Stephen Hasner | Product Liability | July 19, 2022
You expect medications to help make a health condition better. Therefore, you don’t expect to develop a worse condition after taking a prescription medication. However, defective and dangerous drugs can cause severe adverse effects and life-threatening issues.
Many people have filed lawsuits because they developed cancer and other conditions after taking the blood pressure medication Valsartan. The FDA identified a potentially harmful substance in specific lots of the drug.
Problems with Specific Lots of Valsartan
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled specific lots of angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) in July 2018. The recall included lots of Valsartan, Losartan, and Irbesartan.
The FDA initiated the recall after discovering NDMA (N-nitrosodimethylamine) in the medication. NDMA has been identified as a probable human carcinogen. Therefore, exposure to NDMA could increase a person’s risk of developing certain types of cancer, in addition to causing other health problems.
If you are concerned, talk to your physician. You can also search the FDA website for a list of the angiotensin II receptor blockers included in the recall.
What Are the Potential Consequences of NDMA Exposure from Defective Valsartan Pills?
Severe liver damage is one of the most common effects of exposure to NDMA in tainted drugs.
The symptoms of liver damage include:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Jaundice
- Vomiting
- Low platelet counts
- Swelling
- Headaches
A person could also experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite, white or chalky stools, upper abdominal pain, and/or unexplained weight loss.
In addition to severe liver damage, NDMA exposure has also been associated with several types of cancer.
Exposure to NDMA can increase the risk of:
- Liver cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Leukemia
- Colon cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Cancer of the gastrointestinal tract
- Multiple myeloma
If you were diagnosed with cancer after taking Valsartan, contact an Atlanta product liability lawyer immediately. If a defective drug caused your cancer, you could be entitled to compensation for your injuries, monetary losses, and other damages. In addition, families who lost loved ones because of a defective drug could be entitled to compensation under Georgia’s wrongful death laws.
Valsartan Lawsuits – Seeking Compensation for Damages Caused by Defective Drugs
Over 1,000 Valsartan lawsuits have been filed in the United States against drug manufacturers, retailers, drug stores, and other parties involved in manufacturing, distributing, and selling Valsartan.
The lawsuits allege various causes of action for product liability claims, including:
- Strict liability for defective drugs
- Manufacturing defects
- Failure to warn people about a potential risk of severe harm, injury, or death
- Inadequate and/or improper Black Box warning labels
- Breach of express and/or implied warranties
- Fraud
Drug manufacturers may be held strictly liable for damages caused by defective medications. Being strictly liable generally does not require proving that the defendant was negligent or intended to harm someone. Proving that the manufacturer sold a defective product that caused your injury could be sufficient to establish liability for damages.
What is the Current Status of the Valsartan Lawsuits?
The courts have consolidated the Valsartan lawsuits into an MDL in New Jersey. The Valsartan MDL is not a class action lawsuit. Instead, each lawsuit is heard by a separate jury and decided on the specific merits of the case.
MDLs combine lawsuits for the discovery and pre-trial phases. It helps speed the process for each lawsuit and makes the trial process more efficient for all parties. As of July 2022, none of the Valsartan lawsuits in the MDL have been scheduled for trial.
What Damages Could You Receive in a Valsartan Lawsuit?
Individuals injured by defective drugs can sustain physical, emotional, and financial damages. Generally, individuals are entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages in a product liability case.
Examples of economic damages include:
- The cost of past and future medical treatment and care
- The cost of in-home and long-term nursing care
- Out-of-pocket expenses and costs
- Loss of income, benefits, and future lost wages
- Expenses related to personal care and household services
- Diminished earning capacity
Non-economic damages compensate victims for the pain and suffering they experience because of the defective drug.
Examples of these damages include:
- Physical suffering and pain
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental and emotional distress and trauma
- Permanent disabilities and impairments
- Decrease in their quality of life
- Disfigurement and scarring
Contact an Atlanta product liability attorney if you are unsure whether you have a valid claim against a drug manufacturer or other party related to Valsartan or another drug. An attorney will answer your questions and evaluate your claim during a free consultation.
There are deadlines to file Valsartan claims. Therefore, it is best to seek legal advice as soon as you suspect that you could have suffered adverse effects from taking Valsartan or another blood pressure medication.
Contact the Atlanta Product Liability Lawyers at Hasner Law, P.C. For Help
For more information, please contact the Atlanta product liability law firm of Hasner Law P.C. at our nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Fulton County, Chatham County, and its surrounding areas:
Hasner Law PC – Atlanta Law Office
2839 Paces Ferry Rd SE #1050
Atlanta, GA 30339
(678) 888-4878
Hasner Law PC – Savannah Law Office
221 W York St
Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-2334
