Hepatitis is a disease of the liver which results in its inflammation. When contracted, hepatitis can bring on fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting, fever and jaundice. Not all people show symptoms, however, and sometimes hepatitis is only discovered when the issues has created more problems in the liver, like cirrhosis.
There are several types of hepatitis including types A, B, C, D-agent, E and G. Some versions of hepatitis are chronic while others are not. You can get Hepatitis A from exposure to feces or contaminated foods, water, consuming raw seafood or through personal contact with someone who has Hepatitis A. Hepatitis B and C are transmitted through blood or sexual contact and can be chronic diseases. You can be vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. You can also contract hepatitis through Mumps, Rubella, Herpes and Epstein-Barr.
It has been discovered that hepatitis can be caused by taking various drugs. According to Wikipedia.org, drug induced hepatitis can come from:
· Halothane – Used as a general anesthetic, is used in gas form.
· Methyldopa – An anti-hypertensive medication.
· Isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide – Antibiotics used specifically for the treatment of Tuburculosis
· Phenytoin and valporic acid – Anti-seizure medication used by epileptics.
· Zidovudine – An Anti-retroviral used to combat AIDS.
· Nifedipine – An Antifungal medication.
· Ibuprofen and Indomethacin – Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs.
· Amitriptyline – An Anti-depressant medication.
· Amiodarone – An Anti-arrhythmic medication.
· Nitrofurantoin – An antibiotic.
· Oral Contraceptives – Birth Control medication.
· Allopurinol – A gout treatment.
Additionally, there have been connections discovered between taking drugs like Actos or Avandia which are thiazolidinediones (TZDs), or glucose lowering drugs and the development of hepatitis in some patients. When these drugs were first introduced, their linkage to the development of hepatitis had not been identified. In fact, one thiazolidinedione, Troglitazone was recalled for the market specifically because of a high incidence of hepatitis. Most physicians now watch liver enzymes closely to ensure thiazolidinediones are not adversely impacting functionality. These medications are commonly used to treat diabetes and although effective for that, unforeseen complications may cause more harm than good.
If you have developed hepatitis, or if you have developed a secondary disease rooted in hepatitis from an interaction with a drug, especially a thiazolidinedione like troglitazone, then you should contact a reputable product liability attorney, defective drug attorney or a malpractice attorney. They will be able to advice you as to whether or not you have a valid case against the drug manufacturer or against the medical practitioner who recommended the drug for your use.
Because of the unknown impact of the side effects of these drugs, you may be permanently afflicted with a dangerous disease that could have otherwise been avoided. In some cases, you may be able to file a lawsuit to collect damages to cover your medical expenses and medical care into the future. Additionally you may be able to secure compensation for the impact of the disease on your life, including loss of pay wages and redress for pain and suffering.