New studies are now telling that SSRI antidepressants such as Paxil and Effexor may not be the best option for seniors. The drugs seem to have more negative side effects for seniors. Drugs like Paxil and Effexor are in a class of medications commonly known as "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)," that have been linked to many adverse side effects. The new British study appeared in the August 2, 2011 issue of the British Medical Journal stating that older antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, might be safer for patients over 65-years-old.

 

According to the study's author Carol Coupland, associate professor of medical statistics at the University of Nottingham states, "The choice of class of antidepressant is a complex decision, and some evidence is still lacking to help with that choice in older patients," she continued, "Low-dose [tricyclic antidepressants] may be more suitable in frail elderly patients at increased risk of falls and fracture."

 

During the study, prescription information was evaluated for over 60,000 patents between 65 and 100-years-old who had been diagnosed with depression. Of those patients, 90 percent were given one or more prescriptions. Of that 90 percent, 55 percent were given SSRI antidepressants like Effexor or Paxil. The other 32 percent were prescribed tricyclic antidepressants. The rest of the patients were prescribed other antidepressants. The results of the study show that seniors on SSRIs had a "higher risk of dying, having a stroke, falling, breaking a bone and seizures compared with those not taking any antidepressant."

 

The results have proven to be scary for many seniors being prescribed SSRIs to combat their depression. While the side effects are scary, one important factor should be taken to heart: Tricyclics are better for senior citizens than SSRIs. Still the results from this and previous studies prove that those taking antidepressants and those on a placebo pill have the same efficiency. As an experienced Missouri product liability attorney, I regularly see the pain and confusion that product liability victims go through. I am happy that a support group has been set up to help these families find comfort and prepare for what is to come. Lawsuits for the product liability of drugs like Paxil have increased dramatically.

 

Our experienced product liability attorneys in the Midwest believe that companies like the makers of Paxil should be held responsible for the harm that their drugs cause. We believe people who have suffered illness and injury from medication should be compensated for their loss. If a manufacturer has misrepresented you or a loved one has been injured by a medication that was not properly manufactured or the side effects, please call 888.956.2487 to speak to one of our experienced product liability attorneys today.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

It is a well-known fact that Reglan, an acid reflux medication, may cause tardive dyskinesia (TD) in patients if the drug is taken for more than 12 weeks. However, the drug Reglan has been given to help breastfeeding mothers increase lactation. Reglan has been found to help new mothers who are having problems producing milk for their breastfeeding babies. The off-label use does not have a specific dosage, but new mothers have been given 30 mgs a day, which is close to the same dosage of 30-40 mgs heartburn patients take.

Since a person using Reglan for heartburn and a mother using Reglan for lactation are the same, both are at risk for developing TD. The only variable is the purpose the drug is serving, therefore the risks are still the same. The reason the risks are the same is because of the length of time the medication is prescribed may vary, but the effects of the drugs may be more severe in some and less in others. Before Reglan was released, the FDA only approved its use for 12 weeks at a time, which means that women who are breastfeeding are at an even higher risk for developing TD because of the timeframe spent breastfeeding. The question that many Missouri personal injury attorneys are asking is what about the baby?

There is no conclusive evidence on whether a breastfeeding child is at risk for developing TD or other Reglan-related conditions, which means that more studies will need to be conducted. If you are a breastfeeding mother who is taking Reglan and notice symptoms associated with TD, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, ocular deviation, or biepharaospasm please contact your doctor immediately. After you have spoken with your doctor, speak to Missouri product liability attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.

**************************************************

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

-->On July 26, 2011, the Food and Drug Administration announced that Cetero Research, a drug research company, falsified drug research results in an attempt to manipulate the results. The research manipulation could complicate the already controversial drug Paxil since there is already numerous contradictory studies that debate the drug's efficiency and safety. The FDA's accusation came after an investigation into the research company, which consisted of two facility inspections, an internal investigation, and an audit by a third party. According to Reuters, the results of these investigations led the Food and Drug Administration to believe that the facility had "significant instances of misconduct and violation."

 

The research company Cetero has been hired by numerous drug companies to test medicine and review the results. Cetero's research is supposed to help drug manufacturers find out how effective their product is and if the drugs could be potentially dangerous. After the intense investigations, the FDA warned the drug companies that use Cetero for research they the results may have been falsified and many medications will have to undergo a reevaluation. The FDA officially accused Cetero of "faking documents and manipulating samples," which could void any research done by Cetero. As a result, the drug companies could have used falsified information to receive drug approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

 

The recent accusations by the FDA make many think of the drug Paxil and the drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline. Recently, Glaxo was accused of hiring people to write articles for doctors claiming Paxil's efficiency and downplaying the risks attached to the medication. Unfortunately, it seems as though Cetero was not performing adequate research but instead giving the drug companies the answers that they wanted. One of most serious accusations made against the research company is that in many cases, the studies that Cetero were said to perform could not have been done at their facility. The Food and Drug Administration said that it is possible that Cetero "fixed" the drug studies to get the desired result or excluded tests that failed to meet a favorable result.

 

In product liability cases, experienced Missouri lawyers work diligently to make sure that their clients receive compensation. Injuries from a prescription medication can be devastating, which is why product liability victims should seek the direction of an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.

 

Many liability lawsuits were filed against the giants of manufacturing drugs such as Bayer, Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth, and GlaxoSmithKline. In 2010, billions of dollars have been settled between these companies and product liability victims. These claims have one thing in common: they appear because the Plaintiffs accuse the drug makers of retaining data that showed popular drugs like Effexor, Paxil, Levaquin, Reglan and Yaz/Yasmin had devastating and potentially life-threatening side effects.

 

SSRI antidepressants like Paxil and Effexor caught fire over the allegation that they had hidden the serious side effects such as seizures, hallucinations, birth defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension, severe mood swings, and even suicidal tendencies. In fact, the manufacturer of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, paid no less than $ 1 billion in damages to settled claims against various drugs, including a 750 million dollar settlement has exceeded its "bad" manufacturing processes for Glaxo's plant in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Disclosure of wrongdoing in that case recently appeared on 60 Minutes.

 

Johnson & Johnson lost their final trial related to the antibiotic Levaquin, which became popular in 2010. Eighty-two year old applicant John Schedin won his claim that the company did not adequately disclose the fact that the drug caused tendon rupture in some patients. In addition, Bayer has made a series of trials that have not yet been decided on the pill Yaz and Yasmin. In these lawsuits, Plaintiffs allege that Bayer hid the fact that the pills could cause heart attacks, stroke, and blood clots.

 

All these companies have been accused of hiding the negative effects that these drugs can have on the public. Some companies are accused of going out of their way to hide this information completely and others accused of black-box warnings buried deep within the package documents. Still, other companies have been accused of using clever marketing techniques as a means of hiding serious side effects of their drugs to the public.

