There is nothing more frightening than turning on the local news channel only to discover that the drug your doctor has prescribed for the past couple of years is on recall. One of the primary reasons why we take medicine is to help relieve pain from a medical condition -- not to make a medical problem worse.

What Happens Prior to a Drug Recall?

Usually before a drug is recalled, either by the drug company or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a patient may experience dangerous side effects within months or even years after use. When a cluster of people show similar harmful side effects, that's usually when the FDA steps in and orders drug manufacturers to remove a drug from the shelf.

Drug recalls are not limited to medication; recalls may also include medical equipment as well.  Examples of medical devices that were recalled in the past include the Shiley Heart Valve, Dalkon Shield and breast implants. Over the years, there have been many drugs that have been shown to have defects. Here are a few examples:

• Celebrex
• Vioxx
• Rezulin
• Benedectin
• DES

In the perfect world, the consumer would be top priority to drug companies. When a drug is found defective, it would be instantly removed from the market. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in the real world. Often times, defective drugs are not immediately recalled. It usually takes time before it's actually removed from the shelves.

In the meantime, the harmful defective drug or medical device is available for consumers to continue to purchase and risk getting sick or injured. There have been many reported cases where people have been exposed to medical problems, serious illnesses and even death.

Why Are So Many Defective Drugs in the Market?

Drug companies have established a reputation of rushing potentially harmful drugs to the market without sufficient testing just to make a quick profit. There have been cases where drug companies will actually keep drugs on the shelf after warnings from patients and doctors.

What to do When You’ve Been Exposed to a Defective Drug or Medical Device?

If you are suffering from dangerous side effects due to a drug recall, it takes a good Brooklyn lawyer represent you and fight for your rights. Depending on your individual case, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your injuries.