The majority of people trust their doctors, and rightfully so: they spend ten years studying their trade, and most have been practicing in the field for a number of years as well. However, people might want to reconsider their unyielding faith in the healthcare industry. In recent years, a large number of defective and dangerous drugs have been widely prescribed and sold. In addition, few people are aware of how catastrophic the results of taking these drugs can be. It is not uncommon to see large settlements handed out by the manufacturers of these drugs to those who suffered a health complication while taking their drug.

The side effects of these drugs can vary wildly. It may be hard to believe, but a number of them can actually result in a higher death rate. Actos, one of the worst offenders (which is why there are tons of Actos lawsuits being filed), has been found to increase the overall chance of death by 30%. This is because it increases your chance of cancer along with heart attack and cardiovascular disease. Crestor is a widely used medication used to treat high cholesterol and similar conditions. The bad news is that it is also life-threatening: studies have shown a link between Crestor and fatal conditions such as muscle damage, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. Crestor has been used by over four million people, so many have been put at risk. Raptiva is the name for a type of injections used to treat chronic psoriasis. Oddly enough, a strong link was found between this drug and brain infections which often resulted in death.

There are a number of non-fatal, yet very serious side-effects related to defective drugs on the market as well. Actos has also been linked to liver and kidney damage, as well as raising one’s risk of fractures. Accutane, a drug used to treat moderate to severe acne, has also been found to cause a number of worrisome side-effects. It has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease. While some medical issues caused by Accutane stop when a patient stops taking the drug, some issues are permanent. Almost $20 million has been handed out in lawsuits to those who have suffered an injury from taking Accutane. Crestor can lead to muscle damage, which results in muscle pain, muscle tenderness and muscle weakness. A medication to treat bone loss, Fosamax, has been linked to sudden fractures while doing simple activities like walking up a flight of stairs. Nexium, a drug used to treat heartburn, has also been linked to serious bone fractures in the wrist, hip and spine.

It’s important to make sure the prescription your doctor is prescribing is safe. If you or a loved one dealt with medical issues while taking a defective drug, contact a lawyer to see if you are entitled to a settlement.