July 5, 2012
In the wake of GlaxoSmithKline being forced to pay roughly $3 billion after the company failed to inform the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of risks that certain medications they produce could pose to patients, the company is now coming forward with new information that another medication could put patients at risk of a heart attack. According to WRAL News, the drug manufacturer says that taking high doses of the intravenous form of their drug Zofran could result in a North Carolina Drug Injury stemming from irregular heart rhythms.
The risk was discovered when researchers noticed that the drug could affect electrical activities of the heart during a recent study. This can develop into a fatal heart condition known as Torsades de Pointes. Since the discovery of the potential risks, the British-based drug maker has asked that the FDA pull the 32 milligram doses of the drug, the highest doses patients are allowed to take, off of shelves.
The drug is an anti-nausea medication typically used by cancer patients.
The company added that oncologists nationwide would be receiving a letter next week informing them of both the risks involved with taking the drug and the recall of the dosage.
The North Carolina Personal Injury Lawyers at HensonFuerst would suggest that anyone currently taking this medication—or who has in the past—and experienced negative side effects should talk to an experienced drug injury lawyer immediately.