers about the severity or frequency of potential side effects. That is, an incomplete warning can also be a failure to warn.
On other occasions, a manufacturer may mislabel the dosage of a particular drug. Under these circumstances, even the most detailed warning label may not be an adequate defense against a product liability lawsuit. For example, even if plaintiffs knew about the drug’s side effects when taking the recommended dosage, they likely did not expect to overdose. Many drugs are harmless at the recommended dosage, but they can quickly lead to severe injury or death if taken at high quantities. A mislabeled dosage puts consumers at risk of an overdose with potentially fatal consequences. On the other hand, mislabeled drugs can lead to underdosing, which could worsen the same health conditions that the medication is intended to treat. An experienced Maryland product liability attorney can work with you to develop the strongest possible claim for monetary damages.
Have You Been Injured by Improper Labeling?
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries from improper drug labeling, speak with an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney at Lebowitz & Mzhen. Our attorneys have years of experience bringing successful claims against drug manufacturers and medical providers, including those arising from mislabeled medications. Through our skilled representation, we will work tirelessly to pursue compensation on your behalf. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with a member of our team, contact our office at 800-654-1949.