Dangerous Drugs and Devices

What is Abilify?

Abilify is the brand name version of aripiprazole. Abilify is a top-selling antipsychotic drug that entered the U.S. market in 2002. It was developed by a Japanese company called Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., and it is distributed in the United States with help from pharma giant Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Do I have an Abilify Lawsuit?

Abilify causes compulsive behaviors including gambling, shopping, and day trading. The compulsive behavior caused by Abilify has promoted some patients to spend their entire retirement savings and pension, or to take out a loan against their house to feed the desire to gamble. The makers of Abilify did not warn patients of this danger, even though numerous scientific articles have documented the overwhelming compulsive urge connected to Abilify. In a few cases, this devastating compulsive behavior may lead to divorce, job loss, or even suicide.

A panel of federal judges recently decided to consolidate many of these cases in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida as part of In re: Abilify Compulsive Behavior Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2734 before the Honorable Casey Rodgers. MDL is short for Multi District Litigation, a type of consolidated proceeding that allows numerous cases — sometimes thousands — to proceed before a single federal judge, even though each plaintiff retains his or her right to a jury trial. There were more than 60 cases pending in MDL 2734 as of March 2017.

The longer Abilify is taken, the greater the risk of developing a gambling problem. Some patients battle a gambling or spending problem for years before they learn of the connection to Abilify. The chemicals that are used to make Abilify interact with the body’s dopamine receptors and impair decision-making for users who normally might be able to control those urges.

What are my options?

If you or a loved one have used Abilify and have experienced more than $25,000 in gambling or other financial losses, please contact the Abilify injury lawyer Drew Brown at Myrtle Beach Injury Law, drew@myrtlebeachinjurylaw.com

Myrtle Beach Injury Law firm offers a free, no-obligation evaluation of your potential Abilify lawsuit. Call us at (843) 732-6004for evaluation of your potential Abilify lawsuit.

Essure

Essure is a permanent birth control that has been advertised as safer, less expensive and easier to use method compared to invasive surgeries for women who want a permanent solution. Essure is considered a transcervical sterilization procedure and marketed as an incredibly safe and convenient solution. However, many women have now developed serious health complications, including life-threatening side effects.

What is Essure?

Essure is a permanent birth control solution for sterilization that does not require invasive surgery. Rather, it is an outpatient procedure where bendable coils are placed in the fallopian tubes, then they are passed through the vagina, cervix, and uterus. Scar tissue forms, preventing any insemination from occurring. Over the years, more than 750,000 women have had the Essure device implanted. This medical device originally was designed and manufactured by a company called Conceptus. It was approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 2002. Bayer eventually took over this device’s manufacture.

The FDA has received countless adverse reports since 2004. One of the top complaints reported is that the Essure device moved and punctured the woman’s uterus or fallopian tubes. As a result of this injury, about 100 women needed to have hysterectomies conducted so that the Essure device could be removed. Another serious complaint is from the doctors, that the device broke when it was being inserted. Another issue that occurred fairly often is that women had allergic reactions to Essure after it was inserted.

The Dangers of Essure

There is mounting evidence that Essure is quite harmful to women in general. The FDA has been piecing together studies, complaints that were submitted through the MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting System, testimonials from the Internet, and an investigation which was conducted by the FDA themselves. On the record, the FDA has stated that they looked into any reports of health issues five years or more after placement. They claimed not to have found any evidence of new or significant complications affecting a large group of individuals. However, women have remained vocal about their injuries and various health issues related to Essure. They have spoken out regarding this matter. Essure Lawsuits are being filed against Bayer Industries in the hopes of the women receiving compensation for the pain and suffering that they have undergone.

If you or a loved one had Essure implanted and suffered a serious side effect, contact our essure attorney today. We offer free evaluations to talk about what happened to you and your legal options. Call Myrtle Beach Injury Law and ask for Drew Brown at (843) 732-6004.

