Dangerous Side Effects of SSRIs
Millions of Americans are currently taking some form of anti-depressant medication on a temporary or long-term basis. These drugs are used to treat chronic clinical depression, situational depression (depressive feelings arising from temporary circumstances), obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, and more. Many widely prescribed anti-depressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, commonly known as SSRIs.
SSRI’s increase the amount of the hormone serotonin in the brain; researchers believe that serotonin promotes emotional stability. While these drugs have helped many people with a variety of conditions, some users have decided that the side effects outweigh any benefits they may have. A few people have even experienced life-threatening medical or psychological responses to these medications.
If you or a member of your family has been harmed by a prescription medication, you could have grounds for legal action against your physician or the drug’s manufacturer. Your Iowa lawyers can help you research your options and make solid decisions about your future. Contact the offices of LaMarca & Landry, P.C. at 877-327-2600 to learn more.
Medication Side Effects and Medical Malpractice
Some people who take SSRIs experience no negative side effects; others experience mild problems such as temporary sleep difficulties, dry mouth, or nausea. Unfortunately, these drugs have far more serious effects for a handful of users. Potentially dangerous SSRI side effects include:
- Allergic reactions (hives, difficulty breathing, racing heart, swelling of the lips or extremities)
- Increased suicidal thoughts or impulses
- Manic episodes (marked by decreased inhibitions, racing thoughts, severe insomnia, etc)
- Hallucinations
- Liver failure
If your doctor has prescribed an SSRI, he or she has an obligation to make sure you understand the risks and what you should do in the event of an emergency. He or she should also be aware of any other conditions you have, other medications you take, or other factors that could interact with SSRI use. If he or she does not take these precautions, he or she may be guilty of medical malpractice.
Our Iowa medical malpractice attorneys believe in every patient’s right to consistent and competent treatment from his or her physicians. We will work hard to help you win the repayment you deserve from a negligent healthcare worker.
Contact Us
No one deserves to experience painful medication side effects due to a doctor or pharmacist’s negligence. If you or someone you loved has been injured as a result of a negligent medical professional, contact the Iowa medical malpractice lawyers at LaMarca & Landry, P.C. at 877-327-2600.
