FDA Warns of Dangerous Tygacil Side Effects

FDA Warns of Dangerous Tygacil Side Effects

By Amanda Antell

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recently put an urgent black box warning on Pfizer’s popular antibiotic, Tygacil. Reportedly, the reason for this urgent warning stems from recent reports that patients have died while taking the drug.

When the FDA adds a black box warning, it means that the agency has confirmed that there is a definite risk in using the drug, and physicians should consider other options before prescribing it. In June 2012, a consumer watchdog group asked the FDA to add the black box warning to Tygacil’s label because risk of death with the drug was reportedly much higher than other antibiotics. The FDA officially added the black box warning on September 27, 2013. The FDA recommended that physicians only prescribe the medication if other medications have failed.

While the warning is helpful, it has come late to many patients, leading their loved ones to file Tygacil lawsuits against Pfizer. The charges against Pfizer include negligence, concealing information, false advertising and misrepresenting a product.  

Overview of Tygacil Complications

Tygacil (tigecycline) is a prescription antibiotic medication manufactured by Pfizer. It was approved by the FDA in 2005. Tygacil is the first drug to be approved from a new family of antibiotics called glycylcyclines, and was first granted priority review by the FDA because it had shown to be strongly effective against severe, drug-resistant infections. The drug works by inhibiting bacterial growth, as opposed to traditional antibiotics which directly kill the bacteria.

Despite the initial positive and early approval by the FDA, it was not long before Tygacil garnered major criticism from both the public and medical community. In September 2010, the FDA issued a safety announcement to physicians about a study conducted on patients who were prescribed Tygacil. The study concluded that there was a 30 percent greater risk of mortality from taking Tygacil when compared to other antibiotics.

Despite the negative press Tygacil received, it still remains a popular product and is still available in the United States market. Pfizer reported that Tygacil had $152 million in sales in 2012.

File a Tygacil Lawsuit Today

If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of a Tygacil injury, you have legal options. Please visit the Tygacil (Tigecycline) Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. There, you can submit your claim for a free legal review and if it qualifies for legal action, a seasoned Tygacil lawyer will contact you for a free, no-obligation consultation. You will be guided through the litigation process at no out-of-pocket expenses or hidden fees. The Tygacil attorneys working this investigation do not get paid until you do.

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