At Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., our attorneys have successfully litigated many personal injury and wrongful death claims involving unsafe drugs and medical devices. In our thirty years of service to clients in Kentucky, West Virginia, and many other states, we have seen individuals suffer serious illness, long-lasting side effects and death because of the negligence of drug manufacturers.

Using drugs in other ways than described in the FDA approved label is called "off-label use". We believe that innocent victims are entitled to justice to help rectify the wrong done to them. If you have been injured by a prescription drug approved for treatment of a different illness, you'll need an attorney with the skill and resources to battle the powerful pharmaceutical companies and bureaucratic insurance adjustors. Choosing a law firm with solid personal injury experience and committed resources is critical to helping you receive the maximum compensation available. Financial compensation can mean the difference between a life of pain and economic hardship and a future where monetary concerns are secondary to improving the quality of your life.

Patients nationwide are being injured and killed from doctors prescribing drugs in ways that have not been certified by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as effective and safe. According to one study, over 115 million off-label prescriptions were written last year alone and over 8,000 individuals suffered detrimental effects from these prescriptions. Victims of off-label prescribing have suffered heart attacks, strokes, permanent nerve damage and blindness. Others have died. While it is legal for physicians to prescribe off-label medications, it is illegal for pharmaceutical companies to aggressively market a medication's unapproved off-label benefits. Many busy physicians may be unaware that that the FDA hasn't approved this avenue of therapy, while other unscrupulous doctors are given incentives by drug companies to prescribe their product. While giant drug manufacturers continue to aggressively promote drugs for conditions unapproved by the FDA, drug company profits continue to rise while patient's health is damaged. Now the FDA is actually considering allowing even more laxity to drug makers in promoting off-label treatments.

Epilepsy drugs are being prescribed for depression, weight loss and hot flashes. Hypertension medication is being prescribed for anxiety, and antipsychotic drugs for insomnia and Alzheimer's. In fact, some drugs are primarily being sold for unapproved uses. Off-label or unapproved prescriptions can include:

• Different diagnosis - treatment for one condition and used for another
• Less severe disease - treating less serious disease with drugs with high risky side effects,
  
• Duration of treatment - prescribing a drug long-term when it should only be used for a brief time,
  
• Different aged patient - prescribing medication approved for one age to patients out of category
  

How can you tell if you are being treated with an off-label prescription? While doctors are not required to tell patients they are prescribing an off-label medication, many will discuss it if patients ask. You can also find information about a drug's authorized uses on the FDA's website http://www.fda.gov.

Drug companies continue to tout the benefits of medications without regard to approval or a lack of scientific evidence while innocent patients continue to suffer pain, illness and the loss of hope. If a doctor has prescribed any drug for an "off-label" use, you may want to contact them and discuss your treatment. You should contact an attorney at Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. immediately to help you protect your legal rights. Call the offices of Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C. today at (800)337-4002 or contact us via our contact form.

At Gary C. Johnson, P.S.C., we are dedicated to representing individuals who have been injured. Our personal injury attorneys provide tough and aggressive representation aimed at moving your case forward and obtaining full compensation for your injuries. The law firm you choose does make a difference. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case, and we will always give you our honest opinion about your case in light of the facts, case law, and our experience with similar cases.