>>FDA SAFETY INFORMATION: Risk of Chondrolysis Problems

Following a mounting number of reports of chondrolysis following shoulder pain pump use, which involves a painful and irreversible destruction of cartilage, the FDA indicated that the “significance of this injury to otherwise healthy young adults warrants notification to health care professionals.”

Shoulder pain pumps, sometimes referred to as a shoulder pain ball, are small disposable infusion pumps that have been prescribed by many doctors following arthroscopic surgery as an alternative to oral pain medication. The pumps deliver medication through a catheter directly into the shoulder joint over a period of two or three days before they are removed by the patient.

In litigation pending throughout the United States, the pain pump manufacturers have denied that their products cause people to suffer shoulder chondrolysis problems or that there was anything wrong with their warnings. However, based on at least 35 reports involving chondrolysis following continuous intra-articular infusion with local anesthetics, the FDA is now requiring updated warnings about the potential side effect.

In a statement sent to healthcare providers describing the reports of necrosis and destruction of cartilage, known as chondrolysis, the FDA said:

The local anesthetics (with and without epinephrine) were infused for extended periods of time (48 to 72 hours) directly into the intra-articular space using an elastomeric pump.

Chondrolysis was diagnosed within a median of 8.5 months after the infusion. Almost all of the reported cases of chondrolysis (97%) occurred following shoulder surgeries. Joint pain, stiffness, and loss of motion were reported as early as the second month after receiving the infusion. In more than half of these reports, the patients required additional surgery, including arthroscopy or arthroplasty (joint replacement).

The FDA pointed out that none of the devices have been approved for intra-articular infusion of local anesthetics after orthopedic surgery, and urged doctors to follow the recommended uses.

SHOULDER CHONDROLYSIS LAWYERS

Following arthroscopic surgery where a pain pump is used, problems with shoulder chondrolysis typically begin to surface between three and 12 months after surgery. As the shoulder is used more, the loss of cartilage can result in shoulder problems like:

• Increased shoulder pain regardless of whether the shoulder is in portion or at rest.
• Clicking, popping or grinding of the shoulder joint.
• Shoulder stiffness or weakness.
• Decreased range of motion in the shoulder.
• Additional shoulder surgery, including the potential need for a total shoulder replacement.

The shoulder chondrolysis lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential claims for individuals throughout the United States who have experienced shoulder pump problems. To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>FDA LINK: Byetta Kidney Problem Warning

Bytta (exenatide) is a popular type-2 diabetes drug made by Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly & Co. First approved by the FDA in April 2005, nearly 7 million prescriptions have been dispensed since September 2008. Although only a small number of users have reported kidney problems on Byetta, the FDA is cautioning doctors and patients to be aware of the risk of problems with kidney function.

The FDA reports that 78 patients have reported problems with kidney function with Byetta, including at least 62 cases of Byetta kidney failure, which can cause waste products to build up in the blood, potentially resulting in severe injury or death. The FDA indicates that common Byetta side effects, which include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, may have contributed to the development of kidney problems in users.

According to a press release issued on November 2, 2009, users should be aware of the potential risk of Byetta kidney problems and watch for symptoms, such as:

• Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea
• Changes in urine color and frequency of urination
• Fatigue
• Swelling of hands or feet
• Changes in appetite or digestion
• Dull aches in the mid to lower back

The FDA indicates that revisions are being made to the prescription information for Byetta (exenatide) regarding the reports of kidney problems. In addition, a patient Medication Guide is being required to ensure that users understand that benefits and potential risks of Byetta. Labeling changes include:

• Information will be added about post-marketing reports of renal insufficiency and acute renal failure on Byetta, highlighting that the drug should not be used in patients with severe kidney impairment (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min) or end-stage renal disease.
• Recommendations that doctors exercise caution when starting or increasing doses of Byetta from 5 mcg to 10 mcg in patients with moderate kidney problems (creatinine clearance 30 to 50 ml/min).
• Recommendations that doctors monitor patients for the development of kidney dysfunction on Byetta, and evaluate the continued need for the drug if Byetta kidney problems are suspected.

BYETTA KIDNEY FAILURE LAWSUIT LAWYERS

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. first began evaluating the possibility for Byetta lawsuits in October 2007, when the FDA issued an alert about reports of several dozen users who developed pancreatitis on Byetta. In August 2008, the FDA issued another warning about additional reports of severe cases of hemorrhagic pancreatitis and necrotizing pancreatitis, including several deaths.

