Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

The H1N1 vaccine is doing more, and less, than it’s supposed to. According to reports from both ABC News and MSNBC.com, the swine flu vaccine is not always providing the necessary safeguard against the swine flu, and is even ladling some users with unwanted side effects in the form of allergic reactions.

An ABCNews.com report has revealed that a batch of the H1N1 vaccine has been recalled in Canada. Its maker, U.K.-based GlaxoSmithKline, has recalled the vaccine because it has caused at least six known cases of severe allergic reaction in its users. So far, 170,000 doses of the vaccine have been recalled in Canada. Although reports claim that this side effect is limited to the vaccine distributed in Canada, it has yet to be seen whether or not other users in different locations are also affected by this defect. A total of 7.5 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed in Canada thus far.

MSNBC.com reports a completely different issue, this time one that has affected children. According to the article, over 800,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine have been recalled by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine’s division of France-based pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis Group. It has been determined that these particular doses of the vaccine are ineffective in preventing the onset of swine flu, thus putting children inoculated with the vaccine at risk of contracting the illness. The doses in question have minimal to no potency, and were distributed amongst children.

Continue reading "H1N1 Vaccine Recall Reveals Vaccine Doesn't Always Deliver as Promised" »

In what many people are referring to as “long overdue”, the FDA has recently announced its new program called “The Safe Use Initiative” to help lower wide-ranging problems associated with drug dose errors. According to a latimes.com report, the problem of drug dosage error takes a staggering toll on consumer and patient health in addition to costing about $4 billion a year. In fact, based on a study by the Institute of Medicine in 2007, approximately 1.5 million preventable “adverse drug events” take place in the United States every year. With this information in mind, it is no wonder that the Food and Drug Administration is calling on doctors, consumers, and various other healthcare professionals to help in identifying drugs and circumstances that may be particular problems.

In its efforts to lower the deaths and severe health problems brought about by misuses of medication, the FDA adverse event reporting system and the organization as a whole are trying to determine the most serious threats, dangers, and risks, and find ways to prevent them from happening. The agency is supposed to hold public hearings to gather information pertaining to the following drug concerns:

• Overuse of acetaminophen (a pain reliever that can cause liver damage if too much is taken)


• Information given to patients (i.e. package inserts, labels and instructions that pharmacists distribute when giving prescriptions)


• Ways to lower dosage errors in liquid medications by including a spoon or cup to accurately regulate a dosage

Continue reading "FDA Launches "Safe Use Initiative" to Lower Drug Dosage Errors" »

After suffering a stroke and additional related health problems, a 39-year-old Newark woman has filed a suit against Bayer Corp., the makers of the popular birth control product, Yaz. According to an insidebayarea.com article, the woman took Yaz, a prescription-only product, for four weeks in the summer of 2007 to help reduce premenstrual pains, which is one of Yaz’s advertised uses. She then suffered a stroke that resulted in six months of hospitalization.

In attributing her health problems to using Yaz, the woman had part of her skull temporarily removed, due to excessive swelling of her brain, until the affected portion of her skull was later replaced. The woman’s attorney stated that she also suffered a reduced IQ and is now close to being mentally handicapped in addition to experiencing a drastic change in her speech and mood.

Although Yaz is one of the most popular birth controls used in the world, it has been at the forefront of much debate and criticism for presenting additional health risks not associated with other birth-control pills. The woman in the aforementioned case and over 100 others have filed suit against Yaz’s maker, Bayer Corp.

Continue reading "39-Year-Old Woman Files Lawsuit against Makers of Yaz" »

Even though the FDA has not issued a recall of popular birth control pills Yaz and Yasmin as of September 2009, it is understandable for many consumers to have various questions of concern regarding the serious medical conditions that can result from taking these medications. One of the main questions refers to what kinds of dangers are linked to Yaz and Yasmin.

First of all, both Yaz and Yasmin contain a type of hormone that most birth control pills do not contain. Drospirenone (DRSP) has been linked to be the cause of increasing a woman’s potassium levels, which can create health problems for a woman who has liver, adrenal, or kidney disease. There have also been multiple incidents of Yaz and Yasmin increasing the chances of a woman suffering deep vein thrombosis (blood clot), stroke, heart attack, and other serious medical issues.

