FDA Warns of Serious Skin Reaction Associated with Antipsychotic Drug, Geodon, Parker Waichman LLP Comments
Port Washington, New York (PRWEB) December 15, 2014 -- Parker Waichman LLP, a national law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of victims injured by defective drugs and medical devices, comments on a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning over a potentially fatal skin disorder that may occur with the antipsychotic drug Geodon (generic: ziprasidone). According to an article published by ThePharmaLetter on November 12, 2014, the FDA warned that Geodon is associated with a rare but serious skin reaction known as drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS).
Geodon is manufactured and sold by Pfizer and is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. According to the FDA, 2.5 million prescriptions for oral Geodon were dispensed last year. Patients taking Geodon should be aware of DRESS symptoms, including a fever with a rash and/or swollen lymph glands,ThePharmaLetter reports; if these symptoms occur, patients should seek urgent medical care. If health care professionals suspect DRESS in patients taking Geodon, treatment should be stopped immediately.
According to ThePharmaLetter, DRESS may start as a rash and progress to other parts of the body. Symptoms may include:
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Inflammation of organs such as the liver, kidney, lungs, heart, or pancreas
Patients and physicians rely on safe and effective medical treatments and they must know whether, and to what extent, any treatments they receive may cause them a potential injury, noted Parker Waichman LLP. Patients who received these medications and who become injured may be entitled to compensation, according to Parker Waichman LLP.
Geodon also causes levels of eosinophils, a specific type of white blood cells, to be higher than normal in the blood. DRESS may be fatal, according to ThePharmaLetter.
Parker Waichman LLP is a personal injury law firm devoted to patient safety. “We want to spread awareness about drug side effects, especially potentially fatal ones, such as DRESS,” said Gary Falkowitz, Managing Attorney at Parker Waichman LLP. “Our firm continues to offer free, no-obligation legal consultations to anyone who has questions about their legal rights.”
Parker Waichman LLP offers free lawsuit consultations to victims of drug injuries and side effects. For more information concerning drug reactions with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), please visit the firm’s Defective Drug Page. Free case evaluations are also available by calling 1-800-LAW-INFO.
Gary Falkowitz, Parker Waichman LLP, http://yourlawyer.com, +1 (800) 529-4636, [email protected]
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