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    Recall Alerts:

    Winter 2010
    Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet, 100 count bottles: RECALL – As of December 28, 2009, McNeil Consumer Healthcare and FDA have notified consumers of a voluntary recall to include all product lots of TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles, with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN CAP. In November 2009, 5 lots of this product were recalled with reports of an unusual moldy or mildew-like odor that was associated with stomach pain, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. This odor is caused by a chemical presence of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole, which is believed to be the breakdown of a chemical that is used to treat wooden packaging materials. Any recently purchased bottles of TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet with the distinctive red EZ-OPEN cap should be discarded. If you or someone you know has experienced any side effects as a result of TYLENOL Arthritis Pain Caplet, call Westmoreland Injury Lawyers today at 724-547-4539.

    Plavix & Prilosec/Prilosec OTC – Data has been released showing that omeprazole (Prilosec/Prilosec OTC), a medicine used to reduce stomach acid, decreases the anti-blood clotting effect of clopidogrel (Plavix), when these two medicines are taken simultaneously. This effect is called a drug interaction and it takes place because omeprazole blocks the transformation of clopidogrel into its active form. Omeprazole lessens clopidogrel’s anti-blood clotting effect by almost half, which allows patients who are at risk of heart attacks or strokes using clopidogrel to not receive the full anti-blood clotting effect while taking omeprazole at the same time. If you or someone you know has experienced any serious side effects as a result of concurrently using Plavix and Prilosec/Prilosec OTC, call us today at 724-547-4539.

    Byetta Update – Revisions have been made to the Byetta (exenatide) label, reporting that patients using Byetta are now at risk of possible kidney problems. A drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes; the FDA reported 78 accounts of problems with kidney functions in patients using Byetta. In fall 2008 the FDA reported that a small number of patients using Byetta had developed a dangerous form of pancreatitis. Now health care professionals advise patients to be aware of kidney function discrepancies while using Byetta. Symptoms include: change in urine color or frequency, unexpected swelling of hands or feet, fatigue, change in appetite or dull ache in mid to lower back. If you or someone you know has experienced these serious side effects as a result of Byetta use, call us today at 724-547-4539.

    Fall 2009
    Bodybuilding.com Dietary Supplements – 65 drugs sold through the website www.Bodybuilding.com are being recalled after finding out that they may contain the steroids “Superdrol," "Madol," "Tren," "Androstenedione," and/or "Turinabol."

    Acute liver injury is known to be a possible harmful effect of using steroid-containing products. In addition, steroids may cause other serious long-term adverse health consequences in men, women, and children. These include shrinkage of the testes and male infertility, masculinization of women, breast enlargement in males, short stature in children, a higher predilection to misuse other drugs and alcohol, adverse effects on blood lipid levels, and increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

    If you’ve ordered anything from www.bodybuilding.com recently please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Bextra - Approved initially by the FDA for severe arthritic pain, Bextra is manufactured by Pfizer and has recently caused physicians some concern. After a similar drug went off the market, many physicians became concerned about the effects of Bextra as well.

    Independent researchers have discovered that Bextra poses an increased risk for cardiovascular risks. Studies have also shown an increased risk in heart complications for patients taking the drug who have also undergone cardiac bypass surgery. In response to these studies, the manufacturer announced plans to study long-term effects of the medication, as well as the negotiation of a black box warning label.

    Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been proven to be a serious, deadly skin condition that can result from taking Bextra. Severe allergic reactions have been documented, and common side effects include diarrhea, indigestion, headache, nausea, and stomach pain. If you or someone you know has experienced problems with Bextra, call 1-866-841-8870 to speak with a representative at Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC.

    Botox Cosmetic – Botox, created by Allergan, is a cosmetic treatment designed to soften wrinkles and frown lines by paralyzing the muscles treated. Recently, the Federal Drug Administration issued new packaging for the product. A “severe black box warning” label must be displayed on all Botox injection packages, noting to consumers or physicians that the chemical, botulinum toxin has the potential to spread from initial site to other parts of the body. Other serious side effects include difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, blurred vision, trouble talking, muscle weakness, and loss of bladder control. The drug is responsible for more than 180 serious adverse events and at least 16 deaths since its release in the US, according to the advocacy organization for Public Citizen. If you or someone you love has experienced any of the negative side effects, contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC at 1-866-481-8870.

    CellCept - Given to patients who have undergone a liver, heart, or kidney transplant, CellCept is prescribed to help prevent a patient’s body from rejecting the new organ. In 2007, packaging of the drug was changed to include birth defect and miscarriage warnings. Over 500,000 people in the U.S. have taken the medication. If you or someone you love has taken the drug and experienced medical problems, contact Westmoreland Lawyers at 1-866-841-8870 to speak with one of our experienced attorneys

    Hydroxycut - Hydroxycut and Hydroxycut Max were both recalled in May 2009, and the FDA has received over 20 reports of serious health implications after taking the drug. Since then, the FDA has recommended that all consumers stop taking Hydroxycut.

