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Mental conditions such as anxiety disorders and depression affect a large portion of the population. About 26 percent of Americans over the age of 18 suffer from a mental disorder. A rise in usage of mental-health drugs can increase the number of personal injury conditions from side effects of these drugs. These drugs can range from SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Paxil, Zoloft and Prozac to tranquilizers such as Valium (Diazepam) to Xanax.
Mental-health drugs like Xanex and Prozac do have their purpose to aid people that suffer from mental disorders. But our personal injury lawyers in San Diego know from experience that benefits of the drugs that are meant to treat these problems also come with side effects and personal injury conditions.
Schizophrenia and dementia (a decline in thinking functions) are conditions many suffer from. The number of seniors getting medical treatment in the form of drugs has doubled from 1996 to 2006. Overall, prescriptions for Americans increased 73 percent and prescriptions for children rose 50 percent over the 10-year period.
One reason for the increase could be that patients with mental disorders prefer psychiatric drugs to psychological therapies such as seeing a therapist. The increase in drug usage could lead to the possibility of more patients being vulnerable to personal injury conditions from side effects.
How many people taking some or any of these strong drugs read the warning labels, do not mix drugs, or even combine these drugs with alchohol?
For example, two of the more extreme side effects of Xanex are jaundice, a liver condition, and ataxia, a neurological condition resulting in lack of coordination and muscle movements. These personal injury conditions have the possibility to become fatal if those problems are not corrected.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and personal injuries resulting in emotional trauma can lead to these conditions. As personal injury lawyers, however, we urge patients considering treatments to make sure you get all of the information on side effects before they result in a permanent personal injury condition.
“DUI” means not only driving a car under the influence of alcohol, but also with any drug that affects a person’s ability to perceive, react and drive any vehicle safely. Our firm’s San Diego personal injury lawyers feel the need to express this to everyone in hopes of preventing DUI accidents from happening due to drug use behind the wheel.
Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney and find out how we can help you. We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case. No fee if no recovery.
SENIOR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY & FIRM FOUNDER
Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1987. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes how insurance companies work and how they decide how much to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael’s inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents. Learn more about Michael Pines