UPDATE: Aranesp, Procrit and Epogen lawsuits no longer being reviewed
Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. will not be reviewing any new lawsuits for users of anemia drugs who have suffered problems as a result of Aranesp, Procrit and Epogen side effects. The decision comes after two months of carefully reviewing the potential claims. Although there appears to be evidence that the manufacturers placed profits before the safety of their consumers, at this time we are unable to review any new claims given the complex issues regarding causation for each individual claimant.
Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa), Procrit (epoetin alfa) and Epogen (epoetin alfa) are injections administered to treat anemia associated with dialysis for those with kidney failure and chemotherapy in cancer patients. When given at high doses, the anemia injection side effects have been found to increase the risk of blood clots, strokes, heart attacks and death. They have also been linked to an increased rate of tumor growth when given to those with certain types of cancer.
>>MORE INFORMATION: Anemia injection side effects
The decision to move forward with any legal claim for a defective product or medication involves significant research and investigation. Although we will continue to monitor the potential for these lawsuits in the future, we will not be reviewing any new claims or represent any individuals with regard to problems associated with these drugs. If there is any change in the status of the investigation of Aranesp, Procrit and Epogen lawsuits, information will be posted here.
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Saiontz & Kirk is a national law firm which handles a variety of serious personal injury claims, including medical malpractice, cerebral palsy birth injuries, nursing home neglect and defective products. Some of the defective medications and medical products we are currently investigating and pursuing lawsuits on behalf of clients nationwide include:
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Plavix: side effects include GI bleeds, ulcers, heart attacks, strokes and TTP blood disorders
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Drug Eluting Stents: problems include blood clots and heart attacks
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Fosamax: jaw osteonecrosis
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Ketek: liver damage
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Zelnorm: recalled due to risk of heart attacks, strokes and death
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Hernia repair mesh: recall as a result of bowel perforation and chronic intestinal fistula
12 Comments • Add Your Comments
Debbie Hoppe says:
I understand that you are taking no more claims on Epogen. But, if you change that please let me know, my father died and I think very strongly that taking the epogen shots just speeded up the end result.
Posted on May 31, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Pat Lawson says:
My Mother started the Procrit shots on July 17, 2007 and became weeker, dis-orintated, and constantly tired. After just 3 shots, she died on Aug 17, 2007 of a massive bleed in her brain.
please notify me if you do decide to reopen. My Mother was better before the shots – just tired from anemia.
Posted on October 31, 2007 at 12:31 am
Kathleen says:
My mother wasn’t producing the right kind of blood cells, she had no cancer, the doctor started giving her Aranesp injections for her anemia,without telling her or my father about ANY of the side effects….she died 2 months latter, her bodie was riddled with cancerous tumor growths. It’s not right that some doctors think of of our elderly as guiniepigs!
Posted on November 18, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Joseph says:
My father died suddenly after receiving several doses of Aranesp. He was found with blood leaking from his eyes and his head was very swollen, which was obviously caused by a massive brain bleed. Please reconsider your decision on litigation against these drugs. He nor my mother were ever warned of any possible negative side-effects.
Posted on November 22, 2008 at 5:59 am
JESSICA says:
I WAS NOT A CANCER PATIENT, OR A DIALYSIS PATIENT WHEN I RECEIVED THE INJECTIONS. THOSE THIS HAVE ANY RELEVANT. I BELIEVE THAT THE DVT I EXPERIENCED IN SEPT AND BEEN SUFFERING SINCE HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PROCRIT INJECTIONS I HAD MORE THAN A YEAR AGO FOR A CHRONIC ANEMIA DUE TO HEAVY MENSTRUAL BLEEDING. I’M SURE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN OTHER ALTERNATIVES FOR MY TREATMENT THAT WERE NOT CONSIDERED.
WHAT CAN I DO? COULD THE DOCTOR HAVE GIVEN ME PROCRIT NOT BEING A CANCER PATIENT OR A DIALYSIS PATENT?
I JUST WANT A CLEAR ANSWER SO THAT I MAY FOR SEE A RELIEF , KNOWING WHAT COULD OF CAUSED MY CONDITION. WILL THIS HELP TREAT MY CONDITION? SO DESPERATE, I’M ONLY 44, MOTHER OF 4, JUST FINISH A BA DEGREE, AND CAN’T WORK BECAUSE OF THE DVT CONDITION I’M SUFFERING.
