Yasmin Lawsuit Information

Law firms recently have started taking inquires from people who may have a potential  yasmin lawsuit due to injury from side effects.

The FDA issued a letter to Bayer AG and strongly suggested that they talk about the numerous side effects. The FDA felt that the ads were misleading These claims are misleading because they suggest that Yasmin’s “different kind of hormone” offers unique “chemistry” benefits and that this difference contributes to the high rate of drug efficacy.

Yasmin is a type of birth control pill marketed and manufactured by the German company Bayer Schering Pharma AG Yasmin first entered the American market in 2001 and has generated close to 500 million in sales to date.Yasmin is an oral contraceptive and is a synthetic spironolactone analogue known in the medical world as drospirenone.

Drospirenone binds to the progesterone receptor, the resulting complex becomes activated and binds to specific sites on DNA. This leads to an increased difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus and implantation.

When the Yasmin TV advertising started the FDA took issue with the television commercials which featured women discussing the benefits of the product. The ads had a music score and dialog between the actors.

While there has been no official Yasmin recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned Bayer AG that the advertising campaign for Yasmin and Yaz were misleading, namely that the ads suggested a broad useage of the medication, minimized potentially serious side effects, and overstated the efficacy of the pill.

Twice have letters been sent to Bayer AG, and once has Bayer AG been ordered to correct its ads, costing the company a total of $20 million. Bayer AG is also under obligation to submit future ad campaigns to the FDA for approval before it launches them in the U.S.

Related :
Yasmin Lawyer

Propylthiouracil PTU Liver Failure FDA WARNING

June 3, 2009 – FDA Alert: Propylthiouracil -Induced Liver Failure

According to the FDA Propylthiouracil (PTU) can cause serious liver injury, including liver failure and death.

PTU is used to manage hyperthyroidism associated with Grave’s disease. It is also used to decrease symptoms of hyperthyroidism in preparation for surgically removing the thyroid gland or before inactivating the thyroid gland with radioactive iodine therapy

Reports to FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) suggest there is an increased risk of hepatotoxicity with PTU when compared with methimazole (MMI).

The FDA has identified 32 AERS cases (22 adult and 10 paediatric) of serious liver injury associated with PTU use. Of the adult cases, 12 deaths and 5 liver transplants occurred. Among the paediatric patients, 1 case resulted in death and 6 in liver transplants.

In contrast, for MMI only 5 AERS cases of serious liver injury were identified. All five cases were in adult patients and 3 resulted in death.

Although both PTU and MMI are indicated for the treatment of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease, healthcare professionals should carefully consider which drug to initiate in a patient recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease. PTU may also be used when it is not advisable to remove the thyroid gland.

Physicians should closely monitor patients on PTU therapy for symptoms and signs of liver injury, especially during the first 6 months after initiation of therapy (fatigue, weakness, vague abdominal pain, loss of appetite, itching, easy bruising or yellowing of the eyes or skin).

In general, PTU is considered second-line drug therapy except in patients who are allergic to or intolerant of methimazole. Rare cases of embryopathy, including aplasia cutis, have been reported with use of MMI during pregnancy, while no such cases have been reported with PTU use. Thus, PTU may be more appropriate for patients with Graves’ disease who are in their first trimester of pregnancy.

Agranulocytosis is potentially the most serious side effect of Propylthiouracil therapy. Patients should be instructed to report any symptoms of agranulocytosis, such as fever or sore throat. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and aplastic anemia (pancytopenia) may also occur. The drug should be discontinued in the presence of agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia (pancytopenia), ANCA-positive vasculitis, hepatitis, interstitial pneumonitis, fever, or exfoliative dermatitis. The patient’s bone marrow function should be monitored. Propylthiouracil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman.

Because the drug readily crosses placental membranes and can induce goiter and even cretinism in the developing fetus, it is important that a sufficient, but not excessive, dose be given. In many pregnant women, the thyroid dysfunction diminishes as the pregnancy proceeds; consequently a reduction of dosage may be possible. In some instances, Propylthiouracil can be withdrawn 2 or 3 weeks before delivery.

