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Message Boards Show Chantix Effects are Real

Scott Kappes — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:20:45 GMT

Every day I am finding more and more people who have experience drastic side effects while using the drug Chantix, side effects which are not listed in the Chantix warning label. Chantix is a new drug, manufactured by Pfizer, to purportedly help people quit smoking. The results experienced by many of the people who have taken this drug range from severe depression, psychotic episodes and attempted suicide. With so many people experiencing these sometimes long-lasting symptoms, it is a wonder that Chantix has not warned against this.

Chantix is currently using big money to advertise on highly publicized locations such as NFL half-time shows, Yahoo and many more. Of course the commercials mention nothing about the serious side-effects. There are a number of blogs and message boards dedicated to the "unpublicized" side effects, however, Pfizer has yet to announce these.

There have been some very scary things posted about Chantix over the recent weeks on message boards from people all over the world. I read a post last Wednesday from a Milwaukee man that sent chills down my spine. He claims that after a few beers and his normal regimen of Chantix he was awoken by his wife screaming at him the next morning. She wanted to know how long their 3 month-old son had been sleeping on the sun porch.

"The last thing I remember is putting him in his crib. So I must have slept walked with my boy!!! Crazy!! I may discontinue the med, gonna see if it happens again. If it was winter time the situation could have been deadly!"

He is completely right this could have been deadly. There are hundreds of other complaints on dozens of other message boards associated with the side effects of this drug. Chantix is a relatively new drug and does not have a wealth of research behind it. Of course it is never a good idea to mix any drug with alcohol but many people do. Adverse events with this drug should be reported top the FDA and we would also like to hear about your experience.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

J & J Fighting Levaquin Bellwether Consolidation

Scott Kappes — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:04:14 GMT

Levaquin maker Johnson & Johnson is fighting attempts by plaintiffs to consolidate the first three bellwether levaquin lawsuits in to one trial.

The company is facing hundreds of levaquin lawsuits that have been filed in both state and federal courts. The lawsuits allege that the company’s popular antibiotic medication, Levaquin, is the cause of tendon ruptures, tendonitis, and other tendon problems that have been suffered by patients who have taken the medication.

Levaquin lawsuits filed in federal court have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the U.S. District court of Minnesota.

The first cases selected for trial are known as Bellwether cases. Bellwether trials play an important role in determining how a jury will react to the issues of that are present throughout the MDL and potentially laying the groundwork for a possible settlement.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys have proposed to consolidate the first three Bellwether cases into a single trial, claiming that the cases have similar injuries, claims, and situations and that would be more efficient for the court to handle them as a single trial.

Attorneys for the Johnson & Johnson, and it subsidiary Ortho-McNeil, disagree and argue that the potential differences in plaintiffs’ medical history and unique injuries suffered by each plaintiff may confuse the jury.

After years of pressure from the consumer advocates group Public Citizen, in July of 2008 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finally required the makers of Levaquin and other similar medications to update the warning labels for the class of antibiotics known as floroquinoles. The updated label now carries the FDA’s strongest available warning, the infamous black box warning, for an increased risk of tendon problems including tendon rupture in users of Levaquin and other flouroquinolone antibiotics.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Chinese Drywall Link to Toxic effects Strengthen by Latest Report

Scott Kappes — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:50:55 GMT

Last week the suspected link between Chinese drywall and potential harmful effects on humans became stronger. On Monday the federal government released three preliminary reports that strengthen the case that Chinese drywall may be toxic to humans.

One report focused on the analysis of air samples taken from 41 homes known to contain Chinese-made drywall. These samples were compared to 10 homes that are not suspected to contain tainted drywall. In samples from affected homes researchers found consistent detections of hydrogen sulfide and formaldehyde. While the concentrations detected are below irritant levels, the CPSC says that it is possible that the synergistic effects of these and other compounds found in air samples could cause irritant effects.

Two additional studies examined corrosion found on metal components taken from homes containing Chinese drywall. These studies found a “strong association” between corrosion found on metals and high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide found in homes.

