Boston Viberzi Lawyer

A pharmaceutical company has a legal obligation to inform both providers and patients of the risks associated with taking medications. If they fail to warn of possible dangers, they may be guilty of negligence. Product liability claims against pharmaceutical companies are more common than you might think, and they usually take the form of a mass-tort action, or class action lawsuit. Currently, one such class action suit is against the manufacturers of Viberzi.

What Is Viberzi?

Viberzi is a mu-opioid agonist that is FDA-approved to treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Diarrhea (IBS-D). The FDA considers it a controlled substance. People with IBS-D often experience a decreased quality of life because they must plan their daily outings around their symptoms. Viberzi works to calm these symptoms by eliminating diarrhea associated with the condition.

In some cases, Viberzi may be prescribed to people without gallbladders for prophylactic purposes, as a side effect of losing this organ is persistent gastrointestinal distress. However, taking Viberzi when you don’t have a gallbladder is linked to certain dangerous side effects and complications.

Side Effects of Viberzi

Taking Viberzi can have several negative side effects, like:

• Sphincter of Oddi spasm, which is a ring of muscle that connects the duodenum to the pancreas. Remediation is usually surgical.
• Pancreatitis is a serious medical condition that may be acute or chronic. Acute pancreatitis results in severe abdominal pain because the pancreas becomes inflamed. It may be life threatening, as it can lead to bleeding into the gland, infection, serious tissue damage, and damage to other vital organs such as a heart, lungs, and kidneys. Chronic pancreatitis is persistent inflammation that may occur after a bout of acute pancreatitis. It may be exacerbated by drinking alcohol.

Viberzi Linked to Serious Complications and Death

For patients without gallbladders, Viberzi can prove to be dangerous and even fatal. The Food and Drug Administration estimates that approximately 34,000 patients received a prescription for Viberzi between May 2015 and July 2016. During the same time frame, the FDA received 120 reports of pancreatitis linked to taking the medication. Of these, over half did not have a gallbladder. Seventy-six patients had pancreatitis severe enough to warrant hospitalization, and two patients died. One died of pancreatitis and the other died of Sphincter of Oddi spasm.

If you or a loved one took Viberzi and experienced one of these serious complications, you may be entitled to compensation. Pharmaceutical companies must adhere to strict standards regarding the testing and dispensing of medications. Failure to adequately warn of the risks could be negligence, especially when the actions lead to injury. If you lost a loved one as a result of taking Viberzi, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Product liability claims require an experienced hand, so it’s essential to find an attorney who has a history of dealing with these kinds of claims successfully. Class action cases can take a long time to settle, so it’s in your best interest to consult with an injury lawyer as soon as possible. Call (617)-391-9001 to get help with your case.