Digitalis is a naturally occurring substance that is incorporated into medications to treat certain heart conditions. Specifically, it is an approved treatment for congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart rhythm problems, technically known as “atrial arrhythmias.” The most common form of medicine containing digitalis is called digoxin.
Digitalis works by increasing the flow of blood throughout a person’s body. It has the beneficial effect of reducing swelling in a person’s hands and ankles. Digitalis medicines strengthen the force of the heartbeat because they increase the amount of calcium in the cells of the heart. Calcium strengthens the heartbeat. Digoxin and digitoxin are both prescription forms of this medication containing digitalis.
Digitalis toxicity can be a side effect of treatment with medication that contains digitalis. A person can experience digitalis toxicity when they take too much of the drug at one time. Or, if levels of digitalis build up in a person’s bloodstream for whatever reason, this can lead to digitalis toxicity. Digitalis toxicity can be fatal.
Digitalis toxicity is a condition in which the level of digitalis in a person’s body is dangerously high. Some people have a lower tolerance for the drug than others, and they can suffer digitalis toxicity even when the level of digitalis in their body is not abnormally high. People with lower tolerance may have a normal level of digitalis in their blood, but they may develop digitalis toxicity if they have other risk factors.
Some plants contain digitalis, and they could conceivably cause digitalis poisoning or “toxicity” if they were to be eaten. Among these plants are foxglove, oleander, and lily of the valley.
People with congestive heart failure who take digoxin are often also given medicines called “diuretics.” Diuretics remove excess fluid from the body. They can also lead to loss of potassium, which can, in turn, increase the risk of digitalis toxicity.
A person is more likely to develop digitalis toxicity if they also take drugs that interact with digitalis, such as quinidine, flecainide, verapamil, and amiodarone.
If a person’s kidneys are not functioning normally, digitalis can build up in a person’s body. So, any condition that affects a person’s kidney functions increases the likelihood that they would suffer digitalis toxicity.
Have Any Digitalis Products Been Recalled?
In 2008, the pharmaceutical company Actavis Totowa voluntarily recalled a digitalis medication that it produced, Digitek. The recall was necessary because there was a manufacturing defect in the company’s Digitek pills at that time. A part of the tablet contained twice as much of the active ingredient, digitalis, as it was supposed to.
When a person took the medication, the pill delivered an unsafe dose of digitalis, which could create a serious risk of fatal digitalis toxicity. It was especially hazardous to people with serious kidney disease.
In that same year, more than 60 individual lawsuits against the manufacturer of Digitek had been centralized in a multi-district lawsuit (MDL) in the federal court in the Southern District of West Virginia. Other individual lawsuits had been filed in state courts in various states in the U.S. as well.
Reportedly, about 50 percent of the supply of Digitek in the U.S. at the time had been affected by this production error.
A number of class action lawsuits were filed as well on behalf of people who took Digitek. These suits sought reimbursement for the cost of the medication and funds to cover the cost of medical monitoring for people who took the drug.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Digitalis Toxicity Injury?
A number of entities can be liable for a digitalis toxicity injury. The company that manufactures the medication that a person has taken that caused them injury could be sued under a theory of strict product liability for a product defect.
An example of a product defect is the issue that occurred in connection with the manufacture of Digitek by the Actavis Totowa company. For some reason, the Digitek pills were manufactured incorrectly, so they contained twice the amount of the active, effective ingredient in the pill that it should have had. The results were that many people suffered digitalis toxicity.
In a case alleging a product defect, the victim does not have to prove any negligence on the part of the manufacturer, although that might have been possible in this particular case.
Rather, a person must only show that the product was defective in some manner and that the person suffered a significant injury as a direct result of the defect. If these elements are shown, the person can recover compensatory damages to reimburse them for their losses.
The doctor who prescribes the medication containing digitalis can be the subject of a medical malpractice claim. A doctor might be liable for medical malpractice for prescribing digoxin to a person who has kidney problems. People who have kidney disease should probably not take digoxin as it can lead to digitalis toxicity. People who take certain kinds of medications and have other illnesses or conditions should not take digoxin. If their doctor prescribes it and it leads to toxicity, their doctor could be liable for medical malpractice.
The pharmacist who dispenses the medication to a patient can be liable for a prescription error or an error in administering digoxin. A pharmacist can be liable for a variety of errors in dispensing medication that is prescribed to their customers. For example, in the case of digitalis, the dose is very important. A pharmacist must provide a patient with the correct dosage, and if they do not, digitalis toxicity is a potential problem.
A pharmacist must dispense the right dosage of a medication with accurate directions as to how it is supposed to be consumed.
What Are the Legal Remedies for Digitalis Toxicity Claims?
A person who has suffered a significant injury from experiencing digitalis toxicity while taking a drug containing digitalis may seek a monetary damages award, otherwise known as an award of “compensatory damages” in legal terminology. An award of compensatory damages reimburses a person for various losses, both economic and non-economic, they may have suffered as a result of their injury.
For example, one of the main items of compensatory damages is the medical expenses or the cost of all of the necessary medical treatment that a person must have to restore themselves to good health.
Another important item that is reimbursed by compensatory damages is a person’s lost wages past the future. So, if a person is unable to work because of their injury, they can be compensated for the loss they suffer. If, at the time of trial or settlement, the person expects to lose wages in the future, that loss can be estimated and reimbursed as well.
Then, in addition to lost wages, a person’s injury may negatively affect their earning capacity, and this is another item that can be reimbursed by compensatory damages.
Non-economic damages compensate a person for the mental and emotional aspects of their injuries. The most common of these is the pain and suffering they experience as a result of their injuries.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Help With a Digitalis Toxicity Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one have suffered a significant injury because you took a product containing digitalis, you want to consult a class action lawyer. Your lawyer can review your medical records and determine who may be at fault for your injury, whether the manufacturer, your prescribing doctor, or your pharmacist.
A lawsuit for injury caused by a medication requires the help of expert witnesses. Your lawyer can identify the best experts, the ones who can support your case most effectively. You definitely want an experienced lawyer to protect your rights in connection to injuries suffered from taking medication.
