Even governmental bodies don’t quite know what to do with it. Kratom is illegal in some states, legally regulated in others, and unregulated in others. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily banned the substance in 2016, but then reversed course a few months later. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate kratom, it has specifically warned Americans not to use it.

What Are the Uses of Kratom?

What is Acetaminophen?

Found in Tylenol, Midol, Nyquil and other medications, acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. In fact, it is the active ingredient in more than 600 pain relievers and fever reducers, according to Nature Reviews Endocrinology. Because NSAIDs like ibuprofen are generally not recommended in later pregnancy, acetaminophen is considered one of the only safe pain relievers for pregnant women. In the U.S., as many as 65% of pregnant women may use the drug.

The FDA now recognizes that people taking Uloric (febuxostat) have an increased risk of death compared to those taking another gout medication. And since Uloric was the best-selling gout drug at the time of the warning, a potentially large number of patients may have already been harmed.

How Does Uloric Work?

Invokana, Invokamet, and Invokamet XR are all used to treat type 2 diabetes and have since been linked to diabetic ketoacidosis and forced lower body amputations. The drug is a combination canagliflozin and metformin. Invokana was released by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and was approved by the FDA in 2013. Soon after patients began experiencing these potentially fatal side effects, leading to more clinical trials and legal claims against the pharmaceutical company.

Type 2 diabetes alters the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar. People diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have a ten-year shorter life expectancy, and an increased risk of heart disease, strokes, and lower body amputations. Independent studies on Invokana have linked the drug to further aggravating conditions such as bone fractures, diabetic ketoacidosis, heart attacks, kidney failure, and lower body amputations. Many of these were never listed as side effects on the drug label. The FDA eventually issued a black box warning, the strongest warning the FDA has the authority to issue. Doctors rushed to switch their patients’ medications after they learned of the risk, but for some it was too late. Injuries linked to the drug’s use has since led to defective drug lawsuits, alleging that the company actively concealed knowledge of the risks to the public. Janssen has still not pulled the drug from the market.

Here is a more detailed list of common serious side effects of Invokana and related drugs:

• Lower-Body Amputation: Clinical trials indicate that amputations were twice as likely for those taking the drug, and even higher for patients who had a previous amputation. Early signs of this include infections, pain, soreness, and tenderness in lower limbs.
• Ketoacidosis: Ketoacidosis develops when the body is unable produce sufficient insulin, forcing the body to break down fat as an alternative and generating ketones. Too many ketones in the blood can lead to comas or death.
• Fournier’s Gengrene: Invokana’s use of SLGT-2 inhibitors has been linked to these flesh-eating bacteria, more common in men. It affects the genitals and leads to tissue decay. If untreated this can be fatal. Note that the risk of Fournier’s is lower than the risk of amputations and ketoacidosis.

The FDA recommends that you contact your physician if you have taken Invokana, Invokamet or Invokamet XR and you have developed unusual pain in your lower body or other strange symptoms. It has stated that you should not stop taking the drug without conferring with your health care professional.

These suits can be filed individually or as part of a class action. We can help you determine the best way to proceed with your claim against Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

When a pharmaceutical company fails to keep a defective drug off the market or fails to disclose of the risks associated with the drug, it may be held liable for patient’s injuries. You are likely entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. There is a statute of limitations on these claims so contact us as soon as possible so we can ensure your claim is not dismissed. At Altman & Altman, we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week – including nights and weekends. To schedule a Free Initial Consultation with one of our dedicated Invokana attorneys, call us at 617.492.3000 or Contact Us Online. All Consultations are completely confidential. You will pay no fees unless we recover on your behalf.

For many years, Johnson & Johnson has claimed that their baby powder and other talc-based products are soothing and safe to use. Over 16,000 lawsuits – including the first large one of 2020 filed on behalf of the Attorney General of New Mexico – allege otherwise, saying the powders contain harmful elements such as asbestos that cause various types of cancer, including mesothelioma.

The New Mexico lawsuit, filed at the beginning of January, alleges that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers about the dangers of their products and misled consumers – particularly children, black women and Hispanic women – about the safety of using those products.

Many hernia mesh products have been recalled or withdrawn from the market by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to their high failure rates and high occurrence of painful side effects, such as:

• Damage caused by shrinking, degrading (oxidizing) or migrating mesh products
• Blockages to intestines
• Autoimmune reactions or total rejection of the mesh by the body
• Failure to prevent reoccurrence of the hernia
• Development of fistulas – which are irregular connections made between organs that are intended to stay separated
• Further organ tears or perforations as a result of the mesh

If you or a loved one experienced any of these types of incidents, you may be entitled to financial compensation, which can help offset the costs of resulting medical expenses, make up for lost wages due to being unable to work during extended recovery times, or to simply keep your mind at ease about not making money while you get back to normal.