Following these latest warnings, we are now examining the potential for Byetta kidney failure lawsuit claims. If you, a friend or family member have been diagnosed with kidney problems, such as impared kidney function, dialysis or kidney failure on Byetta, submit information about your potential claim for review by our attorneys by requesting a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Washing hands, maintaining checklists and thoroughly cleaning medical equipment and rooms all go a long way towards the prevention of the spread of bacteria and infection, and are simple, cost effective, and could save patients hardship, money, and potentially their lives. These simple preventative measures could also save hospitals millions in medical malpractice awards and legal fees.

According to the Wall Street Journal report, infection in hospitals affect as many as 10% of all U.S. hospital patients. These infections result in up to $6.5 billion in unnecessary cost and result in an estimated 100,000 deaths every year. However, as the report points out, “they are not inevitable.”

For example, the article reports that hospitals that have installed hand sanitizer at regular intervals have seen the staff’s basic hand hygiene compliance jump from less than 50% to more than 80%. While that’s encouraging, the fact that some hospitals needed hand sanitizer stations because less than half their staff was regularly washing their hands before interacting with patients could go a long way to explain why hospital infections, and hospital infection lawsuits, have been on the rise.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there are more than 2 million hospital infections acquired by patients each year. That’s not including 1.5 million nursing home infections acquired by patients in long-term care facilities.

Most experts agree that such infection from hospitals are preventable through simple steps and protocols. These protocols can include:

• Frequent hand washing
• Thorough cleaning of medical instruments and rooms
• Screening incoming patients for latent infections
• Creating portable kits of sanitized equipment used in common nursing procedures
• Bedside procedure checklists to ensure procedures are done correctly

In addition to the old standards, there is a batch of new technology which will make it easier for hospitals to reduce infections, and will make it even more inexcusable when they are unsuccessful at doing so. Some of the emerging technologies include room sanitizing robots, databases showing where a hospital is generating the most infected patients and which surgeons are having problems with infected patients, and antibacterial baths for patients most at risk.

HOSPITAL INFECTION MALPRACTICE LAWYERS

The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential claims for injuries caused by hospital infections throughout the United States. If you, a friend or family member have suffered a severe or fatal injury as a result of an infection from hospital negligence, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>New packaging for Super Poligrip: Zinc poisoning warning
Denture cream instructions

New boxes of Super PoliGrip now contain a sticker on the outside indicating for users to “Read New Information Inside”. An insert is inside that warns about the presence of zinc, and the risk of health problems with Super Poligrip.

On one side, “Important Product Information” is listed as follows:

On the reverse side are instructions about proper use, indicating “For Best Results Start with a Small Amount” in large print. Together with diagrams demonstrating the recommended amount, the following directions are provided:

SUPER POLIGRIP ZINC POISONING LAWSUIT

At the time zinc was added as an ingredient in Poligrip, it was well known that excess zinc in the body can cause significant problems, including severe neurological damage that is often irreversible. However, for years the products have been sold without adequate warnings and GlaxoSmithKline turned a blind eye to the fact that many users were unaware that they were greatly overusing the denture cream, with some people reporting that one or two tubes were used each week, as opposed to each month.

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential Super Poligrip zinc poisoning lawsuits (as well as Fixodent zinc poisoning lawsuits) for individuals who have been diagnosed with neurological damage caused by high zinc levels, which lowers copper levels in the blood. Potential cases are also being investigated for individuals who have experienced symptoms of zinc poisoning, such as:

• Numbness
• Tingling or Pain (Pins and Needles Sensation)
• Muscle Weakness
• Unexplained Pain
• Loss of Balance
• Difficulty Walking
• Loss of Sensation
• Paralysis

If you, a friend or family member have experienced Fixodent or Super Poligrip problems from zinc, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

The NSF lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. have been representing individuals diagnosed with this devastating and life-threatening condition for the past two and a half years. The vast majority of cases investigated and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis lawsuits filed involve the use of the Omniscan contrast agent, despite the 30% market share GE’s product has.

When we first began investigating the gadolinium lawsuits, manufacturers were not adequately warning that individuals with moderate to severe kidney failure could be exposed to this life-threatening disorder that causes a severe hardening and thickening of the skin.

