A Dilaudid lawsuit may be an option for patients who suffered severe side effects after taking the pain medication. Whether from adverse events associated with the drug or healthcare provider negligence in prescribing it, affected patients may be eligible to pursue compensation with the help of a bad drug attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for more information. We offer free, no obligation consultations. We can answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we connect you with an affiliated Dilaudid lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Dilaudid?
Dilaudid is used to help relieve moderate to severe pain. It belongs to a class of drugs known as narcotic (opiate) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Manufactured by Purdue Pharma, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Dilaudid in 1984.
FDA Dilaudid Warning
In 2006, the FDA issued a box warning for Dilaudid. A box warning is the FDA’s strongest, and it requires drug manufacturers to include this warning in the labeling information for all medications that may cause disability, are life-threatening, cause birth defects, or result in hospitalization or death.
Dilaudid is also a potent Schedule II opioid agonist with highest abuse potential and risk of causing respirator depression. Alcohol, other opioids, and CNS depressants potentiate respiratory depressant effects, increasing the risk of potentially fatal respiratory depression.
Dilaudid Pregnancy Risks
The FDA has listed Dilaudid as a category C medication in pregnancy, meaning that drugs in this category have been known to harm animals in large doses, but the effects on unborn humans are not proven. The FDA advises that pregnant and nursing mothers not take Dilaudid unless the patient benefits outweigh the risks.
Dilaudid Withdrawal Syndrome
Dilaudid is very addictive and when an individual who has been using Dilaudid for an extended period of time abruptly discontinues use or severely cuts back use, withdrawal symptoms may set in. Withdrawal symptoms from Dilaudid may include:
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Insomnia or vivid dreams
- Headaches and dizziness
- Nausea
- Muscle and bone pain
- Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Dilaudid Medical Malpractice
When doctors prescribe opioid painkillers, like Dilaudid, at excessive doses, they place their patients at an increased risk of overdose, respiratory depression, and death. Drug companies who promote narcotic painkillers to treat conditions for which they were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration may also be putting the lives and health of patients at risk. There are numerous lawsuits on record that demonstrate how doctors have over-prescribed Dilaudid to their patients.
How a Dilaudid Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe drugs. If there are risks of harm associated with their drugs, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result. Likewise, when negligence on the part of a healthcare provider causes damages, injured parties may be eligible for compensation.
Patients who are injured by Dilaudid may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Dilaudid, family members may be entitled to compensation for the wrongful death of their loved one, including:
- Conscious pain and suffering of a loved one prior to death
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Dilaudid, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Dilaudid lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
If you or a loved one suffered severe side effects after taking Dilaudid, contact Attorney Group for more information. When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