What exactly is hernia mesh?

Hernia mesh is most often made from synthetic material – most commonly polypropylene – which is manmade material that, for decades, has been marketed as a safe choice that will not degrade or otherwise cause harm once it is inside the body. However, scientific studies have begun to show evidence on the contrary and Physiomesh, one of the leading brands of polypropylene mesh – made by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon – was withdrawn from the market in 2016 for this reason.

Hernia mesh is intended to reduce the frequency of reoccurrence of a hernia – which occur most often following an injury involving high levels of strain on the body. Hernias can happen to anybody, and for a number of reasons, including:

• Advancing age causing weakness in organs and muscles
• Lifting of heavy objects
• Intense coughing or sneezing fits
• Pregnancy
• Complications related to obesity
• Poor nutritional health
• Pre-existing connective tissue disorders

Corrective hernia surgeries can be accomplished with or without the use of hernia surgical mesh, but utilization of the mesh is supposed to reduce the frequency in which a hernia could be reaggravated by holding the repair in place and giving it time to adequately heal. Unfortunately, the mesh comes with its own risks attached – and those risks can be amplified if a doctor exercises negligent medical malpractice in its application or if the mesh isn’t properly treated before being placed, which can result in oxidation and degradation of the material, causing issues like those mentioned earlier.

Let Altman & Altman LLP handle your hernia mesh case

With over 50 years of experience, there is no law firm more capable of handling your hernia mesh case than Altman & Altman. We have helped our clients in Cambridge, the Greater Boston Area and throughout Massachusetts navigate some of the most complex and challenging cases involving every different type of injury imaginable – and we have no fear going up against the big corporations to achieve the results that you deserve.

We strive to provide excellent customer service and take the time to get to know you and the specific details of your case, so we can provide the most comprehensive legal representation possible and achieve the goals that you set for us.

If you or a loved one experienced complications following an application of surgical hernia mesh, call us for a free consultation today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24/7 to hear the details of your case.

According to the Reuters report, J&J explained away early findings that talc contained asbestos by calling those findings statistically insignificant. The company may have also performed product tests in a manner that avoided detection of the deadly mineral. A Boston personal injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been harmed by using talc-based products.

After J&J was ordered to turn over thousands of pages of internal reports, company emails, and other documents, Reuters discovered that the company knew its talc-based products had tested positive for asbestos starting as early as 1971, and leading up until the early 2000s. In addition to failing to inform regulators and the general public, J&J appears to have influenced government-led scientific research on the adverse health effects of talc.

Mesothelioma Isn’t Just for Construction Workers

Although most mesothelioma cases involve construction and mine workers who spent years working in close proximity to asbestos, multiple victims of mesothelioma linked to talc-based products have been awarded huge sums in recent years. Mesothelioma is a particularly-aggressive form of lung cancer. A MA personal injury attorney can help you recover damages if you’ve been harmed due to the negligence of J&J or any other manufacturer.

Even more victims and their families have filed lawsuits for ovarian cancer linked to talcum powder use. According to research, when women use talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, the talc particles can travel into the vagina and through the fallopian tubes, embedding in the ovaries. Once this occurs, the embedded particles can cause irritation and inflammation, and may eventually lead to cancer. African-American women have been disproportionately impacted by the negligence of J&J and other manufacturers of talc-based products.

Thousands of Lawsuits Pending Against J&J

Earlier in 2018, plaintiffs won a $4.69 billion verdict after proving that their ovarian cancer was caused by J&J products Shower to Shower and Baby Powder. J&J is currently facing thousands of similar lawsuits. Asbestos is a particularly dangerous substance because of its extremely long latency period. Men who haven’t worked around the mineral for 40 years are still being newly diagnosed with mesothelioma today. This means that women in their 60s who haven’t used talc products since their 20s and 30s could soon be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or other complications related to talc use more than 30 years ago.

Altman & Altman, LLP—Top Personal Injury Law Firm in MA

If you have been injured by another’s negligence, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of accident and injury victims for more than 50 years, and our experienced, knowledgeable attorneys have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients. We will thoroughly analyze the details of your case and will ensure that you fully understand your rights and options before moving forward. Don’t go through this difficult time alone, we can help. When huge companies like J&J put profits before the health and safety of customers, they should be held accountable. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.