 

While the future of all these lawsuits can not be determined before they are settled or go to court, one thing remains certain: 2010 was a year of landmark lawsuits filed against drug manufacturers. As a product liability attorney in the Midwest, I am pleased that the FDA took the steps necessary to inform the public of the serious side effects of the drugs in question. If you or someone in your family was injured by a prescription drug with defects or labeling error, call 888.945.2487 for a free consultation with an experienced product liability attorney.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

An attorney for a man accused of threatening conduct has stated that his client was under the influence of a Klonopin, Paxil, and alcohol cocktail. Nathan Jackson Fuller Jr. lied to police after he crashed his car and threatening to go on a killing spree across the state of West Virginia. Fuller's attorney stated that he hoped that the charges would be dropped once he proves his client's statements to police held no truth. Fuller made the decision to waive his right to a preliminary hearing on May 16 in a Marion County Magistrate Court. John David Moore, Fuller's alleged accomplice, has been listed as a codefendant in the case. The magistrate believes there is probably cause to try a case against Moore however Moore's attorney insists his client's innocence.

 

Both men have been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit murder. After Fuller collided his car on May 3 in Rivesville, injuring Moore, Fuller allegedly began stating oddities to the arresting officer as he was being arrested for driving under the influence. It was at that time Fuller confessed he was planning to go on a killing spree.

 

Allegedly Fuller began citing his plans on "going through West Virginia and killing people at random, stopping at a rest area, locating a few girls, and cutting them, stealing their wallets, and then stealing their vehicle, and continue that process, flipping cars." Fuller also stated he had been looking for someone to murder on High Street in Morgantown and killing someone at Penn State University earlier that day, but had not found the chance to do so. Fuller claimed he and Moore met up in Morgantown.

 

According to Fuller's attorney, his client was taking Paxil and Klonopin. Paxil is an antidepressant, which has been linked to suicidal and aggressive behaviors. Klonopin is prescribed to relieve panic attacks and treat seizures. Moore's attorney claims that his client never had the intention of killing anyone or helping Fuller on his spree. Fuller tried to reduce his bail amount but was denied and was returned to the North Central Regional Jail after his preliminary hearing.

 

A healthy lifestyle has been proven to alleviate depression, but it does not always relieve major depression. Many people have been prescribed Paxil, but have suffered severe side effects such as Fuller. Injuries from a prescription drug can be complicated, which is why victims should work with an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let us help you fight.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

-->The German company Bayer, which manufactures Yasmin and Yaz, tried to blame their recent stock market loss on the expiration of their patent. However analysts believe that the decrease in shares was not caused by the revocation of the patent. According to Bayer, the European Patent Office revoked the company's patent after the generic drug Novartis filed an appeal against the decision to uphold the patent in 2006. The revoke brought shares for Bayer down to 1.6% lower.

 

The patent protects the procedure to lower the amount of particles in the pills active ingredient and was supposed to last until 2020. However with the recent revoke the patent might give generic versions a chance to release this year. A JP Morgan analyst expects to see Hexal, a generic version of the drug, release sometime this year. The patent for Yasmin products from the Glaxo manufacturer was revoked in America because of a number of pending lawsuits for its harmful side effects. After the patent was revoked in America, the sales for both Yaz and Yasmin declined 13% from the previous year. Analysts believe that the European revoke will have a similar effect.

 

A brokerage firm stated, "In Germany the pricing is dramatically lower than in the U.S. at 7.5 euros per month compared to the U.S. at 54 euros per month, which could lead to more brand loyalty allowing Bayer to retain more share." Insurance companies in Europe would like to prevent patients from choosing to buy the generic versions of Yasmin or Yaz. The main reason is that most women pay out of pocket for the contraceptives. Even though the revocation of the European patent was not good for Bayer and others, it was inevitable following the American revocation. Unfortunately many women have suffered from the drug's side effects, which leave many wondering why the drug has not been pulled from the market.

 

In product liability cases, experienced Missouri attorneys work tirelessly to make sure that their clients receive compensation for their injuries. Injuries from a prescription medication can be devastating to any family, which is why product liability victims should seek the guidance of an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

 

New information has been provided by a paper published in The Lancet establishing that researchers, Ian B. Hickie and Naomi L. Rogers, are currently watching how melatonin and its analogues chance the body's circadian system (internal clock) while providing treatment for major depression. This new information may make patients consider forgoing the use of SSRI treatments like Paxil and Effexor. The new treatment, Agomelatine, is an analogue that is showing much promise to the treatment of major depression. Simply it offers the same level of depression relief as medications like Paxil and Effexor, but it comes with an added bonus. Agomelatine can also help sleep pattern improvement in people under the treatment.

 

Both of the authors of this research have stated that one of the biggest causes of disability and early death are caused by major depression. Although the drug market has many medication treatments that work, they also come with limitations as to what they can and cant do. The current treatments also come with side effects that can be severe. The authors of the paper state, "Recent advances in our understanding of the fundamental links between chronobiology and major mood disorders, as well as the development of new drugs that target the circadian system, have led to a renewed focus on this area."

 

The research points to other evidence that supports the strong link between common symptoms of depression and circadian problems. Symptoms include restless sleep, waking early, daytime fatigue, trouble sleeping among many others. To the researchers, these symptoms created a natural curiosity and began the investigation into melatonin and medications that treat depression. The researches also stated, "In the short-term, agomelatine has similar antidepressant efficacy to venlafaxine, fluoxetine, and sertraline and, in the longer term, fewer patients on agomelatine relapse (24 percent) than do those receiving placebo (50 percent). Patients with depression treated with agomelatine report improved sleep quality and reduced waking after sleep onset." Currently Agomelatine is approved in Europe, the United States, and Australia in which patients have seen a major improvement in treatment of depression.

 

Even though a healthy life change can help alleviate depression, there are many who will still need to depend on antidepressant treatment. Injuries from prescription drugs can be complicated, which is why victims should work with an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney after discovering a product has caused injury, please call 888.956.2487 and let us help you fight.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

The popular antibiotic, Levaquin, was once at the top of the game, but many people wonder if the addition of generic versions of the drug combined with the several lawsuits may be the end of Johnson & Johnson's profit and domination of the antibiotic market. In 2006, Johnson & Johnson surpassed $1.4 billion in annual sales of Levaquin in America alone. For a long time, the drug was the most prescribed antibiotic on the market and sales increased by 1.7 percent in 2007 as news of possible tendon ruptures associated with drug. By 2009, sales of the popular antibiotic dropped by 6 percent, but that was just the beginning of the downfall. Competing antibiotics along with the side effects helped cause the major drop in sales for Johnson & Johnson.

 

The negative attention on Johnson & Johnson and their popular drug will continue through 2011 when most of the lawsuits against the company will end up in the courtroom near the end of the year. Unfortunately that is not the only problem Johnson & Johnson is face with when it comes to the drug Levaquin. In June, the patent on Levaquin will expire and many of the generic versions will be released to the public. The Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of Levaquin made available by Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co. Inc. The generic versions are expected to take an even bigger cut out of Johnson & Johnson's profits.

