My husband was prescribed and took Imitrex for about 10 years. In April he had a “different” headache. He had no insurance so he tried to ignore it. He started acting disoriented and we rushed him to the hospital. He was rushed to surgery (brain surgery) where the bleed was cleaned up. Then his brain swelled – in surgery he had to have some brain tissue removed.
Two days later he suffered astrometry. Then a couple days later, he suffered a brain stem stroke. He never recovered and died 3 months later. His neurosurgeon could find no reason -none- for the bleed or the subsequent strokes. A friend told me Imitrex was found to be a cause of brain related problems, i.e. hematoma and stroke.
What can I do? How can I file a case for wrongful death due to this drug? Thank you.
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Answer
Dear Karen,
As you probably know, Sumatriptan is a drug manufactured by Glaxo under the brand name Imitrex, which belongs to a class of drugs known as triptans. Imitrex is prescribed to treat migraine headaches. It helps relieve nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.
Side effects can include burning, tingling, prickly sensation on the skin, chest pain or tightness, cold and/or warm sensation, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, sleepiness.
We checked and were unable to find any class action lawsuits for Imitrex which were still open to allow victims to join, or “opt-in.” However, you can go online to search and attempt to find a pending class action against Glaxo.
Proving your husband’s death was caused by Imitrex will be quite difficult. You will need expert medical testimony, access to Glaxo’s internal documents, and more. Without a doubt a lawsuit will be filed. You can be sure Glaxo will not agree to settle your husband’s claim without first having to be sued, and they will vigorously defend the lawsuit.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue the matter. Go online and search for personal injury attorneys in your area. Most personal injury attorneys will not accept a personal injury case against a pharmaceutical giant like Glaxo. The way to find a law firm who will accept the case is to start by speaking with attorneys in your area.
There are some law firms who have the financial strength necessary to wage a war against a drug manufacturer like Glaxo. These types of cases can take years to resolve.
Because personal injury attorneys normally don’t charge any fees or costs in advance, you will need a law firm who has sufficient financial strength to pay the tens of thousands of dollars it will take to hire medical experts, file a lawsuit, subpoena documents, take depositions, and send out requests for production and interrogatories.
Through speaking with several attorneys, you will likely be referred to a large law firm with sufficient strength to accept your case.
Learn more here: Compensation for Dangerous Drug Side Effects
The above is general information. Laws change frequently, and across jurisdictions. You should get a personalized case evaluation from a licensed attorney.
Find a local attorney to give you a free case review here, or call 888-972-0892.
We wish you the best with your claim,
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In 2001 I suffered a heart attack after using the Imitrex injection for my migraine headache. I was only 38 at the time and had a two year old son and two young daughters. It took me months to recover and well enough to go back to work. I was left with damages to the lower portion of my heart. According to the manufacturer there were no cases pending or reported at that time. I had contacted an injury lawyer and they could not find any other cases involving Imitrex so I gave up on it.
I’ve suffered tension migraine headaches for nearly 17 years and started taking triptan drugs in 2005. Around that time an ER doctor told me if I took too many of these prescription drugs that it could harm me. I asked how but he only would tell me to ask my doctor.
I never received any answers or indications from any of my doctors that triptan medications would cause me any harm. I’ve had many of these cluster migraine headaches that sent me to the emergency room and were so bad they caused me nausea.
In 2005 I was told my a dentist I had TMJ but here recently a dentist told me I only had a tiny bit of TMJ on my right side. So if not TMJ, I wonder what causes this constant buildup of facial tension? The tension keeps building up until it is very painful with pain in my face and neck area but concentrating in my upper gums and eye area. The pain gets bad enough where I must take 1 100 mg sumatriptan tablet for the pain to go away.
An urgent care doctor in St. Petersburg, Florida told me that at my age I shouldn’t be taking any tripan drugs since they could cause me to have a heart attack.
About 7-8 years ago I started to have an all the time fatigue/dizziness condition. It’s not so bad that I can’t walk but it does make walking more difficult and not near as enjoyable.
These are the only drugs that take the pain away so I wonder what am I to do. Other side effects after taking a sumatriptan tablet are sleepiness and achy muscles.
I fear I will one day have a heart attack after I need to take a sumatriptan tab to get rid of the terrible tension pain of the migraine headache.
The doctor in Florida subscribed me 2 or 3 medicines for the migraine pain that my insurance would not cover and so I couldn’t afford to pay for them myself. What am I supposed to do?
I just had an “eye stroke” and lost vision permanently in my left eye. I have no diabetes, no high cholesterol and have only had HBD pressure for a few months, then got it under control with medication.
My Dr said my eye stroke and permanent vision loss was because if Imitrex.
Any class action suits in 2020?
I went into renal failure, compartment syndrome, and was on dialysis in micu (where u go to die) for 2 months!
I was completely paralyzed on my left side. They kept trying to talk me into letting them cut off my leg and arm, saying they were doing me a favor, and that the nerves don’t regenerate when they die. They said I’ll never walk or use my arm again, and that they’re just gonna get in the way. I said no!
I spent over 6 months in the hospital until I checked myself out on December 31st 1999! I spent a year and a half in a power wheelchair.
I can walk now without a cane! I’m still messed up and in pain, especially in winter…but I can walk! The doctors said it was all CAUSED by the injection of imitrex, then falling asleep on my left side, shutting off blood supply to left extremities!
I’ll be 50 in July. I’m thrilled to be able to walk, or run if needed, lol! I’m a strong man I guess,…I’ve heard sad stories related to imitrex. Allergic reaction.
I had my first 4 day migraine after taking half a troche of Sumatriptan (imitrex). From then on, all were 4 day migraines.
It’s bad enough having frequent migraines, but frequent 2-3 day migraines went to 4 day migraines. I’ve read reports of others who also stated it makes their migraines worse. They no longer use sleep inducement therapy – which kept my migraines to 2-3x/year because it truly aborted them.
Now they only give things that don’t seem to do anything. It’s also difficult to get adequate treatment for nausea and vomiting, which can be bad enough to cause stroke. I don’t believe they’re looking for a cure/prevention any more. They had one with sleep inducement. But they dumped Nembutal, and only give it for animals now. The other two drugs they used to use they’re paranoid about.
They equate migraine patients with addicts. Something needs to change.
The stuff doesn’t work any better for migraine than a no preservative home made lemon soda and an ibprofin. I think the purpose of imitrex is to allow patients to show their state how costly not having mmj legal in your state is…
I had a heart attack and the doctor said he could find no other reason but the medication. 49 years old, no HBP,diabetes or cholesterol
I had a brain stem stroke in 2014 after taking Imitrex.