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Why are prescription drugs so frequently discussed in the media? Prescription drugs are often rushed to market without adequate testing, and the long-term effects of prescription medications are difficult to determine. Tests that we think are performed by the FDA are sometimes done by laboratories and are funded by the drug manufacturer. Also, many prescription drugs are being used for unapproved uses.

When an injury occurs to the patient taking such a medication and a lawsuit is filed, the case will be based on personal injury law and typically fall into subcategories such as pharmaceutical injury law, product failure or medical malpractice/negligence. If a person dies due to a medication, a wrongful death case may be filed. Other times, a medication causes serious illnesses or side effects during its manufacturing, at which time the drug manufacturer is held accountable.

Neurontin was approved by the FDA in 1993 and was originally sold by Parke-Davis, a subsidiary of Warner-Lambert, which in turn was a corporation acquired by Pfizer, Inc. in 2000.
Neurontin has two uses:

1. First, it may be prescribed with other medications to treat partial seizures (the type in which symptoms are limited), but only after maximum tolerated doses of older drugs are used first.
2. Second, it can be used to relieve the burning nerve pain that sometimes persists for months or even years after an attack of Shingles.

The market for these uses is relatively small.

Side effects of Neurontin use include:

• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Unwanted eye movements
• Anxiety
• Nausea
• Has been linked to suicidal behavior

A March 14, 2002, “New York Times” article revealed that the manufacturer of Neurontin illegally promoted the drug to prescribing physicians for at least 11 unapproved medical conditions. The basis for the safety and effectiveness of these claims appears to have been fabrications by the corporation.

The 11 illegally promoted unapproved uses for Neurontin are as follows:

Bipolar Disorder. Psychiatrists were told that early results from trials evaluating Neurontin in the treatment of bipolar disorder indicated a 90% response rate when the drug was started at 900 milligrams per day and increased to 4,800 milligrams per day. No such results existed. In fact, the only type of clinical trial being conducted at the time was a pilot study. According to the court documents, Parke-Davis was in possession of clinical data indicating that increasing the dose did not increase the drugs effectiveness. The FDA-approved dosage is 900 to 1,800 milligrams per day.

Pain Syndromes, Peripheral Neuropathy, and Diabetic Neuropathy. Parke-Davis employees were trained and instructed to report that ongoing clinical trials demonstrated that Neurontin was highly effective in the treatment of a number of pain syndromes and that a 90% response rate in the management of pain was being reported. No such information existed.

Treatment of Epilepsy. Medical liaisons were strongly encouraged to push neurologists to prescribe Neurontin as the only drug to treat Epilepsy, in spite of the fact that studies found it safe and effective only when used in combination with other seizure drugs. Neurologists were told that substantial evidence supported the company’s claim that the drug was effective when used alone for seizure. In 1997, the FDA rejected the application for approval of Neurontin as a single treatment for seizures.

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Physicians were informed that extensive evidence demonstrated the efficacy of Neurontin in the treatment of RSD, a condition of pain and tenderness following traumatic injury to a limb. There were no scientific studies backing this claim.

Attention Deficit Disorder. Parke-Davis employees reported that large numbers of physicians had success in treating ADD with Neurontin, when no such case reports existed.

Restless Leg Syndrome. This is another condition in which the company employees were trained to refer to a growing body of evidence relating to the RLS, when no such scientific data existed. The only reports had been sponsored or created by Parke-Davis.

Trigeminal Neuralgia. Again, there was no evidence available that showed that Neurontin was as effective as the currently available, and less expensive, painkillers used to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia.

Post-Hepatic Neuralgia. This is a syndrome of severe pain following a herpes virus infection. Physicians were told that 75 to 80% of all PHN patients were successfully treated with Neurontin. Once again, no clinical trial data supported such a claim.

Essential Tremor Periodic Limb Movement. No scientific data supported Parke-Davis’ claim that Neurontin was effective for this disorder.

