Hensley Legal Group Is No Longer Taking These Cases
Please contact another law firm if you think you have a potential case.
Vancomycin, sold under the brand name Vancocin, is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. The medication may cause some severe side effects, and it has been recalled several times for sterility issues.
Dangerous Side Effects of Vancomycin
Doctors may prescribe vancomycin to treat intestinal bacterial infections like C. difficile, as well as staphylococcal and streptococcal infections. It can be a life-saving medication if no side effects are experienced. The common side effects are rather minimal, such as fever, gastrointestinal upset, and fatigue.
However, there have been numerous reports of much more serious side effects of the drug, some of which include:
- Fever
- Ringing in the ears
- Loss of hearing
- Persistent diarrhea
- Chills
- Change in amount of urine
Severe allergic reaction may occur in rare instances. Signs of a severe reaction include:
- Rash
- Itching and swelling
- Intense dizziness
- Difficulty breathing
Keep an eye out for other side effects as well. If you notice any, see your doctor right away.
Vancomycin Recalls
Several labs and pharmacies have recalled vancomycin for sterility issues:
- 2009 – In 2009, Hospira Inc. recalled Sterile Vancomycin Hydrochloride USP because the bottle stopper sterility was compromised.
- 2011 – In 2011, Advanced Specialty Pharmacy LLC issued a recall for vancomycin IV bags, also for sterility issues.
- 2013 – Most recently, Avella Specialty Pharmacy recalled Vancomycin PF (BSS) 1% in September 2013. The FDA tested the drug’s sterility and found that it was compromised and that the company’s lab results may be inaccurate.
Although there have been no reports thus far of consumers injured as the result of sterility issues, the FDA warns: “If microbial contamination occurs in medications intended to be sterile, patients are at risk of serious infections that may be life threatening.”
Determining If You Can Sue for Damages
Just because a patient suffers a side effect from a drug doesn’t necessarily mean he or she can sue. In some cases, patients may be able to hold a manufacturer liable for an unsafe product. But other patients will have to establish that a lab or compounding pharmacy was negligent and that its negligence led to injury.
Others may hold a doctor liable for drug-related injuries if he or she was negligent, such as prescribing a medication that interferes with or adversely affects the patient’s condition.
Injured patients should obtain a lawyer’s legal opinion regarding whether they have valid cases so they can determine their options within the scope of the law. Some dangerous drug cases may even involve mass tort claims that injured patients should discuss with an attorney.
Consult an Indiana Attorney
If you or a family member suffered injury because of dangerous drugs, prescription errors, or something has gone wrong with your treatment, see a medical malpractice attorney.
Our attorneys at Hensley Legal Group assist clients all over Indiana. We are privy to the latest drug news and help clients with product liability and medical malpractice cases—however, we are no longer taking vancomycin cases.
Feel free to contact our team to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation about your medical malpractice case by calling (317) 472-3333.