On April 18, 2009, the FDA held a public workshop with the American Thyroid Association (ATA) to discuss PTU-related hepatotoxicity. The FDA is continuing to monitor these serious reported adverse events and working to make changes to the PTU prescribing information, particularly for use in paediatric patients. Also, the ATA plans to update its treatment guidelines for Graves’ disease in the upcoming months.

Reports to FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) suggest there is an increased risk of hepatotoxicity with PTU when compared to methimazole (MMI). Although both PTU and MMI are indicated for the treatment of hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ disease, healthcare professionals should carefully consider which drug to initiate in a patient recently diagnosed with Graves’ disease. Physicians should closely monitor patients on PTU therapy for symptoms and signs of liver injury, especially during the first six months after initiation of therapy. PTU and MMI were approved in 1947 and 1950, respectively.

Hydroxycut Recall Information – 5/2/2009

Products included in the Hydroxycut Recall

• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Capsules
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

Users of Hydroxycut should be aware of symptoms of possible liver damage from hydroxycut, including, jaundice, brown urine, nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.

Yasmin Lawyer – Yasmin Birth Control under Scrutiny

Yasmin Birth control drug is the latest drug to come under scrutiny. Yasmin has been associated with several serious side effects including stroke, heart attack and even death.  Women a history involving cardiovascular problems should be especially careful.

Other severe side effects include:

• Severe allergic reactions including :rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing.
• Tightness in the chest swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.
• Fainting
• Irregular heartbeat
• Symptoms of liver problems
• Unusual or severe vaginal bleeding
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• vaginal irritation or discharge
• Vision changes (eg, sudden vision loss, double vision)

If you experience any of these Yasmin side effects you should seek medical attention immediatly.

Yasmin Lawyers are also investigating these reports and are looking for women who may have severe side effects from yasmin birth control.

For more information call our free legal hotline 1-866-242-0905

Metrolink Lawyer for Los Angeles Train Accident

National Law Firm Steigerwalt and Associates announces that it will be assisting victims and family members of those injured or killed in the Los Angeles Metrolink Train Accident.

For legal questions and a free consultation call -  1-800-775-3779

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental health is providing much needed free counseling at their two locations on a daily basis.

The Metrolink train accident were killed 26 people  and 135 injured some of which are in critical condition.

Anyone involved in such a horrendous accident like the Metrolink 111 train wreck from last week may need someone to talk to.

The scene has been described as gruesome and horrifying.  Rescuers have been pulling bodies out and assessing the wreckage for the days after.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental health  centers will be open from 8 am to 5 pm.

There is a center in San Fernando Valley located at 10605 Balboa Blvd., Suite 100 in Granada Hills, 91344, (818) 832-2400.

The other location is West Valley Mental Health Center located at 7621 Canoga Ave. in Canoga Park, 91304, (818) 598-6900.

If you have been affected by the train crash, do not hesitate to visit either of these centers for free counseling.

train, accident, lawyer, los angeles, california, news, LA

Los Angeles Metro Link Lawyer – Text Message Discussion

Was the Engineer Text Messaging before the Metrolink Crash?

Apparently there are some teenagers that had become friends with the Metrolink engineer because of the interest that had in his job.  One teen, Nick Williams, has claimed that the engineer was texting him throughout the day, and that the third and last text message he received that Friday came to his cell phone just moments before the crash.  The teen has been seen on air holding a cell phone with a text message from the engineer date and time stamped, Friday, Sept 12th 4:22 pm.
Denise Tyrrell said that she feels it is “unbelievable” that an engineer would be sending text messages while operating a train.  The name of the engineer has not been released yet.
This claim has not been confirmed as yet.  In past accidents, similar claims were made, so this needs to be investigated further.
This is the worst crash that has occurred since 1993 where 47 people were killed.  The Metrolink commuter train was going to Ventura County with 220 passengers, one engineer, and one conductor.  The train that it collided with was a freight train with a crew of three.  Families of victims are struggling with their sudden losses.  At least 25 people have died from the crash and at least 135 have been injured.