]]> 473 https://www.druginjurylawyersblog.com/have-you-experienced-harmful-side-effects-from-zostavax/ Tue, 16 Oct 2018 18:19:39 +0000 https://www.druginjurylawyersblog.com/?p=471 Zostavax is an approved vaccination manufactured by Merck Co. Inc. utilized to prevent the contraction of the shingles virus, known as herpes zoster. However, the vaccine has been shown to cause possible serious side effects in those who take it, and has resulted in lawsuits and class action suits against the company for failure to warn of possible dangers associated with the vaccine. If you or a loved one has experienced harm following inoculation with the vaccine, contact Altman & Altman LLP today.

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster, although it is not known exactly why or how the virus – which goes dormant and resides in your body after healing from chickenpox – reoccurs as shingles in people over the age of 50. Regardless, shingles causes a painful rash in those afflicted, and can reoccur numerous times in those susceptible to it.

Symptoms associated with recognized side effects caused by the Zostavax vaccination include:

• Redness, pain, itching, swelling, hard lump, warmth, or bruising where the shot was given.
• Headache
• Allergic reactions, which may be serious and may include difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
• Contraction of chickenpox
• Fever
• Hives at the injection site
• Joint pain/muscle pain
• Nausea
• Rash on body, normally at the injection site
• Contraction of shingles
• Swollen glands near the injection site
• Guillain-Barré syndrome (muscle weakness, abnormal sensations, tingling in the arms, legs, and

upper body)

• Partial facial paralysis

However, these symptoms that are recognized by Merck are not the only symptoms that have been reported by those who have taken the Zostavax vaccine. In fact, there have been much more severe side effects noted that have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and prompted recent legal action against the company, including:

• Blindness or damage to eyesight, including necrotizing retinitis
• Paralysis
• Brain damage
• Death – at least 36 on record
• Gastrointestinal disorders

Reports of these severe side effects prompted the FDA to issue two black box warning changes to Zostavax labels. In February of 2017, the first lawsuit against Zostavax was filed in Philadelphia, claiming that Merck failed to warn people taking its vaccine about possible damage to vision and the ability for the vaccine – which utilizes a weakened form of the chickenpox virus – to actually cause shingles.

While we understand that no medical product will be completely free of risk and completely safe in 100 percent of all cases, there is an important burden of responsibility on manufacturers to exercise extreme diligence when they develop vaccinations and, perhaps more importantly, that they are upfront and truthful about all the potential negative consequences that could occur if someone is to be inoculated by that vaccine.

Further, vaccines are a product like anything else, and some may be manufactured better than others. It is entirely possible that one batch of vaccinations has a weakened virus that is just a fraction stronger than a previous batch, which could have serious consequences on someone who takes the vaccine. Again, this is where strict quality control and attention to safety on the part of the manufacturing company is essential to ensure that people remain healthy.

If you or a loved one received the Zostavax vaccination only to suffer severe negative side effects as a result, contact the Cambridge personal injury attorneys at Altman & Altman LLP today. We have over 50 years of experience advocating on behalf of our clients in Boston and elsewhere in Massachusetts who are victimized by the faulty products or unsafe medical products produced by pharmaceutical giants.

We will take the time to learn about your case and give you the most up-to-date and important legal advice, and give you the best shot at winning a lawsuit or receiving a sizable settlement. Contact us online or call for a free consultation to go over the details of your case today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199. We are available 24

What is Shingles?

Characterized by an extremely painful skin rash, shingles usually affects only one side of a person’s body. Anyone who has had chicken pox in the past is at risk of developing shingles, but those with weakened immune systems are most susceptible. This includes people who have cancer or HIV, are under significant stress, or are 50 and older. Most people first notice a tingly, burning, or itchy feeling before the rash appears. The rash, which can hang on for 30 days or more, often blisters before disappearing. The nerve pain associated with the disease can last for months.

Shingles can cause serious damage to the nervous system and may lead to dangerous conditions such as encephalitis, meningitis, and stroke. Some people have even died after developing secondary conditions such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and congestive heart failure. A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured due to a dangerous or defective drug.

What’s Wrong with the Zostavax Vaccine?