Invokana Lawsuit

Invokana (Canagliflozin), is a type 2 diabetes medication and has been linked with diabetic ketoacidosis, according to a report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Invokana is an SGL-2 inhibitor (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor).  According to clinical trial data, is linked to cardiovascular injuries and kidney failure.  If you or a loved one took Invokana and suffered a heart failure or kidney failure, we want to hear from you. Our Invokana lawyers are here to offer free consultations to discuss your legal rights.

What is Invokana?

Invokana is a medication prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes. It comes as a tablet that is taken once daily, usually before your morning meal. Your dosage will depend on how well your diabetes is controlled, other medications you are taking, and other factors.

Nearly half of adults with type 2 diabetes do not achieve recommended levels of glucose control. If left uncontrolled, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications. Improved glycemic control has been demonstrated to reduce the onset and progression of these complications.

Johnson & Johnson’s new type 2 diabetes drug Invokana, previously known as canagliflozen, became the first medication approved in the United States from a new class of drugs known as   SGLT-2 inhibitors. While the honor of being the first treatment in a drug class has its benefits, it also has drawbacks.

Invokana Side Effects

Unfortunately, the newest class of diabetes medications may have side effects that are so dangerous that they outweigh the benefits. Diabetes patients have reported, and medical professionals have confirmed, that Invokana and similar drugs cause a variety of side effects, which range from mild, to severe, and can even be fatal. The most serious invokana side effects are kidney failure and heart injuries.

When Invokana is combined with other diabetes medications, blood sugar may drop too low. Warning signs of low blood sugar include sweating, shaking and feeling foggy or disoriented and other side effects may include increased urination, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections.

Invokana and the FDA

While new medications are often an improvement in the treatment of disease, new antidiabetic medications such as Invokana, have been particularly troublesome and resulted in a high number of serious medical injury including deaths. This new class of diabetes drugs, known as SGLT2 inhibitors, is not without risks.  The FDA received numerous adverse event reports detailing high blood acid levels requiring patient hospitalization. Recently, health regulators issued a public safety communication on drugs including canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin and a dangerous condition known as ketoacidosis.

Invokana is not intended for those with type1 diabetes, end-stage or severe kidney disease, or people undergoing dialysis. Additional FDA-mandated studies will investigate the drug’s effects on the heart, pancreas and other parts of the body; monitoring for malignancies, a bone safety study, and two studies in children.

What are the drug manufacturer’s responsibilities?

Drug manufacturers have a responsibility to conduct comprehensive safety trials prior to seeking FDA approval. All known risk factors and adverse events need to be clearly and accurately listed on product labeling. Through court proceedings, lawyers are able to discover whether manufacturers are in compliance with all safety standards of which they were or should have been aware.

If you think you may have a case, contact Drew Brown of Myrtle Beach Injury Law at (843) 732-6004.

Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter

The Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) filter is a device which is small and meant to catch any blood clots that may get dislodged from the body’s deep veins to travel to the lungs or heart. Unfortunately, the IVC filter can migrate within your body causing serious injuries. If you have had any issues with an IVC filter, you may want to learn more about filing IVC filter lawsuits. Our dangerous medical device lawyers are now offering free consultations to individuals who have been harmed as a result of problems with this device around the country.

What is an IVC Filter?

The IVC Filter is a small medical device implanted in your body to help prevent clots from traveling to your lungs or heart. Patients get IVC Filters, which are spider-like in appearance and design, when they are at risk for developing a pulmonary embolism, if they are not able to take anticoagulant medication, or if this type of medication has failed to improve their condition.  The main filters are manufactured by Cook and C.R. Bard. The Bard Recovery IVC Filter, Cook Celect, and Cook Gunther Tulip filters have been linked to significant medical issues.

Current IVC Filter Lawsuits

At this time, there have been more than 900 reports of adverse effects to the FDA, from people who had the IVC filter implants. A common complaint was that a piece of the device broke off and traveled through the person’s body. In fact, they appear to be especially prone to breaking. This poses a serious health risk, as it can cause embolism, bleeding, and severe discomfort.