While the study was not intended to examine health effects, “we can say that the levels of pollutants we found, particularly the hydrogen sulfide and formaldehyde, could possibly contribute to some health problems that have been reported to the CPSC,” said Jack McCarthy, president of Environmental Health & Engineering Inc., who carried out the work.

Although the study increases suspicion that tainted drywall is responsible for some health effects reported by individuals living in affected homes, no causal relationship has been proven at this point.

It is suspected that some homeowners have yet to report problems due to fear that their insurers will drop their coverage; however, the CPSC is reminding consumers that reports can be made confidentially and are encouraging consumers to report problems.

Investigations of the tainted Chinese drywall will continue in the coming months.

If you suspect that your home may contain defective Chinese drywall we can help. You may be entitled to compensation to cover replacing the defective product in addition to compensation for possible health effects that may have been caused by Chinese drywall.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Fatal SUV Accident On I-45 South

Robert Binstock — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:01:57 GMT

Shortly before 8:00 am this morning, my cell phone rang and a friend alerted me to what I already suspected based on the brake lights I was seeing in all five lanes of I-45 North near Spring-Stuebner Road. Yet another major automobile accident on this well-traveled interstate highway was delaying commuters from Montgomery County and adding at least an hour to the daily trip to downtown Houston. My friend said that he heard three or four of the five lanes were shut down.

As I gripped the steering wheel in frustration and immediately looked for an exit to take an alternate route, the lawyer part of my brain kicked in and a series of questions commenced: Was a truck involved in the accident? Was there a fatality? Was/were the driver(s) impaired or asleep at the wheel? Did someone cut someone else off in the mad dash to be at work on time? If the vehicle involved was an SUV, did some flaw in the design or manufacture of the SUV or its tires cause the wreck? Did an 18 wheeler jackknife? Could my law firm Reich & Binstock be of any assistance to the accident victims or their families as we have handled many significant vehicle collision cases in our 20 plus years of personal injury practice?

When I arrived at work and powered up the computer, my worst fears were confirmed. A woman died in the collision after she apparently lost control of her 1999 Ford Explorer SUV and struck a concrete retaining wall near Richey Road on Interstate 45 South. After colliding with the retaining wall, the vehicle rolled over onto its right side. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident is still under investigation.

Houston's interstate highways are potential death traps each day in the morning and afternoon rush hour commutes. I fear for my own safety and the well being of my wife and three young children. Since our family vehicles are a Nissan XTerra and a Honda Odyssey, I will be interested to see any follow up newspaper articles that report on whether defects in the SUV or its tires and/or driver error/inattention/impairment caused or contributed to this unfortunate woman's death. I also ponder whether or not my own driving behavior or condition of my automobile could lead to an accident in rush hour traffic. I am thankful for my skills and experience as an attorney. Whatever the reason was for the fatal accident, it is certainly important to contact a wrongful death and trucking accident attorney to protect your legal rights.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Robert Binstock

“Black Box” Warning Issued for Levaquin and Cipro

Scott Kappes — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 17:11:43 GMT

Last week the FDA announced that fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs, like Levaquin and Cipro, would now carry the agency’s strictest warning. Antimicrobial drugs are used to treat or prevent certain types of serious bacterial infections, including pneumonia. These drugs have been linked to an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture. The FDA notified manufacturers that the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) is necessary to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks associated with the medications.

The risk of developing fluoroquinolone-associated tendinitis and tendon rupture is further increased in people older than 60, in those taking corticosteroid drugs, and in kidney, heart, and lung transplant recipients. Patients experiencing pain, swelling, inflammation of a tendon or tendon rupture should be advised to stop taking their fluoroquinolone medication and to contact their health care professional promptly about changing their antimicrobial therapy. Patients should also avoid exercise and using the affected area at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation.

The FDA also notified drug manufacturers that a Medication Guide should now be provided with this class of medication to ensure that patients understand the risks that they may be exposed to. The agency advised physicians that caution should be exercised when prescribing fluoroquinolones and said that each patient’s risk should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Tyson Foods Gets FDA Warning for Unsafe Conditions

Scott Kappes — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:07:50 GMT

A letter warning a Tyson Foods about the unsafe conditions found at a Texas plant was posted online today. In the letter the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) informed Tyson that their inspectors had found fish and crab meat stored at dangerously high temperatures for extended periods of time.

