Millions of Americans take over-the-counter drugs and prescription medicines for a variety of medical problems. Pharmaceuticals produced by the thousands treat everything from body pain to cancer. While many drugs enhance and prolong life, many others have been making the news lately for their serious side effects and health risks. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies have become the most profitable companies in the world.

For many drug companies, defective drugs are rushed prematurely into the marketplace because profits are valued more than patient safety. Many patients suffer toxic reactions; face life-changing injuries or death from unsafe pharmaceuticals.

Prescription Company Law

During the early HIV/AIDS epidemic, drug companies took advantage of the public's panic pushing for legislation to speed-up drug approval. The new law, The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), allowed shorter investigation times by the FDA for new drugs. For the past twelve years, the number of newly approved drugs has been staggering. And the consequences of shorter research time on the new releases, can be deadly.
Defective Drugs

Here's a list of drugs hitting the headlines these days. They've either been recalled or received warnings from the FDA:

Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs)

• Amgen's Aranesp and Epogen, as well as by Johnson & Johnson's Procit

• Used to treat anemia in chemotherapy patients who are suffering from kidney failure


• HIV patients who have anemia due to AZT


• FDA warns risks include accelerated tumor growth for cancer patients including breast and cervical cancers

Heparin

• A blood thinner used to prevent blood clots from becoming larger


• Patients have developed thrombosis or blood clots several weeks after they stop taking the drug


• Heparin may cause pulmonary embolism, cerebral blood clots, strokes, skin necrosis and gangrene in extremities leading to amputation and possibly death

Chantix

• Used to stop smoking addiction


• Common side effects include headaches, nausea, insomnia, abnormal dreams


• May be linked to psychiatric complications: depression, agitation, suicidal tendencies within a few weeks after taking the drug


• FDA has received reports of 400 suicidal behaviors and 37 suicides linked to Chantix

Paxil

• An anti-depressant


• Has been linked to suicide cases, violent acts, birth defects


• Several cases have been settled with manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline which many critics have complained has prevented the full release of Paxil defects


• One jury in Wyoming ruled that Paxil caused a man to kill his family and himself