Category Archives: Pharmaceuticals
Study Finds Plavix May Only Benefit Smokers
An emerging study finds that blood thinner Plavix may only benefit smokers. Plavix (clopidogrel) is prescribed for the prevention of blood clots and heart attacks, and has been linked to serious side effects, including the heart attacks and strokes it is supposed to prevent, gastrointestinal and cerebral bleeding, bleeding ulcers, ...
FDA Safety Warning for Bone Graft Products in Patients Under 18
FDA issued safety alerts to patients, parents & guardians, bone graft devices w/recombinant proteins or synthetic peptides not to be the first treatment for 18 & under.
Another Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Lawsuit Filed in DePuy ASR Hip Implant Litigation
A vital food safety program was saved from budget cuts this week, enabling the country’s largest—although considered by experts to be far too small—produce-safety testing program to continue.
Toxic Nano-Particles from Failing Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements May Pose Long-Term Health Risks
According to a new study, failing metal-on-metal hip implants generate toxic nano-particles that release Cobalt 2+ ions, which not only cause inflammation in surrounding tissue, but have the potential to cause long-term damage to the genetic material of cells. According to a report published by Medicalxpress.com, this “genotoxicity” could ...
Scientist Calls for Federal Regulations for Fracking Pollution
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) drilling should be governed by federal regulations because its pollution has no awareness of state boundaries.
Stryker Issues Voluntary Recall for Rejuvenate Modular and ABG II Hip Implant Components
Stryker Orthopedics is recalling two metal-on-metal hip implant components, its Rejuvenate Modular and ABG II modular-neck hip stems. According to a notice posted on Stryker’s website, risks associated with the Rejuvenate Modular and ABG II modular-neck hip stems include the potential for fretting and/or corrosion at or about ...
First DePuy ASR Hip Implant Lawsuits Head to Trial in December, January
The first trials involving lawsuits filed against DePuy Orthopaedics by recipients of its recalled ASR Hip Implants will begin later this year, and early next year. The first is slated to start on December 3, 2012 in state court in Las Vegas, Nevada. A second DePuy ASR hip implant lawsuit ...
Study Finds SSRI Antidepressant Side Effects Outweigh Their Benefits
A new study is raising more concerns about the safety of commonly used antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake (SSRI) inhibitor antidepressants. Investigators who conducted the study, which is published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, posit that increased knowledge of the negative effects of SSRIs and other antidepressants could reduce ...
Canadian Study Finds Actos Raises Bladder Cancer Risk by 22 Percent
Yet another study is confirming the association between the diabetes drug, Actos, and bladder cancer. This latest research, published today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that taking Actos raised the risk of bladder cancer among diabetics by about one-fifth.
Failing DePuy ASR Hip Implants Sending Hundreds of Australians Back to the OR
Roughly 1,000 people in Australia have had to undergo revision surgeries because of failed DePuy ASR hip implants. According to TheAge.com, DePuy Orthopaedics has heard from more than 4,000 people in Australia and New Zealand seeking help with the recalled metal-on-metal hip replacement devices.Soliris Vaccination Raises Risk for Meningococcal Disease
People who have received eculizumab (brand name Soliris) are at high risk (1,000 to 2,000-fold greater), for invasive meningococcal disease compared to the general United States population. Life-threatening and fatal infections have occurred in some patients treated with Soliris. These … Continue reading
Propecia-Related Sexual Dysfunction Linked to Depression
The active ingredient in Propecia is finasteride, known to effectively block the hormone responsible for male pattern baldness, a common genetic form of hair loss. However, a number of studies suggest it may also have damaging effects on a man’s … Continue reading
FDA Warning Letters for Bodybuilding Products Containing Steroid-Like Substances
On June 20, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted warning letters to Flex Fitness/Big Dan’s Fitness, AndroPharm, and Hardcore Formulations for illegally marketing products labeled as containing steroid and steroid-like substances and promoted to increase muscle mass and strength. The products are … Continue reading
Another Try for MDL for PPI Lawsuits – Kidney Damage Allegations
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid are drugs used in the treatment of acid reflux or heartburn. Plaintiffs have filed lawsuits alleging that these medications caused kidney injuries and have filed a motion to consolidate 172 … Continue reading
More Than 400 Cases in Viagra-Melanoma Multidistrict Litigation
As of May 15, 2017, 428 men are plaintiffs in a Viagra (sildenafil) multidistrict product liability litigation in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The suit alleges that the “little blue pill,” manufactured by Pfizer, is connected … Continue reading
Pancreatitis Risk for Some Patients Taking Viberzi
Viberzi (eluxadoline), a drug to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) has drawn a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the deaths of two patients. The patients who died did not have their gallbladders and … Continue reading
Xarelto Manufacturer Leads Spending for Physicians’ Favor
The public-interest news organization ProPublica issued a new report that indicates manufacturers spent more in 2015 on physician payments for Xarelto than any other drug. These payments were not for research, but for things like consulting, meals, travel, promotional speaking, … Continue reading
Risperdal Litigation is Second Largest Mass Tort in Philadelphia
Mass Tort Contains Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuits Lawsuits alleging the antipsychotic drug Risperdal caused gynecomastia continue to mount against Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit. In fact, Risperdal litigation accounts for most of the mass tort growth in Philadelphia’s Complex Litigation Center. … Continue reading
Lawsuits Allege Abilify Caused Impulse-Control Problems
Abilify Lawsuits Allege Gambling Addiction, Compulsive Behaviors Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals are facing lawsuits alleging that the antipsychotic medication Abilify caused impulse-control problems, including pathological gambling. Litigation continues to mount as cases are consolidated into a federal multidistrict litigation … Continue reading
Serious Brain Side Effects of Dilantin
Epilepsy patients who take the drug Dilantin to control seizures could experience a variety of side effects, including atrophy of the cerebellum, an area of the brain important to the control of movement and coordination. Posture, balance, coordination and speech … Continue reading
