Miami, FL (PRWEB) October 06, 2014 -- The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the use of the drug Contrave to treat obesity, a decision that also included several warnings about possible dangerous side effects associated with the drug that people need to take seriously, according to drug injury lawyer Jeffrey D. DeCarlo, P.A.
DeCarlo made his comments in response to a recent article published by Healthline about the FDA’s approval of Contrave to treat obesity. (Healthline, “FDA Approves Contrave, a New Combination Pill for Obesity,” Sept. 11, 2014)
“People need to carefully consult with their doctor before taking Contrave,” DeCarlo said. “The FDA has clearly identified many potential risks associated with Contrave. That’s why people need to clearly understand the risks they face when they take this drug. We express this note of caution because our office has worked with many people suffering from dangerous side effects caused by powerful prescription drugs. Injuries caused by drugs approved by the FDA happen far more often than many people might even realize. That’s why it’s important to know the risks before you start taking a drug like Contrave.”
Manufactured by La Jolla, California-based drug company Orexigen Therapeutics, Contrave is a combination of two FDA-approved drugs frequently used to treat addiction: naltrexone and bupropion. According to the Healthline article, “Naltrexone treats alcohol and opioid dependence. Bupropion is used to treat depression and seasonal affective disorder and as an aid to help people quit smoking.”
Contrave contains a boxed warning “to alert doctors and patients to the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors associated with antidepressant drugs,” the Healthline article states. “The warning also notes that serious neuropsychiatric events have been reported in patients taking bupropion for smoking cessation.”
Such warnings exist because Contrave contains the anti-depression drug buproprion, according to Forbes Magazine. (Forbes, “FDA Approves Contrave Weight Loss Drug From Orexigen And Takeda,” Sept. 10, 2014)
In addition, the Healthline article noted Contrave can “raise blood pressure and heart rate and must not be used in patients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, according to the FDA.”
Contrave has also been found to “cause seizures and is contraindicated in people with seizure disorders,” according to Forbes Magazine.
Such risks illustrate the dangers of drugs approved by the FDA, according to Miami dangerous drug attorney drug injury lawyer Jeffrey D. DeCarlo, P.A.
“Just because the FDA approves a drug for use by the public does not guarantee that it is perfectly safe for everyone to use,” DeCarlo said. “People regularly suffer from serious or life-threatening side effects caused by drugs prescribed by doctors. Sometimes, drug companies fail to rigorously test their drugs. Other times, physicians prescribe a drug that’s not safe for certain people because the doctor did not take the time to carefully evaluate a patient’s health risks. Whatever the reason, you and your family should not have to suffer because of someone else made a mistake. You have rights and our law firm can stand up for them.”
For more information about what to do if you or loved one is suffering from dangerous drug side effects and the legal options available to injury victims, call (877) 572-0065 or visit us online at http://www.decarlolaw.com/contact/
About Jeffrey D. DeCarlo, P.A.
Attorney Jeffrey D. DeCarlo is a nationally recognized pharmaceutical injury lawyer who has protected the rights of injury victims for over 15 years. His office is in Miami, Fla., but he serves clients throughout the State of Florida and the United States. Attorney Jeffrey D. DeCarlo is a member of both the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, reserved for a small percentage of attorneys who have secured multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. In addition to handling dangerous drug claims, attorney Jeffrey D. DeCarlo accepts cases involving medical malpractice, defective medical devices, car accidents and catastrophic personal injury.
Jeffrey D. DeCarlo, P.A.
4500 Biscayne Blvd #201
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 572-0065
http://www.decarlolaw.com
Jacob M Del Hagen, Big Voodoo Interactive, http://www.bigvoodoo.com, +1 (413) 650-0593, [email protected]
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