Successfully Helping Injured People in Montana for More Than 40 Years

by | Mar 14, 2014 | Uncategorized |

The state of Montana has reached a multi-million dollar settlement against a pharmaceutical company accused of employing illegal marketing tactics to entice consumers into purchasing Risperdal. That medication is an anti-psychotic drug that is used as a remedy for various psychological disorders. However, it is not nearly as safe as portrayed in ads; this dangerous product had the potential to cause serious adverse side effects. The state of Montana has received $5.9 million in connection with a lawsuit against the company.

The settlement money will be set aside to fund a prevention program to protect against prescription drug abuse. Mental health services will also receive a cut, as will consumer protection groups. The manufacturer of the drug is prohibited from making inaccurate claims about its product, and it must now include a comprehensive list of risks associated with consuming the medication.

It is not clear whether the drug was implicated in the wrongful death of any Montana residents. However, Risperdal does carry a significant risk of prescription drug addiction, according to a variety of sources. Those who use the medication could suffer serious injury if they were in an altered state while using industrial machinery or power tools, for instance; although the medication was billed as a safe product, it may have had adverse effects on industrial workers.

Further, Risperdal was implicated in a variety of unpleasant side effects that could have led to wrongful death. Those include cerebrovascular complications, potential for weight gain and possible development of diabetes, among others. Authorities in the state say that this settlement is useful because it will address an ongoing problem among Montana youths; research shows that 8 percent of those ages 12 to 17 admit to prescription drug abuse.

Dangerous products such as prescription drugs may have a wide-reaching effect in our lives. When these medications alter our abilities to use automobiles or industrial machinery, they can lead to serious consequences. Manufacturers of anti-psychotic medication in Montana should be held accountable for their negligent marketing. Montana victims have the right to be compensated for injuries caused by dangerous products.

Source: KRTV, “Montana reaches $5.9M settlement in pharmaceutical case” Sanjay Talwani, Mar. 08, 2014

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