Migraine. Pilot studies had been undertaken, but no early results existed to support the claims that Neurontin was effective in treating Migraines.

Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures. It was suggested by the company that Neurontin be used in the treatment of drug and alcohol withdrawal seizures despite the lack of any evidence supporting the use of the drug for these conditions.

In 2000, the company reported earnings in excess of $1.3 billion. However, it is believed that approximately 80% of all Neurontin prescriptions were filled for unapproved medical conditions.

If you or a family member are taking Neurontin for any one of the 11 unapproved uses listed above, you should contact your physician to discuss having your course of treatment re-evaluated. Once you’ve consulted with your physician you may want to consult with an attorney. It is possible that you will incur expenses with regard to taking the drug Neurontin, if it was prescribed to you for a non-approved use. Someone else may be responsible for the bills that you are currently paying. Damages that you may be entitled to include:

• Medical bills
• Lost pay
• Lost earning capacity for the future
• Pain and suffering

In addition, a jury may award punitive damages. Punitive damages are usually permitted only if the person causing the actual damages did so with either intent to cause harm or indifference to the possibility of causing harm. Based on the information provided above, it may be quite likely that punitive damages will be awarded in your case. The purpose of these damages is to punish the person who caused the actual damage and to ensure that the particular conduct won’t occur again.

Neurontin Lawyers / Attorneys Web Links

Bentley Law Offices, Personal Injury, Consumer Fraud, Commercial Litigation, Predatory Lending & Deceptive Trade, Durham, NC - Phone: 919-682-3700

Birmingham Personal Injury Lawyers – Belt Law Firm, P.C. Attorneys: Car Accidents, Wrongful Death, Prescription Negligence, Workers Compensation, and Business Litigation.

California Divorce Attorneys - The Nielsen Law Group handles family law, divorce, and child custody concerns in Southern CA. Orange County Divorce Lawyers, Los Angeles Divorce Attorneys, and San Diego Divorce Lawyers. Contact our California Divorce Attorneys.

California Criminal Defense Lawyers - The Nielsen Law Group offers criminal defense services throughout Southern California: Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyers, Orange County Defense Lawyers. Contact our California Criminal Defense Lawyers

California DUI Lawyers - The Nielsen Law Group provides legal services for those accused of DUI/DWI in Southern California. Contact our California DUI Lawyers to speak with our attorneys. Los Angeles DUI Lawyers

California Business Law Attorneys - The Neilsen Law Group provides legal services to the business community in Southern California.

California Injury Lawyers - The Nielsen Law Group provides legal services throughout California for personal injury, workers compensation, social security disability, family law & divorce, DUI, and criminal defense.

Cerebral Palsy Injury - providing CP information for families and those affected by Cerebral Palsy, birth injuries, and medical malpractice; Serving the U.S., Offices in Baltimore MD, Washington DC, Philadelphia PA - 1-888-4-MEDLAW

Joe Griffith Law Firm – Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Commercial Litigation, Charleston, South Carolina - (866) 386 – 6460

Round Rock Car Wreck Attorneys / Austin Personal Injury Lawyer - Heselmeyer Zinda handling Hutto Wrongful Death, Cedar Park Motorcycle Accidents, Georgetown Workplace Injuries and Austin Truck Accidents.

Law Office of Paul Hogan, LLC, Personal Injury Lawyers - Car Accidents, Truck Accidents, Premises Liabilities, Wrongful Death, Workers Compensation, Mass Tort Drugs, Wichita, KS - (316) 303-1411

The Law Office of Laura S. Jenkins, PC, Workers Comp, Social Security, Personal Injury, Business Startups, Raleigh, NC - (919) 846-7766

Kentucky Personal Injury Lawyer – Frank Jenkins Law Office practices in the areas of wrongful death, car accidents, work related accidents, motorcycle injuries, truck accidents, and social security disability.