Zostavax contains a live dose of varicella zoster, the virus that is responsible for causing both chicken pox and shingles. If you’ve ever had chicken pox, the varicella zoster virus remains dormant in your body. If your immune system becomes compromised due to a health problem, or simply getting older, the virus may “come back to life” and cause a painful case of shingles. According to Merck, the weakened form of varicella zoster in its vaccination is intended to stimulate the immune system, thus keeping the virus in its dormant state and preventing the formation of shingles.

Unfortunately, in addition to being only about 51 percent effective at preventing shingles, the vaccine may actually cause the disease it is supposed to be preventing. Victims of Zostavax side effects and complications have filed lawsuits alleging that, among other things, the vaccination’s warnings fail to adequately warn of these risks. A MA drug injury attorney can help you recover damages if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of a drug manufacturer.

What Injuries are Linked to Zostavax?

In addition to alleging that Merck failed to warn the public of side effects linked to Zostavax, lawsuits also claim that patients treated with Zostavax suffered shingles, autoimmune diseases, blindness, hearing loss, nerve problems, spinal inflammation, and heart complications. Even more disturbing, some reports have linked Zostavax to death. Of the more than 1,100 serious adverse events reports related to the live shingles vaccine, 90 were for deaths.

Altman & Altman, LLP—Boston’s Premier Drug Injury Lawyers

If you have been injured due to the negligence of a pharmaceutical company, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of accident and injury victims for more than 50 years. When drug companies put profits before the health and safety of patients, they should be held accountable for their actions. Our experienced, knowledgeable attorneys have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients, and we will ensure that you fully understand your rights and options before moving forward. If the negligence of a drug company has caused you harm, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other associated costs. Don’t go through this difficult time alone, we can help. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of drugs that decrease the production of stomach acid. They are often used to treat ailments such as acid reflux and GERD.  Some of these drugs are over the counter while others require a prescription. Commonly known names include Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec, among others.

Some patients have experienced heart attacks, cancer, bone fractures, and damage to their kidneys after using PPIs. Unfortunately, not all potential injuries were listed on the drugs’ labels, even though the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that pharmaceutical manufacturers list any drug’s potential side effects. Patients have sued the manufacturers for their injuries, and as a result, some have received multi-million dollar settlements.

PPI Lawsuits Related to Kidney Damage Increase

Recently, there has been an increase in lawsuits claiming that PPIs cause kidney damage and, in some cases, kidney failure. Plaintiffs in these lawsuits claim that drug manufacturers have known about the kidney risks since at least 2004, but failed to warn patients of the risks until 2014.

A 2017 study that looked at 125,000 PPI patients over five years revealed that PPIs could lead to “silent kidney damage.” Specifically, one of the study’s researchers, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly stated that “[k]idney problems can develop silently and gradually over time, eroding kidney function and leading to long-term kidney damage or even renal failure.” Certain patients developed Chronic Kidney Disease even though they never had any sign of kidney trouble before using PPIs.

Yet another study suggested that long-term PPI users were 95 percent more likely to develop kidney failure. Even so, there continues to be zero warning on PPI labels about potential kidney damage. Dr. Al-Aly recommends that patients tell their doctors if they are taking PPIs and “and only use the drugs when necessary.”

Status of PPI Kidney Lawsuits

As of today, there are nearly 5,000 PPI lawsuits pending in the Federal Court system, but so far, none of these cases have gone to trial. The vast majority are against the manufacturers of Nexium and Prilosec. A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of a drug manufacturer.

In an effort to streamline the litigation, a panel of the federal judiciary recently combined PPI cases into a multi district litigation (MDL) in the Federal District Court of New Jersey.  Courts use this procedural tool to consolidate and streamline cases involving common facts and issues so that they can be resolved sooner. At the time the cases were consolidated in August, 2017, there were about 200. Now, that number has risen to almost 5,000. New cases may be added to the PPI MDL, regardless of where the patient resides.

The First Trial in the PPI Kidney Lawsuits has Been Scheduled

No PPI kidney case has yet gone to trial, but the first one is scheduled for September  21, 2020.  To date, there have been no significant settlements in any PPI-related kidney cases.  The results of the first substantial settlements will likely shape those in future cases, as both parties will get a sense of how effective their arguments are to a jury. A MA drug injury lawyer can help you recover damages if you’ve been injured due to the negligence of a drug manufacturer.

Altman & Altman, LLP—Boston’s Premier Drug Injury Law Firm

If you or someone you know has been harmed by PPIs, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of drug injury victims for more than 50 years. Our attorneys have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients, and we will ensure that you fully understand your rights and options before moving forward with any legal strategy. If you have been injured, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.