25. November 2009

Posted in: Drug Injury, Drug Lawsuit, Drug Side Effects

Tendon Injuries and the Correlation to Levaquin

Bacterial infections can be extremely difficult to treat, and they can also cause a high degree of suffering for those patients who contract such a condition.  Fortunately, companies have formulated several different medications that are designed to fight these infections, and one of the most successful to hit the market in recent years is known as Levaquin, which is manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals.  While Levaquin showed promise for several years, reports of Levaquin side effects eventually began to surface.  Below is an overview of tendon injuries and the correlation to Levaquin, and if you have suffered from the use of this medication, you will need the help of a Levaquin side effects lawyer.

Levaquin Side Effects – The Specifics

Levaquin is known as a broad spectrum antibiotic, which means that it is used for a wide range of bacterial infections.  A few examples of common maladies for which Levaquin is used include:

  • Sinus infections
  • Skin infections
  • Urinary tract infections (UTI’s)
  • Prostate infections
  • Kidney infections

Levaquin is also used with patients who have some general infection that will not be identified until test results are available so that the symptoms are alleviated to an extent until a specific treatment protocol can be identified.

Unfortunately, after more than 12 years on the market, reports of Levaquin side effects began to surface to the point where the public began to take notice.  The most common, and most troubling side effects included the tendency for those who used Levaquin to suffer from different types of tendon injuries.  These tendon injuries included:

  • Hand injuries
  • Thumb injuries
  • Biceps injuries
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Achilles tendon inflammation
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • Achilles tendon ruptures

Of those Levaquin side effects listed above, the Achilles tendon rupture is the most serious, as repairing such an injury requires invasive surgery and several months of intensive physical rehabilitation before the patient is able to regain the full range of motion of that area of the body.

Levaquin Side Effects Lawyers – How We Can Help

If you or someone you love has suffered from any of these Levaquin side effects or any others, you need to contact a Levaquin side effects attorney today to schedule a free initial consultation.  The FDA has since required Ortho-McNeil to place a warning label on all containers of Levaquin given the severity of the problem, which has only increased the scrutiny on the medication.  Contact the attorneys at the Phillips National Injury Group today to obtain the answers you need regarding your legal rights and options.

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9. November 2009

Posted in: Dangerous Drugs, Yaz

Yaz and Kidney Damage

Yaz is a birth control product that’s available via prescription, and since hitting the market in 2006 it’s become quite popular among consumers. Yaz is manufactured by Bayer Healthcare, and while it showed early promise in terms of its effectiveness, Yaz side effects have also come to the forefront based on incidents reported by those who have used it. As a result, Yaz lawyers have been helping many clients protect and enforce their legal rights, and one of the Yaz side effects that’s led to the filing of legal claims is Yaz and kidney damage, which is discussed below.

Yaz and Kidney Damage

Two Specific Yaz Side Effects

When doctors have seen patients who came to them suffering from Yaz side effects that affected their kidneys, there were generally two types of problems that arose, each of which proved to be extremely dangerous.  While some of the problems associated with each condition below can be properly treated and handled by doctors, some problems simply developed for too long before medical professionals got involved.

Yaz and Kidney Infections

There were many patients who had used Yaz and reported the development of kidney infections.  These infections can vary in severity, and one of the dangers involves those patients who did not recognize the problem early enough in the process to have them treated quickly and efficiently.  Generally, if a kidney infection is allowed to persist, it can ultimately lead to kidney failure.  Symptoms of kidney infections include:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Nausea
  • Pain in the lower back region
  • Bloody urine
  • Painful urinations

If you are or have taken Yaz and you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, seek immediate medical help to make sure that you’re not suffering from Yaz side effects.

Yaz and Hyperkalemia

The more serious condition when it comes to Yaz and kidney damage is the potential for a patient to develop a condition known as hyperkalemia.  This condition is one whereby the kidneys have either been damaged or have already failed, and it is life-threatening in nature.  One of the reasons that hyperkalemia has been named as a Yaz side effect is because the product contains drospirenone, which can lead to elevated levels of potassium.  When there is too much potassium present in the body, it can damage the kidneys and cause them to fail.  When this occurs and hyperkalemia develops, the patient can ultimately die from sudden heart failure.  Symptoms of hyperkalemia include:

  • General weakness
  • Chronic, serious muscle fatigue
  • Irregular heartbeats
  • Nausea
  • Weak pulse

Unfortunately, there are also cases in which hyperkalemia does not present outward physical symptoms, which only increases the danger involved with those who are unknowingly suffering from Yaz side effects.  If you are using or have used Yaz and you are at all concerned about the issue of Yaz and kidney damage, seek immediate medical attention to make sure that you have not been inflicted with Yaz side effects.

Yaz and Kidney Damage – Lawsuit Info

If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of Yaz side effects, you need to contact a Yaz lawyer who has the experience and skill necessary to make sure that your legal rights are properly protected and enforced.  Contact the defective drugs lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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FDA Notifies Doctors of Changes to Prescription Information for Byetta

Millions of people struggle with the management of type 2 diabetes, and given the prevalence of this condition, companies have come up with numerous medications intended to help make life easier.  One of the leading medications within this market is known as Byetta, and it’s manufactured by Eli Lilly and Co.  The drug has been approved and on the market since 2005, but recent reports have led to an influx of inquiries and calls for help from defective drugs attorneys based on the side effects to which Byetta has been linked.