Some of the most common issues include:

• Puncturing of the vena cava
• Perforation of the lungs or heart
• Ventricular tachycardia
• Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion (or blood that builds up around the heart)
• Cardiac tamponade (excessive fluid causing disruption to the heart)

All of these can be quite severe, and they may even lead to death if not noticed early on and caught by a doctor.

FDA Treatment of the IVC Filter Recall Request

If an IVC Filter is left inside the body for a significant amount of time, it can lead to serious problems, as listed above. However, instructions to remove the IVC Filter during a safe time period were not communicated properly in many instances by the manufacturers.  Doctors were not aware of the risk that was involved in keeping the IVC filters in for a longer period of time. Also, some of the products had faulty design problems that made the dangers even greater to patients.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning to all doctors in August 2010 letting them know there are serious risks with implanting retrievable IVC Filters. The FDA found that the ideal time to remove them is between 29 and 54 days after they are implanted in the individual.

Researchers who looked into cases of IVC filter perforation and other issues requested a recall, just as the FDA has. There are many people who have been affected and are left with the burden of not being able to function and work, which is particularly difficult on families who have high medical bills due to these conditions. Filing a claim to seek compensation can be beneficial to people who feel overwhelmed and do not know what to do otherwise.

Call Drew Brown at Myrtle Beach Injury Law (843) 732-6004 to set up a free consultation with an IVC Filter attorney.

Lumber Liquidators

These lawsuits against Lumber Liquidators alleging the company deceived consumers when it manufactured and sold laminate wood flooring that emits potentially harmful amounts of noxious formaldehyde gas. The lawsuits were filed following a 60 Minutes report exposing the results of formaldehyde testing performed on the company’s Chinese-made laminate flooring.

CDC Says Cancer Risks are Three Times Higher than Estimated

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on February 22, 2016 that it previously miscalculated the amount of formaldehyde emitted from some of Lumber Liquidators’ laminated flooring products. The CDC stated that the risk of cancer from this formaldehyde emission is three times higher than it previously estimated. The CDC previously announced that the risk of cancer presented by the Lumber Liquidators products was two to nine cases per 100,000 people. The CDC now believes that the risk is six to 30 cases per 100,000 people.

The CDC strongly recommends that customers who purchased Lumber Liquidators’ laminated flooring take steps to reduce exposure. Its fundamental recommendations to customers of these products remain the same: to open windows, use exhaust fans, and avoid smoking in the home, among other things. It released a flyer outlining general health issues and solutions related to the flooring.

Concerned about formaldehyde in your laminate wood floors?

If you’ve purchased laminate wood flooring from Lumber Liquidators and are concerned about formaldehyde levels in your home, you may be eligible to participate, contact our attorneys for more information and for a free consultation.

Lumber Liquidators flooring found in violation of CARB emissions standards

Certified laboratory testing performed on laminate wood flooring purchased from Lumber Liquidators locations in Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, and New York revealed levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, that exceed those permitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Formaldehyde Emissions Standards for Composite Wood Products Act, which will take effect nationwide this year. According to this testing, certain laminate flooring samples contained up to 20 times the legal level of formaldehyde. The 60 Minutes report indicates that these extreme levels of formaldehyde raised concern among laboratory employees, who suspected that their testing equipment may be faulty.

Lumber Liquidators pulls flooring from stores nationwide

On May 7, 2015, the Wall Street Journal reported that “Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. is pulling all of its Chinese-made laminate flooring and has brought on a former Federal Bureau of Investigation director to review its sourcing procedures amid widespread concern over the safety of its products.”

Despite Lumber Liquidators’ “Quality Guarantee” indicating that its “flooring meets or exceeds rigorous emissions standards such as California CARB,” it is illegal to sell the company’s Chinese-made laminate flooring in California, where environmental emissions standards are particularly stringent.

