Drug Injury Lawyer Blog

JUDGE OKS CLAIMS OF STRICT LIABILITY AGAINST DRUGMAKER

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:15:46 -0500

A federal judge has opened a window for plaintiffs to make a claim for strict liability against prescription drugmakers on a manufacturing defect theory. Despite developing case law in the opposite direction, U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion of the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruled that Ryan Bergstresser could bring a manufacturing-defect claim against Bristol-Myers Squibb over its antipsychotic drug, Abilify. Bergstresser alleges he suffered from dystonia, which is characterized by involuntary muscle contractions, after his psychiatrist increased his dosage of the drug.

Liver Toxicity Risks with Samsca

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:22:29 -0500

On April 30, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued their second alert to patients and health care providers concerning the drug tolvaptan (SAMSCA). The warning had two main points: Tolvaptan use should be limited to no more than 30 days, and it should not be used at all in patients who have liver disease.

More Bad Press for Fresenius Medical

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:13:02 -0500

On March 14, 2013, Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), announced that it has received yet another reprimand from the FDA, indicating that the agency found that the company failed to properly study artificial kidneys being used in its dialysis machines. The letter is not a formal recall, but it comes in the wake of the mid-2012 GranuFlo and NaturaLyte dialysis product recalls. These products were recalled when it was revealed that there is a serious and high risk of sudden cardiac arrest or death due to elevated bicarbonate levels in these dialysis additives

Prolia May Cause Sudden Femur Fractures

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 16:48:30 -0500

Prolia, a drug used to treat osteoporosis, received FDA approval in June of 2010. Prolia is administered by injection every six months to postmenopausal women and to men, who have either low bone mass or osteoporosis, and are susceptible to fractures.

Heart Warning for Popular Z-Pack Antibiotic

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 09:07:17 -0500

The FDA issued a warning for the popular antibiotic (azithromycin) commonly known as a Z-Pack and sold under the brand names Zithromax and Zmax. This common antibiotic is widely used to treat sinus infections and bronchitis. In 2011 alone, there were over 50 million prescriptions for the Z-pack with sales in excess of 464 million dollars.

PBM Files First Cymbalta Personal Injury Suit

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:47:49 -0500

On March 5, 2013, Pogust Braslow & Millrood, LLC filed its first personal injury suit against Eli Lily and Company over Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms. The case, Carnes v. Eli Lilly and Co., was filed in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms can be severe, long-lasting, and debilitating. The complaint details that Mr. Carnes suffered from severe brain zaps and aggression, and alleges that the company should have known about the likelihood, extent, and severity of experiencing withdrawal symptoms and yet failed to adequately warn doctors and patients about the risk.

FDA recalls Johnson & Johnson Orthopedic Device

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:08:23 -0500

The Food and Drug Administration issued a Class 1 Recall of the orthopedic device known as the LPA Diaphyseal Sleeve. Manufactured by Depuy, Johnson & Johnson’s orthopedic unit, the LPA Diaphyseal Sleeve is used in reconstructive knee surgery.

Does Actos increase the risk for heart attacks?

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:10:52 -0500

A 2010 study, published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, found that the risk for heart attacks was the same for Actos as it was for Avandia. According to the study, patients taking Actos or Avandia were 4 percent more likely to experience heart attacks. The study included over 36,000 patients with an average age of 54. This study was conducted over 33 months, including 14 months of treatment on either medication. Among the patients, 602 Avandia users and 599 Actos users suffered a heart attack, heart failure, or died. Even more concerning, there were 217 deaths in each group. Despite these alarming numbers, some found the results of this study to be inconclusive.

Risk of Dementia from Benzodiazepine Use

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:16:41 -0500

Benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Ativan, Librium and Xanax (and their generic versions), have been around for a long time. They are the most popular drugs the world, selling an estimated $880 billion in 2011 alone. They are commonly prescribed for generalized anxiety and to help with insomnia. They also come with many dangerous known side effects, including the potential to cause drug-induced addiction.

Cymbalta Withdrawal: Affects Approximately Half of Users and Can be Both Severe and Persistent

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:15:18 -0500

Last month, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), an independent, non-profit FDA watchdog agency, issued its quarterly report, detailing the 90% increase in adverse events (AEs) reported to the FDA since 2008. Included in the report are findings from a specific investigation aimed at Cymbalta and withdrawal symptoms.

Keller Rohrback L.L.P., Keller Rohrback P.L.C., Pogust Braslow Millrood LLC and Deskin Law Firm, a PLC File a Class Action Lawsuit Against Eli Lilly and Company Regarding Cymbalta

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:29:33 -0500

Seattle, WA, October 31, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Attorney Advertisement Material. Keller Rohrback L.L.P., Keller Rohrback P.L.C., Pogust Braslow Millrood LLC and Deskin Law Firm, a PLC filed a class action lawsuit today against Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”) (NYSE:LLY). Lilly, an Indiana based pharmaceutical company, is the maker of Cymbalta. The class action complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, in Los Angeles, on behalf of all consumers who purchased Cymbalta at any time since the product’s launch in August 2004 to the present.

Meningitis Outbreak Linked to Steroid Injections

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 08:57:34 -0500

A rare outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections has sickened 119 and caused 11 deaths nationwide according to CNN. The FDA has linked the meningitis outbreak to a contaminated methylprednisolone acetate injection that is produced by the New England Compounding Center (NECC). This steroid injection, which is injected directly into the spine, is said to be contaminated with a potentially lethal fungus.

Mirena IUD has Significant Risks

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 16:24:46 -0500

The Mirena IUD (Intra-Uterine Device) was given FDA approval as a long acting form of birth control and for treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding. It is a T-shaped device that is inserted into a woman’s uterus in order to prevent fertilization. In addition, the device also releases a synthetic form of progesterone known as levonorgestrel, to stop a woman from producing and releasing an egg.

Dialysis Treatment Drugs Contributing to Patient Heart Attacks

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:07:59 -0500

Millions of patients suffering from kidney disease rely on dialysis and hemodialysis in order to have toxins removed from their body. Dialysis treatment is critical in keeping patients alive and assisting many who may be awaiting a life-saving kidney transplant. And critically important to this life-saving dialysis process is ensuring that the drug products given to dialysis patients neutralize the acid that builds up in their blood.

The Hidden and Deadly Risks of IVC Filters

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:22:15 -0500

Retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filters are a type of vascular filter that is implanted in the heart in order to help prevent life threatening pulmonary embolisms and can be removed when they are no longer necessary. According to the FDA, approximately 200,000 of these devices are implanted into patients each year – many of which – were either most likely not medically necessary in the first place or should have been removed when they were no longer necessary.