    Ingredients in Hydroxycut have not been FDA approved, and have been known to cause elevated levels of liver enzymes, jaundice, and liver damage requiring a liver transplant. Scientists are not entirely sure yet how the drug works in the body, and physicians and the FDA recommends all patients stop taking it. If you or someone you love has experienced any of the negative side effects, contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC at 1-866-481-8870.

    Raptiva – Raptiva, generically known as efalizumab, is used to treat the skin condition psoriasis. While not curable, Raptiva treats scaly red patches (plaques) that form on the skin, most notably on the elbows, knees, scalp, and genitals. Produced by Genentech and Merck Serono, Raptiva reduces plaque presence by stopping white blood cell’s presence in making their way to the skin’s tissues. Side effects include burning or difficult urination, fever, chills, pain, redness, swelling, sore throat, and congestion. More serious and fatal side effects include bacterial sepsis; an infection of the blood, lymphoma; cancer affecting lymph nodes, viral meningitis; an infection that results in brain and spinal cord swelling, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML); inflammation of the brain's white matter. If you or someone you know has experienced problems with Raptiva, call Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC at 1-866-481-8870.

    Yasmin – Yasmin is an oral contraceptive, manufactured by Berlex Laboratories, Inc. The drug is designed to prevent pregnancy by altering a woman’s cervical and uterine lining. When taken everyday at the same time, Yasmin is 99% effective in preventing pregnancy. Generically known as drospirenone, it has also been prescribed to treat moderate acne and PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. PMDD is characterized by trouble concentrating, difficulty sleeping, and depression. Sold under the name Yaz, drospirenone is distributed by Bayer. Mild to serious side effects are nausea, acne, back pain, headache, weight change, yeast infection, blood clots, depression, stroke, kidney disease, heart attack, and kidney disease. If you or someone you know has experienced problems with Yasmin, call 1-866-841-8870 to speak with a representative at Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC.