 

The trials against Johnson & Johnson and Levaquin are set to being this summer. One plaintiff, John Schedin, has already received a verdict in the amount of $1.8 million for punitive damages. Schedin suffered two torn Achillies tendons after taking Levaquin and that was the basis of his claim. In early 2009, the Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning involving the risk of ruptured tendons. But for many patients that have suffered from tendon ruptures, the warning didn't come soon enough.

 

In product liability cases, experienced Missouri attorneys work tirelessly to make sure that their clients receive compensation for their injuries. Injuries from a prescription medication can be devastating to any family, which is why product liability victims should seek the guidance of an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

Earlier in the month, the British Medical Journal published two studies that, Yaz, the popular oral contraceptive might be riskier than any other birth control on the market. However, Bayer has denied these accusations since putting the drug on the market. The results of the two studies coincide with studies that were previously released in the United States.

 

Both studies may have served as the smoking gun that supports plaintiffs in their Yaz lawsuits. The main study conducted in the United States was performed by research from Boston University's School of Medicine's Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program. The studies showed that women who take Yaz have more than twice the chance of developing blood clots than women who take other forms of birth control pills. The main ingredient, drosperinone a (synthetic progestin), is the dangerous part of the drug. Most of the other birth controls on the market use a different synthetic progestin named levonorgestrel. Before Yaz hit the market, levonorgestrel was the main ingredient in birth control pills.

 

The study in the British Medical Journal concluded that, different from the U.S. study, states that women on Yaz are three times more likely to develop blood clots than from other oral contraceptives. These studies came out a little over a week after the Canadian Medical Association Journal published a study involving 2.7 million American women. This study showed the 20 percent of the woman taking Yaz developed gallbladder problems, which has gained much attention. Evidence against Yaz and Bayer are piling up, but even with all the evidence it still remains the most popular oral contraceptive.

 

Manufacturers have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe for consumers. If a defective product injures you, the manufacturer of the product should be held liable. If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled medication or product in Missouri, contact our experienced product liability attorneys at 800.956.2487. You and your family may be entitled to compensation as a result of the harmful product.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

In recent studies on mice, Rockefeller University scientists have discovered that patients who take anti-inflammatory medications minimize the effective compounds in various antidepressant medications, which include Paxil. Paul Greengard and Jennifer Warner-Schmidt found that ibuprofen, naproxen, and other over-the-counter medication lower the benefits of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. These experts believe that the study is most important for Alzheimer's patients. The reason Alzheimer's patients are believed to be at risk is that they suffer from depression and treatment for the disorder alievates the severity that Alzheimer's progresses. However, not just Alzheimer's patients are at risk. Many elderly individuals are treated for depression to reduce the chances of getting Alzheimer's.

 

In the course of the study, the researchers gave mice popular antidepressants while also giving them anti-inflammatory drugs to see how the animals would react. The mice given anti-depressants illustrated behaviors that were inhibited by taking anti-inflammatories. After this phase in the research had been completed, the scientists ran the same test on human patients. The people who took anti-depressants and anti-inflammatory medications were not getting relief from their symptoms as patients who didn't take the anti-inflammatories.

 

The scientist, Warner-Schmidt, summed up the research stating, "The mechanism underlying these effects is not yet clear. Nevertheless, our results may have profound implications for patients, given the very high treatment resistance rates for depressed individuals taking SSRIs."

 

"Many elderly individuals suffering from depression also have arthritic or related diseases and as a consequence are taking both antidepressant and anti-inflammatory medications," Greengard added to his colleague statement. "Our results suggest that physicians should carefully balance the advantages and disadvantages of continuing anti-inflammatory therapy in patients being treated with antidepressant medications."

 

Even though a healthy life change can help relieve depression, there are many who will still need to depend on their antidepressant medication. Injuries from a prescription drug can be complicated, which is why victims should work with an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let us help you fight.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

Extra Strength Tylenol and Tylenol PM as well as other drugs containing acetaminophen could be dangerous to your health leading to kidney or liver conditions. Acetaminophen, which is found in over-the-counter medicine for pain and fever reduction, has not been recalled by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but they have taken several steps to reduce the possible risks from patient overuse. However the action by the FDA apply to only to prescription formulations and not the OTC drugs.

 

Overuse of the acetaminophen has been linked with several cases of severe liver injury and toxicity, which can even lead to death. Acetaminophen is often recommended by health care professionals for patients with a fever or in pain because it is easy on the stomach and more affordable than stronger pain relievers. Because the drug is so widely used and perceived as safe, it is commonly taken over the counter by individuals without thinking about the long-term effects of taking too much. Currently, overuse of acetaminophen is the leading cause for organ transplants in patients.

 

Earlier this year, the FDA limited the use of acetaminophen in prescription drugs to protect consumers, but these actions do not affect OTC products that contain the drug. Dr. William Lee, director of the Clinical Center for Liver Diseases at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, stated "Too much acetaminophen in the system at one time or over an extended period can cause serious liver damage or can lead to liver failure and even death. About 100 people die annually of accidental acetaminophen poisoning and another 15,000 end up in the emergency rooms from unknowingly taking too much."

 

Despite the warnings and advisories from the FDA, consumers still face a risk when self-medicating with acetaminophen. In March, a 49-year-old man from Florida died from failure of the liver and kidney, which was caused by taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen to alleviate a toothache for several weeks. Because the man did not have health insurance, he couldn't afford treatment took as many as eight pills a day for the pain.

 

Manufacturers have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe for consumers and warn them of any harmful effects. If a recalled product injures you, the manufacturer of the product should be held liable for your injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled medication or product in Missouri, contact our experienced product liability attorneys at 800.956.2487. You and your family may be entitled to compensation as a result of the injuries sustained from the recalled product.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

Antidepressant medications have received a bad reputation from the harmful side effects that they produce. With all the lawsuits that have been filed against Effexor and Paxil, popular antidepressant makers, is it best for patients to use natural treatments?

 

Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. When people are looking to cure their anxiety and depression signs, most of them in turn to prescription drugs. In fact, a study published in the Journal Archives of General Psychiatry, said that 10 percent of the U.S. population is on antidepressants such as Paxil or Effexor. This means that approximately 31 million people in the U.S. alone are taking these medications. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study, which showed that antidepressants are working, but they work no better than placebo pills.

 

A study conducted by the U.S. government 2006 revealed that less than half of those taking antidepressants like Paxil and Effexor experienced a decrease in the signs of depression. What is even worse, George Washington University Health Care Analyst Thomas Moore, who reviewed the unpublished studies from drug companies, says 40 percent of the studies focused on the power of antidepressants but did not submit information regarding the drug not working.

 

These study results and more have caused many physicians to believe that the simple life changes can be more encouraging in the fight against depression. "Doctors are now medicating unhappiness," says Dr. Ronald Dworkin. "Too many people use drugs when they need to be making changes in their lives." If the pills are not working, a simple lifestyle change may be the solution. The best part about taking advantage of a more natural type of depression relief is that it can also prevent the dangerous side effects of antidepressants.

