Burg Simpson is investigating potential legal claims arising from serious breathing problems caused by Lyrica, Gralise, Neurontin, and other seizure and nerve pain medicines known as gabapentinoids.
Surgery patients are frequently prescribed opioid medications for pain. In an effort to lower the dose of opioids due to the risks of those medications, doctors often prescribe other drugs in combination to treat surgical pain.
A class of drugs promoted for use with opioids is neurologics. These drugs act on the nervous system and are used for a variety of neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and fibromyalgia. Over the past decade, physicians have increasingly prescribed gabapentinoids, which are neurologic drugs, along with opioids to treat post-surgical pain. Popular brands of gabapentinoids include Lyrica (pregabalin) and Neurontin, Gralise, and Horizant (gabapentin).
Scientific studies have shown that combining gabapentinoids with an opioid for surgical pain increases the risk of serious medical complications. In particular, severe and even deadly breathing problems have developed with Lyrica, Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant, or other gabapentinoids.
In addition, non-surgical patients who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as COPD, are also at risk of severe breathing complications or even death if they are prescribed Lyrica, Neurontin, or other gabapentinoids.
In December 2019, the FDA issues an urgent Drug Safety Communication warning that stated “serious breathing difficulties may occur in patients using gabapentin (Neurontin, Gralise, Horizant) or pregabalin (Lyrica, Lyrica CR) who have respiratory risk factors. These include the use of opioid pain medicines.” The FDA specifically cautioned doctors that pairing an opioid with drugs like Lyrica and Neurontin increases the risk of respiratory depression. The FDA revealed that it had received at least 49 reports of people suffering breathing difficulties while taking gabapentinoids. Twelve of these individuals died.
The FDA’s warnings are consistent with the results of numerous scientific studies, including studies released in December 2019 and February 2020. Both of these recent studies found that the use of drugs like Lyrica and Neurontin with opioids during and after surgery was associated with significantly higher risks of post-operative breathing problems.
Watch for These Symptoms
Based on the FDA’s recommendations, seek immediate medical care if you or a loved one have any of the following symptoms after taking Lyrica, Neurontin, or any other gabapentinoid:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Unusual dizziness or lightheadedness
- Extreme sleepiness or lethargy
- Slowed, shallow, or difficult breathing
- Unresponsiveness, which means a person doesn’t answer or react normally or you can’t wake them up
- Bluish-colored or tinted skin, especially on the lips, fingers, and toes
How Can I Find Out If I Was Prescribed Lyrica or Neurontin?
To discover whether you were taking Lyrica, Neurontin, or any other gabapentinoid, the first step is to check your prescription records. If you think you may have been given Lyrica or Neurontin during surgery, you will need to look in your hospital records. Learn more about how to collect copies of your medical records.
What Does It Cost to Learn If I Have a Claim?
We offer clients a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We pay for the cost of obtaining your medical records, any expert reviews, and court filing fees. We only receive reimbursement and a fee for our work if you are paid for your injuries.
Why Choose Burg Simpson?
- 70+ lawyers
- Federal court appointments as Lead Counsel in several multi-district litigation cases
- #1 Products Liability Law Firm in the U.S. (Martindale-Hubbell)
- Nationwide representation
- A 40-year history of success
Your Next Step
Contact Burg Simpson as soon as possible to ensure your gabapentinoid claim is filed on time. The time you have to file a claim depends on a variety of factors, including the state in which you live and when your injuries occurred. Delaying could mean losing the opportunity to receive just compensation. Call us today at (720) 500-5854 or fill out our FREE case evaluation form.
