Diabetes Drug Possibly Linked to Bone Fractures
Another diabetes drug has recently been linked to adverse side effects--specifically, bone fractures. The group of drugs prescribed to treat Type 2 Diabetes, thiazolidinediones, was introduced in the 1990's and has been associated with bone fractures in over 1,800 patients over the age of 40 who had been prescribed the drug at least once. The increased risk of bone fracture was noted in a study conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in an examination of the medical records of over 6 million patients registered at general practices in the UK. The fact that older people, in general, are at greater risk of bone fracture was taken into consideration; nonetheless, in the group of patients over 40, nearly 1.5 as many fractures occurred when taking thiazolidinediones than patients over 40 not taking these drugs. Both men and women were affected, and the fracture sites were not confined to one area of the body. The study also found that the longer the drug was taken, the number of incidents of fractures increased. The researchers do concede that as with any study there could be other sources because the study was observational and not a "randomized trial." However, the findings should be investigated further because of the ongoing debate regarding the safety of these diabetes drugs. If you suffer from Type 2 Diabetes and are taking a drug in the class known as thiazolidinediones, you should consult your physician to see if the drug should be substituted with another drug not associated with adverse effects. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a dangerous drug, please contact an experienced pharmaceutical litigation attorney in your area today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Children's Tylenol Products
A voluntary recall has been initiated by Johnson & Johnson for 21 different Tylenol children's products after it was discovered that they may potentially be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
The following products have been recalled:
- Children's Tylenol Cold MS Suspension 4 oz. Grape
- Children's Tylenol Plus Cough & Runny Nose 4 oz. Cherry
- Infant's Tylenol Suspension Drop 1 oz. Grape
The pharmaceutical company announced that B. cepacia bacteria were discovered in some of the unused raw material for an inactive ingredient in these products. While no bacteria were detected in the finished product, the children's medicines were recalled as a precautionary measure.
Currently, there have not been any reports of children getting sick, and Johnson & Johnson stated it is unlikely that any serious medical conditions will develop from the use of these defective products.
All recalled products were manufactured between April and June 2008. The recall only covers liquid Tylenol products.
Consumers can call 1-800-962-5357 to learn more about the Tylenol recall. A full list of lot numbers for recalled products can be found on the Tylenol website. You can locate the lot number on the sticker lining the side of the bottle.
If your child has developed a serious medical injury from taking one of these defective Tylenol products, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages. It is important to consult an experienced defective drug lawyer at once to find out if you have a valid pharmaceutical injury claim.
If you have a Tylenol injury lawsuit in the Columbus, Ohio area, please contact the Columbus personal injury law office of Robert W. Kerpsack today to schedule your initial consultation.
FDA Sends Warning Letter to Bayer about Problems with Yaz and Yasmin Production
Last month, the FDA issued a warning letter to Bayer, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin, detailing several problems at a plant in Germany which produces drospirenone, one of the active ingredients in these products. The FDA released the letter to the general public on their website last week.
The accusations against Bayer indicate that the company has not adhered to good manufacturing practices which should have prevented the shipment of several batches of the product to the United States. The letter alleges that Bayer hid the results of several tests which indicated some batches of the drug did not meet company specifications.
According to the FDA, Bayer took out-of-specification (OOS) test results and mixed them in with good test results, reporting the average of the two groups instead of reporting the instances where a batch did not meet proper quality standards. As a result, Bayer was able to release OOS batches to the general public that should have never reached the United States.
The FDA has ordered Bayer to produce a list of all active ingredient batches shipped to the United States that contained OOS test results in preparation for a potential Yaz and Yasmin recall. The pharmaceutical company has also been ordered to generate a plan to bring its manufacturing practices up to standards dictated by the FDA.
This is not the first time problems have been reported with Yaz and Yasmin. Bayer currently faces more than 50 defective drug lawsuits related to these birth control products which claim the pharmaceutical company failed to properly warn consumers about side effects that may result in:
- Heart attacks
- Stroke
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolism
- Gallbladder disease
- Death
It is expected that many more pharmaceutical injury lawsuits will be filed in the near future. If you have developed a serious illness or injury from taking Yaz or Yasmin, an experienced defective drug lawyer can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you have a Yaz or Yasmin claim in the Norfolk, Virginia area, please contact the Virginia pharmaceutical injury lawyers at Kalfus & Nachman today to schedule your complimentary initial consultation.
Labels: defective pharmaceutical, Yaz/Yasmin
Spinal Cord Injury Prevents Phil Collins from Ever Drumming Again
Phil Collins has recently announced that due to a severe spinal cord injury, he will never be able to play the drums again. The 58-year-old lead singer and drummer for the British rock band Genesis has been playing the drums for more than 50 years. In his statement, he expressed a deep sadness over his inability to play drums, but he assured his fans that he will still be able to sing.
Due to the position he sits in while playing the drums, Collins has developed a condition that causes his vertebrae to crush his spinal cord. The condition has deteriorated to the point where he cannot even hold his drum sticks without experiencing severe pain.
In recent years, Collins has been taping his drum sticks to his hands in order to make it through a set. However, even this solution continues to cause him pain, and after serious deliberation, he has decided to put his health first, forcing him to set down his drum sticks once and for all.
Collins first gained notoriety in the early 1970's as the drummer for the British rock band, Genesis. When their original lead singer, Peter Gabriel, left the band in 1975, Collins stepped in to fill the void. Several years later, he launched a successful solo career. However, he has always remained a part of Genesis, carefully balancing his solo career with his obligations to the band which catapulted his career almost 40 years ago.
Due to the severe debilitating pain caused by spinal cord injuries, victims are often forced to endure serious financial hardships resulting from large medical bills and extended periods of time away from work. If you have suffered a spinal cord injury caused by the negligent actions of another, it is important to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer at once. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your damages.
If you have a spinal cord injury claim in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, please contact the experienced Oklahoma spinal cord injury lawyers at Stipe, Harper, Laizure, Uselton, Belote, Maxcey & Thetford today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Labels: spinal injury
Toyota Charged with Hiding Evidence in Rollover Lawsuits
Dimitrios P. Biller, a former attorney for Toyota, has filed a lawsuit against the auto manufacturer, accusing the company of illegally withholding evidence in auto accident lawsuits related to SUV rollover injuries and deaths.
Biller has accused Toyota of intentionally hiding evidence in an attempt to keep structural shortcomings of Toyota vehicles from becoming known. Biller worked for Toyota from 2003 to 2007. During that time, he defended the company in SUV rollover lawsuits alleging that injuries and deaths in auto accidents occurred as a result of defective automobiles, particularly stemming from instability and weak roofs on Toyota SUVs and pickup trucks.
Biller's claim against Toyota charges that in several lawsuits filed in Colorado and Texas, Toyota failed to disclose emails mandated by court orders. Biller attempted to collect design and test data after the company failed to produce this information in court. However, he claims Toyota's engineering unit was "allowed to destroy relevant information and documents that should have been produced in, approximately, over 300 rollover accidents involving roof crush issues."
Due to the high risk of serious personal injury and even death in SUV rollover accidents, it is important to hold auto manufacturers responsible when poorly designed autos result in massive medical bills and lost quality of life. An experienced defective automobile attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
If you live in the Denver, Colorado area and have been injured in an accident caused by a defective automobile, please contact the Denver defective product attorneys at Burg, Simpson, Eldredge, Hersh & Jardine, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Labels: auto accident, defective automobile, SUV rollover
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