           

Even though a healthy life change can help relieve depression, there are many who will still need to depend on their antidepressant medication. Injuries from a prescription drug can be complicated, which is why victims should work with an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let us help you fight.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

As a product liability attorney in the Midwest, I was unhappy to see the reports of death and serious illness of a prescription painkiller.  MedPage Today reported on January 11, 2011 that the Food and Drug Administration has ordered new labels for a popular oral morphine sulfate medication marketed by Roxane Laboratories. The medicine was marked at 100 mg/ml, which apparently confused some patients prescribed the medication. The confusion led to a several drug overdoses as many as 20 times the amount recommended and caused deaths and serious illness according to the FDA. The 100 mg/ml dosage of the drug may also have been perceived as a less concentrated version, which lead to the overdoses. The agency has commissioned a new label to distinguish morphine sulfate 100 mg/ml as less powerful version of the drug. It comes with a syringe that gives the right dosage making it easier to use.

 

Morphine has been sold many times in the 20^th century, but the preparation of morphine sulfate sold by Roxana wasn't approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2010 because the manufacturers never applied for FDA approval. The approval was important because morphine is a potent painkiller with a high potential for abuse and overdose. At high doses, morphine can cause respiratory problems that lead to death or brain damage. The dose of 100 mg/ml morphine sulfate solution that required the label change is already a high dose. The drug is for people who are known to have a tolerance to opioid and need a higher dose and for those receiving care from a hospice provider. The old label that has made the issue worse by giving the dosage in mg/ml, although the doses are ordered in mg. Consequently, those unfamiliar with the drug dosages given in ml increases the drug's already considerable power.

 

As a product liability attorney in the Midwest, I am pleased that the FDA is taking these steps. Most Americans do not use the metric system, so it is not surprising that some users were confused by the instructions of the doses of morphine. If you or someone in your family was injured by a prescription drug with defects or labeling error, call 888.945.2487 for a free consultation with an experienced product liability attorney.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

 

The whistleblower in the civil class action against GlaxoSmithKline, Cheryl Eckard, recently appeared on the newest episode of 60 minutes to discuss the case with the interviewer Scott Pelley. During the interview, said she was fired after officials urged Glaxo to do something about the conditions in a Glaxo plant in Cidra, Puerto Rico. She noted that from August 2002 until she was fired in May 2003, she had tried to get managers of the Glaxo to close the plant for as Pelley referred to as making "bad medicine." Pelley talked about what he claimed Eckard found was wrong with the production and packaging of drugs such as Paxil and Avandia during a survey she held that led her to act. He was referring to her claims that the facility:

• Mixed Avandia and Paxil together in the same packaging

• Shipped packages of Paxil with the wrong dosages

• Used tainted water in the production of the two popular drugs.

 

Eckard ended up having to file a full report to the Compliance Department at Glaxo when her managers continued to ignore her warnings about the dangerous practices. Ultimately, Eckard said they acted as if her complaints about the plant were not substantiated. This is what led her to report the situation to FDA officials in San Juan. She also suggested that these actions are what got her fired. In a press release, Glaxo denied the implications stating, "The company strongly rejects any claim of retaliation for whistle-blowing...In fact, employees are encouraged to report any concerns they might have to management or through a confidential compliance hotline. Issues raised are investigated, and company policy prohibits retaliation against employees."

 

Following these allegations against the Cidra plant, the Glaxo group settled the class action lawsuits for $750 million. From the settlement amount, $150 million dollars went toward fines and $600 million collectively went to the Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit. Whistleblower Eckard received $96 million dollars for her claim that the company fired her in retaliation. Lawsuits for the product liability of drugs like Avandia have increased dramatically. Our experienced product liability attorneys in the Midwest believe that companies like GlaxoSmithKline should be held responsible for the harm that their drugs cause. We believe people who have suffered illness and injury from medication should be compensated for their loss. If you or a loved one has been injured by a medication that was not properly manufactured or the side effects have been misrepresented by a manufacturer, please call 888.956.2487 to speak to one of our experienced product liability attorneys today.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

 

Bayer, the makers of a controversial birth-control pill Yasmin and Yaz has funded a new study showing that even if Yaz is dangerous, the pills that contain drosperinone are better for protecting women from unwanted pregnancies. The study found that birth control pills that make use of a drug-free time for a shorter period (drosperinone stays longer in the blood), mix those pills containing drosperinone like Yaz, may also act as a diuretic because drosperinone is a long-term progestogen. Right now, Yaz, Yasmin and Beyaz are the only drugs on the market, which may contain drosperinone.

 

Basically, Bayer paid German researchers to study a database that had over 52,000 records of women who were taking Yaz. The study was conducted by comparing the failure rates or the number of unwanted pregnancies that occur in women taking different oral contraceptives. According to information from the study, women taking pills containing drosperinone had less failure than those with other progestins.

 

While such news should be worthy of being celebrated for Bayer, but it does not overlook the fact that the company has thousands of lawsuits that were filed against them by women who have suffered adverse side effects of Yaz or Yasmin . Some of these side effects include heart problems, gallbladder problems, stroke and blood clots. Although there are many studies showing the dangers of drugs such as Yaz, which contains drosperinone, Bayer does not care. In an earlier statement made to address the risks of Yaz, Bayer's then counsel, David Stewart, said: "The reality is that Yaz and Yasmin are much more aggressive form of birth control drugs than previous generations"

 

Bayer executives remain fully convinced that all birth control pills contain the potential to cause serious health risks. Indeed, Bayer is so firm in that conviction that they have launched more drugs that use Safyral, droperinone, and Beyaz. One thing is certain: while Bayer is ready and willing to defend their oral drugs against all claims and complaints against them, the new study does nothing to help the company see the error of their ways. In any case, this new study Bayer simply encouraged to think that has done nothing wrong. For Bayer, at least, the risks are worth it.

 

In product liability cases, experienced Missouri attorneys work tirelessly to make sure that their clients receive compensation for their injuries. Injuries from a prescription medication can be devastating to any family, which is why product liability victims should seek the guidance of an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.


Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

With all the new pharmaceutical drugs coming on the market, it can be difficult to keep up with all drug information and side effects. As a product liability attorney, I keep a watchful eye on drug-related studies around the world. Recently I read about a new study that links a depression drug taken by pregnant women and an increased risk of birth defects. According to a study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, one of the more serious birth defects can be linked to Effexor is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). An FDA health advisory agrees, stating that women who took drugs similar to Effexor in the second trimester of pregnancy were six times more likely to give birth to babies that suffered from PPHN.

