Parker, Waichman, Alonso LLP

Home » Topics » Diseases » Status Epilepticus

Status Epilepticus

Neurontin has been linked to the Status epilepticus, a neurological disorder associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Status epilepticus is technically defined as two or more sequential seizures without full recovery of consciousness between seizures, or more than 30 minutes of continuous seizure activity. Many believe that a shorter period of seizure activity causes neuronal injury and that seizure self-termination is unlikely after 5 minutes; some suggest times as brief as 4-5 minutes to define status epilepticus.

Less than 50% of individuals with status epilepticus have a history of Epilepsy, in fact only 15% of epileptics will have status epilepticus. Status epilepticus can be convulsive (tonic-clonic or myoclonic seizures) or non-convulsive (absence or complex partial seizures). A person in non-convulsive status epilepticus may appear confused or dazed.

As part of a settlement with the U.S. Government, Pfizer unit Warner-Lambert admitted that it aggressively marketed Neurontin through illicit means for unapproved conditions including bipolar disorder, pain, migraine headaches, and drug and alcohol withdrawal. Pfizer also agreed to plead guilty to two felonies and pay $430 million in penalties to settle charges that it fraudulently promoted the drug Neurontin for a string of unapproved uses.

If you or a loved one has taken Neurontin and been diagnosed with status epilepticus, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by a qualified defective drug attorney.