Anti-Seizure Medication Lawyers for People with Epilepsy
Representing Defective Drug Clients Across Texas and Throughout the United States
Medications are the primary way in which seizures are controlled and are almost always the first form of therapy with about 8 out of 10 people living with epilepsy take medication to help control their seizures.
However, these anti-seizure medications can result in life-altering adverse effects. If you’ve taken an anti-seizure medication and suffered injury or illness like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), call the defective drug attorneys at call Thomas J. Henry Law.
Dilantin and Topamax Injury Attorneys
Dilantin is manufactured by Pfizer and received FDA approval in 2001. Since then, it has been added to the FDA’s Potential Signals of Serious Risks List and has been associated with serious conditions including Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Purple Glove Syndrome.
Dilantin, also know as phenytoin, is an antiepileptic drug, or anticonvulsant, prescribed to control certain types of seizures including grand mal seizures and temporal lobe seizures. Grand mal seizures feature a loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions while those suffering from temporal lobe seizures experience odd feelings such as euphoria, fear, déjà vu, and hallucinations.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Dilantin
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, also known as SJS, is a serious, life-threatening disorder in which your skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication or infections. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome often begins with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful red or purplish rash that spreads and blisters, eventually causing the top layer of your skin to die and shed.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome is an emergency medical condition that typically results in hospitalization. In addition, if it is caused by a drug, such as Dilantin, patients are required to permanently discontinue the medication and all others related to it.
Some serious side effects of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include:
- Facial swelling
- Tongue swelling
- Hives
- Skin pain
- A red or purple skin rash that spreads within hours to days
- Blisters on your skin and mucous membranes, especially in your mouth, nose and eyes
- Shedding (sloughing) of your skin
If you or a loved one have experienced any of these extreme side effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Possible complications of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome include:
- Secondary skin infection (cellulitis) – This acute infection of your skin can lead to life-threatening complications, including meningitis — an infection of the membrane and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord — and sepsis.
- Sepsis – Sepsis occurs when bacteria from a massive infection enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body. Sepsis is a rapidly progressing, life-threatening condition that can cause shock and organ failure.
- Eye problems – The rash caused by Stevens-Johnson syndrome can lead to inflammation in your eyes. In mild cases, this may cause irritation and dry eyes. In severe cases, it can lead to extensive tissue damage and scarring within your eyes that can result in blindness.
- Damage to internal organs – Stevens-Johnson syndrome can cause lesions of your internal organs, which can result in inflammation of your lungs (pneumonitis), heart (myocarditis), kidney (nephritis) and liver (hepatitis).
Permanent skin damage – When your skin grows back following Stevens-Johnson syndrome, it may have abnormal bumps and coloring (pigmentation). Scars may remain on your skin, as well. Lasting skin problems may cause your hair to fall out, and your fingernails and toenails may not grow normally.
Topamax and Cleft Lips and Cleft Palates
Since 1995, Topamax, manufactured by Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has been available worldwide for the treatment of epilepsy. The drug was also granted approval by the FDA to prevent migraines in August of 2004 and its generic form was approved by the FDA in April of 2009. More than 4 million patients have been treated with Topamax for migraines and epilepsy.
On March 4, 2011, the FDA strengthened the warning for patients using Topamax and it’s generic. Studies show that Topamax significantly increases oral birth defects, including cleft lip, and/or cleft palate in children whose mothers took Topamax during their pregnancy. In fact, this new data shows that expecting mothers who take the drug are 21.3 times more likely to give birth to infants with an oral birth defect such as cleft lips or palates compared to the risk in a background population of untreated women.
The FDA has sent out a notice to medical providers to warn their female patients about the risks of taking Topamax and to discuss alternative medications that have a lower risk of birth defects. Many developmental issues may occur in infants born with cleft palates or lips because they are not able to get adequate nutrition.
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How Does the “No Win No Fee” Promise Work?
The Thomas J. Henry “No Win No Fee” promise works as part of a contingency fee agreement. Instead of receiving payments from clients, we recoup fees and expenses from the final settlement or verdict our clients receive.