 

Babies born with PPHN have a far more difficult time processing oxygen while in the uterus than children whose mothers did not take the popular antidepressant. While babies are still in the womb, oxygen is transmitted to the baby through the umbilical cord instead of the lungs and pulmonary artery that circulates oxygen to the heart through the ductus arteriosus. Once the baby is born, oxygen stops moving through the ductus arteriosus and into the lungs. If the child is born with PPHN, the ductus arteriosus does not close. This prevents blood flow into the baby's lungs, leaving the oxygen supply of the child very low.

 

Some of the symptoms associated with PPHN are rapid breathing, fast pulse, difficulty breathing, and bluish skin. Children who are born of heart murmurs and low oxygen concentration in the blood may also have PPHN. Most children who are born PPHN don't survive it, but those who do not typically have long-term health problems such as difficulty breathing, complications of developmental disabilities, hearing disabilities, and seizures.If you took Effexor while in the second half of your pregnancy and your baby has one of the symptoms above, or if your child has been diagnosed with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation. You should talk to your doctor immediately and then talk to an experienced product liability attorney. Call 888.956.2487 to speak to an attorney today and we'll help you through this difficult time.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

Pfizer has made headlines in recent years with the controversy surrounding drugs like Effexor. In 2008 Akrimax bought the manufacturing plant in Rouses Point, New York, which sold because the demand for Wyeth's Premarin, a drug to treat menopause symptoms, dropped in demand. Since Akrimax bought the plant, it has been manufacturing Effexor among several other medications. Now Pfizer plans to buy back the plant.

 

When Akrimax first made the deal, the company leased some manufacturing space to Wyeth so it could continue making both Effexor XR and Premarin. In 2009 Pfizer bought Wyeth, but the deal did not change with the sale. Akrimax used its part of the manufacturing plant to make several over-the-counter creams, medications, and ointments. Several different reports verify the agreement between Pfizer and Akrimax to buy back the plant after Akrimax's plan to expand operations fell short. Akrimax's oversaturated the market making it difficult to sell the drugs they manufacture fast enough.

 

Chris Loder, a spokesperson for Pfizer told the Press Republican that "Akrimax's departure, which is due to take place in the next few weeks, will see around 60 of the 400 people employed at the facility lose their jobs. While Pfizer intends to continue some manufacturing operations at the facility in the short term, the plan is to seek a buyer for the facility and, if none can be found, close the plant in 2013."

 

As generic version's of Pfizer's Effexor XR hits the market, there is an oversaturation of the medication making it difficult to turn a profit. These days' medication manufacturers are surfacing with new versions of an old medication. When you add generic medications like Effexor to the mix, there is not much money for even larger medication manufacturing companies to make money.

 

With all the side effects of antidepressants such as Effexor XR, many people have turned toward making healthy lifestyle changes to help relieve their anxiety and depression. However, there are still some individuals that must rely on Effexor XR or other antidepressant medication. Injuries that are a direct result of the side effects of a medication can be more complicated than the reason the medication was prescribed in the first place, which is why victims should contact an experienced product liability attorney. Call 888.956.2487 and let our product liability attorneys fight for you and your family.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

Although widely used brands of birth control medications that contain drospirenone, such as Yasmin and Yaz, have yet to be recalled by the Food and Drug Administration, the evidence of the risks associated with the medication are being evaluated. Studies published in the British Journal of Medicine earlier this year reported that taking birth control medicine with drospirenone have two to three times more risks associated than for levonorgestrel-based birth control medications.

Two new studies published by the British Journal of Medicine examine the risk for blood clots or venous thromboembolism (VTE) in women between the ages of 15 to 44 who use birth control medication that contains drospirenone versus women who took birth control using another form of progestin. Progestin, a synthetic female sex hormone, is used in many oral contraceptives. In Europe, regulators are revising the prescription information to reflect these recent findings. The European Medicines Agency stated the risk of taking oral contraceptives containing drospirenone held a greater risk of developing blood clots than medication containing levonorgestrel. Although there is less risk in taking oral contraceptives with levonorgestrel contained a smaller risk of blood clots, the risk is there.

The Food and Drug Administration released an alert that stated that it is "currently evaluating the conflicting results from these studies and will look at all currently available information to fully assess the risks and benefits of dropspirenone-containing birth control pills." The agency is not suggesting that women stop using the birth control with consulting their doctor first, but does advise that women watch for symptoms of blood clots. Symptoms include severe chest pain, persistent leg pain, or sudden shortness of breath. The Food and Drug Administration plans to release a study this summer exploring the link between blood clots and hormonal contraceptives.



Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

In a statement, her attorney said she had been sentenced to five years probation for the murder on May 20, 2011. Her attorney went on to say that the combination of drugs that she was prescribed put her into a "catatonic drug-induced state," which caused Mary to kill her husband by stabbing him several hundred times in the throat in October 2009. After stabbing Charles, Mary also stabbed herself and tried to overdoses on Paxil and the sleeping pills she was prescribed. According to Mary, she does not remember her actions that resulted in her husband's death because of the medication she was taking. Since there was no blood splatter on the walls, Mary's attorney believes "the stabbing was not in a violent frenzy because the blood would have flown off the blade and into the wall."

During Mary's sentencing, her adult children came to her defense. Eliott Sattler, Deputy District Attorney, opposed the probation order because he believed it sent the wrong message to the public. Sattler asked the judge, "What does it say to the next person in a difficult situation with a loved one? We are living in an aging society. What does that say to them? To condone what she did?" The presiding Judge Perry did warn Mary that a violation to the terms of her probation would result in a very large sentence. As a part of her probation agreement, Mary must continue treatment for her mental problems and take her medication as prescribed. Judge Perry defended his position on the probation saying there was "no reasonable explanation" as to why Mary killed Charles "other than the medications involved." Judge Perry continued saying that Mary had suffered enough loss from the death of "her best friend of 43 years."

In product liability cases, experienced Missouri attorneys work tirelessly to make sure that their clients receive compensation for their injuries. Injuries from a prescription medication can be devastating to any family, which is why product liability victims should seek the guidance of an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. In cases such as this the side effects caused injury not only to the person taking the medication but also resulted in the death of a loved one. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.


Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

According to an extensive amount of evidence, the side effects of Reglan in children are harder to detect. The side effects of the drug are also more severe than they are in adults who take the medication. Reglan, a popular gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment, is meant to be used for the short term. The drug, which should not be used longer than 12 weeks, is often prescribed for much longer. The medication is often prescribed to children and toddlers who have not responded to other treatments of GERD. The major downside to taking Reglan is the many side effects.

One of the most severe side effects of the medication is tardive dyskinesia, which has no cure or known treatment. Tardive dyskinesia causes patients to have involuntary spasms of the lower limbs and facial ticks. These symptoms are hard to detect in young children because of their development stages. There are symptoms that parents should watch out for if his or her child is taking Reglan. These symptoms include:

• Agitation

• Diarrhea

• Confusion

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness

• Fast heartbeat

• Headache

• Fever

• Rigid muscles

• Increased sweating

• Trouble sleeping

• Tiredness

Because the symptoms of TD are unrecognized in children, many children are not diagnosed with the condition quickly enough; mostly due to the fact that parents do not know what to look for. Because of the onset of tardive dyskinesia in children, thousands have filed lawsuits against Reglan claiming they were not properly warned of the serious side effect that his or her child could be affected by. TD is a disorder that goes misdiagnosed just like Parkinson's Disease because the symptoms of the diseases are similar. It is advised by many product liability attorneys that if your child is diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease after taking Reglan to seek a second opinion.

