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FDA: Arava Use May Result in Liver Failure
Pharmaceutical companies develop prescription and over-the-counter medication to help people who struggle with temporary ailments and chronic conditions. If you follow the news, you know that these drugs often have unintended side effects which can harm rather than help. An arthritis drug called Arava (leflunomide) manufactured by drug maker Sanofi-Aventis is a good example of this. The Food and Drug Administration approved Arava in 1998 to help people struggling with rheumatoid arthritis. Arava belongs to a family of pharmaceuticals known as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which slow the spread of this type of arthritis. However, studies link Arava to severe liver disease that has led to at least 14 deaths, and the FDA has issued a stern warning about its use. If a physician diagnosed you or a close family member with liver damage after taking Arava, the Pennsylvania unsafe drug lawyers at Anapol Schwartz may be able to help. Call us today at 1-866-735-2792 for more information.
Do You Have an Arava Side Effects Lawsuit? »
Arava Side Effects
On July 13, 2010, the FDA issued a drug safety alert notifying patients and healthcare professionals that Arava will now have a boxed warning. Boxed warnings are the toughest warnings the FDA issues and indicate that a drug has serious and possibly deadly side effects. The FDA issued the warning after reviewing Arava side effects from 2002 to 2009, which identified 14 deaths and at least 49 cases of severe liver injury. Side effects from taking Arava include:
- Jaundice
- Encephalopathy, or brain disease
- Coagulopathy or blood clotting problems
- Joint disorders
- Blistering on the inside of eyelids, nose, or mouth
- Chest pain
- Peeling or blistering skin
- And many other serious side effects
The Pennsylvania Arava attorneys at Anapol Schwartz would like to remind everyone that drug makers, doctors, and pharmacists have a responsibility to ensure that they drugs they make and prescribe are safe to use. If a drug causes injury, the manufacturer and those who prescribe it can be liable for damages.
Contact Our Arava Lawyers Today »
The FDA has issued a warning that patients with pre-existing liver disease or with elevated liver enzymes should stop taking Arava immediately and contact their doctor. If a doctor prescribed Arava for you or a close family member and you are suffering from liver damage, you should contact the experienced PA Arava lawyers at Anapol Schwartz today. Their pharmaceutical litigation attorneys have many years of experience building effective cases against drug manufacturers and have the resources to handle large, complex Arava lawsuits and other unsafe drug lawsuits. Anapol Schwartz has a built a national reputation for helping clients with pharmaceutical liability claims. However, in pharmaceutical liability cases, swift action is necessary, as the Pennsylvania statute of limitations for products liability is two years. For more information, schedule a free consultation with the Arava liver failure lawyers at Anapol Schwartz by calling at 1-866-735-2792 today.
