Maryland Serzone Lawyers

Serzone (Nefazodone Hydrochloride) is an anti-depressant drug manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. This drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States in December, 1994. On January 8, 2002, the FDA ordered that a "black-box warning" be placed on Serzone. This warning states that cases of life-threatening liver failure and death have been reported in patients treated with Serzone. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company manufactures the antidepressant Serzone. Our Maryland Serzone Lawyers will help you bring your case to court if you have been injured due to Serzone use.

Have you or someone you know suffered due to the negative side effects of taking Serzone? If so, contact our Maryland Serzone Lawyers today!

The drug is also known as nefazodone hydrochloride and has been marketed and sold in the United States since December 1994. It has been linked to dangerous side effects such as liver toxicity, liver failure, severe hepatic injuries and death. Recently, Bristol-Myers announced that it will withdraw Serzone from the United States beginning on June 14, 2004. The announced withdrawal from the market is coming on the wake of increased reports of liver toxicity of the drug and product withdrawals in foreign countries.

For too many people, the warnings about this antidepressant have come too late. The drug manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, has acknowledged the dangerous life-threatening side effects and the substantial management difficulties associated with Serzone use. On December 4, 2001, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified Bristol-Myers to include a black-box warning on the labels for Serzone, warning patients of potential life-threatening liver damage from use of the drug. Black box warnings are intended for use only with the most serious side effects in medications.

On January 9, 2002, Bristol-Myers issued a manufacturers warning advising health care providers that "cases of life-threatening liver failure have been reported in patients treated with Serzone." In January 2003, Serzone was withdrawn from the market in all European countries. In November 2003, Health Canada announced that Serzone and all generic equivalents were pulled from the Canadian market, citing concerns of severe liver-related adverse effects. Serzone is also being withdrawn in Australia and New Zealand, Serzone side effects are considered such a risk that the U.S. consumer group, Public Citizen, has filed a lawsuit against the FDA in attempt to force a nationwide ban on its sale in the United States.

Serzone has been linked to dangerous physical side effects, namely liver toxicity, liver failure and other hepatic injuries. Serzone has been linked to at least 55 cases of liver failure, including 20 deaths and another 39 cases of severe liver injury. The reported rate of liver failure in the U.S. for individuals taking Serzone is about 3-4 times greater than the rate of non-users. Serious liver damage usually occurs within four months of initial treatment. However, there are cases of liver injury that have occurred within a few weeks of initial treatment with Serzone or after continuous use for up to one or two years. Symptoms of liver complications include yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark or discolored urine, loss of appetite that lasts for at least several days, stomach pains and nausea. Let our Maryland Serzone Lawyers help you win the compensation you deserve.

Have you or someone you know suffered due to the negative side effects of taking Serzone? If so, contact our Maryland Serzone Lawyers today!