The FDA found seafood stored between 40 and 55 degrees for about 18 hours. According to the FDA these items should always be stores below 40 degrees in order to prevent bacteria from growing.

Tyson was also cited by the FDA back in August for failure to document procedures for stopping bacterial growth.

"Our Fort Worth plant is clean and sanitary and the products produced there are safe to eat," company spokesman Gary Mickelson said in a statement. The shrimp and crab meat observed by FDA inspectors was not used in company products, he added.

The FDA warning letter is dated Nov. 13, but was made available to the public online today.

Tyson says that have updated the temperature control plan in the mean time.

FDA warning letters are issued to companies when the FDA has found evidence of the company not following federal regulations marketing or manufacturing of goods. Although the letters are not legally binding, the agency can take companies to court if a letter is ignored of or they fail to comply with regulations.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Toddler’s Death Prompts Bed Recall

Scott Kappes — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:54:06 GMT

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a voluntary recall of two beds following the strangulation death of 22-month-old California toddler. The beds were made in China and imported by the San Diego based Bayside Furnishings. Both of the beds were popular models, complete with built in toy boxes and nautical themes. According to the CPSC the boy was strangled when the lid of the toy chest, on his LaJolla Boat Bed, fell on the back of his head, forcing his neck down onto the rim of the chest causing him to suffocate.

The beds were sold almost exclusively at Costco locations throughout the nation. The retail giant says that a letter has been sent out to all of their members that purchased either of the beds and plans to have free repair kits delivered by next week.

Just under 10,000 beds were sold in total from January of 2006 to May of 2008 for between $700 and $1,400. Consumers are urged to immediately discontinue use of the toy chests and contact the firm for additional instructions.

For additional information, contact Bayside at (877) 494-2536 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.baysidefurnishings.com to register online for the free repair kit.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Arthritis Drugs Increase Cancer Risk in Children

Scott Kappes — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 18:07:52 GMT

The list of warnings associated with the class of medications commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other ailments continue to increase. Today the FDA announced that the labels for the popular arthritis drugs Remicade, Humira, Cimzia, Simponi, and Embrel will now carry a boxed warning to highlight an increased risk of cancer in children and adolescents that take these medications.

In addition, the FDA is working with manufacturers to explore new ways to further define the risk of cancer in children and adolescents who use these drugs.

The action the FDA took today is based on the completion of data that was first announced by the administration last June. Analysis of the data showed an increased risk of cancer in children and adolescents after about 30 months of treatment. Roughly half of the cancers were lymphomas and some reported cases of cancer were fatal.

More information is availible at the FDA website.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Chinese Drywall Showing Up in Foreclosed Homes for Sale

Scott Kappes — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:09:14 GMT

Over the past several months the news of homes infected with Chinese drywall has swept across the nation. The Consumer Products Safety Commission has received complaints of Chinese drywall in at least 21 states and dozens of lawsuits have been filed against home builders and manufacturers of the allegedly defective product. For the first time we are now starting to see foreclosed homes containing drywall come onto the Florida home market.

Homes containing Chinese drywall may be available for substantially discounted price that may be enticing to some home buyers; however, it is important for potential buys to take in to account the costs of renovating a home that contains Chinese drywall.

A Wink news report features a four bedroom, two bath, never-lived-in home selling for just $19,800. While this may sound like a steal, but with the extensive repairs that will need to be made to the home due to the presence of Chinese drywall it may actually not be a bad investment for some buyers.

Popular Florida home builder Lennar recently confirmed that they were aware of about 400 of their homes that contain Chinese drywall.

Homeowners that suspect their home may contain Chinese drywall should contact a qualified attorney for a free consultation and explanation of their legal options.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Actavis Totowa Issues Recall for All Products Made at NJ Plant

Scott Kappes — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:57:19 GMT

Late last week generic drug maker, Actavis Totowa, announced a voluntary recall of all medications produced at their Little Falls, New Jersey facility. The recall was issued after an FDA inspection revealed that operations at the facility were not up to par. Actavis Totowa has recently been under fire over the recent recall of the popular heart medication Digitek, and allegations of inadequate quality control that allowed some of the pills to be produced at double their normal thickness and therefore contain double the appropriate amount of the active ingredient.

