Generic epilepsy drugs, problems, and lawsuits in West Virginia

Epilepsy is a medical condition which produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. Epilepsy is considered a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.

A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. Seizure symptoms include convulsions and loss of consciousness to blank staring, lip smacking, or jerking movements of arms and legs.

With the proper medical care and anti epileptic drugs (AEDs), people who suffer from epilepsy can live seizure-free lives, obtain a driver’s license, go to work, attend school, get married, have babies, and lead normal lives.

Mylan Inc. is the third largest generic and specialty pharmaceuticals company in the world. Mylan has a portfolio of more than 900 separate products. Mylan is a locally-owned West Virginia company with approximately 15,000 employees. In North America there is Mylan Pharmaceuticals in Morgantown, West Virginia and Mylan business in Canada.

The Epilepsy Foundation of America conducted a survey of patients who were switched from brand to generic AEDs. 59 percent of patients reported a worsening of seizures either in frequency or severity. And for 49 percent of patients, drug-related side effects worsened.

The FDA is aware of reports noting that some people may experience an undesired effect when switching from brand name drug to a generic formulation or from one generic drug to another generic drug. Evidence indicates that if problems with interchangeability of drug formulations occur, they occur only for a very small subset of people but for people with epilepsy this should not be taken lightly.

The FDA doesn’t have enough resources to perform independent clinical studies, and lacks the regulatory authority to require the drug industry to conduct studies.

For people with epilepsy, breakthrough seizures can be particularly devastating when epilepsy has been successfully treated for years. Just one breakthrough seizure can have serious social implications such as revocation of driver’s license and loss of employment as well as loss of confidence, negatively impact family members, and risk of brain injury and death.

Post-generic breakthrough seizures and/or the onset of adverse events have clinical implications as well, given the time and cost to re-establish seizure control, plus costs associated with injury and hospitalization.

If you or a loved one has suffered devastating breakthrough seizures and experienced severe injury or a loved one has died in West Virginia, take action now by contacting Attorney Barry Hill. Barry Hill has many years of experience and know how getting justice for victims of unsafe drug injuries.