This allows us to start working on your case as soon as you hire us, ensuring that your case is handled with the urgency it deserves. It also means you can focus on getting better rather than cutting us a check.
The percentage we collect may vary depending on the complexity of your case, but you will be kept informed so you know what we are collecting before your case is closed.
Even better, you owe us nothing if we don’t win your case! Because our fees are collected as a percentage of your settlement or verdict, we do not collect anything unless and until you get your recovery. This means there is no risk to hiring a qualified attorney to handle your case!
Do I Have to Pay to Speak with an Injury Attorney?
Thomas J. Henry Law offers free case reviews so that you can better understand your legal options. This means you pay nothing for your first consultation. Additionally, Thomas J. Henry Law works on a contingency fee basis meaning that if you do choose to hire us, you pay us nothing unless and until we win your case.
To learn more about what it takes to speak with an injury attorney about your claim here.
Do I Need a Personal Injury Attorney Help Me Settle My Case?
Insurance companies will attempt to pay out as little as possible when resolving an injury claim. When an individual pursues compensation from an insurance company without the aid of an attorney, the insurance company may see the lack of representation as an opportunity to lowball the injured victim as there is no immediate risk of trial or legal recourse.
By hiring a competent attorney who has a reputation for achieving large verdicts in the courtroom, you are sending a message to the insurer. It will provide the insurance company with extra incentive to offer a fair settlement the first time.
If that first offer is not fair, an experienced personal attorney will have the resources and the knowledge to negotiate with the insurance company in pursuit of a better offer.
What is a Contingency Fee?
In a contingency fee arrangement, an attorney agrees to accept a fixed percentage of your recovery as payment. This means that if you win your case, your attorney will collect their fees and expenses from the money awarded to you. However, if you lose your case, your attorney will collect nothing.
Most lawyers prefer not to work on contingency cases for two reasons:
- There is a risk the firm will be paid nothing
- Any payment is delayed until money is collected from the opposing party
Generally, a lawyer who accepts contingency fee cases:
- Regularly represents clients who lack the financial resources to pay hourly attorney’s fees (as is often the case for personal injury victims).
- Is more selective about the cases they accept.
- Is very confident in their ability to win the cases they choose to handle.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Attorney?
The cost associated with hiring a personal injury attorney and how payment is collected may vary from firm to firm. At Thomas J. Henry, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means that we don’t charge our clients a penny unless and until we win their case.
Working on a contingency fee basis allows clients access to resources and legal representation they might otherwise struggle to afford. The more serious a case is, the more money it costs to take to trial. This is because complex litigation tends to take longer to resolve and the entities involved fight harder.
This is especially true if your lawsuit is against a large company, as would be the case in a trucking accident or on-the-job injury. Such companies employ teams of lawyers and have seemingly unlimited financial resources. You need an attorney who has the same. Thomas J. Henry employs a team of more than 100 attorneys and has the money to fight your case out to the end.
Finally, by collecting any fees and expenses after a verdict or settlement is secured, Thomas J. Henry can help ensure his clients are able to focus on healing. “The client’s job is to heal. We will handle the rest,” says Thomas J. Henry.
How Much Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?
In Texas, a personal injury case is only worth what a jury is willing to award you. This is why you need an attorney who can not only prove the economic damages you have sustained due to your accident, but can also demonstrate the value of non-economic damages you may have sustained, such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium.
Learn more about how to estimate the value of your personal injury claim here.
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We help clients across the U.S. with all types of injury cases, including vehicle accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, product recalls, pharmaceutical cases, mass tort, and more.
Thomas J. Henry offers a “No Fee Promise.” We work on a contingency fee basis which means you do not pay our firm any fees unless and until we win your case. Learn more.
If you’ve been hurt, you may have a damaged vehicle or be unable to work. We can help get you a rental car if your vehicle is damaged and even advance money on qualified cases.
We are committed to your complete recovery. We will work with you to ensure you receive the necessary medical treatment and support for your healing journey.
If you’ve been hurt, you may not be able to come into our offices to speak to an attorney. Don’t worry, we will come to you wherever you are – at home, work, or hospital.
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