Another major question that consumers have been asking is whether studies have been conducted to support claims that Yaz and Yasmin can inflict serious injury. One study performed in the Netherlands discovered that all birth control pills raise the risk of blot clots by five times. What is more shocking, however, is that due to containing DRSP, Yaz and Yasmin have been shown to increase the risk by 6.3 times. In recognizing these dangerous Yaz side effects, the FDA issued a letter of warning to Bayer, the drugs’ manufacturer, regarding questionable results from tests for key ingredients in the pills and said that many batches of the oral contraceptive should never have been given to the public.

Continue reading "Yaz and Yasmin Questions of Concern for Consumers" »

Brookstone Pharmaceuticals has issued a voluntary recall of all lots of its Concentrated
Acetaminophen Drops that come in 16-ounce bulk containers. According to a consumer safety alert issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the 16-ounce container is comparable to the size normally used to package regular strength acetaminophen liquid preparations. This aspect of the product combined with the absence of an integrated dosage delivery device could possibly contribute to dosing errors or inadvertent overdosing.

Overdosing on acetaminophen can cause a variety of complications including liver toxicity, kidney damage and blood disorders. The recalled drops were manufactured by Pharmaceutical Associates Inc. Consumers and those who have this unsafe product in their possession are asked to stop using it right away.

Drug makers, pharmacists and doctors have a duty to make sure that the medications they prescribe do not cause their patients injury or harm. Some drugs have dangerous side effects that can sometimes leave patients with long-term or lifelong damage. In some cases, mislabeling of drugs can cause dosage errors, which can also result in serious personal injury or death.

Continue reading "Brookstone Recalls Acetaminophen Drops Because of Overdosing Hazards" »

In a country in which more than 22 million Americans (7.7% of the country’s population) suffer from asthma, and 10-30 percent of adults and 40 percent of children suffer from allergic rhinitis, it is no surprise that asthma and allergy medications are widely used by children and adults alike. It would seem inconceivable that these same medications we are prescribed by doctors can cause “neuropsychiatric events” to those who consume them. Ky3.com reported in a story on June 22, 2009 that this is the unfortunate conclusion of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration. The study has prompted the agency to issue an order to the makers of Singulair and other leukotrienes, a popular asthma and allergy medication, to place warning labels on their medications which would inform consumers of potential dangerous side effects.

A mother of a boy was shocked to find out that it was her son’s asthma medication that was causing his erratic behavior. She said, “He started hitting me and kicking and screaming at me, to the point where I had to lock myself in the bathroom.” She later found out that hundreds of other parents had experienced similar occurrences. One report from another mother said, “He said, ‘I’m just going to kill myself so I don’t have to see you anymore.’ ” The boy’s condition was remarkably better after he stopped taking Singulair.

According to the FDA’s report into the mood and behavioral changes associated with Singulair, Accolate, Zyflo and Zyflo Cr, cases were reported of agitation, aggression, anxiousness, dream abnormalities and hallucinations, depression, insomnia, irritability, restlessness, suicidal thinking and behavior (including suicide), and tremor.

Continue reading "FDA Orders Asthma and Allergy Medication Warning Labels" »

The popular weight loss supplement Hydroxycut has taken off the market by the Food and Drug Administration to protect consumers. After 25 reports of liver damage and severe liver injury, what does this recall mean for the millions of people who have bought and used Hydroxycut products? To start with, if you haven’t already stopped taking Hydroxycut products, it is advised that you do so right away.

Due to Hydroxycut use, there has been one reported death caused by severe liver damage and 23 patients have required liver transplant surgery. It has not been revealed to the public which ingredients in Hydroxycut damage the liver. Symptoms of Hydroxycut liver damage include jaundice, weakness, brown urine, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain loss of appetite, and/or itching. Hydroxycut products have also been linked to a rare muscle/kidney conditions, adverse cardiovascular events and seizure.

Hydroxycut over-the-counter drugs have been purchased by over $7 million people for weight-loss, energy-enhancement, low-carb dieting, and fat-burning applications. Considering the prominent use of Hydroxycut nationwide, these numbers pose questions of how many cases of liver damage and liver injury have gone unreported and what will the future hold for any new cases?

Liver damage can be irreversible, which is why it is crucial to seek medical attention for your injuries if you have experienced any symptoms of liver failure or liver damage after using Hydroxycut products. You may also want to keep track of all your symptoms and any information regarding their characteristics and onset.

