Spiriva & Atrovent Lawsuit: Lawyers & Attorneys

Two Prominent COPD Drugs Linked to Serious Side Effects

When a disease takes hold of the public, several things seemingly automatically happen in response.  First, pharmaceutical companies activate their research and development efforts to formulate a medication to help treat the disease.  Secondly, after a medication has been approved for use, studies tend to occur, and sometimes these studies reveal troubling results.

Unfortunately, this appears to be the case with two prominent medications meant to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  These medications are known on the market as Spiriva and Atrovent, and for a time they showed great promise in helping to treat the symptoms of COPD.

About COPD

COPD is a progressive disease that attacks the lungs and respiratory systems of patients.  It’s most common link is smoking, and the symptoms somewhat resemble emphysema.  Specifically, the most common symptoms are restricted breathing, secretion of mucus, oxidative stress and inflammation of the airway.  COPD affects approximately 24 million people, and it’s estimated that COPD leads to the death of approximately 100,000 people per year in the United States alone. 

The Study shows Possible Risk of Heart Attack

Recently, researchers at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center conducted a meta-study in relation to Spiriva and Atrovent.  A meta-study is basically a compilation of several smaller studies, and this work involved 15,000 patients.  Half of these patients took these medications for 30 days and the other half took a placebo.

The results were startling.  Those who used the active medications showed a much higher risk for developing and dying from heart attacks, cardiovascular events and strokes.  Specifically, the study revealed a 53 percent higher risk for heart attacks, 80 percent for cardiovascular death and 46 percent for strokes.

The Potential Prevalence

Spiriva and Atrovent were approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use on the American marketplace in 2002.  Estimates show that 8 million people either use or have used these medications, and they are administered as an inhalant and designed to immediately alleviate the most common symptom of difficulty breathing.

Your Next Step

As of this writing, no formal action has been taken by the FDA, as the results of this study were only recently released.  However, that does not mean that you are without options if you or someone you love has suffered as a result of using Spiriva and Atrovent.  The first step you need to take is to contact a defective drugs attorney to schedule a free initial consultation.  You need to explore your legal rights and enforce them if you and your attorney decide that this is an advisable course of action.  Contact an attorney today.