In May 2007, the FDA required all manufacturers to add a “black box” warning about the risk. However, they did not specifically require GE to identify the increased Omniscan NSF risk, despite the fact that the contrast agent was by far the one most commonly associated with reports of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

It is important for the medical community to understand that Omniscan does not carry the same risk as other contrast agents, as steps can be taken to avoid exposing individuals to this condition, which does not occur unless gadolinium is introduced into the body.

In Europe, the Danish Medicines Agency has amended their recommendations to specifically indicate that the MRI contrast agent Omniscan should not be used in patients with severe kidney failure and in those who have had, or are awaiting, a liver transplant. For the other gadolinium contrast agents available in the country, doctors are cautioned to only administer them after careful consideration to patients with kidney failure, similar to the current warnings in the U.S. for all of the drugs.

The FDA announced last week that advisory committees will re-examine the warnings at a meeting in December 2009, where many expect that specific regulatory action will be taken to ensure that individuals with weak kidneys do not receive Omniscan. The agency needs to require GE to specifically identify the increased Omniscan NSF risk and contraindicate use of Omniscan for those with potential kidney problems.

OMNISCAN NSF LAWSUIT

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to pursue Omniscan lawsuits against GE Healthcare for individuals who have been diagnosed with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) or nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy (NFD). Potential claims are also being reviewed for individuals who have experienced symptoms of NSF/NFD, such as:

• Burning, itching, swelling of the skin
• Development of "thick skin" or "hard skin" which appears shiny
• Red or dark patches of skin
• Yellow spots on the whites of the eyes
• Stiff joints which cause trouble straightening or moving the limbs
• Deep pain in the hip bones or ribs
• Generalized muscle weakness.

To review a potential case for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>PRIOR POST (2/23/2008): Timeline of Stryker Trident Hip Problems

Stryker Trident hip replacements feature ceramic-on-ceramic parts, which are promoted as more durable and longer lasting than conventional metal-on-plastic or metal-on-metal hip replacements. However, a large number of patients who were given these implants have developed loud squeaking, popping, loosening of the components and other problems that they were never warned about.

The following YouTube videos posted by individuals who are plagued by squeaky hips caused by the defective Stryker Trident ceramic-on-ceramic hip replacement illustrate the problem:

In addition to the annoyance, embarrasment and inconvenience, these Stryker squeaky hip problems can cause an individual to suffer substantial injuries, potentially resulting in an inability to participate in activities they should otherwise be able to do, severe pain, loosening of hip replacement parts or the need for additional hip replacement surgery.

STRYKER SQUEAKY HIP LAWSUITS

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review potential claims for individuals who believe that they may be entitled to compensation through a Stryker squeaky hip lawsuit. To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>JPML LINK (PDF): Yasmin / Yaz MDL Order

Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §1407, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation can consolidate and centralize pretrial proceedings for related actions. The MDL process is designed to eliminate duplicative discovery that is common to many cases, avoid inconsistent pretrial rulings on similar issues and to serve the convenience of the witnesses, parties, attorneys and the judiciary.

In the Yasmin / Yaz litigation, there are currently at least 32 federal lawsuits pending throughout the United States in at least 9 different districts. However, all of the cases involve common allegations that Yaz or Yasmin, two similar birth control pills manufactured by Bayer that both contain the new progestin drospirenone, caused the plaintiff to suffer severe or fatal injuries, such as heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, gallbladder disease or sudden death.

Unlike a class action lawsuit, where a large group of people collectively bring one claim through a class representative, an MDL is the combination of a large group of individual claims for coordinated discovery and scheduling. In fact, this litigation will involve at least one Yaz class action suit among the individual cases, filed on behalf of a nationwide class of purchasers of the birth control pill who claim that compensation is owed as a result of false, misleading and fraudulent advertisements.

Although the Yaz and Yasmin lawsuits from across the United States will be centralized in an MDL for pretrial litigation, and the discovery will share many attributes with how a class action lawsuit over Yaz or Yasmin would be handled, the cases remain individual claims. Each plaintiff retains their own Yaz / Yasmin attorney and maintains the right to present their case to a jury in the district where the case was originally filed.

