Dangerous Drugs Lawyers in PA
In recent years, intravenous iron medication has skyrocketed in popularity in the United States as a means of treatment for those 4.5 million Americans who suffer from Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). IDA is caused by a shortage of iron and red blood cells in the bloodstream, which inhibits the body’s ability to transport oxygen to the body’s tissues. When left untreated, IDA can lead to serious medical issues and poor health. The traditional treatment for IDA is oral iron supplements, but in recent years major players in the pharmaceutical industry have doubled down on an alternative to oral iron: intravenous iron medications such as Monofer, Feraheme, Venofer, and Injectafer.
The intravenous iron medications pack a stronger punch (higher dose) of iron that allows the patient to see results more quickly and take the drug less frequently. Unfortunately, the benefits of the intravenous iron drugs can be outweighed by some potentially very serious complications.
Severe Hypophosphatemia (Severe HPP)
Missing from Injectafer’s label is any legitimate warning of Severe HPP or the various medical conditions that can result from severely low levels of phosphorous, such as respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, osteomalacia, or rhabdomyolysis.
Severe HPP, in short, results from severely low levels of phosphorous (serum phosphate) in the blood stream. Phosphorous is an essential mineral that provides structure and strength to the human body and is used for growth and repair of the body’s cells and tissues. A modest reduction of phosphorous in the body – mild hypophosphatemia – may be asymptomatic and resolved in the days following diagnosis.
Severe HPP, on the other hand, is a dangerous condition signaling a rapid, sudden drop in phosphorous levels that can lead to drastic medical conditions that take weeks, months, or years to cure. Hypophosphatemia goes beyond the mild stage when the body’s level of phosphorous drops below 2.0 mg/dL (moderate) or 1.0 mg/dL (severe). The more acute or prolonged the hypophosphatemia, the worse symptoms such as extreme fatigue, illness, and muscle weakness can get.
If you or a loved one has been prescribed Injectafer and are experiencing Severe HPP, contact one of our experienced lawyers today.