The Food and drug administration regulates pharmaceutical companies to protect the public, but drug companies also have to answer to their customers when their drug is harmful. Patients that have been injured by a prescription medication that is falsely represented on the label can file a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company. Our experienced Missouri product liability attorneys fight the drug companies for our clients because they should not have to suffer for the drug company's negligence. Call 888.956.2487 for a free consultation to discuss your Missouri product liability claim, and we will fight on your behalf to make sure the drug company is held responsible.


Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

The makers of Effexor, Wyeth, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Intellipharmaceutics International, Inc. The case has reached a settlement. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court in New York's Southern District and focused on Intellipharmaceutics' generic capsule version of Effexor XR. As stated in the terms of the settlement between the two drug companies, Intellipharmaceutics will be able to hold a non-exclusive license to Wyeth's patent so they can legally launch a generic version of Effexor XR in the United States. This agreement may only come to reality as long as Intellipharmaceutics' generic version is approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

 

As of now, there is no assurance that any of the products produced by intellipharmaceutics will be approved by the FDA. However, with as successful as Effexor and its generic versions, it would be a viable risk for the drug company to take to manufacture it. Currently Effexor XR and its generic versions have grossed over $2 billion over the last 12 months in the United States. This record is amazing considering the lawsuits Wyeth has faced in light of the drug's adverse side effects. Despite the potential lawsuits against the drug, companies like Intellipharmaceutics stand to gain a major profit from the sale of the medication.

 

CEO of Intellipharmaceutics, Dr. Isa Odidi, explained why the company is excited when he stated, "We are very pleased with the settlement of the litigation relating to our generic version of Effexor XR, as this removes a significant barrier to the commercial launch of our generic product upon FDA approval. With five products awaiting FDA approval, we continue to work aggressively to both advance and expand the number of products in our portfolio." Even with the potential lawsuits for the adverse side effects of the drug, the drug companies stand to make much more than they will pay out for settlements in such lawsuits.

 

Manufacturers have a responsibility to make sure their products are safe for consumers. If a defective product injures you, the manufacturer of the product should be held liable. If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled medication or product in Missouri, contact our experienced product liability attorneys at 800-956-2487. You and your family may be entitled to compensation as a result of the harmful product.

 

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

For several months, Missouri Yaz Lawyers have been staying up-to-date on the recall of the popular birth control Yaz. Bayer, the maker of Yaz, is still under fire from users of the pill who have suffered from the dangerous side effects of blood clots, heart attacks, and a stroke. Recently, the drug maker is being blamed in the sudden death of a teenager in Independence Township, North Carolina.  

The mother of 18-year-old, Michelle Pfleger has openly blamed the birth control for a blood clot that killed her daughter. Michelle was on her way to Elon University on September 14, 2010 to attend her morning classes when she collapsed. She died shortly after arriving at the hospital. According to the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, the official cause of death was recorded as a pulmonary thromboemboli, which is an obstruction of blood vessels in the lungs. The teenager's mother believes that the Yaz birth control is what killed her daughter since a pulmonary thromboemboli is basically a blood clot.

The day before Michelle Pfieger died, she was treated for a knee injury with a painkiller, but the medical examiner does not believe that her death was related to the injury. According to the Eastern Express Times interview with Dr. Alberto Estrada from Phillipsburg's Warren Hospital vascular lab, it is rare for an 18-year-old girl to die as a result of a pulmonary thromboemboli, but there is no certainty that the birth control pill is related to the cause of death. However, the birth control pill could be a contributing factor if the conditions were right at the time of her death.

In product liability cases, experienced Missouri attorneys work tirelessly to make sure that their clients receive compensation for their injuries. Injuries from a prescription medication can be devastating to any family, which is why product liability victims should seek the guidance of an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let one of our experienced attorneys help fight for you.


Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

The Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., has committed to making a decision about the popular drug Reglan and other manufacturers can be sued for claims of mislabeled side effects of Reglan. According to a report by ABC News, the Supreme Court is ready to consider whether federal law is at least partially responsible for the lawsuit against the drug even after the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for sale. Most lawsuits are brought against those responsible for Reglan believe that manufacturers did not properly label the container side effects.

Manufacturers who have filed the appeal are: Actavis, Inc., Mylan, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and UDL Laboratories, Inc. The U.S. Court of Appeals made the decision that Actavis, Inc., an Icelandic company, could be sued by, Julie Demahy, a woman who claims she was not properly warned about the risks of the drug by the drug company. She suffered from a neurological disorder after taking the drug. Another serious adverse effect in patients taking Reglan is Tardive Dyskinesia. It is a disorder that causes uncontrollable movements of the face.

Although there is no fixed date when the Supreme Court will hear the case. Although manufacturers are still behind their products and marketing, the last year has been hard on many drug manufacturers. Numerous lawsuits were filed in 2010 based on misleading advertising. In fact, many drug manufacturers have been accused of not properly alerting the public about the potential dangers of their medications. Since 2010 was a busy time for legal action, many pharmaceutical companies lost billions in compensation.

The Food and Drug Administration regulates pharmaceutical companies to protect the public, but drug companies also have to answer to their customers when their drug is harmful. Patients that have been injured by a prescription medication that is falsely represented on the label can file a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company. Our experienced Missouri Reglan Attorneys fight the drug companies for our clients because they should not have to suffer for the drug company's negligence. Call 888.956.2487 for a free consultation to discuss your Missouri product liability claim, and we will fight on your behalf to make sure the drug company is held responsible.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

For several months, the civil lawsuit saga with Yasmin has captured the attention of consumers and experienced product liability attorneys around the country. Recently, a U.S. district judge ruled that 23 lawsuits against Bayer lacked enough real evidence to continue and dismissed the 23 claims. The lawsuit, which took place in St. Louis, Illinois, was against the makers of Yasmin, a popular birth control pill.

The attorneys for many of the 23 product liability lawsuits blamed the company for the side effects of taking Yasmin. The side effects to the birth control included gallbladder problems, which led to surgery for some. Other side effects were vein disorders and strokes. There were many lawsuits that were filed in different states including Arizona, Mississippi, and Missouri. One of the attorneys on the case wrote, "each plaintiff needed to serve a fact sheet that included a signed declaration and an authorization to release records." The judge ruled a lack of evidence because many of the plaintiffs did not complete the fact sheet.

