Dangerous Drugs & Medical Devices
Wallace & Graham has assisted individuals throughout the United States in litigation and claims involving a variety of defective and dangerous medical devices and drugs. Our Medical Drugs and Defective Devices department evaluates a wide range of drug and defect injuries and claims. Below are some of the drugs and medical devices that our firm is currently investigating. If you have taken or used the devices or drugs listed below and experienced the symptoms identified, please contact our office immediately at (800) 849-5291 and ask to speak with our pharmaceutical paralegal Terry Taylor or contact her by email at ttaylor@wallacegraham.com or use this convenient form. Attorneys Bill Graham and Whitney Wallace will evaluate the information you provide to determine if you have a claim. For your continued health and safety, you should speak with a doctor regarding your future use of the drugs and devices identified.
Byetta - Byetta is an injection administered twice a day to help reduce blood sugar levels in people with Type II diabetes. The drug has been associated with the development of acute pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. Hemorrhagic pancreatitis leads to severe bleeding caused by massive erosion of blood vessels. Necrotizing pancreatitis involves tissue damage, which leads to release of toxins and enzymes into the bloodstream and may cause multi-organ failure and death.
Digoxin / Digitek - Digoxin is widely used to treat various heart conditions, namely atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and heart failure. The manufacturer has voluntarily recalled all tablets distributed before March 31, 2009, which are not expired and are within the expiration date of August, 2011. The tablets are being recalled because they may differ in size and therefore could have more or less of the active ingredient, digoxin. Overdosage of this medication has led to digoxin toxicity and death.
Fentanyl Patch - Fentanyl patches deliver a potent painkiller over a period of 72 hours. The patch has been known to leak, resulting in respiratory arrest and/or fentanyl toxicity, which can lead to instant death.
Fosamax - Fosamax is a drug commonly used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. Use of the drug has been medically associated with a serious bone disease called Osteonecrosis of the Jaw. Typical presentation of Osteonecrosis is pain, soft-tissue swelling and infection, loosening of the teeth, drainage, and exposed bone. Symptoms may occur at the site of a previous tooth extraction.
Gadolinium - Gadolinium is a contrast agent used to enhance the quality of MRIs. Exposure to Gadolinium can place patients at risk for developing a potentially fatal disease known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF) or Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy (NFD). People who develop these diseases may experience a thickening of the skin and other organs, which can limit their ability to move or extend joints and can lead to significant pain and even death. Other problems include dark patches on the skin that appear rough and hard elevated areas on the skin. Joint pain, bone pain, and swelling of the feet and hands have been reported.
Hydroxycut - Hydroxycut products are dietary supplements that are marketed for weight loss, or otherwise marketed as fat burners, energy-enhancers, low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the lovate and Muscle Tech brand names. The FDA has received reports of serious health problems including jaundice, elevated liver enzymes, liver damage requiring liver transplants, and one death due to liver failure. The symptoms for liver damage may include yellow eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, clay colored stools, and dark urine. Other health problems reported include seizures, cardiovascular disorders, and rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.
Levaquin - Levaquin is an antibiotic that has been associated with tendonitis and ruptured tendons, including most notably, injuries to the Achilles tendon.
Oral Sodium Phosphate - Oral Sodium Phosphate, or Fleet Phospho Soda, is a laxative that is commonly given to patients to clean the bowels before procedures such as colonoscopies. Ingestion of the over-the-counter liquid laxative prior to these procedures has been associated with immediate, severe kidney problems that may lead to death.
Permax and Dostinex - These drugs are used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and restless leg syndrome. Some users of these drugs have developed valvular heart disease (VHD). This drug does not immediately result in symptoms, so if you have taken this drug you should speak to your physicians about having a simple, non-invasive echocardiogram to ensure that the valves of your heart are functioning properly.
Poligrip / Fixodent - Poligrip and Fixodent are dental adhesive creams. The products contain an undisclosed amount of zinc, which if accidentally digested over time, leads to serious copper deficiencies and to a serious nerve disorder, called neuropathy. If you have experienced motor nerve damage (muscle weakness, cramps, and spasms), sensory nerve damage (tingling, numbness, and pain), or autonomic damage (involuntary functions affected) these are symptoms of neuropathy. A simple blood test can determine whether you have high zinc or low copper levels indicating that your neuropathy is related to your usage of Poligrip or Fixodent.
