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National Law Firm Represents Bladder Cancer Patient in Actos Lawsuit

April 30, 2012 By

National Law Firm Represents Bladder Cancer Patient in Actos Lawsuit

Overview: The national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP is filing a lawsuit on behalf of a West Virginia man who allegedly developed bladder cancer as a result of using Actos, the diabetes medication. Jerrold S. Parker, co-founder of Parker Waichman, has been appointed to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multidistrict litigation (MDL) No. 2299. The case is currently pending in the Western District of Louisiana, and is among many alleging that Actos caused bladder cancer.

Product: Actos (pioglitazone)

Manufacturer: Takeda Pharmaceutical/ Eli Lilly & Co.

Side Effects & Complications

  • Bladder Cancer
  • Heart Attacks
  • Cardiovascular Problems
  • Congestive Heart Failure

Parker Waichman Helps West Virginia Man File Lawsuit

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Filed Under: Actos, Defective Drugs Tagged With: , , ,

National law firm representing Virginia woman, others in lawsuit against DePuy ASR hip implants

April 27, 2012 By

A Virginia woman is among the latest to claim her DePuy Orthopaedics ASR all-metal hip implant has caused serious injuries resulting in the need for an early replacement surgery.

According to a press release announcing the filing of the lawsuit, the 62-year-old woman received her DePuy ASR hip implant in October 2007 and as early as February 2011 had begun experiencing complications she blames on the device. Pain and inflammation were just the beginning of her problems. More testing revealed elevated levels of the toxic metals cobalt and chromium.

These adverse reactions to the ASR implant are shared by several other recipients of the device included in a lawsuit against DePuy filed last week in a federal courtroom by the national law firm of Parker Waichman LLP. Together, the lawsuit will be combined with others in a consolidated Multidistrict Litigation in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Defective Medical Devices, DePuy Hip Implants Tagged With: , , , ,

Over 1,000 Australians Suing Over Metal-on-Metal Hips

April 27, 2012 By

Over 1,000 Australians suing over Metal-on-Metal HipsOverview: In a federal court in Sydney, a class action lawsuit is being filed against Johnson & Johnson over metal-on-metal hips, alleging that the devices have caused millions of dollars in damages. Metal-on-metal hips have become highly controversial, as mounting evidence shows that they fail at a higher rate than other types of implants.

 

 

 

  • A class action lawsuit involving more than one thousand Australian patients is being filed against Johnson & Johnson; damages are estimated to be worth over $200 million
  • DePuy, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, recalled 93,000 hip implants in August 2010 due to a high failure rate
  • Last month, The Lancet published a study showing that metal-on-metal hips fail more than other types of implants.

Product: DePuy ASR Hip Replacement

Manufacturer: DePuy Orthopaedics/ Johnson & Johnson

Side Effects & Complications

  • High failure rate
  • Necrosis (tissue death)
  • Increased levels of cobalt and chromium ions
  • Pain at the implant, sometimes spreading to the groin and back
  • Osteolysis (bone loss)
  • Fluid collections/solid masses around the hip joint

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Filed Under: Defective Medical Devices, DePuy Hip Implants Tagged With: , ,

Antidepressants likely doing more harm than good, new study suggets

April 27, 2012 By

Researchers in Canada have released a new study suggesting the use of prescription antidepressant drugs could be doing more harm than good.

The study from McMasters University believes patients are more likely to experience negative side effects from drugs like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants than they are to glean any clinical benefit from them. The study suggests that elderly patients are more likely to suffer premature death from taking antidepressant drugs than they are to get any benefits from the drugs.

SSRI antidepressants like Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyban, Effexor, and Luvox affect serotonin levels in the brain, increasing them to regulate mood. The body naturally uses serotonin to aid in numerous body functions, including digestion, creating blood clots at wounds, reproduction, and development. According to a report at PsychCentral.com on the release of the Canandian study, elevated serotonin levels in the body when taken through SSRI antidepressants affect those conditions negatively. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Defective Drugs, Diseases, SSRI Antidepressants Tagged With: , , , ,

Takeda Warns Doctors about Actos Bladder Cancer Risk in Canada, but not US

April 26, 2012 By

Takeda Warns Doctors about Actos Bladder Cancer Risk in Canada, but not USTakeda and Health Canada have recently notified healthcare professionals about the increased risk of bladder cancer in Actos (pioglitazone) users, but no such action was taken in the United States. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning last June and approved a label change in August, the agency has not moved Takeda to publicly address the issue in the US.

Dear Doctor

Takeda Canada’s warning letter, endorsed by Health Canada and signed by Vice President of Medical and Scientific Affairs Brad Pamenter, specifically outlines the risks and recommendations concerning the type II diabetes medication Actos and bladder cancer. The notification officially contraindicates Actos in patients who have any history of bladder cancer, and states that doctors should assess risk factors such as family background before prescribing Actos. Furthermore, patients experiencing blood in the urine (hematuria) must be investigated before considering treatment.

The warning also updates doctors about the latest research, which generally supports the association between Actos and bladder cancer. At the five year mark of an ongoing ten-year study, researchers noticed a 40% increased risk for patients under treatment for at least one year. Additionally, the results of two 3-year studies found that 16 out of 3656 (0.44%) Actos users developed bladder cancer compared to 5 out of 3679 (0.14%) of people on placebo or glyburide, another diabetes medication.

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Filed Under: Actos, Defective Drugs Tagged With: , ,
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