Product Liability
May 29th, 2007 by Keith Tutera
What is Ephedra Ephedra (Chinese: ma huang) is an alkaloid chemical compound traditionally obtained from the plant Ephedra sinica, an Asian evergreen shrub. Its principal derivative, ephedrine, has many of the characteristics of an amphetamine and has been used as a decongestant and for temporary relief of shortness of breath caused by asthma, nasal decongestant, and minor eye irritation. In traditional Chinese medicine it is used for asthma, hay fever, and even the common cold.
Ephedra in its “natural” form is often sold as a major ingredient in dietary supplements. People have taken such dietary supplements containing ephedra in the hopes that it will boost energy, help them lose weight, or enhance their athletic performance.
What are the dangers of Ephedra? In April of 2004, Ephedra was banned by the FDA because it was found unsafe to use. The amphetamine-like stimulant, which speeds the heart rate and constricts blood vessels, has been found to produce the following adverse reactions in its users: strokes, heart attacks, vomiting, psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and change in mood, autonomic hyperactivity, palpitations, paranoid psychosis, depression, convulsions, coma, fever, vomiting, hypertension, seizures, respiratory depression and death. It has also been found to increase the risk of nausea 2-3 times more than a placebo.
Legal Issues Ephedra has now been linked to hundreds of deaths, including that of Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler. Many others suffer permanent injuries and require ongoing medical treatment.The liability resulting from lawsuits brought by the families of the men and women who have suffered deadly side effects from this terrible drug against companies like Metabolife who make products containing Ephedra has reached the tens of millions of dollars and is climbing fast.
Your Rights If you believe you’ve suffered cardiovascular problems or other harmful side effects due to Ephedra, you may be entitled to damages. To determine your rights, you should contact a personal injury attorney specializing in Ephedra related cases. You can search the LawGuru Attorney Directoryfor a personal injury lawyer in your area. Or, if you have additional questions about Ephedra and your situation, you can ask a free question of the LawGuru Attorney Network in our Knowledge Base.
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May 29th, 2007 by LawGuru Staff
What is Paxil?Paxil, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is one of several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) on the market. Paxil is prescribed for depression, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. The idea behind Paxil is that it increases levels of serotonin in the spaces between brain cells thereby allowing more efficient transmission of electrical signals to the brain, which result in a patient’s increased sense of mental happiness.
What are the dangers of Paxil?Several studies have found that SSRI drugs have serious side effects, but that Paxil has a greater risk of side effects than other SSRIs. Paxil has been the subject of FDA warnings on suicide in children and adolescents and for the danger of birth defects. A recent study has even attributed a new form of birth defect to Paxil.The list of side effects that have been found to be associated with Paxil are incredibly numerous. Some of the most common are: restlessness, irregular heartbeat, sweating, depression, anxiety, muscle pain, irritability, irregular orgasm, aggression, and suicidal attempts. It has also been discovered that Paxil and other SSRIs can cause a condition called akathisia (severe inner restlessness) that in turn is associated with suicidal tendencies, as evidenced by its inclusion into American Psychiatric Association’s bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM IV.
Legal IssuesGlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been sued not only by individuals seeking personal injury claims, but also by the state of New York, which alleged that the company concertedly hid studies that reflect badly on the drug and furthermore has accused Glaxo officials of misrepresenting data. New York’s attorney general Eliot Spitzer has taken the case to the New York Supreme Court.The liability resulting from lawsuits brought by the families of the men and women who have suffered deadly side effects from Paxil has reached the tens of millions of dollars.
Your RightsIf you believe you’ve suffered any of the aforementioned harmful side effects due to Paxil, you may be entitled to damages. To determine your rights, you should contact a personal injury attorney specializing in Paxil related cases. You can search the LawGuru Attorney Directory for a personal injury lawyer in your area. Or, if you have additional questions about Paxil and your situation, you can ask a free question of the LawGuru Attorney Network in our Knowledge Base.
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May 29th, 2007 by LawGuru Staff
What is Vioxx?Vioxx, generic name rofecoxib, is a COX-2 selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Vioxx is a prescription medicine prescribed primarily to reduce acute pain in adults, inflammation and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis, painful menstrual cycles, rheumatoid arthritis and certain forms of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and to treat migraines.
What are the dangers of Vioxx?On October 1, 2004 Vioxx was voluntarily taken off the market in the largest prescription drug withdrawal in history. A study found it doubled the risk of having heart attack or stroke. Moreover, Vioxx has also been linked with several other deadly side effects, including nonbacterial meningitis, kidney damage, severe intestinal damage, angina, ulcerations, internal bleeding blood clots, and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), a fatal skin disease.
Legal IssuesThe first Vioxx-related personal injury lawsuit against Merck ended on Aug. 19, 2005, when a Texas jury found Merck liable for the 2001 death of a man who had taken the medication and awarded $253.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages to his widow.Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against Merck. Several scientists testifying before the Senate Finance Committee provided substantial evidence that the drug company Merck and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) knew of dangerous safety concerns years before the drug Vioxx was withdrawn from the market. A large ripple effect has ocurred, as many no longer trust the FDA, believing that the FDA has gotten too close to drug companies and are unable to act on behalf of the public at large.The liability resulting from lawsuits brought by the families of the men and women who have suffered deadly side effects from this terrible drug has reached several hundred million dollars.
If you believe you’ve suffered cardiovascular problems or other harmful side effects due to Vioxx, you may be entitled to damages. You can look for an attorney here:
Your Rights If you believe you’ve suffered cardiovascular problems or other harmful side effects due to Vioxx, you may be entitled to damages. To determine your rights, you should contact a personal injury attorney specializing in Vioxx related cases. You can search the LawGuru Attorney Directoryfor a personal injury lawyer in your area. Or, if you have additional questions about Vioxx and your situation, you can ask a free question of the LawGuru Attorney Network in our Knowledge Base.
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