Archive for the ‘ Drug Injuries ’ Category

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9
May

FDA Announces Birth Control Device May Put Women In Danger

May 9, 2012

New methods of birth control have allowed women greater freedom and choice, but some of these medications may put women at a greater risk of health issues. Take, for instance, one of the latest birth control methods to hit the market—NuvaRing®.

NuvaRing® is a plastic contraceptive device that’s inserted into a woman’s vagina monthly, where it slowly releases the hormones progestin and estrogen that control a woman’s ovulation cycle. After three weeks, the device is removed and the woman takes a one-week hiatus before inserting another device.

While NuvaRing® may be convenient for some women, it also has some side effects that could be deadly. According to an article from the Albany Times-Union, 950 lawsuits have been filed against the product’s maker, Merck & Co., alleging that using NuvaRing® led to health complications, such as blood clots. These blood clots, in certain cases, can lead to heart attack, stroke, and even death.

These lawsuits began piling in on the heels of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration announcement in October 2011 that stated using NuvaRing® increased the risk of suffering from blood clots by more than 56 percent compared to birth control pills.

These are not the only known NuvaRing® Dangers. That is why the Indiana Drug Injury Lawyers with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers suggest discussing your case with an experienced attorney if you have suffered health complications after using NuvaRing®.

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29
Feb

Yaz® Birth Control Blamed For More Than 50 Deaths And Thousands of Injuries

February 29, 2012

Women across the United States are being warned against the dangers that one of the best-selling birth controls on the market may present to users. WTHR 13 News stated that 50 patients died and thousands of others had suffered serious side effects after taking the birth control medication, Yaz®.

One patient reported taking the medication for nearly two years before she began to experience unexplained swelling in her legs. The woman had an ultrasound preformed where doctors discovered blood clots developing in her legs. While 18 months of treatment alleviated the clots, the woman was left unable to have children after the procedures.

Other patients taking the drug reported symptoms similar to that of a heart attack. After visiting a doctor it was determined that the patient’s gall bladders were not properly functioning. This required surgery to remove the organ.

The drug’s maker, Bayer, also came under heavy fire from the Food and drug Administration in 2008 after the agency said the manufacturer was making false advertising claims by saying the drug could be used to alleviate acne and PMS. The company has since been ordered to air corrective ad campaigns.

The Indiana Yaz® Birth Control Injury Lawyers with Stewart & Stewart Injury Lawyers are available to answer any questions you may have if you have been caused serious harm by taking the birth control medication Yaz®. Contact us today for a free consultation of your case.

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1
Feb

State Lawmakers Adjust Requirements To Abortion Pill Dosages

February 1, 2012

The Indiana Senate is examining laws regarding a dangerous abortion drug for a possible update. According to WTHR 13 News, a bill will go before the Senate today that would remove a requirement that forces doctors to give women seeking the abortion pill, RU-486, a higher-than-required dose of the drug. Proponents of the requirement say that women suffer from a greater risk of serious, and potentially deadly, side effects when such a large dose of the medication is prescribed.

Yesterday, lawmakers removed a section of the current law from the books that required doctor’s to give patients seeking the abortion pill a dosage three times higher than needed. Lawmakers agreed that the rules were outdated, and thus created a new bill, which requires a doctor to visit with the patient prior to prescribing the medication and schedule a follow-up ultrasound two weeks later to ensure all is well.

The large doses can lead to heavy bleeding and sometimes, deadly infections.

Other less serious side effects could include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Back Pain
  • Tiredness

Patients are warned to contact your doctor immediately if you suffer any of the following symptoms:

  • Heavy Bleeding
  • Abdominal Pain or Sick Feelings more than 24 hours after taking the medication
  • Fever

The Indiana drug injury lawyers with Stewart and Stewart Injury Lawyers are available to speak with you anytime if you have been seriously injured by a medication that was prescribed to you by a doctor.

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14
Dec

Massive Drug Shortages Plague Indiana Hospitals

December 14, 2011

As officials and lawmakers with the federal government work to create legislature that could help end drug shortages in hospitals across the country, facilities in Indiana are struggling to meet patient and monetary demands the shortages are creating. In an investigative article by WISHTV 8 News, it was said that Hoosier hospitals may be completely out of some drugs, like the pain-killer morphine in 5 mg dosages, and severely limited with other drugs like cancer treatments and vitamin infusions for patients fed intravenously.

Columbus Regional Hospital Pharmacy Team Leader Matt Hote says he is having a hard time getting a drug called epinephrine. It can be life-saving for a person whose heart has stopped–one dose can be enough to get the heart pumping again. Hote stated though that if the drug is not a contracted order, it can cost him anywhere from 10 to 20 times higher than the retail price.

So what is being done to fix the problem? The FDA is creating rules that will require drug manufacturers to give a six-month warning before stopping production of a drug. Congress is also working to make price gouging on drugs illegal.

The Indiana Medical Malpractice Lawyers with Stewart and Stewart know the dangers that these drug shortages can put a patient in. If you have been injured or lost someone you love because a hospital did not have the drugs needed, contact us today for a free initial consultation of your case.

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16
Nov

New Study Finds Xarelto Could Save Heart Attack Survivors

November 16, 2011

A new blood thinning drug, Xarelto, is said to improve a heart attack patient’s chances of suffering from another heart related problem and could prevent death. According to Channel 13 News, the drug could become the gold standard of treatment for millions of Americans who suffer form heart-related conditions each year, despite the drug being known to cause severe bleeding.

A large scale study of more than 15,000 patients around the world found that users of the drug, which is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, who had suffered heart attacks or had severe chest pain caused by a heart related problem were less likely to suffer or die from another heart related event if they took the drug in combination with standard anti-clotting medications. The results were reported Sunday at the American Heart Association conference.

They were met with serious concerns by some who saw the presentation because of the drug’s connection with bleeding that can potentially cause death. Other side effects include numbness and tingling in the limbs, vomiting and/or coughing blood, blood in urine or feces, headaches, swelling, and fluid buildup. Doctors also say the risk of stroke goes up in patients once they stop taking the drug.

The Indiana Drug Injury Lawyers at Stewart and Stewart suggest contacting an attorney immediately if you experience any problems while taking any medication. Their experienced team can be reached simply by filling out a free online consultation form.

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