Injury Law Blog and News » Nonprescription drugs

Even the most common medications pose threats

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:55:30 +0000

The Los Angeles Times has an excellent article on drug interaction dangers among five of the most-prescribed drugs. Drug interactions are dangerous and potentially fatal. Consumers have to be extremely careful to match medications and to choose their diet appropriately as well to avoid potential complications.

You can read the full article on the LA Times website.

Experts: Key drug facts often left off FDA labels

admin — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:15:11 +0000

Did you know that Lunesta will help you fall asleep just 15 minutes faster? Or that a higher dose of the osteoporosis drug Zometa could damage a cancer patient’s kidneys and raise their risk of death? Chances are you didn’t, and neither did your doctor. Much of what the Food and Drug Administration knows about a drug’s safety and effectiveness is not included on the label, say two drug safety experts who are calling on the agency to make that information more accessible.

In this week’s issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from Dartmouth College argue that drug labels don’t reflect the nuanced decisions the FDA makes when deciding to approve a drug. The editorial from Drs. Lisa Schwartz and Steven Woloshin recommends easy-to-read fact boxes to help patients weigh the benefits and risks of medications. If drug labels sometimes exaggerate benefits and play down drug risks, the authors say there’s a very good reason: they are written by drugmakers.

FDA cracks down on Internet sales of swine flu ‘cures’

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 18:13:27 +0000

About 80 Internet purveyors have been warned to stop peddling unproven or illegal treatments for H1N1 such as ultraviolet lights or dietary supplements

An ultraviolet light that its sellers promise will “destroy swine flu virus.” A dietary supplement claiming to be “more effective than the swine flu shot.” Pills, hand sanitizers and air filters galore. Through daily Internet searches, the Food and Drug Administration found hundreds of suspect items advertised as swine flu deterrents and cures, and over the last six months warned 80 Internet purveyors to stop peddling unproved or illegal treatments.

Read the full story on the LA Times website.

Health Concerns Over Popular Contraceptives Yaz and Yasmine

admin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:14:53 +0000

The oral contraceptives Yaz and Yasmin are the top-selling pharmaceutical line for Bayer HealthCare, largely as a result of marketing that presents them as much more than mere pregnancy prevention. As noted in the New York Times, Yaz, in particular, the top-selling birth control pill in the United States, owes much of its popularity to multimillion-dollar ad campaigns that have promoted the drug as a quality-of-life treatment to combat acne and severe premenstrual depression.

The Times also notes that recently the Yaz line’s image has been clouded by concerns from some researchers, health advocates and plaintiffs’ lawyers. They say that the drugs put women at higher risk for blood clots, strokes and other health problems than some other birth control pills do.

And regulators are finding other faults with the Yaz franchise. The FDA early this year asked Bayer to correct misleading television commercials. Last month, the agency cited the company for not following proper quality control procedures at a plant that makes hormone ingredients. Some industry analysts say that the avalanche of criticism could tarnish the Yaz line’s image. Bayer said that the company had been served with 74 lawsuits brought by women who charge that they developed health problems after taking Yaz or Yasmin.

The company says it intends to defend itself vigorously against the suits. The health questions and the lawsuits may rattle consumer confidence, but the Times notes the warnings from federal health authorities about advertising and quality control raise larger questions about Bayer’s approach to complying with government rules.

Yaz Birth Control Dangers: Patient Death Probed By Swiss Agency

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:08:26 +0000

Bloomberg News reports that Bayer AG’s Yaz contraceptive is part of an investigation by a Swiss health regulator into the death of a young woman who took the pill. The Swissmedic agency and an investigative judge are looking into the case of the woman, who died from the effects of pulmonary embolism.

The serious Yaz problems reported include blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, strokes, and gall bladder damage. In certain cases, women have died due to these adverse effects of Yasmin and Yaz.

Lawsuits filed against Bayer, the manufacturer of Yaz and Yasmin, by women represented by Lieff Cabraser allege that the company failed to adequately warn patients and physicians of the increased risk of serious adverse effects from Yasmin and Yaz. Meanwhile, Bayer touted the birth control advantages of the drugs in television advertisements.

Lieff Cabraser represents patients injured and families of loved ones who died while taking prescription drugs with dangerous side effects, including women taking Yaz birth control or Yasmin oral contraceptive who suffered dangerous side effects. Contact to a Yaz injury attorney at Lieff Cabraser.

Tylenol Recalls Child and Infant Liquids for Bacterial Contamination

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:35:45 +0000

ABC News reports that the makers of Tylenol are voluntarily recalling more than 20 children’s and infant’s liquid products after bacteria was found in an “inactive ingredient” in products manufactured between April and June 2008. McNeil Consumer Healthcare, which makes Tylenol, initiated the recall of “select lots” of the products after consulting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The recall was done on a warehouse and retail level, but products already packaged and on store shelves have “met all specifications,” according to a statement by Tylenol. No bacteria has been found in any of the finished products, Tylenol said. Read the full list of recalled Tylenol products.