The same attorney continued to say, that "important information was left off all of the fact sheets. In addition, in most cases, plaintiffs did not sign the plaintiff fact sheet declaration or provide responsive and substantially complete answers to plaintiff fact sheet questions regarding personal and family medical history." Without the cooperation of the plaintiffs with the fact sheets, the judge could not find real evidence that the popular birth control pill was the cause of any injuries to the 23 plaintiffs.

The Yasmin dismissal comes after several other product liability dismissals. While the judges that have ruled in favor of a dismissal that does not mean they actually believe the lawsuit to be bogus, but that the plaintiff needs to acquire more evidence before proceeding with the lawsuit. The dismissal of many drug-related lawsuits should not deter Yasmin victims from trying to receive compensation for the mistakes that Bayer made. The dismissal of the lawsuit will push product liability attorneys a little harder to prove their case.

In product liability cases, the experienced attorneys have to do what they can to make sure that their clients produce the correct paperwork and that unrelated evidence stay out of the trial. Injuries from a prescription drug can be complicated, which is why victims should work an experienced Missouri product liability attorney. To speak to an attorney right away, call 888.956.2487 and let us help you fight.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC.  Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his Missouri personal injury law firm routinely handles product liability cases that result in personal injury or death throughout the United States. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of a drug company, please contact a product liability attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

Our Avandia recall lawyers are investigating cases around the United States involving the side effects of Avandia. Patients who used the anti-diabetic drug experienced heart problems, edema, and other health problems associated with diabetes that was aggravated by the use of Avandia. Although sales of Avandia have dropped steadily since the drug was recalled, there are still many people who are in danger of its side effects.

 

Avandia, also known rosiglitazon, is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and was introduced in 1999 for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. The drug was approved to be used with a diet and exercise program to help control a persons blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that Avandia can cause fluid retention that increases the danger of congestive heart failure in patients with and without existing heart problems. Over six million patients with diabetes have taken Avandia since its release in 1999. The death rates of patients who have used Avandia are 15% higher than those who use other medications to control their blood sugar and heart failure is 13% higher.

 

Although SmithKlineBeecham, who is doing business as GlaxoSmithKline, have settled over 10,000 lawsuits associated with Avandia, they are still denying the allegations that they failed to adequately warn users of the risks. On May 21, 2007 the Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert warning users that Avandia could increase the risk of injury to the patients' heart. This warning stemmed from data taken from controlled trials of the drug. Several weeks later the New England Journal of Medicine backed the FDA's findings with their study that suggested that users of Avandia were at a 43% higher risk of heart attack.

 

On November 14, 2007 the Black Box Warning for Avandia was updated to include the increased risk of heart problems due to the drug. A Black Box warning is required the Food and Drug Administration for any medication that have medical studies that suggest the drug has serious or life threatening side effects. In February of 2008 the FDA issued a message to users of Avandia to watch for signs of shortness of breath or swelling that is caused by fluid retention.

Cases like the Avandia anti-diabetic drug are categorized as product liability. When a defective medication is brought to our attention, we look carefully at the design and chemicals to see if it is defective. If a company is going to profit from selling a defective medication, or at least on that increases its users' risk of heart attacks and strokes, our Avandia injury attorneys think that company should be liable for the damage they cause. 

 

Lawsuits for the product liability of Avandia have increased dramatically. Our Avandia Side Effect Lawyers believe that GlaxoSmithKline should be held responsible for the harm that Avandia has caused. We believe the people who have taken Avandia and suffered injuries should be compensated for their loss. If you or a loved one has developed heart problems from taking Avandia, please consult one of our experienced injury attorneys at Myers Injury Law to discuss your claim.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his firm is investigating cases nationwide of heart attacks and strokes caused by Avandia.  If you have suffered an injury due to Avandia, please contact us toll free to further discuss your case.  It is always free to discuss your case with us and we never charge attorney's fees until we recover on your behalf.

 

Medical science is pushing the boundaries to make new and astonishing treatments available. But, innovation does not always work out quite the way science predicts it will; one of the recent examples of an advance with a downside is Levaquin, sometimes known as levofloxacin. In these cases, our Levaquin Recall Lawyers investigating cases from all across the country regarding ruptured tendons as a result of Levaquin use to make sure you get the satisfaction and compensation you deserve.

We investigate and appear for those in need of representation in cases of medical misadventure of all kinds.  For example, you may need our help because you have been harmed due to misdiagnosis, late diagnosis, misuse of drugs or the miserable side effects of some drug treatments such as Levaquin.

If you have had infections as diverse as infections of the skin, urinary track, sinuses or even lungs, you may have been treated with Levaquin. Although you may have felt better in some ways, it is also possible that you are one of many people who have suffered inflation in some area of the body due to the use of Levaquin. This inflammation has been found to lead to complications in some people with the tendons and tendinitis, which is inflammation of the tendons.

Increasingly large numbers of people are revealing that they have suffered harm as a result of tendinitis following a course of Levaquin. Tendons in various parts of the body may rupture and patients may not be able to continue their lives as before as a result of swelling, inflammation, pain and bruising in the area of tendons. Other Levaquin users have reported strange popping sounds being emitted from tendons in use.

There are several other features concerning the impact of Levaquin on the body that you need to consider. One is that the tendon damage or tendinitis does not necessarily go away for some considerable time once the drug is no longer being taken. Another is that the tendon damage can appear after the patient has ceased to take the drug making it difficult for the patient to identify the link between the drug and the damage to the body. Our lawyers handling levaquin cases can advise you if you are concerned that you are a victim of Levaquin's harmful side effects.

If you have been prescribed Levaquin and have subsequently found that you are suffering inflammation or pain in tendons or have trouble supporting your weight or moving parts of your body due to severe pain, you could be feeling the impact of drug induced tendon inflation.

As Levaquin Side Effects Attorneys, we urge you to speak with us to see what we can do to help you establish your case.

Our Ortho Evra Patch lawyers have recently begun investigating cases around the country involving the dangers of the birth control patch. Ortho McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc introduced the Ortho Evra birth control patch in 2002. The once-a-week birth control patch was offered to females as an alternative to taking the birth control pill every day with the same protection against unwelcome pregnancies. Although the birth control patch gave women the convenience of a weekly application, we believe the birth control method turned out to be majorly flawed.

In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration conducted a study that revealed potentially fatal risks in Ortho Evra users such as blood clots that could cause heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms, and stroke. In November 2005, the FDA required the drug company to publish a warning to users of the increased health risks associated with the patch. Millions of women who were using Ortho Evra were already exposed to considerably elevated doses of estrogen, which put them at a larger risk for blood clots.

For any birth control to be effective, enough estrogen must reach the blood stream but too much of the hormone can be fatal. Once the FDA released their warning on Ortho Evra, the pharmaceutical company was required to change the packaging label to reflect the dangers. Unfortunately, the change came too late for some women. Over 3.5 million women between the ages of 17 and 30 had used the birth control patch before the warning was issued. Since 2002 there have been 23 fatalities due to Ortho Evra use with 17 of those deaths due to blood clots. Most of the victims who died were in their late teens and early twenties.

