Carbamazepine Lawsuits

Billions of dollars in research are spent every year in the medical industry.  This research is geared towards many things, including equipment, genetic research, treatments and of course medication.  Obviously, innumerable benefits have been realized as a result of all of this research, as previously untreatable conditions are now handled with medication, and millions of people’s lives have been saved and extended due to the product of research.

Unfortunately, this huge emphasis on research and treatment also comes with a risk.  Certain medications encounter problems immediately, while others are not found to be dangerous until years after they are released.  There are also common reasons for medications becoming problematic, including the ingredients, the drug’s interaction with other medications, a person’s previously existing conditions and the like.

What seems to be somewhat rare is when a medication affects a certain group of people simply because of their geographic ancestry, but this appears to be the case with carbamazepine therapy.  Carbamazepine is a substance that’s been used to help people around the world manage and treat medical problems such as seizures and even bipolar disorder, but the FDA recently published a warning on its Web site regarding the inherent dangers of carbamazepine therapy for a certain group of people.

If you or someone you love has been using a carbamazepine-based substance for treatment of any condition, you need to heed this warning from the FDA.  Basically, if a person can trace his or her ancestry to Asia, including those from southern India, you need to be extremely careful if you’re using any sort of carbamazepine treatment.

The issues to which carbamazepine have been linked are skin-related, specifically Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis.  Each of these conditions are extremely dangerous, and can even prove to be fatal if either of these conditions are allowed to continue untreated for a prolonged period of time.

If you have been using carbamazepine for any sort of therapy and your ancestry is rooted in Asia, you need to contact your doctor immediately to schedule a full medical evaluation.  This evaluation will allow your doctor to determine if your skin, and as a result your health, is at risk due to the use of this substance.

If you have been harmed by the use of carbamazepine, you also need to contact a defective products attorney as soon as possible to schedule an initial consultation.  You may have legal rights and options that need to be evaluated and, if necessary and advisable, enforced.  Contact an attorney today to get this process started.