Affected lumber

The following types of Lumber Liquidators lumber may contain excessive and illegal amounts of formaldehyde:

• 8 mm Bristol County Cherry Laminate Flooring
• 8 mm Dream Home Nirvana French Oak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Antique Bamboo Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Oceanside Plank Bamboo Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Warm Springs Chestnut Laminate Flooring
• 15 mm Dream Home St. James Sky Lakes Pine Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Ispiri Chimney Tops Smoked Oak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Imperial Teak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Vintner’s Reserve Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Cape Doctor Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Cumberland Mountain Oak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Ispiri Americas Mission Olive Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Glacier Peak Poplar Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Golden Teak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Handscraped Imperial Teak Laminate Flooring (SKU 10029601)
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Handscraped Summer Retreat Teak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Sandy Hills Hickory Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Tanzanian Wenge Laminate Flooring
• 8 mm Dream Home Nirvana Royal Mahogany Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Blacksburg Barn Board Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Brazilian Koa Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Golden Acacia Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Ispiri Poplar Forest Oak Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home Kensington Manor Fumed African Ironwood Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James African Mahogany Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Chimney Rock Charcoal Laminate Flooring
• 12 mm Dream Home St. James Nantucket Beech Laminate Flooring

Other types of Chinese-made laminate sold at Lumber Liquidators may also be affected.

Lumber Liquidators reaps profits from sale of laminate wood products

60 Minutes has reported that Lumber Liquidators has made large profits from the illegal sale of its potentially dangerous flooring products. It is estimated that producing laminate flooring tainted with formaldehyde and which is not CARB-compliant cuts manufacturing costs by up to 15%, an enormous margin for a company of its scale. In 2013, Lumber Liquidators’ stock price nearly doubled. At present, Lumber Liquidators is the largest and fastest-growing retailer of hardwood flooring in North America. The company has sold approximately $200 million or more in laminate wood flooring products annually since 2012.

Following news of its formaldehyde-containing flooring, however, LL stock plummeted 25%.

Formaldehyde emissions from flooring creating polluted indoor conditions

According to news reports formaldehyde is a known cancer-causing chemical linked to the development of leukemia; nasopharyngeal cancer (cancer of the upper portion of the throat); change in lung function; chronic respiratory irritation; and eye, nose, and throat irritation. 60 Minutes has reported that the danger of formaldehyde in flooring products is particularly acute, as the chemicals escape from laminate wood and permeate the air in rooms and entire homes, creating polluted indoor conditions as per the Environmental Protection Agency. Though the formaldehyde-containing laminate flooring may not produce symptoms in everyone, it will produce the most severe symptoms in children according to 60 Minutes.

Formaldehyde’s use in laminate wood manufacturing

A certain amount of formaldehyde is present and legally permissible in laminate flooring manufactured by Lumber Liquidators in America, and by other companies. Laminate wood flooring is a cheaper alternative to hardwood flooring, and is manufactured by binding wood particles together with glue often containing formaldehyde, and then covering the particles with a layer of protective laminate. News reports have stated that the layer of laminate may prevent a certain amount of formaldehyde from escaping from the wood and into the environment.

How do mesothelioma lawsuits work?

In a mesothelioma lawsuit, parties who made or used asbestos-containing products may be held liable for the injuries caused by those products. Parties that can be held responsible by filing a mesothelioma lawsuit may include:

• The product manufacturer
• The manufacturer of component parts
• The wholesaler or distributor of the product
• The company who employed workers to use asbestos-containing products

The most important step in filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is understanding the deadlines that govern how much time you have to file.

The laws that govern mesothelioma litigation are determined at the state level, and every state’s requirements are different. For example, state governments have put time limits on how long people may wait to file mesothelioma lawsuits. This is called a statute of limitations. Each state has a different time period when it’s OK to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. On average, this time can range from 1 to 3 years either after the date of a person’s diagnosis, or death from mesothelioma.

The most common reason our mesothelioma lawyers can’t help people file a mesothelioma lawsuit is because the deadline to file has passed. Please don’t make this common mistake.