Source: Los Angeles Metro Link Lawyer

Byetta Diabetes Drug Warning by FDA

The FDA has received reports of 6 cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis in patients taking Byetta.

Update Aug. 27 The makers of the type 2 diabetes drug Byetta reported Tuesday the deaths of four more people who’d been taking the medication.

Byetta is a medicine given by subcutaneous injection to help treat adults with type 2 diabetes. Of the 6 cases of hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis, all patients required hospitalization, two patients died and four patients were recovering at time of reporting. Byetta was discontinued in all 6 cases.

Byetta and other potentially suspect drugs should be promptly discontinued if pancreatitis is suspected. There are no signs or symptoms that distinguish acute hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis associated with Byetta from the less severe form of pancreatitis.

The FDA is warning patients taking Byetta that there have been “very rare case reports of pancreatitis with complications or with a fatal outcome.”

Six more reports of patients developing pancreatitis while taking Byetta. Two patients died and 4 were recovering.

Regulators stressed that patients should stop taking Byetta immediately if they develop signs of acute pancreatitis, a swelling of the pancreas that can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The FDA warned that it is very difficult to distinguish acute pancreatitis from less dangerous forms of the condition.

The FDA announcement updated an October alert about 30 reports of Byetta patients developing pancreas problems. At that time Byetta’s makers agreed to add information about the reports to the drug’s label.

However, the FDA made clear Monday that it is seeking a stronger, more prominent warning about the risks.

Amylin and Eli Lilly said in a statement that patients taking Byetta have shown “very rare case reports of pancreatitis with complications or with a fatal outcome.” The companies added that diabetes patients are already at increased risk of pancreatitis compared with healthy patients.

The pancreas produces several important biological fluids, including insulin — the sugar-regulating hormone that most diabetics lack.

If pancreatitis is confirmed, initiate appropriate treatment and carefully monitor the patient until recovery. Byetta should not be restarted. Consider antidiabetic therapies other than Byetta in patients with a history of pancreatitis.

Read the complete MedWatch 2008 Safety Summary, including a link to the ‘”Information for Healthcare Professionals”

Byetta Lawyers are available for free consultations for people who have been affected by the side effects of this drug.

Carbatrol Lawsuit filed

Generic versus brand name drugs are always an issue for pharmaceutical companies. If there are drug companies producing generic versions of drugs illegally, then it should very well be an issue.

This is the case with Shire who has a track record of filing lawsuits against other drug companies. This time they are filing patent infringement lawsuits against Nostrum Pharmaceuticals and Apotex for attempting to apply to be able to market versions of its anti-seizure drug Carbatrol.

Carbatrol is used to treat patients who suffer seizures disorders and trigeminal neuralgia. Trigeminal neuralgia is described as episodes of “sudden, brief, recurrent, stabbing facial pain.”

There are rules and regulations that must be followed when producing generic drugs some of which are in place to protect consumers. If a company is not following these rules they can be detrimental to the public health.

This is the cause of some pharmaceutical drug recalls. Consumers use the recalled drug ignorant of its recall status and consequently suffer extreme adverse effects and sometimes death.

If you have taken a drug and have experienced any adverse side effects consult with one of our attorneys as well as visit our website at www.kerrysteigerwalt.com. (Always seek the medical attention you need first.)

Chantix Banned by FAA Over Side Effects

Pfizer Inc.’s once promising anti-smoking drug Chantix received another blow Wednesday after a nonprofit group’s report about serious physical side effects prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to ban the drug’s use by pilots and air traffic controllers.The report, from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, points out hundreds of serious problems reported since the popular drug was approved in May 2006, including dizziness, loss of consciousness, seizures, and abnormal spasms and movements.

“We have immediate safety concerns about the use of varenicline (Chantix) among persons operating aircraft, trains, buses and other vehicles, or in other settings where a lapse in alertness or motor control could lead to massive, serious injury,” the researchers said in the report.

FAA spokesman Les Dorr said the Chantix ban is effective immediately and that the agency was notifying unions representing pilots and controllers. He said the FAA is unaware of any aviation accident caused or contributed to by Chantix. Pfizer, in a statement, reaffirmed its stand on the drug’s safety and said the label already contains safety warnings about driving or operating machinery.

