ACE Inhibitors Linked to Birth Defects

On all drug package inserts, you will notice a list of associated risks which have been identified through studies that the scientists’ manufacturers had performed and/or through independent clinical trials in which patients used the drug to be monitored for the purpose of identifying health risks posed by the drug. Every drug has associated risks. Yet, sometimes the risks are not identities until after the drug reaches the market. So, patients taking drugs may not be informed about such risks. This is a time when a lawsuit can be filed against the manufacturer for failure to identify and properly disclose the risk of the injury to the patient.

In 2006, ACE inhibitors, commonly known as high blood pressure, heart failure, preventing kidney medications, were linked to birth defects. This comes 25 years after catopril (ACE inhibitor) had been placed on the market with an average of 42 million users annually (2.7 million of which were of child bearing age). According to IMS, a pharmaceutical information company, the total market for ACE inhibitors in 2009 was $3.8 billion in 2009 with over 150 million prescriptions filled annually.

The following is a partial list of ACE Inhibitors, including:

• Capoten (captopril)
• Vasotec (enalapril)
• Prinivil, Zestril (lisinopril)
• Lotensin (benazepril)
• Monopril (fosinopril)
• Altace (ramipril)
• Accupril (quinapril)
• Aceon (perindopril)
• Mavik (trandolapril)

If you need a lawyer, call Burton Padove at 219-836-2200.