Ohio Drug Attorney For Prescriptions Causing Heart Problems

When you purchase an over-the-counter (OTC) medication or pick up a prescription at your local pharmacy, you expect the drug to help you. You may take a brief glimpse at the side effects, however, you are focused on how the drug may decrease your pain, improve your condition, or cure an ailment. Unfortunately, some of the known risks associated with OTC and prescription drugs are serious, and there have been many instances of drugs causing heart problems.

Heart failure occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump blood the way the body needs it to. It does not necessarily mean the heart has stopped beating. There are many ways in which your heart can get to this point, including coronary artery disease, congenital heart defects, weakened or damaged heart muscles, abnormal heartbeats, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and certain medications.

Some drugs can directly cause heart failure, while others increase your risk. Additionally, if you are already at risk, such as if you have elevated blood pressure, taking certain drugs significantly increases your likelihood of experiencing heart problems.

If you experienced heart failure or another type of heart problem due to a drug, contact us at Kisling, Nestico & Redick right away. When a drug causes damage to your heart, it can be nearly impossible to fully correct it. Significant harm to your heart can lead to life-long medical issues including consistent check-ups, medical procedures, and medications. When this is the future you face, you deserve to talk to an attorney about your right to compensation.

Call an Ohio drug injury lawyer today at 1-800-HURT-NOW to set up a risk-free consultation.

Certain Drugs Can Lead to Heart Problems

A number of OTC and prescription medications that increase your risk for heart problems include:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): OTC and prescription NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), diclofenac (Voltaren), indomethacin (Indocin and Tivorbex), and ketorolac (Toradol) cause you to retain water and salt. This puts stress on blood flow and increases your risk of heart failure.
• Thiazolidinediones (TZDs): This type of diabetes medication causes fluid retention and weight gain, both of which increase the risk of heart failure. The FDA restricts this type of drug, which includes Avandia and Actos, to people who cannot control their diabetes with other medications.
• Calcium Channel Blockers: This class of drugs, which includes verapamil (Calan and Isoptin) and diltiazem (Cardizem and Dilt), increase fluid retention and swelling and may alter hormones that impact your heart.
• Beta Blockers: Some beta-blockers, including sotalol (Betapace and Sorine) and flecainide (Tambocor), are intended to help the heart slow down. However, it can also lead to an irregular heartbeat.
• Cancer Drugs: Certain chemotherapies, including cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin, weaken heart muscles. Doxorubicin can cause congestive heart failure months or years after it is administered. Trastuzumab, lapatinib, and bevacizumab are targeted therapies that increase the risk of heart disease and failure.
• Citalopram: This anti-depressant, known as Celexa, can cause fatal alterations in a heart’s electrical activity, particularly with high daily doses.
• Parkinson’s Medications: Pergolide (Permax) and Pramipexole (Mirapex) are used to treat Parkinson’s disease, but they also increase the risk of damage to one or more of the heart’s valves.
• Appetite Suppressants: Certain appetite suppressants used for weight loss and to treat chronic migraines can cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and other heart problems.
• Lithium: Lithium is commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder and other manic or depressive episodes. However, it may cause irregular heartbeat and low blood pressure.
• Cold Medicines: Numerous cold medicines contain potentially dangerous NSAIDs and decongestants. They may not cause a heart condition in a relatively healthy person; however, they can significantly worsen an existing heart problem.
• Nasal Decongestants: These OTC drugs may be vasoconstrictors, which mean they narrow your blood vessels and strain your heart.
• Vitamin E: The daily recommended amount of Vitamin E is good for you. However, in doses of 400 international units per day or more, your risk of heart failure rises significantly.

These are only a small percentage of the drugs that can negatively impact your heart. The American Heart Association has published a list of more than 100 prescription drugs, OTC medications, and supplements that can impact heart health, damage your heart, and may have particularly devastating consequences for you if you are already at risk for heart disease or failure.

Your Legal Options When a Medication Injured Your Heart

If you took a prescription or OTC drug as prescribed or recommended and it caused you to have heart problems, then call us at Kisling, Nestico & Redick immediately. We want to hear your story. After we have listened to your experience and have the opportunity to investigate further, we will advise you on your legal options. If we discover any evidence of a design, manufacturing, or warning defect in relation to the drug that caused your heart problems, then we can guide you through a product liability claim.

During a product liability claim, we will pursue compensation for your injuries by establishing that the drug manufacturer or other party is liable based on negligence or strict liability. We will seek the maximum compensation for you, covering your medical expenses, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, physical pain, mental suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.

Kisling, Nestico & Redick Can Help You Recover

At Kisling, Nestico & Redick, we understand how devastating it can be to learn your heart has been damaged by a medication you were taking. This can be particularly hard news to hear when it is the result of a medication prescribed to you by your doctor that was supposed to help you.

We want to help you during this challenging time and hold the right people responsible for the harm you have suffered. Our team is experienced in handling drug-related product liability claims, and we will fight for you. Contact Kisling, Nestico & Redick today at 1-800-HURT-NOW or online to schedule your free consultation.