Pfizer will pay $4.8 million to Canadian patients who tried to commit suicide after they were prescribed a drug used to treat seizures.
The class-action settlement applies to patients who took the seizure medication, Neurontin, prior to August 5, 2004.
Ontario Superior Court approved the settlement. $150,000 was awarded for death or injury and hospital admission due to a suicide attempt; $75,000 for an injury, which was treated in the Emergency Room; and $10,000 for an injury documented by a physician.
Pfizer admits no liability. Approximately $1.5 million for legal fees will come from the settlement sum.
Neurontin is an anti-convulsive drug, which the lawsuit alleged as commonly prescribed for other “off-label” or unapproved uses, resulting in an increased risk of suicidal behavior.
The lawsuit does not apply to patients who took the generic version, gabapentin.
For more information, feel free to contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