SO WORRIED ABOUT MY FUTURE AND MY FAMILY, SOLIDARY WITH ALL THAT ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE MISS USE OF PROCRIT.
Posted on May 1, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Donna says:
I have R A, I also have had an infection in my foot that gets better but never seems to go away in the past 5 yrs. I have had surgery on it every year and this year twice. My iron and hemocrit became very low. The hemotologist started me on Aranesp 9 wks ago. I have had 3 shots. My ankles and legs swell during the day and after a nights sleep the swelling goes away. Then by night , it is back.
Posted on June 15, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Angelo says:
Jessica, Pat, Debbie and the rest of you. I understand where you are coming from. Other than needing dialysis at 41 because of PKD and slight anemia which was due to toxins I was administered Aranesp. Just after 2 treatments I had severe Anemia which caused a heart attack, and the symptoms I had just from the 1st shot should have told me to stop then. I had pain in left arm and chest, dizziness, I was incoherent for 12 hours, heart arrhythmias, shortness of breath, and a migraine headache which I never get. This drug is evil and I cannot believe I was never even warned about the side effects. I feel sorry for all your losses. It is sad when profits come before life. And if I told you the fight I got into with my doctor with him trying to convince me I needed Aranesp you would be floored. I had them disconnect me from the dialysis machine and walked out of the office because I was so angered by him. This is a major money maker for doctors and I think he was angry I was hurting his bottom line.
Posted on February 26, 2014 at 10:33 pm
Janeaby says:
my father’ onchologist in the villages, Fl. totally ignored our pleas of pain, chest pain, fatigue and just kept injecting and telling my dad just to take more tylenol. He is now in the hospital with his lungs full of clots and an inflamed liver and too weak to get up or walk. He is lucky to be alive. Doctor used this drug off treatment and bullied me when I told him my father would not take a shot, and got angry when I would question treatment. I think my father could have been drug in the office dead and he would have his girls give him a shot.
I will not let this go easily. Read “blood Feud” before you even consider this drug. I wish I had. If I can stop anyone from the pain my father has endured from this drug I would be blessed.
Posted on May 31, 2014 at 5:41 pm
karen says:
My husband started Aranesp injections last summer to bring up his red cell count. He had bleeding somewhere that couldn’t be found. he was told he would die if he didn’t have these injections. Well this continued on for several months. It became so bad they tripled the dose. During the course of these treatments he became very week and his blood pressure dropped . When they found the cause of the bleeding they continued the triple dose even when his cell count went up. He was very frail and I could see him failing very quickly. His blood pressure was dangerously low. I know this is a side effect of the medication. He had a heart condition but after starting Aranesp everything just went down hill. I know it was this medication that caused his death, His blood pressure was so low his heart just stopped.
Posted on November 11, 2014 at 8:54 am
Carmen says:
My husband was used to experiment new procedures and drugs. Without consent and our knowledge. Proctor 40,000 units every 5 days and when he became ill with a massive stroke, that doctor who treated my husband and where the procrit injections were received (dialysis unit) arrived at the emergency room. Never adding Procrit to the list of medication (taken) given at his office on a weekly basis. Instead this doctor arranged for several procedures to be done without consent prior to his death. This is almost common knowledge among lawyers who claim the patient was very sick, not worth the amount allowed by state law ($250,000) or the patient was going to die anyway. Procrit is just a drop in the bucket.
Posted on August 9, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Thea says:
My husband had bad side effects and decided no more injections. Nursing home gave him injection without written consent. Didn’t tell him what they were giving him. He had 9.9 and did not really need it. Normally he is 8.2. Nursing home doctor did not have consent to administer. He was suppose to comd home but will probably be in ER within 48 hours. He has cancer tumor. He cannot take blood thinners. Last month he had superficial blood clots in legs. Very distressed. Told nurse he had bad side effects and she noted in records. I did not think nursing homes cojld gove this injection.
Posted on February 10, 2016 at 6:22 pm
Patricia says:
My husband James Rudnick was given doses of Procrit in his chemo treatment to help with anemia – shortly after receiving this treat his tumors began to grow, which brought on his death in May 2006 – I was part of this class action suit, but never heard the outcome
Posted on October 17, 2023 at 5:21 pm