Raptiva - Raptiva is used to treat psoriasis. The drug has been recalled due to a potential risk to patients of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). PML is a viral infection that damages the protective sheath surrounding nerves. PML is often fatal. Symptoms include weakness, loss of coordination, changes in vision, difficulty speaking and personality changes.
Reglan - Reglan is a drug used to treat nausea, vomiting, and to facilitate gastric emptying in patients with gastroparesis. Users of Reglan have a high probability to developing an incurable nerve disorder known as tardive dyskinesia (TD). TD causes involuntary and repetitive movements of the body, with a long-term or high-dose use of metoclopramide even after the drugs are no longer taken. TD is characterized by involuntary repetitive movements of the extremities, lip smacking, grimacing, tongue protrusion, rapid eye movements or blinking, puckering, pursing of the lips, or impaired movement of the fingers. If you have been diagnosed with TD within the last two years, or the user of the drug is a minor, you may have a lawsuit against the manufacturer.
Trasylol - Trasylol is an injection used to reduce post-operative blood loss when a patient undergoes bypass surgery. The drug is associated with an increased risk of death or kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant.
Yasmin / Yaz - Yasmin/ Yaz is a combination oral contraceptive (or “birth control pill”) that, unlike other birth control pills, has a progestin component called drospirenone. Drospirenone, a diuretic, can work against the body’s normal mechanisms for regulating salt and water balance, a situation that can lead to hyperkalemia in high risk patients, resulting in potentially serious heart and health problems. Yaz has been further associated with an increased risk of blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder damage, kidney stones, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, and strokes.
Zicam - Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs, and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs-Kid size are popular homeopathic cold remedies that have recently been reported as damaging and/or destroying users’ sense of smell. Some users have noted a change in their sense of test. Special note: If you have not experienced loss of smell but you have used a Zicam product, please contact our office. We will be filing consumer fraud claims seeking a refund for the purchase price of the product.
Zithromax - Zithromax is a popular antibiotic used most often to treat respiratory infections, while also used to treat skin infections and some sexually transmitted diseases. The most serious types of health problems associated with Zithromax include liver damage resulting in death or liver transplant surgery. The symptoms for liver damage may include yellow eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, clay colored stools, and dark urine.
Aortic Catheter - Arrow International 30cc, 40cc and 50cc Intra Aortic Balloon Pump (IAB) Catheters are pump components of the Intra-Aortic Pump System designed to give therapy to critically ill people to increase blood flow to the heart. This recall is being conducted because a fault in the connector of the pump tubing assembly may result in failure of the system to decrease ischemia and increase perfusion, leading to organ injury or infarct and may result in patient death. Prolonged exposure could also result in thrombus formation on the IAB and possible subsequent systemic or cerebral thromboembolism.
Bard Composix Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch - The ring component of Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch contained a sharp, hard edge which was cutting into and through internal organs, causing severe pain, infection, bowel perforations, and other serious complications. If your initial surgery occurred after the year 2000 and you have had complications from that surgery requiring a second surgical procedure, you may have a claim against the manufacturer of this patch.
Medtronic Bone Graft - The Infuse Bone Graft has been used in lower spine-repair surgery to promote bone growth. Infuse has been linked to dozens of cases of fatalities or life-threatening complications when used in surgeries on the upper spine and neck.
Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads - Leads are inserted into patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators. Leads are wires that attach directly to the muscle on the inside of the heart and the pacemaker devices. The Medtronic Sprint Fidelis Leads are prone to unprecedented fracturing and failure rates. Lead fractures can result in or contribute to inappropriate shocks or death. The manufacturer did not disclose the fracture rate to the FDA and all 268,000 leads are under recall.
Shoulder Pain Pumps - Pain pumps are portable pain management devices which continuously administer local anesthetic through catheter to a surgical wound site for several days following surgery. Recently, the use of pain pumps to administer medication directly into the glenohumeral joint space following shoulder surgery has been linked to a severe condition called Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chondrolysis, in which the cartilage in the shoulder becomes destroyed. Symptoms occur between six weeks and six months following surgery and include increased shoulder pain and stiffness, loss of cartilage, decreased range of motion, loss of shoulder joint space, crepitus in the shoulder and loss of strength, or eventual shoulder replacement.
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Wallace & Graham, P.A.
525 North Main Street
Salisbury NC 28144
Toll Free: 1-800-849-5291
Local: 704-633-5244
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