Femara (letrozole)
It's unfortunate, but ultimately true: sometimes, well-meaning physicians make life-threatening and/or life-altering mistakes when they choose to prescribe a medication for an "off label" use. This is exactly what happened to many who were prescribed the drug Femara when they discovered they were having trouble getting pregnant (though they were otherwise healthy.)
Femara, also called letrozole in its generic form, is indicated for use in those who have breast cancer. Basically, Femara inhibits estrogen and is therefore considered helpful to such patients.
Not surprisingly, given the role that estrogen plays with the indications of Femara, common side effects include hypoestrogenism (which some fear may cause osteoporosis in the long term.)
Though breast cancer treatment is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted usage for Femara, many doctors began using it in 2001 "off label" (meaning for uses other than those it was originally intended.) Specifically, physicians began prescribing the drug for women who were having fertility troubles as a means of inducing ovulation.
Even though many doctors still claim that Femara is a safer alternative that the typically-prescribed Clomid (another ovulation inducer), a presentation at the 2005 American Society of Reproductive Medicine Conference suggested that there was a darker side to using the medication in this manner, as birth defects might result from the use of Femara in females who were trying to conceive.
To stem the tide of negative press, Femara's maker, Novartis, sent out letters to physicians in the United States and Canada warning them that the medication had not been approved to induce ovulation. Regardless, many doctors ignored the warnings and clung to the their theory that Femara was a better medication than Clomid (which does carry many side effects.)
As the years have passed, many women have begun to question whether their children's mental or physical birth defects might be a result of their taking Femara to either become pregnant or, unwittingly, while they were pregnant.
As lawyers who are very concerned with "off label" use of drugs such as Femara, we intend to pursue claims against physicians who prescribed the medication to otherwise healthy females who later delivered children with birth defects. Therefore, we encourage you to call us for a no-obligation consultation if the above-mentioned scenario fits your situation.
Together, we can send a strong message to the public while simultaneously getting you the monetary compensation you deserve. Contact our offices today to start the process.
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Defective Drugs: News, Statistics and Legal Guide
Winstonsays: 2007-01-18 10:34:55
Femara can cause birth defects if used in offlabel uses.