San Diego University Drug Bust

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (AP) — An undercover drug probe focused on San Diego State University and some of its fraternities has led to arrests of 96 people, including 75 students, authorities said Tuesday.Eighteen of the students were arrested Tuesday when nine search warrants were executed at various locations including fraternities, said Jesse Rodriguez, San Diego County assistant district attorney.

During the probe investigators discovered that in some fraternities most members were aware of “organized drug dealing occurring from the fraternity houses by its members,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement.

“Undercover agents purchased cocaine from fraternity members and confirmed that a hierarchy existed for the purpose of selling drugs for money,” the DEA said.

Authorities said they found drugs being moved in resale quantities.

“We’re talking about trafficking,” Stephen Weber, SDSU president, told a news conference.

The district attorney’s office said search warrants were served in San Diego and suburban La Mesa, including the Theta Chi fraternity house and several apartments.

A member of Theta Chi sent out a mass text message to his “faithful customers” stating that he and his “associates” would be unable to sell cocaine while they were in Las Vegas over one weekend, according to the DEA. The text promoted a cocaine “sale” and listed the reduced prices.

Dale Taylor, national executive director of Theta Chi, said he was “obviously shocked and saddened” by the allegations.

Theta Chi has prohibited the San Diego chapter from group activities like parties or sports activities and will investigate additional disciplinary measures, up to expulsion of members or the entire chapter.

The San Diego chapter was founded 61 years ago and has 65 members. It recently purchased two small pieces of land where raided Tuesday and planned to build a new house there.

“There were on the upswing,” Taylor said. “They had improved their recruitment. They were trying to raise money for a new house.”

Kerry Steigerwalt, senior managing partner of Kerry Steigerwalt’s Pacific Law Center in La Jolla, a large firm of criminal defense attorneys, said the fraternity members arrested Tuesday could face prosecution for gang crimes both because of their association with the fraternities and because one of the non-students arrested in the sting is a documented Los Angeles gang member.

Steigerwalt said if prosecutors can show that some of the individuals arrested were associated with that gang member, Omar Castaneda, those individuals could find themselves charged with gang crimes.

“Under the gang statute, they don’t have to be members of the gang. All they have to do is be in close association with a gang member who is participating in activity to ultimately benefit the gang,” Steigerwalt said. “I gotta tell you, it would not surprise me if gang enhancements are charged.”

Nevada Clinic Crisis -Official Hotlines and Information

In February 2008, 40,000 Nevadans were contacted that they may have been exposed to HIV and hepatitis strains B and C after having surgical procedures at the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, 700 Shadow Lane. Federal health officials called it the largest notification of its kind in U.S. history. Patients who had visited the center between between March 2004 and Jan. 11, 2008, were advised to be tested for the diseases.

LEGAL ASSISTANCE
Hot line: 1-866-242-0905
Web site: www.resource4thepeople.com

SOUTHERN NEVADA HEALTH DISTRICT
Hot line: 702-759-4636
Web site: southernnevadahealthdistrict.org.

PATIENT INFORMATION
Health District Letters
• English version (pdf)
• Spanish version (pdf)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
More patient information

CONTACT AN R-J REPORTER
Annette Wells: awells@reviewjournal.com
Paul Harasim: pharasim@reviewjournal.com

