Representation Against Medicine That Puts You at Risk
When you fill your prescription, whether for high cholesterol, heart disease or family planning, you expect the pharmaceuticals will help you, not hurt you.
And yet, every week seems to bring a new discovery that a major drug that millions of people have been exposed to has serious side effects and can do more harm than good. Pharmaceutical companies seek to turn money spent on research and development of new drugs into profit from sales of that drug at pharmacies around the country and world.
But, the long-term effects of even common drugs can be hard to determine if you are on the fast track to the marketplace, and a medicine once thought safe can quickly be discovered to be dangerous.
The attorneys of The Tomes Law Firm have been involved in large class-action cases and pharmaceutical litigation against major drug companies involving drug recalls and defective drugs. If you think the medicine you have taken may have done more harm than good, contact us to discuss your pharmaceutical litigation case.
Pharmaceutical Litigation
Bextra
Our attorney was co-liaison counsel for the New Jersey Bextra litigation.
Bextra was a popular painkiller used by millions to relieve painful arthritis and other types of pain, and has been linked to deaths, heart attacks, strokes and Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a painful skin rash. If you or a loved one took Bextra and suffered a heart attack, stroke or Stevens-Johnson syndrome, you may be entitled to compensation.
Contact us to find out more information or discuss any side effects you may have experienced using Bextra.
Heparin
On December 8, 2006, Baxter International Inc., the manufacturer of the popular anticoagulant Heparin, along with the FDA, informed doctors that Heparin might be linked to thrombosis or blood clots in patients several weeks after they stop taking it.
The FDA has since revised the warnings section of the prescribing information for Heparin, because of the possibility of delayed onset of thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.
Digitek
On April 8, 2008, the FDA announced a nationwide recall of allots of Bertek and UDL Laboratories Digitek Tablets manufactured and distributed by Actavis and Mylan Pharmaceuticals. Digitek is used to treat abnormal heart rhythms and congestive heart failure. As a result of manufacturing defects, these tablets may contain up to twice the labeled dose of the drug. If ingested, the unsafe dosage could pose a serious risk of digitalis toxicity.
Digitalis toxicity is a potentially lethal illness that is common among people with kidney troubles, especially those with renal failure. Symptoms of digitalis toxicity include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, confusion, loss of appetite, low blood pressure, cardiac instability and irregular pulse, heart palpations, and bradycardia (slower than normal heartbeat rate). Vision changes such as seeing lights and bright colors, experiencing changes in color perception, and blurred vision can also occur. Consumers also experience decreased urine output and excessive nighttime urination, decreased consciousness, overall swelling, and difficulty breathing while lying down.
For more information, visit www.heparinfacts.com.
If you or a loved one recently stopped taking Heparin and have suffered blood clots or any other injury, contact us for a free evaluation with our lawyer.
Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
FDA warnings suggest that users of the Ortho Evra birth control patch are at a higher risk of blood clots, strokes and other serious side effects than previously disclosed. Manufacturer Ortho McNeil added a new warning to the patch in mid-November 2005 that says women using the patch will be exposed to about 60 percent more estrogen than those using typical birth control pills. Reports have indicated that users die and suffer blood clots at a rate three times higher than women taking other medication. More than 4 million women have used the patch since it went on sale in 2002.
Percocet, Vicodin and Tylenol Being Studied by the FDA
An advisory committee of The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussed acetaminophen use in both over-the-counter (OTC) products and prescription drugs and its potential threat for liver failure. They also discussed possible interventions to reduce the occurrence of liver injury due to acetaminophen overdoses. The advisory panel voted to recommend to the FDA that a ban on the use of popular prescription medications such as Vicodin and Percocet is now necessary.
A recall has not been placed on Vicodin, Percocet and five other prescription drugs by the Food and Drug Administration, but usually the FDA follows the recommendations of the advisory committee.
In a separate discussion, the FDA panel voted to restrict the maximum allowed dose of acetaminophen in over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Theraflu and NyQuil. This restriction would limit the OTC painkillers from 500 milligrams per dose to 325 milligrams. They also recommend that the maximum adult daily dosage equals less than 3,250 milligrams.
Acetaminophen overdose is one of the most common poisonings worldwide, and is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States. A study showed acetaminophen overdose accounted for 56,000 emergency room visits and 458 deaths. Acetaminophen is mostly metabolized by the liver and too much can overwhelm the normal functions of the liver leading to abnormalities or even liver failure and death. It may take up to 12 hours or more after taking a lethal overdose of acetaminophen to feel the symptoms.
Common symptoms are:
- Abdominal pain
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Appetite loss
- Diarrhea
- Irritability
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Sweating
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Dark urine
If someone shows these symptoms, call a doctor, poison control at 1-800-222-1222, or 911 immediately.
If treatment occurs within 8 hours of the overdose, there is a very good chance of recovery.
ALWAYS SEEK TREATMENT AT THE PROPER MEDICAL FACILITY.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of the Ortho Evra birth control Patch and would like further information, please contact us for a free consultation.