YASMIN / YAZ ATTORNEYS FOR INDIVIDUAL INJURY CASES

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent women throughout the United States who have filed or intend to file a lawsuit over Yaz or Yasmin side effects, which Bayer failed to adequately research and warn about before aggressively marketing the birth control pill. Potential Yazmin and Yaz injury lawsuits are being investigated for women who have suffered:

• Strokes or Heart attacks
• Pulmonary emboli, or lung blood clots
• Deep vein thrombosis or DVT
• Gallbladder problems or gallbladder removal
• Wrongful death from Yaz or Yasmin

To review a potential case with our Yas / Yasmin attorneys on behalf of yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

The Yaz and Yasmin lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating potential lawsuits on behalf of women who have suffered from side effects of the top-selling birth control pills. In addition to Yaz lawsuits and Yasmin lawsuits, potential Ocella lawsuits are also being investigated for users of the generic version of the drug, which contains the same new progestin, drosperinone.

As the New York Times article points out, the claims allege that side effects of the birth control pills with drosperinone increase the risk of blood clots, even when compared to other available forms of birth control pills.

Bayer knew or should have known about the risks, and failed to adequately research their drugs or warn about the potential danger. In addition, misleading Yaz advertisements were directed at consumers to encourage them to take the drug, by making false and misleading statements. This may have exposed women to the risk of Yaz and Yasmin problems, such as:

• Heart attacks and Strokes
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Deep Vein Thrombosis
• Gallbladder Disease
• Sudden Death

If you, a friend or family member have experienced health problems from Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>FDA LINK: Januvia Pancreatitis Warning

Between October 2006 and February 2009, the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System has identified at least 88 cases of acute pancreatitis associated with the use of Januvia (sitagliptin) and Janumet, which combines Januvia with metformin. The actual number of Januvia pancreatitis cases is likely substantially higher, as reported events usually only account for between 1% and 10% of all occurrences.

Some concerning information provided by the FDA about the Januvia pancreatitis side effects include:

• 66% of the cases resulted in hospitalization for pancreatitis
• 4 cases required treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU)
• 2 cases involved severe cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, which can be fatal in many cases
• 21% of the cases had pancreatitis develop within 30 days of starting Januvia or Janumet
• 53% of the cases resolved once the medication was stopped
• 49% of the cases were not associated with other risk factors for developing pancreatitis
• The most common pancreatitis symptoms from Januvia were abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting

According to the information provided to healthcare professions about the Januvia pancreatitis warning, the FDA concluded:

Based on the temporal relationship of initiating sitagliptin (Januvia) or sitagliptin/metformin (Janumet) and development of acute pancreatitis in reviewed cases, FDA believes there may be an association between these events. Because acute pancreatitis is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, and early recognition is important in reducing adverse health outcomes, FDA is recommending revisions to the prescribing information to alert healthcare professionals to this potentially serious adverse drug event.

JANUVIA PANCREATITIS LAWSUITS

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are closely examining the information provided by the FDA and evaluating whether users of these diabetes drugs who have experienced a severe injury may be entitled to compensation through a Januvia lawsuit as a result of the drug maker’s failure to adequately warn about this serious and potentially life-threatening side effects.

The FDA has not indicated that any users of Januvia or Janumet should stop taking their medication, and no medication (especially a diabetes drug) should be discontinued without the supervision of a physician. Any concerns about the potential for Januvia pancreatitis side effects should be reviewed with a doctor.

Symptoms of pancreatitis could include:

• Severe upper abdominal pain which may radiate through the back
• Nausea and Vomiting
• High or Low Blood Pressure
• Elevated Heart or Respiratory Rates

If you, a friend or family member have been diagnosed with pancreatitis and wish to provide information about your potential claim to be reviewed by our Januvia lawyers as part of our evaluation of this litigation, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>INFORMATION: Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

The report is published in the September 23 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic looked at stress and fatigue as separate factors in medical errors instead of combining them, as previous studies have done. Scientists involved in the study said their results suggest that distress over things such as burnout, family issues, financial problems and depression should be considered a separate issue from fatigue, which requires its own solutions.

The study looked at 430 internal medicine residents, surveying them from 2003 through 2008. The study asked doctors to score their fatigue, sleepiness and stress and were asked to self report when they made what they considered to be a major medical mistake. Researchers found that as symptoms of fatigue, depression and stress increased, so did the number of major medical mistakes doctors reported.

Recent efforts to make changes to medical training to avoid burnout have focused solely on fatigue, researchers said, which is only addressing part of the problem. The researchers also said that there is very little data on how, exactly, to improve quality of life issues for doctors suffering from distress, so it is unclear at this point what methods would best address the problem. The study’s researchers point out that more studies need to be done on improving such factors, and how they could lead to less medical mistakes.