The Food and Drug Administration believes that 10% of Ortho Evra side effects have been reported, so the possibility of more women being affected by the drug is high. If you'd like to speak with one of our Ortho Evra Patch Attorneys because you believe it has caused blood clots, please contact us toll-free 888.956.2487.  It is always free to discuss your potential case.  Please note the law limits the amount of time you have to file suit.  The deadline is different for each state.  As each day passes, people's memories fade and evidence becomes scarcer.  Thus, in significant and complex cases such as product liability, time is always of the essence.

Cases like the Ortho Evra birth control patch are categorized as product liability. When a defective medication is brought to our attention, we look carefully at the design and chemicals to see if it is defective. When a medication causes injury due to its design, it is defective. We believe that if a pharmaceutical company is going to profit from the sale of its medications, then it should always bear the responsibility of the harm its drugs cause. 

Please call us if you believe you have suffered a blood clot due to Ortho Evra.  It costs nothing to speak with us nor to retain us to work on your case.  Rather, our fee is a percentage of what we recover on your behalf.  Additionally, we will pay all expenses along the way and they will be reimbursed out of the recovery.  If we for some reason do not recover, you do not have to pay any attorney's fees nor any of the case expenses.

In February of last year, the FDA ordered that all medications containing Metoclopramide include a "black box" warning.  The most widely known of such medications is Reglan which is manufactured by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.  The warning was due to the possibility of Reglan causing a very serious neurological disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. 
Recently, our Reglan Tardive lawyers issued a press release announcing that we are now investigating claims in all states across the nation of Tardive Dyskinesia being caused by taking Reglan. 

Many times, I speak with people who are unsure of whether their injury or condition, such as Tardive Dyskinesia, was caused by taking a medication such as Reglan.  What people need to understand in these cases is that Tardive Dyskinesia is a very rare, yet very serious condition.  If you have been taken Reglan and subsequently developed Tardive Dyskinesia, I believe the chances of the two not being related is practically impossible.

History of Tardive Dyskinesia

Tardive Dyskinesia was first recognized in 1964.  It was noticed that the condition was arising in nearly 30% of psychiatric patients who were taking anti-psychotic medications.  Thus, the connection between the disease and medication became apparent.  Today, we believe that Tardive Dyskinesia continues to be a side effect and potentially caused by certain psychoactive drugs and anti-depressants such as Reglan.  The typical Reglan patient is over 55-years-old and has been taking Reglan for more than three months.  Unfortunately, Tardive Dyskinesia is a very serious illness for which there is no known cure.  The condition is very debilitating and includes the following symptoms:

• grimacing
• rapid eye blinking
• repetitive twisting movements of the body
• smacking of the lips
• sticking the tongue in and out
• swaying movements of the trunk or hips

There has been no recall of Reglan despite the Tardive Dyskinesia cases.  Thus, if the manufacturer is going to continue to sell this medication despite the potential of causing its users such a devastating illness, our Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Side Effect Lawyers believe that the drug manufacturer should be responsible for paying for the damage its drugs may cause, including a lifetime of medical care.

If you have developed Tardive Dyskinesia after taking Reglan, you probably have many questions including whether there is any possibility that Reglan's manufacturer be held legally responsible.  Thus, please feel free to contact Schultz Myers, LLC founding partner Josh Myers at 888-956-2487.  It's always free to discuss your case.  Our attorneys are members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocate's Forum and routinely handle catastrophic injury cases.

Recently, our Tardive Dyskinesia Lawyers have issued a new Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Press Release.  The Federal Food and Drug Administration has issued a mandate requiring the makers of Reglan (Scharz Pharma, Inc) to include a black box warning on the labels of Reglan warning of the probability that it may cause Tardive Dyskinesia.  This is a very serious condition that is permanent and cause extreme problems.  Notably, the makers of Reglan did not voluntarily issue this warning when Reglan was first put on the market.  Thus, our Reglan Side Effect Attorneys believe that, if a large pharmaceutical company is going to market a drug that causes such a permanent condition, they should be responsible for the harm they cause. 

We are seeking to speak with anyone across the country who had developed Tardive Dyskinesia subsequent to taking to Reglan.  It is always free to talk about your situation.  You can reach our lawyers toll free at 888-956-2487.  Although headquartered in St. Louis, MO, we are not only speaking to individuals in Missouri and Illinois, but across the entire country. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING ORAL SODIUM PHOSPHATE OR FLEET'S EZ-PREP OR PHOSPHO-SODA, SEE THE VIDEO AT THE END OF THIS POST

Our oral sodium phosphate lawyers have recently begun investigation cases across the country related to the dangers of this drug.  Most sodium phosphate is routinely before colonoscopies.  Over the past several years, the US Food and Drug Administration have received an alarming number of reports and they have subsequently linked the drug to onset of acute phosphate nephropathy.  This is a very dangerous condition where calcium phosphate crystal develops in your renal tract.  This leads to kidney damage and impairment of the renal functions. 

 

Essentially the kidneys are responsible for filtering out all waste products from your blood.  Any damage to the kidneys impairs their abilities to filter out this waste and your body becomes toxic in itself.  Of course this is extremely dangerous and can lead to death.

 

On February 11, 2006, the Federal Food and Drug Administration announced their requirement that the package of these drugs had to contain a Black Box Warning.  Black Box Warnings are known for their black outline on the packaging.  This is required by the FDA for drugs which studies have shown cause serious and fatal side effects.  Because of this Black Box Warning, these drugs are no longer allowed to be sold over the counter, but must be by prescription only.  The popular brand of the over-the-counter drug was Phospho-Soda manufactured by Fleet, however this drug was discontinued after the FDA's Black Box Warning.

 

Our sodium phosphate kidney injury lawyers are investigating cases nationwide of injuries due to Oral Sodium Phosphate.

 

These types of cases fall into the category of Product Liability.  Specifically, we often look to see if the chemical and the design of the drugs themselves are defective.  Essentially this means that if the drug itself causes the injury, it is thereby defective.  This is often easy to convince a jury; however, the harder part is proving that the kidney failure itself is due to the medication.  This often involves use of numerous experts.  Often times it is common for us to spend in excess of $100,000.00 in expenses to even get the cases to trial.  In our cases, we pay all these expenses up front for our clients so we never ask you to pay anything as we go along.  More importantly, if we for some reason do not recover, we do not ask you to pay any attorney's fees nor any of the case expenses.

 

If you'd like to speak with one of our oral sodium phosphate attorneys because you believe it has injured your kidneys, please contact us at 888.956.2487 or use the contact form on this website.  Please note the law limits the amount of time you have to file suit.  The deadline is different for each state.  But more importantly, as each day passes, people's memories fade and evidence comes scarcer.  Thus, in significant and complex cases such as these, time is always of the essence.

For more information regarding Oral Sodium Phosphate Kidney Injuries and the FDA's Warning regarding Fleet Phospho-Soda, watch the falling video: