Below is a list of pharmaceuticals that are currently being litigated. If you or a loved one has had an adverse effect from any medication we recommned that you contact an attorney immediately to discuss any possible claims you may be entitled to pursue.
Paroxetine is a SSRI antidepressant that GSK began marketing as Paxil in 1992. Paxil is used to treat major depression, OCD, panic, social, & generalized anxiety disorders in adults. Annual sales average $2.7 billion with more than 19.7 million prescriptions filled annually. If taken during pregnancy, Paxil has the potential to influence fetal development, resulting in congenital birth defects in newborns, and withdrawal symptoms that torment babies for days, weeks, or years after birth.
Zoloft (Sertraline) Birth Defect Litigation
Similar to Paxil, Sertraline, marketed as Zoloft, is also a SSRI antidepressant that Pfizer began marketing in 1991. Zoloft is also used to treat major depression, OCD, panic, social, & generalized anxiety disorders. In 2007, Zoloft was the most prescribed antidepressant in the U.S. with more than 29.7Mil prescriptions being filled. A number of congenital birth defects including PPHN, septal holes, limb reduction, omphalocele, and other heart defects have been associated with the SSRI's use during pregnancy.
Surgical mesh is a medical device that is generally used to repair weakened or damaged tissue. It is made from porous absorbable or non-absorbable synthetic material or absorbable biologic material. In urogynecologic procedures, surgical mesh is permanently implanted to reinforce the weakened vaginal wall to repair pelvic organ prolapse or to support the urethra to treat urinary incontinence.
Rosiglitazone, marketed as Avandia by GlaxoSmithKline, is an anti-diabetic drug used to treat diabetes type 2. Millions of patients were exposed to Avandia from 1999-2009 and it is estimated that more than 60,000 heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular injuries were associated with the drugs ingestion . Most of these events occurred during a period of time when GSK was aware that the company’s own research demonstrated a hazard for the drug, but they failed to warn physicians or patients.
The acne treatment medication Accutane has been on the market since 1982. Manufactured by Hoffman-LaRoche, Accutane was marketed generically under several different names including Isotrentinoin. In 2009 the drug was pulled from market after clinical evidence linked Accutane usage to three types of bowel disease: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Crohn's Disease, and Ulcerative Colitis. Accutane use during pregnancy, specifically the first trimester, has also been linked to certain birth defects similar to that which is cause by Paxil, Zoloft, and other SSRI antidepressants.
Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to Asbestos. Most people who develop Mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos and glass particles, or they have been exposed to Asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with Asbestos or glass can put a person at risk for developing Mesothelioma.
Gadolinium MRI dyes may increase the risk of a rare, but serious, disease called Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) in people with severe kidney failure, or renal insufficiency. Gadolinium NSF triggers thickening of the skin, organs, and other tissues. There is no effective treatment for this serious, debilitating disease.Typically, the body breaks down the Gadolinium dye and expels it relatively quickly and easily. However, Gadolinium in patients that are suffering from renal failure, or any kidney-related medical condition, will have difficulty clearing the Gadolinium from their systems which results in a Gadolinium toxicity from the metal accumulating in skin and tissue, causing initial symptoms such as burning sensations, dark patches on the skin, pain and stiffness in the joints and hardening of the skin. Full List of Gadolinium Side Effects & Conditions.
In August 2010, DePuy Orthopedics Inc. announced a recall of the ASR XL Acetubular Hip System and the DePuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System after a significant number of patients who had received the implants required subsequent hip replacement surgeries. The metal-on-metal bearing design can generate debris that causes inflammation of surrounding tissues. The patient who has received a DePuy Hip Implant may experience pain, swelling, and difficulty walking.
Levofloxacin is an antibiotic used to treat severe or life-threatening bacterial infections, or bacterial infections that have failed to respond to other antibiotics. Levaquin is sold under various brand names including Tavanic, Oftaquix, Quixin and Iquix. In 2004, the FDA requested new warning labels to be added, regarding peripheral neuropathy (irreversible nerve damage), tendon and ligament damage, heart problems, Pseudomembranous colitis, Rhabdomyolysis, and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.
Yasmin, which is marketed as Yaz and Beyaz by Bayer, is one of the most popular contraceptives in the U.S. Yaz is promoted to treat PMS and PMDD. Serious side effects of Yaz birth control include blood clots, stroke, and heart attack along with gall bladder disease. Pancreatitis has also been linked to women using the birth control. Yasmin contains a newer type of synthetic progestin called drospirenone. Neither the FDA, nor the manufacturer, has issued a recall and it still remains one of the most popular birth control pills on the market.
If you have taken any medication and, as a result, you have sustained serious and permanent health problems please contact The Schlueter Law Firm for a review of possible recovery options at 314-227-2425.
mike@schlueterlaw.com