According to a 1999 report from the Institute of Medicine, nearly 100,000 people in the U.S. die annually from preventable medical mistakes. The report also found that preventable medical errors cost between $17 and $29 billion annually.

In August, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen found that a number of basic, cost-cutting, patient safety measures such as the use of checklists in surgical procedures, best practices in treatment of ulcers and preventing bedsores and other simple, preventative measures could prevent a large number of doctor errors, regardless of fatigue or stress, and would save an estimated 85,000 lives and $35 billion a year.

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE ATTORNEYS

The medical malpractice attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential claims for serious injuries caused by medical mistakes. When a doctor or other healthcare professional fails to give their full time and attention to the patient they are treating, serious and potentially life-threatening injuries can result.

While every medical mistake does not result in a lawsuit for medical malpractice, if you suspect that a mistake or error resulted in a serious physical injury, you can obtain a free consultation to help determine whether financial compensation may be available. To speak with an attorney, request a free claim evaluation.

>>INFORMATION: Lawyers for Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure

The Mesothelioma Awareness Day has been organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, targeting local communities and radio stations across the country. The heart of the campaign will be radio airplay of music by Warren Zevon, who died of mesothelioma in September 2003. Zevon is best known for the single “Werewolves of London.” Songs by Zevon will be followed by a 20-second spot to raise awareness of mesothelioma and its causes.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which get into the body through inhalation or consumption. The cancer attacks the lining of the chest cavity and lungs. Because it has a latency period of between 20 to 40 years between exposure and diagnosis, it is often at an advanced stage by the time it is detected. The median survival time following a mesothelioma diagnosis is under one year.

Every year, about thousands of Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma, and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is warning that there is likely to be an increase of mesothelioma cancer in upcoming years in New York and New Orleans. The organization estimates that 400,000 tons of asbestos was released when the World Trade Center collapsed during the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and a large amount of asbestos was likely released in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck.

According to a report released earlier this year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of asbestos deaths each year from malignant mesothelioma continues to rise each year. Between 1999 and 2005, there were 18,068 mesothelioma deaths. While the annual death rate in the United States has remained stable at around 14 per million, the number of mesothelioma deaths increased from 2,482 in 1999 to 2,704 in 2005. The CDC indicated that the number of deaths from mesothelioma could peak next year, and hopefully return to background levels by 2055.

Asbestos was frequently used in a variety of manufacturing and construction processes throughout the last hundred years. Asbestos use peaked in 1973, before the toxic substance was banned from certain uses in 1982. However, it is still in place as insulation in many older buildings, ships and other structures, and is still used in some manufacturing processes in the U.S. and abroad in various forms.

As of last month, there were about 50 different Yaz lawsuits or Yasmin lawsuits pending against Bayer Pharmaceuticals, spread among 12 different federal district courts in 9 states and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. All of the complaints involve similar allegations that the drug maker failed to adequately research their popular birth control pills or warn about the potential increased risk of blood clots, heart attacks, strokes, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism, gallbladder disease and sudden death associated with Yaz and Yasmin.

A group of plaintiffs filed a motion to transfer and coordinate the Yaz/Yasmin litigation in July. Since that time, Bayer filed a response agreeing that the cases are sufficiently similar to each other to merit consolidation under the federal rules. The MDL panel will decide whether consolidation of all of the cases is appropriate and hear competing proposals from attorneys involved in the cases about where the litigation should be centralized for pretrial proceedings.

If a Yaz / Yasmin MDL is formed, all of the various lawsuits filed throughout the United States would be assigned to one judge, who would coordinate pretrial discovery and litigation in a manner similar to how a class action lawsuit would be managed. Although the cases would be consolidated, they remain an individual claims, and if a settlement or other resolution is not reached during pretrial litigation, the cases will be sent back to the court where they were filed for trial.

Similar coordination was recently established for all Yaz and Yasmin suits pending in Pennsylvania state court, where Bayer is based. The state court litigation has been consolidated for mass tort treatment in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Richmond, Virginia.

YASMIN AND YAZ ATTORNEYS

The Yaz / Yasmin attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to investigate new lawsuits for women who took a birth control pill containing drospirenone, the progestin found in Yaz, Yasmin and generic Ocella, and suffered:

• Heart attack or Stroke
• Deep Vein Thromosis
• Pulmonary Embolism
• Gallbladder Removal
• Wrongful Death

To determine if you, a friend or family member may be entitled to compensation, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>INFORMATION: Chantix Suicide Lawsuit

A report last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicated that the FDA was aware of at least 90 reports of Chantix suicides and 188 suicide attempts as of July. This is up from a documented 19 suicides and 15 suicide attempts between May 2006 and November 2007, when the first warnings were added to the medication.

