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Lariam Class Action Lawsuits Information
An anti-malarial drug widely used by military personnel,
Peace Corps volunteers, and international travelers, and sold under the brand
name Lariam now carries a warning about its possible link to suicidal behavior.
The main consumers of Lariam are troops and Peace Corps workers, with more than
14,000 doses of Lariam administered by the Department of Defense this year
alone. Concerns over possibly lethal psychiatric side effects of Lariam have
increased as reports of soldiers committing suicide during or after deployment
in the Middle East continue to surface.
Lariam has been prescribed to more than 22 million people worldwide since 1985.
Originally developed by the military, Lariam was later licensed to drug
manufacturer Hoffman-La Roche, but was first tested and used primarily among the
military. It is widely prescribed for the prevention of malaria, one of the
world's most lethal infectious diseases. In addition to Lariam, there are other
drugs to prevent malaria, including Malarone, and an antibiotic called
doxycycline, both of which are far less likely to cause the side effects
reported with the use of Lariam.
During a two month investigation, United Press International (an international
newswire service) uncovered a number of facts about Lariam that seem to prove
that manufacturers had some idea that there was a link between the use of Lariam
and psychological problems relating to suicide:
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A 1994 Roche safety report notes that because Lariam can
cause depression and depression can lead to suicide, "a causal link to
Lariam can in theory not be ruled out."
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The FDA's files include reports over the past four years
of 11 suicides, 12 suicide attempts, 41 cases of thinking about suicide and
144 cases of depression among Lariam users.
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Thousands of pages of internal Roche documents obtained
by UPI over a decade track increasing reports of suicides, suicidal behavior
and other mental problems reported by users of Lariam.
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Statistical analysis of the FDA data shows that
individuals who use Lariam are five times more likely to report mental
problems that could lead to suicide than users of doxycycline.
This increased risk of problems associated with Lariam versus
drugs such as doxycycline has become a focal point for concerned individuals. As
the reports of Lariam-associated suicides continue to surface, more research is
being conducted into the possible links between Lariam use and suicidal thoughts
and behavior.
Lariam Side Effects
Potential Lariam side effects range from benign annoyances to
lethal psychiatric disturbances. Many people never suffer from any Lariam side
effects at all, while others have severe problems with the anti-malaria drug.
There is no way to predict which Lariam side effects, if any, a person will
experience, which makes it all the more important for the drug manufacturers to
fully disclose all possible Lariam side effects, so that users can decide
whether or not they are comfortable with the risks associated with this drug.
Recently, the drug's manufacturers (Hoffman-La Roche) began including a warning
in the list of Lariam side effects, stating that the anti-malaria drug could
lead to suicidal behavior. Previously, the warning label only mentioned
"suicidal ideation" among the possible Lariam side effects, neglecting to
include that some users of Lariam have not only thought about suicide, but have
actually attempted it, in some cases, successfully.
More common Lariam side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal
pain, dizziness, vertigo, sleep disorders, ringing in the ears, headache, muscle
cramps, abnormal dreams, emotional instability, insomnia, panic attacks,
hallucinations, anxiety, depression, paranoid reactions, convulsions, visual
impairment, numbness, rashes, and itching. Some Lariam side effects result from
combining the use of quinine or quinidine, including cardiac arrest. Around 20
reported suicides and hundreds of cases of depression are considered the result
of Lariam side effects, and an ongoing investigation at Fort Bragg, North
Carolina, is attempting to uncover any existing links between Lariam side
effects and an outbreak of domestic killings.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the number of users with serious
psychiatric Lariam side effects at around 5 in 100,000. Many experts believe
that estimate is very low, and that as many as 25% of all Lariam users
experience some Lariam side effects. The same WHO study concluded that between 1
in 6,000 to 1 in 10,000 users will experience serious adverse Lariam side
effects.
Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration is investigating 600
reports of adverse Lariam side effects, half of which mention a psychiatric side
effect. Thirteen suicidal thoughts, four attempted suicides and one suicide
death are believed to be the result of Lariam side effects, and experts believe
that many more cases are left unreported.
More Lariam Information
Many of the individuals currently involved in Lariam
litigation feel that they were not properly informed of the potentially deadly
side effects of the drug. The recently settled Lariam litigation case in America
involved a woman whose husband, previously mentally stable, committed suicide
after taking Lariam. As Lariam litigation increases in the United States and
around the world, pressure mounts for the drug's manufacturers to come clean
about the psychiatric effects Lariam can have.
At the heart of all Lariam litigation is the contention that use of the
anti-malarial drug poses an undue risk of psychological effects, including
suicidal thoughts and behaviors. In many cases, Lariam litigation is an attempt
both to recover damages for a specific victim and loved ones, as well as to
change the way that the drug is packaged and marketed. Most Lariam litigation
seeks to educate the public about the dangers of the drug.
Many of the people who have suffered negative effects from Lariam are either
members or former members of the Peace Corps or the military. It is difficult to
bring Lariam litigation for members of these groups, which means that most of
the current Lariam litigation has been brought by civilians who took Lariam
while traveling or on vacation. Part of the problem with Lariam litigation is
that not much is known about the drug's effect on the psychology, although in
many ways, Lariam litigation itself is responsible for many discoveries about
the links between suicidal behavior and the malaria drug.
As investigations continue into suicides believed linked to Lariam, the ability
of Lariam litigation to recover damages for victims increases. If you or someone
you love has suffered from the use of Lariam, you may want to consider Lariam
litigation as an option. An attorney who has experience with Lariam litigation
can review the facts with you and help to determine if you have a case.
For more free legal information on known dangerous drugs and Class Action Lawsuits, please use the
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