Source: www.lvrj.com

Mar 21: Health alert lawyers gather
Mar 21: Letter: Doctor quits insurer
Mar 21: Veterans among thousands tested
Mar 21: Mayor: Clinic hearing to be wide-ranging
Mar 20: CANCER FIGHTER: TEST CAUGHT UP IN CONTROVERSY
Mar 20: Doctor defies Gibbons’ call to quit state board
Mar 20: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Retiree’s widow sues clinic
Mar 20: INSPECTIONS AT SURGERY CENTERS COMPLETED
Mar 20: City issues complaint against clinic
Mar 19: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: New hepatitis case surfaces
Mar 19: Henderson center’s owners surrender business license
Mar 19: Governor vows to have last word on medical board
Mar 19: County OKs deal’s cancellation
Mar 18: Crisis puts heat on Gibbons
Mar 18: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Medical officials don’t budge
Mar 18: Officials investigate case of hepatitis C
Mar 17: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Shake-up hits medical board
Mar 16: GASTROENTEROLOGY CENTER PHYSICIANS
Mar 16: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Doctors can turn to friends
Mar 15: Three withdraw from inquiry
Mar 15: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Closed clinic may be underinsured
Mar 15: Inspectors cite two more surgery centers
Mar 14: LEGISLATIVE PANEL SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT
Mar 14: It’s been hell being a Las Vegas doctor
Mar 14: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Lawyers: 100 fear infection
Mar 14: Doctor shortage seen as worse than outbreak
Mar 13: NEVADANS IN CONGRESS DISCUSS HEALTH ALERT
Mar 13: Agency late on medical reviews
Mar 12: SYRINGE, VIAL REUSE: Physician fired for missteps
Mar 12: Licensing bureau alters surgical centers’ rules
Mar 12: Lawsuit alleges complaints not investigated
Mar 11: Patients fret about access to records
Mar 11: Six medical offices raided in probe into hepatitis C outbreak
Mar 11: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Problems engulf another clinic
Mar 11: Gibbons may support criminal charges
Mar 09: HEALTH SCANDALS: Doctors feeling pressure
Mar 08: SYRINGE REUSE: Another LV clinic implicated
Mar 08: CLINIC OWNER TO STOP PRACTICING MEDICINE
Mar 08: Gibbons opposed adding surveyors
Mar 07: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Lapses seen at more sites
Mar 07: FBI, IRS launch Medicare fraud investigations
Mar 07: Physicians’ licenses targeted
Mar 07: Office permitted to reopen in NLV
Mar 07: Doctor ceases practice of medicine at board’s request
Mar 06: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: LV patient feels at fault
Mar 06: Legislative health panel meeting set
Mar 06: Lawyers: Pain, suffering cap won’t bring justice
Mar 06: Filing of new lawsuits brings total to 14
Mar 06: Nurses lose their licenses
Mar 05: Husband, wife suspect clinic source of infection
Mar 05: More clinic offices closed
Mar 05: Deficiencies bring fines against clinic
Mar 05: Five of six centers now closed by local entities
Mar 04: Related clinics closed
Mar 04: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Criminal inquiry starts
Mar 04: Scare brings back memories
Mar 04: Unsafe cost cuts ‘common practice’
Mar 04: CDC chief: ‘This should never happen’
Mar 03: County acts against medical centers
Mar 03: City rejects clinic’s appeal of license revocation
Mar 02: ‘They’ve almost given me a death sentence’
Mar 02: BLOOD-BORNE DISEASES: Patients on clinic’s bottom line
Mar 01: Tourists at no risk of hepatitis B or C, health officials say
Mar 01: Clinic sued by patients who contracted virus
Mar 01: POSSIBLE EXPOSURE TO HEPATITIS, HIV: Endoscopy clinic shut down
Mar 01: CDC tries to allay fears
Mar 01: Labs offer reduced, no cost testing
Feb 29: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Feb 29: Berkley calls for hearing on clinic incidents
Feb 29: Insurers mum about implications
Feb 29: Clinic owner found success
Feb 29: PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS: Clinic outcry grows
Feb 28: EXPOSURE FEARED: 40,000 LV clinic patients urged to be tested for viruses 

Nevada Hepatitis C Crisis Continues – More Confirmed Cases

Nevada health officials announced that they received information about evidence of another hepatitis C case related to the first outbreak at the Shadow Lane facility that was closed down last week.

This came Several weeks after a procedure was performed at the Desert Shadow clinic, the patient’s doctor diagnosed the infection, according to officials. This was not reported to the district, as is required by state law, health officials said.

“Had the doctor reported this to us, maybe we would have been able to find it back in 2006 and eliminated any potential for disease transmission,” said Brian Labus, chief epidemiologist for the health district.

The complete story and more information about the Nevada Hepatitis Scare, the Endoscopy Center of Nevada and Clinic Closures can be found at:

www.resource4thepeople.com/medicalmalpractice