Chantix (varenicline) was approved by the FDA in 2006 as a prescription medication to help people stop smoking, and it has proven to be effective. However, while most people look to stop smoking so that they can improve their health and prolong their life, side effects of Chantix have been associated with a disturbing risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior.

Rather than recalling Chantix, the FDA announced earlier this year that Pfizer will be required to add a “black box” warning to inform users and the medical community that users may experience an increased risk of psychiatric side effects, which can include sever and fatal injuries from suicide attempts, aggressive behavior and other behavioral changes.

Allowing the drug to remain on the market with increased warnings is designed to give smokers an opportunity to weigh the risk against the benefits. However, given alternative methods that are available to help people quit smoking, it does not seem that the benefits could outweigh the risk of damage that Chantix behavior changes can have on a user and their family, raising the question of why a Chantix recall has not yet been issued.

CHANTIX SUICIDE LAWYERS

The attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who are pursuing a Chantix suicide lawsuit for severe or fatal injuries suffered. Pfizer failed to adequately research the Chantix problems before introducing and heavily marketing their drug to users. Potential cases are also being reviewed for users who have suffered severe physical injury from sudden abnormal behavior, accidents or falls caused by seizures or blackouts, new on-set diabetes from Chantix and for individuals who have developed rare skin reactions known as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

To speak with a Chantix lawyer and have a potential claim reviewed to determine if compensation may be available for yourself or your family, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Two weeks ago an article was published in the New York Times Magazine, highlighting the dilemma many doctors face when presented with patients who are suffering from neuropathy and other neurological injuries, which have no apparent cause. In that article, Dr. Bilal Ahmed spotted a tube of denture adhesive in his patient’s hospital room and discovered that she typically used several tubes a month instead of the recommended one per month, leading him to determine that high levels of zinc were entering her body from the denture cream.

While the human body needs low levels of zinc to function, high zinc levels in the body can cause copper depletion, known as hypocupremia, which is known to cause permanent neurological problems including neuropathy, myelopathy, anemia, bone marrow failure and other problems.

Last week, an article by the Associated Press described how similar denture cream problems were discovered by 61-year-old Ronald Beaver, who figured out that he was receiving too much zinc from using Poligrip denture cream to help keep his ill-fitting dentures in place.

There are currently hundreds of other people who have filed a lawsuit alleging that GlaxoSmithKline and Proctor & Gamble Co., which respectively make Poligrip and Fixodent, failed to adequately research their products or warn about the risk of neurological damage that may be caused from using too much of the denture adhesive cream.

According to the Associated Press report, there are at least 25 Fixodent and Poligrip suits currently pending in Federal Court, which have been consolidated for pretrial litigation as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation, in the Southern District of Florida. In addition, more claims are expected as denture adhesive attorneys continue to investigate potential cases for individuals who have experienced neurological problems.

The recommended daily allowance of zinc is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women, with the maximum amount of zinc that can be safely tolerated being 40 mg per day. However, studies have established that users of Fixodent and PoliGrip may be exposed to levels as high as 330 mg per day, with many denture wearers using far more cream than is recommended.

Rather than warning about the problems and taking steps to ensure that only safe amounts are used, the manufacturers withheld the information and continued to reap the benefits of selling substantially more of their products than users needed or should have been consuming.

FIXODENT AND POLIGRIP ATTORNEYS

The Fixodent and Poligrip attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing potential claims for users throughout the United States who have experienced problems that may be caused by zinc poisoning, such as:

• Paralysis
• Numbness
• Loss of Sensation
• Tingling or Pain in Hands or Feet
• Muscle Weakness
• Loss of Balance
• Difficulty Walking
• Unexplained Pain or Weakness

For individuals who suspect that they may be experiencing problems, it is critical that a blood or urine test be obtained to test for elevated zinc levels and depleted copper levels as soon as possible. The use of Fixodent and Poligrip results in increased amounts of zinc and reduced copper levels, which can cause permanent neurological damage. However, once use of the products are stopped, the copper and zinc levels may return to normal, even though the neurological damage remains.

If you, a friend or family member have experienced problems with denture adhesive creams that contain zinc, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.