    Summer 2009
    Reglan — Reglan (metoclopramide), a dopamine antagonist prescription medication used to treat gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children and adults has been linked with tardive dyskinesia, a potentially permanent movement disorder. Tardive Dyskinesia is a neurological disorder that consists of potentially irreversible, involuntary movements of the face, tongue, mouth, lips. In some cases the arms and legs may also suffer, thereby making walking, running or even moving around the home difficult. Both the risk of developing the syndrome and the likelihood that it will become irreversible are believed to increase with the duration of Reglan use. On February 26, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that manufacturers of Reglan must add a black box warning to their drug labels to warn about the risks associated with its long-term or high-dose use. Have you or someone you know been diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia (TD) or neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)? Or have you have been experiencing any the aforementioned side effects? If so, please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Mesothelioma – Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer. The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung), fatigue or anemia, wheezing, hoarseness, or cough, blood in sputum coughed up, weight loss, cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity), blood clotting abnormalities, jaundice, low blood sugar level, and/or fever. If you or someone you know may have been exposed to asbestos and were or are currently being treated for mesothelioma, please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Fleet Phospho-soda & other Oral Phosphate Products used as Bowel Cleansing Agents – C. B. Fleet Laboratories has issued a voluntary recall of Fleet Phospho-soda products. This voluntary recall stems from a Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warning that, when used in high doses, over-the-counter (OTC) oral sodium phosphate products (OSP) increase the risk of developing acute kidney damage. Fleet Phospho-soda, and other oral phosphate products, are used to clean the intestines prior to receiving a colonoscopy and other related medical procedures. Phospho soda achieves laxative action by drawing fluids from other parts of the body into the colon; a side effect can be pronounced patient dehydration. Phospho soda can also result in significantly elevated levels of phosphate salts in the renal system (kidneys), the crystallization of which can result in severe kidney damage know as acute phosphate nephropathy (APN). Symptoms of APN include drowsiness, general lethargy, feeling ill, a decrease in urine production, and swelling of the legs, feet, and ankles. Only a blood test for serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels can formally diagnose APN. The FDA required the makers of two prescription OSP formulas (Osmoprep and Visicol) to add a boxed warning on their product’s labels indicating the risk of kidney damage – this is the FDA’s strongest warning. The FDA recommended that OSP prescription products be used for bowel cleansing with extreme caution by the following groups with the greatest risk: People over 55 years of age; people who suffer from dehydration, kidney disease, acute colitis, or delayed bowel emptying; people taking certain medicines that affect kidney function, such as diuretics (fluid pills), medications that lower blood pressure, or those used to treat high blood pressure, heart or kidney failure medications and possibly those taking ibuprofen and other arthritis medications. Kidney damage risks have been associated with OSP products like Fleet Phospho-soda, since as early as 2006. The C.B. Fleet Company, and others like them, have neglected to warn patients about these risks. If you or someone you love have suffered any kidney damage as a result of using the recalled over-the-counter Fleet Phospho-soda products, you have rights and may be entitled to compensation in the form of damages. Please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Accutane – Accutane (Roaccutane, Isotretinoin, Amnesteem, Claravis and Soltret) was originally developed and marketed as a chemotherapy drug for certain types of cancer. The manufacturer, soon thereafter discovered that Accutane was also effective in treating severe acne and quickly launched an aggressive marketing campaign promoting the drug to doctor’s offices across the country. Accutane quickly became one of the leading forms of treatment for common acne. About 13 million people have taken Accutane since it went on the market in 1982. The medication was Roche’s second-biggest selling drug before the patent expired in 2002 and rivals started selling generic versions. Roche’s prescription market share of the drug is now below 5 percent. On June 26, 2009 Roche Holding AG, the manufacturer of Accutane initiated a nationwide recall of the popular cancer and acne medication Accutane after stating that that they have awarded over $33 million in lawsuits directly related to bowel disease claims. Accutane has also been recalled in 11 other countries including France, Denmark, Austria, Germany, Portugal, Norway and Spain. Accutane has been linked to an increased occurrence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Musculoskeletal Disorders, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes, Hepatitis, hepatotoxicity, liver damage, kidney damage, birth defects, premature closure of growth plates, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, central nervous system injuries, bone and muscle loss, cardiovascular injuries, pancreatitis, immune system disorders, hearing and vision damage, thyroid disorders, fetal death, lupus, and suicidal thoughts and behavior. If you or a loved one have taken Accutane and experienced any side effects, you should contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Spring 2009
    Heparin — Heparin is a blood-thinning drug that contains the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from China. It is used to treat and prevent blood clots in the veins, arteries, or lungs and is used before surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots. Side effects have included allergic or hypersensitivity-type reactions, low blood pressure, pain or swelling in one or both legs, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Serious injuries and deaths have been associated with the use of heparin by the FDA, including allergic reactions. If you or someone you know is concerned about the way Heparin is affecting their body, please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
    Nearly 1.5 million American live in our nation’s nursing homes and most of these residents are over the age of 65. According to the National Center on Elder Abuse, it is estimated that between 1 and 2 million Americans over the age of 65 have been mistreated by someone on whom they depend on for care or protection. Such abuse includes physical abuse, psychological abuse, and neglect. Sadly, only 1 in 4 of these incidents comes to the attention of the authorities. Thousands of reports of abuse, gross neglect, and exploitation on behalf of nursing homes have been accounted every year. If you believe that you or someone you love is the victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Winter 2009
    Fosomax - Fosomax is a bisphosphonate drug used to prevent postmenopausal and other types of osteoporosis. This drug has caused a number of users to develop osteonecrosis of the jaw, or decaying jawbone. Other types of osteonecrosis occur in the hips, knees, shoulders, and ankles. Fosomax has also been linked to a heart condition called arterial fibrillation and certain esophageal and stomach ailments. Symptoms of Fosomax include pain, soft-tissue swelling, and infection, loosening of teeth, drainage, and exposed bone. If you were prescribed Fosomax and are experiencing symptoms related to osteonecrosis or “jaw bone death;” or if someone you know has, please contact Westmoreland Injury Lawyers LLC by calling us at 1-866-481-8870.

    Fall 2008
    Digitek - Earlier this year, drug manufacturer Actavis Totowa LLC announced a nationwide recall of the heart medication, Digitek. The drug may have been sold in dangerous doses, posing severe health risks to consumers. The effects Digitek overdose include a slowed or irregular heart beat, vomiting, nausea, decreased appetite, dizziness, low blood pressure, and death. People with poor kidney function are especially susceptible to the adverse affects of Digitek. Digitek is the brand name for digoxin, an oral medication that is widely prescribed to treat conditions such as congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation / atrial flutter (fast heartbeats). The drug is also sold under the brand names Cardoxin, Lanoxicaps, and Lanoxin. Several reports of illness or injury in those taking Digitek have been received by the FDA.

    If you or someone you know has experienced these devastating side effects as a result of Digitek use, call us today at 724-547-4539.

    Byetta - Byetta, known generically as exenatide, is an injectable diabetes medication that controls blood sugar levels. The FDA has received six new reports of patients developing a dangerous form of pancreatitis while taking the diabetes drug Byetta. Two of the patients died and four were recovering. Some patients can 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 has also announced that it wants to strengthen warning labels on Byetta.

    If you or someone you know has experienced these serious side effects as a result of Byetta use, call us today at 724-547-4539.

    Spring 2008
    Chantix®, known generically as varenicline, is a smoking cessation drug. The FDA has recently linked Chantix® to cases of suicide, suicidal thoughts, violent behavior, and other psychologically adverse effects. Chantix® is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of pharmaceutical drugs. In 2006, Pfizer earned $48.4 billion in revenues.

    Currently, government scientists are conducting investigations into the drug, and specifically, the reports of suicide and suicidal ideation. (Source: American Association of Justice)

    If you or someone you know has experienced these debilitating side effects as a result of Chantix® use, call us today at 1-866-481-8870.

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