Pharmaceutical Company

[Glpblondie]

I had recently been taking penicillin for a virus. After 3 days it caused a serious side effect (tightening of the throat and chest......could have lead to anaphylactic shock and death) however none of which were listed on the patient information leaflet. I did a search online for penicillin allergies and this side effect came up time and time again. My question is, do I have a case against the pharmacuitical company who produced this medication for failing to list this potentially life threatening side effect on their patient information leaflet?

[Pigletion]

I'm not sure an allergy can be classed the same as a side-effect. A side-effect is like drowsiness, headaches etc. Whereas an allergy can only occur once you've been exposed to the antigen, so you can never have an allergic reaction on your first coming into contact with something. Any time after there is a possibility though. However, they are a whole myriad of things that people become allergic to.

It's not really possible to predict an allergy, they just have an idea about what proportion of the population it is likely to effect. Your prescribing doctor should outline this to you, as they are the ones giving out the drugs, not the drug company.

What is important for you is that now you know you're allergic to penicillin to avoid it in future. It's worth getting checked to ensure it was the penicillin and not something else in the medication, like a colouring/preservative. Just to make sure you are avoiding the correct things. Also make sure anytime you go into hospital or get prescribed anything that it says all over your notes that you're allergic. My grandmother had it written on her notes in big red pen that she was allergic to penicillin, yet the hospital doctor gave her amoxicillin (an aminopenicillin), she had a reaction (surprise surprise!) and she could not have her hip operation (so she could never leave hospital or walk again).

If you have had an anaphylactic reaction, your doctor should give you an epi-pen, that way you can stop the reaction yourself in an emergency. I would get all the information you can, forewarned is forearmed and all that.

Good luck with it all

[mrs_overall]

I'm appalled at how everyone tries to jump on the "let's sue the pants off 'em" bandwaggon these days.
You have an ALLERGY to penicillin, which is not the fault of the manufacturer. If I suddenly developed an allergy to gluten do you think I should sue Warburtons and Mother's Pride?
The manufacturer lists possible side effects.....how on earth could they predict someone is going to be allergic to a substance?
I despair, I really do.

[Glpblondie]

The patient information leaflet does list allergic reactions in the side effects section e.g. seizures, hives etc. It does not mention tightening of the throat/chest or anything to do with anaphylactic shock. If find this bizarre and a real worry!!!

Oh and Mrs Overall.......for what its worth, I seriously wouldn't have the time/effort to sue the company for this......I asked the question merely out of interest.

[bednobs]

a case for what exactly? What have you lost that you need to be compensated for? By your own account you didn't even have an anaphylactic reaction.

[Pigletion]

I think they are probably only required by law to list problems that effect a certain percentage of takers. Below that it is not listed. Again though, I really think it is something the prescribing doctor should walk you through,as they should be fully aware of the drug they are prescribing (and any side-effects etc.), not rely on an accompanying leaflet.

I really don't see how an allergy can be a side-effect though, as people can be allergic to anything. The range of foodstuffs that affect people adversely is huge, but you don't see warnings on tomatoes! (yes, I know someone who is allergic to tomatoes).

I really wouldn't worry about it, the amount of things that 'could' get you is huge. Now you know you have a problem, just make sure you know exactly what you're allergic to (it may not be penicillin itself) and that you know the appropriate treatment.

[Whickerman]

In all fairness it's not the company's fault that you are allergic to their drug. I am too, so it's as well you know about it. And guess what the only way to find out if you're allergic is? that's right - to take it and see.

That said - I would be amazed if there wasn't some wording to the effect "do not take if you are allergic to penicillin"

[mrs_overall]

Glpblondie - if you were only asking out of interest you should have said. Your question came across as if you were out for a fast buck! Anyway, my apologies if you felt I was having a pop at you.

[Ramsbottom]

The short answer is no. You are allergic to penicillin and that is no-ones fault, and certainly nothing that the pharmacetical company could do about it.

I also have to question why you were taking penicillin. Penicillin is an antibacterial drug and not a antiviral - taking penicillin would have no effect on the virus whatsoever. So you could theoretically have a case against your GP if they prescribed it for the virus alone.

[Pigletion]

I thought the same about taking penicillin for a virus, but assumed that there was an underlying reason or secondary effect...

[SMP]

Why were you given Penicillin for a virus? Antibiotics do not work on viruses'.

[pink-kittens]

I'm with MRs Overal on this one
I liked your analogy to, Mrs O - I have agluten intolorance, think I'll sue Warburtons for not putting a warning on the side of their packaging years ago =P
OP, it's been a while since I worked in a pharmacy so it may have been updated, but I seriously doubt the allergy warning came under the heading of side effects
Just ensure your GPO knows about your reaction and prescribes another type of anti b next time you have a virus

PS Change your gp too, because he obviously knows not a lot about viruses (and one wonders about everything else too) if he gives you anti b's for one!

[caththecrazy]

Oh I'm allergic to Penicillin too - a locum GP once prescribed it to me and I took it - was too ill to notice what it was - I wouldn't dream of suing either the company or the locum GP - just abit more careful now.

Just be thankful nothing happened

Not sure why you were interesterd in knowing that though - wouldn't have entered my head