According to Actavis Totowa the recall of the products made at the Little Falls facility was not prompted by concerns over the problems with the medication but rather a precautionary measure. All of the recalled products are prescription medications. Patients with these medications are encouraged to continue take them as prescribed. If patients wish to obtain replacement medication they should contact their physician.

The list of recalled product is as follows:

Amantadine 100mg capsules

Meperidine & Promethazine capsules

Amibid DM ER tablets

Meperidine HCl 100 mg and 50 mg tablets

Amibid DM tablets

Methenamine Mandelate 0.5 g and 1.0 g tablets

Amidrine capsules

Mirtazapine 15 mg, 30 mg, and 45 mg tablets

Amigesic 500 mg caplets and 750 mg caplets

Mirtazapine OD tablets, 15 mg, 30 mg and 45 mg

Amitex PSE tablets

Multi-ret Folic 500 mg tablets

Bellamine S tablets

Multi-vita-bets 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg FL & FE tablets

Betaxolol 10 mg and 20 mg tablets USP

Multi-vita-bets 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1 mg FL tablets

Buspirone HCL 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg and 30mg tablets

Naltrexone 50mg tablets

Carisoprodol & Aspirin tablets

Oxycodone & Acetaminophen 5/500mg capsules

Carisoprodol, Aspirin & Codeine tablets

Oxycodone HCl 5 mg, 15 mg and 30 mg tablets

Carisoprodol 350mg tablets

Oxycodone HCl 5 mg capsules

Chlordiazepoxide w/ Clidinium Bromide capsules

Pentazocine & Acetaminophen tablets

Chlorzoxazone 250mg

Pentazocine & Naloxone tablets

Cilostazol tablets 100mg

Phenazopyridine HCl 100 mg and 200 mg tablets

Choline Magnesium Trisalicylate 500 mg, 750 mg and 1000 mg tablets

Phendimetrazine Tartrate 35mg tablets

Cyclobenzaprine HCL 5 mg and 10 mg

Phentermine HCl 37.5 mg tablets

Dexchlorpheniramine Maleate 4 mg and 6 mg tablets

Phentermine HCl 15 mg, 30 mg and 37.5 mg capsules

Dipyridamole 25 mg, 50mg, and 75 mg tablets

Prenatal Formula 3 tablets

Glyburide 1.5 mg, 3.0 mg and 6.0 mg tablets

Prenatal Plus 27 mg FE tablets

Guaifenesin & Codeine Phosphate tablets

Prenatal Rx tablets

Guaifenesin & Phenylephrine tablets

Quinaretic 10mg/12.5mg, 20 mg/12.5 mg and 20 mg/25 mg tablets

Guanfacine 1.0 mg and 2.0 mg HCl tablets

Rifampin 300mg capsules

Hydrocodone & Homatropine tablets

Sodium FL 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg tablets

Hydromorphone HCl tablets

Tizanidine HCl 2 mg and 4 mg tablets

Hydroxyzine 10 mg, 25 mg and 50 mg tablets

Trimethobenzamide 300mg capsules

Hyoscyamine Sulfate 0.125 mg SL

Trimipramine Maleate 25mg, 50mg, 100mg capsules

Hyoscyamine Sulfate 0.375mg SR tablets

Trivita 1 mg FL tablets

Hyoscyamine Sulfate 0.125 mg (oral) tablets

Ursodiol capsules, 300mg

Isradipine 2.5 mg and 5 mg capsules

Vitacon Forte capsules

Loxapine 5 mg, 10 mg, 25 mg, and 50 mg capsules

Vitaplex Plus tablets

Meclizine Chewable 25 mg tablets

Vitaplex tablets (FC)

Meloxicam 7.5 mg and 15 mg tablets

Yohimbine HCl 5.4 mg tablets

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes