FDA & Prescription Drugs

• Medtronic Defibrillator Leads Recalled

  Scott Kappes | October 18, 2007 1:54 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  On Monday Medtronic issued a warning about the possible fracture danger associated with a small percentage of defibrillator leads. This warning was accompanied by a voluntary stop in distribution of these allegedly defective leads. Yesterday the company updated the warning and issued a Class I Recall. The recall covers Medtronic Inc Sprint Fidelis Defibrillator Leads manufactured September of...

• Micro-bubble Contrast Agents Linked to 11 Deaths

  Scott Kappes | October 16, 2007 9:13 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Friday the FDA announced increased warnings for ultrasound micro-bubble contrast agents after receiving several reports of serious cardiopulmonary reactions and 11 deaths related to the contrast agents. These contrast agents are used in conjunction with an echocardiograph to enhance the image, allowing doctors greater ability to see potentially dangerous cardiovascular conditions. There have...

• Infant Cold Medicines Recalled

  Scott Kappes | October 11, 2007 9:30 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Drugmakers have announced that they are recalling several infants' cold and cough medicines because of a risk of overdose. Serious injury and death have been reported in association with these over the counter drugs and there has been very little confidence in their effectiveness in such young children. Children under two years of age are at particular risk from these medications as their tiny...

• Lilly Ordered to "Immediately Cease" Cymbalta Promotion

  Scott Kappes | October 09, 2007 10:42 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Last week the FDA order Eli Lilly and Co. to stop disseminating advertising material for the popular antidepressant Cymbalta, they characterized as misleading. The FDA posted the letter sent to Lilly on their website last Tuesday claiming that the advertising mailer for Cymbalta overstates the effectiveness of the drug and fails to point out the serious potential dangers associated with the...

• Message Boards Show Chantix Effects are Real

  Scott Kappes | October 08, 2007 10:20 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  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...

• Oxycontin Makers sued by Kentucky

  Scott Kappes | October 04, 2007 3:40 PM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Today Kentucky Attorney General, Greg Stumbo, and Pikes County officials filed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma, the makers of the highly abused painkiller Oxycontin. The drug has come to be called "hillbilly heroin" due to its overwhelming abuse in states like Kentucky and Virginia. The drug is fitted with a time-release coating but resourceful abusers have developed a simple method to...

• Numerous Inquiries About Chantix

  Scott Kappes | October 03, 2007 10:49 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  I have been writing over Chantix for just about a month now and our law firm has received dozens of inquiries about Chantix form patients claiming bizarre side effects. Just yesterday we were contacted by a couple that took the drug together and both experienced such bad side effects, including but not limited to suicidal ideation, that they had to stop taking the medication. I saw a report...

• Hydrocodone in Unapproved Drugs

  Scott Kappes | October 02, 2007 11:52 AM | 3 CommentsHouston, TX

  Friday the FDA posted a warning to healthcare professionals and consumers about the presence of hydrocodone in certain unapproved drugs. Hydrocodone is a powerful narcotic painkiller and cough suppressant and has been of the most commonly abused drugs out there. Abuse can lead to serious injury and even death in some cases. It has been reported to the FDA that several cough suppressants not...

• Gadolinium Contrast Agents Get "Black Box" Warning

  Scott Kappes | October 01, 2007 10:33 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  Friday the FDA finalized the its announcement made in May that it would add the "black box" warnings to gadolinium based contrast agents used to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These contrast agents have been linked to rare skin disease known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). This is very serious disease characterized by the thickening of the skin and even internal tissue and...

• Chantix Claims Are Becoming More Prominent

  Scott Kappes | September 25, 2007 9:07 AM | 0 CommentsHouston, TX

  The shooting death of Dallas musician Carter Albrecht has gotten quite a bit of attention throughout the U.S. media. The Castle Doctrine has been the main focal point associated with Albrecht's death, but concerns about the prescription stop smoking aid Chantix have also gotten nation wide attention. Albrecht's girlfriend has alleged that Chantix had to play a significant role in the psychotic...