Kraft & Associates, Social Security Disability, Dog Bites, Truck Wrecks, Auto Accidents, Personal Injury lawyers, Dallas, Texas - (800) 989-9999

Law Offices of John C. Wunsch, Erb's Palsy, Cerebral Palsy, Birth Personal Injury, Chicago, IL - (312) 977-9900

Lennon & Camak, PLLC, Workers' Compensation, Social Security Disability, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Raleigh, NC - 1-(919) 856-9000

Philadelphia Accident Lawyers - Pennsylvania Car & Truck Accident Attorneys. Munley, Munley & Cartwright, P.C. - 1(800) 346-7401

Providence Personal Injury Lawyer, Rhode Island Accident Attorneys – Gemma Law Associates, Inc.

Portland Veterans Benefits Attorney

Raleigh Personal Injury Lawyers – Hardison & Cochran: North Carolina Attorneys handling Car Accidents, Personal Injury, and Workers Compensation. 1(800)434-8399

Robert B. Corris, S.C., Complex Business Litigation, Fraud, Contacts - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - 414-272-8000

Seattle Injury Lawyers - Brett & Coats Personal Injury Attorneys : Personal Injury, Car Accidents, Motorcycle Injuries, Hit and Run Accidents, Drunk Driver Accidents, and Wrongful Death with claims in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Bellingham.

Seattle Drunk Driving Car Crash - Brett & Coats Personal Injury Attorneys : Drunk Driving Accidents , Car Accidents, Motorcycle Injuries, Hit and Run Accidents and Wrongful Death with claims in Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, and Bellingham.

Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyers – The California based Arnold Law Firm practices in the areas of denture cream claims, work place accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, auto accidents, wrongful death, product safety concerns, and personal injury.

San Antonio, TX Disability Attorney – Heard & Smith: Probate, Estate Planning, Social Security Disability. 1(800)584-3700

Scranton Personal Injury Lawyers - All of Pennsylvania - (800) 778-1380

The Yarborough Law Firm, Construction Law, Administrative Law, Personal Injury cases, Real Estate Matters, Corporate and Business matters, Employment Law and Collections, Fayetteville, NC, 910-433-4433

Teague & Glover, P.A., Personal Injury, Criminal Defense, Traffic, Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Teddy & Meekins, Personal Injury Attorneys, Shelby, NC - serving Cleveland, Rutherford and Lincoln counties - Phone 704-487-1234

Texas Truck Accident Lawyers  -  Louisiana Truck Accidents

Truck Accident Lawyers - Physician | Nurse Attorneys, Baltimore Maryland, Washington DC, Philadelphia Pennsylvania, Columbia SC - Servicing the U.S. - 1-888-4-MEDLAW

Twiggs, Beskind, Strickland & Rabenau, P.A., Personal Injury lawyers, Raleigh, North Carolina - (919) 828-4357

Thurman, Wilson & Boutwell, P.A., Civil Trial Litigation, Criminal Defense, Family Law, Real Estate & Contracts, Corporate Formations, Charlotte, NC - (704) 377-4164

Warfield Meredith & Darrah, P.C., Personal Injury lawyers, Severna Park, Maryland

Washington D.C. Personal Injury Lawyer – The Abelson Law Firm: Washington, D.C. Medical Malpractice Attorney, Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer, Maryland Truck Accident Attorneys.

Washington Injury by Brett & Coats, PLLC, Bellingham WA Personal Injury lawyers, Wrongful Death, Medical Malpractice, Accidents, Product Liability, Cross Border Claims Lawyers - Bellingham, WA - (360) 733-0212

Washington Injury - Accidents & Collisions, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Insurance Law, Sexual Harassment, Bellingham, WA - (800) 925-1875

White & Allen, P.A., Commercial Law, Employment Law, Estate Planning, Health Care, Personal Injury, Real Estate, Criminal Law, Kinston and Snow Hill, NC - (252) 527-8000

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