Asbestos litigation can provide you and your family important financial support during this difficult time. However, there are deadlines to file. If you believe you have the right to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, it is really important to contact Drew Brown at (843) 732-6004.

What is Nexium?

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Nexium is used to treat heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers and inflammation of the esophagus. AstraZenica, Nexium’s manufacturer, marketed Nexium as the “Purple Pill.”

Why is there a Nexium lawsuit?

Over time, Nexium reduces the body’s absorption of magnesium. Without magnesium the kidneys malfunction. This can lead to interstitial nephritis, a sudden inflammation of the kidneys. Interstitial nephritis can cause more severe kidney problems, including kidney failure if not treated. Recent studies have also linked the use of Nexium with chronic kidney disease (CKD). AstraZenica failed to warn users of these serious risks associated with Nexium.

Because Nexium has been linked to kidney injury and disease, interstitial nephritis and other serious kidney problems including renal failure, the Nexium kidney injury lawyers at Jones Ward are investigating claims across the country, and many Nexium lawsuits have been filed.

Dangers of Nexium

The longer Nexium is taken, the greater the risk in developing kidney problems or kidney malfunction.

Most users take Nexium for three months before experiencing symptoms. Once the kidneys have suffered significant damage and begin to shut down, treatment is often limited to dialysis and kidney transplant.

Symptoms of renal failure include:

• Fever with no obvious cause
• Appearance of blood in urine
• Changes in urine output
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Mental confusion and/or drowsiness
• Unexplained swelling in the body
• Skin rash
• Weight gain, often due to fluid retention
• Symptoms of loss of kidney function include:
• Weakness or fatigue
• Shortness of breath, caused by fluid build-up on the lungs
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Muscle twitches and cramps
• Problems sleeping
• Persistent itching

Do I have a Nexium lawsuit?

If you or a loved one have used Nexium and have experienced kidney disease or malfunction, please contact Myrtle Beach Injury Law at (843) 732-6004.

Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit

If you or a loved one developed ovarian cancer after using a personal hygiene product containing potentially dangerous talcum powder contact a talcum powder ovarian cancer lawyer at the Greensboro Law Center for a free case evaluation.

The lawsuit involving talcum powder claims the manufacturers failed to warn users of the increased risk of ovarian cancer caused by using talc-based products for personal hygiene use. Specifically, the lawsuits claim that the manufacturers of talcum powder have known for more than 40 years there is a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. However, these companies intentionally made the decision not to warn women that the powder could cause cancer if it entered the ovaries through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes after being applied to the genital area or on sanitary napkins, diaphragms, or condoms. The most popular products containing talcum powder include:

•    Johnson’s Baby Powder by Johnson & Johnson
•    Shower to Shower by Valeant Pharmaceuticals
•    Baby Magic Baby Powder

If you or a loved one developed ovarian cancer after using a product containing talcum powder, call Myrtle Beach Injury Law at (843) 732-6004 for a free, confidential, no obligation, consultation with one of our attorneys.

Taxotere

Taxotere (docetaxel) is a chemotherapy drug approved in the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, advanced stomach cancer, head and neck cancer and metastatic prostate cancer. It is administered intravenously through a vein, and is member of a family of drugs called taxanes. It is used to try to prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing.

The Taxotere lawsuit alleges the manufacturer of Taxotere (Sanofi-Aventis) failed to warn patients and physicians of the increased risks of permanent alopecia (loss of hair) through the use of Taxotere during chemotherapy. The lawsuits state that if the manufacturer had properly warned of the risks, patients would have been prescribed a different chemotherapy drug called Taxol, which is more effective than Taxotere, and does not result in permanent hair loss.

If you or a loved one took Taxotere and suffered permanent hair loss, you may have a legal claim assistant the manufacturer.  Contact Drew Brown at Myrtle Beach Injury Law firm for a free, confidential, no obligation consultation – (843) 732-6004.