You are not alone if you find yourself asking, “Do I have a Hydroxycut case?” News of the recent FDA recall has provoked concern for consumers’ rights and you may have a potential Hydroxycut lawsuit, but time to file could be limited. The experienced personal injury attorneys in Pennsylvania at Anapol Schwartz are equipped with the resources, skills, and knowledge required for your Hydroxycut lawsuit. Recover the compensation you deserve. Call our Pennsylvania Hydroxycut lawyers today at 866-735-2792 for a free and confidential consultation.

The website philly.com reported in an account on March, 25 2009 that Philadelphia community groups and city council members urged the city’s law department to sue the drugstore chain CVS for continually selling expired products and exposing the public to unsafe drugs in Pennsylvania.

Shelley Smith, city solicitor, was called upon during the City Hall Press conference to follow California and New York legal action suits taken against CVS. CVS was sued in December by New York State for the sale of expired products. Edmund Brown, California’s Attorney General, requested in June 2008 that the pharmacy remedy its problem after coming across 26 Southern California stores. Currently, California is pursuing suing CVS.

Lance Haver, Philadelphia Community Affairs Director, said, “CVS should spend the money it needs to clear the shelves of expired products that are putting our children at risk.”

Maria Quinones Sanchez, Councilwoman, said, “CVS has been caught selling expired products in our City and around the country. It is outrageous that we are here today calling on a corporate citizen to remove dangerous products from the shelves.”

Expired products found at 15 CVS stores in Philadelphia ranged from infant formula, to over-the-counter medications, and dairy products. Tablets to treat allergies were over a year old and baby’s gas relief medicine was nearly two years expired.

Bill Greenlee, Councilman, stated that legal action was required to protect the community from dangerous items sold at CVS drugstores.

Consumer class action lawsuits in Philadelphia are among the most effective tools consumers have at protecting their power over the marketplace. When a large corporation does something that adversely affects a large group of people, a class action lawsuit enables all of the affected people to act with one voice.

Anapol Schwartz represents consumers, small businesses, and injured people in class action lawsuits throughout the country, seeking money damages and other relief in the federal and state court systems.

If you or someone you know been wronged or harmed due to a company’s negligence contact Anapol Schwartz. They have helped their clients for over years and they know the law and court system to get you the compensation you deserve. Please call the experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at 1-866-735-2792 for a free consultation.

Hydroxycut, the number one weight loss supplement in the world, was recalled on May 1st by the FDA. The FDA reports that there are at least 23 reports of serious liver injuries and death http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02006.html, including jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a serious type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

If you or anyone you know have been using Hydroxycut, stop using it immediately. Symptoms to watch for include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), brown urine, light-colored stools, fatigue, stomach cramps or pain, weakness, nausea, and vomiting.

This Hydroxycut recall applies to the following products, which are being removed from the market:
• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

If you have any symptoms of liver injury you should see your doctor immediately. Keep any unused portions of the product for evidence in case you decide to pursue a claim for compensation.

If you have suffered any of these symptoms or injuries contact our experienced Product Defect and Personal Injury Lawyers and click here to visit our website for more information.

Genentech, Inc. made known on April 8, 2009 the phased voluntary removal of the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab) from the United States market. Raptiva is used by adults eighteen years or older with chronic moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. The company’s decision was determined by the connection of Raptiva with an increased risk of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This neurological disease is caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system and can be fatal.

Although Raptiva’s prescribing information was updated in October 2008 to include boxed warning on the risk of serious infections, including PML, in patients receiving Raptiva, other serious bacterial and viral infections have been known to occur. Some of the kinds of infections that can be caused by the use of Raptiva are:

• Pneumonia
• Sepsis
• Meningitis
• Encephalitis
• invasive fungal disease

Unfortunately, as we see in Raptiva, sometimes a prescription or over-the-counter drug intended to help alleviate pain and infection, or reduce pain and suffering, can sometimes cause serious injury or even death. One of the many serious aspects of the Raptiva unsafe drug recall is the fact that a patient risks increased chances of worsening his or her psoriasis condition if Raptiva use is stopped suddenly. This is why it is critical for Raptiva users to consult with their physician as soon as possible to determine an adequate alternative for treatment.

Continue reading "Raptiva Unsafe Drug Recalled" »