Byetta side effects have included reports of:

  • Severe abdominal pains
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis (ANP)

Now comes word from the FDA that changes have been made to the prescription information that comes with Byetta to include the drug’s link to yet another set of dangerous side effects – altered kidney function, acute renal failure and renal insufficiency.  The FDA has received a total of 78 reports of patients who were using Byetta and had developed these kidney problems, prompting the change to the information provided for patients who currently use the drug.

Byetta is used as part of an overall approach to manage type 2 diabetes, and it’s administered with guidelines for a strict and healthy diet and a managed exercise routine for those who need this sort of help.  Its function internally is basically to increase the amount of insulin produced in response to meals that are eaten by patients.  This function not only helps prevent problems from a lack of insulin, but it also tends to decrease the amount of glucose that the liver produces.

Byetta also helps patients manage their caloric intake by slowing the process by which food empties from the stomach and into the intestines.  Not only does this lead to a lower volume of food intake for patients, but also reduces the risks involved with a dangerous imbalance existing between the amounts of glucose and insulin in the system.

Byetta Side Effect Lawyer

If you are using Byetta to help you with your diabetes, you need to seek medical advice to make sure you’re minimizing your risks.  If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using Byetta, you need to contact the defective drugs lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Levaquin Side Effects and Lawsuits

When people develop bacterial infections, strong medication is needed in order to combat the spread of the problem inside the body.  These infections can be extremely problematic and difficult to defeat, which is why pharmaceutical companies have been releasing products onto the market that pack a powerful punch.  One of the leading products designed to help people fight these infections is Levaquin, which is manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals.  Unfortunately, many people who have used this medication have developed serious side effects, leading to a plethora of lawsuits being filed around the country by Levaquin lawyers.

The reason for these lawsuits is because the side effects that have been linked to Levaquin are quite serious in nature, and the recovery from these problems can be excruciating, long in duration and extremely costly.  Based on several reports, the most common side effects linked to Levaquin include:

  • Hand injuries
  • Thumb injuries
  • Biceps injuries
  • Rotator cuff injuries
  • Achilles tendon inflammation
  • Achilles tendon ruptures

No one has yet been able to identify a specific reason or ingredient that is causing these injuries, but each of those listed above can significantly limit a person’s ability to move through a typical day.

The most serious side effect that’s been linked to Levaquin use is the Achilles tendon rupture.  When this large and important tendon located in the heel explodes, it is not only extremely painful, but it renders that foot utterly useless.  Those who suffer this injury need to undergo invasive surgery to correct the problem and must endure months of grueling physical rehabilitation before he or she can regain the full use of that area of the body.

As a result, Levaquin lawsuits are being filed in an effort by injured consumers and their attorneys to obtain compensation for their losses which can include immediate medical costs, the costs of physical rehabilitation, lost income and pain and suffering, among other losses.  These lawsuits all tend to claim the same thing, namely that by using this medication, patients suffered unexpected injuries and find themselves in a state of misery.

If you or someone you love has used this drug and suffered from the side effects listed above or from any others, you need to contact the Levaquin lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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The Difference between Yaz and Yasmin

The birth control market has exploded in recent years for many reasons, and some of the leading products that help to meet this growing demand have generated billions of dollars in revenue.  Unfortunately, many of these products have also led to the development of side effects that have created the need for help from Yasmin lawyers around the country.  In addition to these problems, many people are also confused as to the difference between two of the leading products on the birth control market – Yaz and Yasmin.

First, the similarities between the two drugs should be briefly discussed.  Basically, Yaz and Yasmin are the same type of product, and they are both manufactured by Bayer Healthcare, one of the true giants of the pharmaceutical industry.  Bayer Healthcare initially released Yasmin in 2001 and Yaz in 2006, and their functions are also similar in terms of how they help to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Even their active ingredients are largely similar, but there is a reason that Bayer Healthcare decided to incur the expense of formulating and marketing two separate drugs under two separate but similar brand names.  This reason involves the biggest difference between Yaz and Yasmin, which involves the number of active pills that tend to come in a typical batch used by a woman.

Yasmin comes in batches of 28 pills, and of those 28, seven pills are inactive, meaning they have no active ingredients.  This has been the ‘traditional’ ratio of active versus inactive pills, and the reason for this approach is to avoid overloading the woman’s system with the estrogen and progestin ingredients while keeping the user of the pills on a daily routine so that doses are not missed.

Yaz, however, works under a different ratio.  Of the 28 pills in a batch, only four are inactive.  One of the reasons that many experts think that this was done was to help alleviate some of the common but less severe side effects that women encountered while using the drug.  Many of these relatively minor symptoms with those who were using Yasmin occurred during menstruation.

Regardless of the difference, however, both products have been linked to such side effects as kidney damage, heart attacks, strokes and even death in some cases.  If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of using these products, you need to contact the Yaz lawyers at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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The Difference Between Yaz and Ocella

Much has been made recently regarding the growing number of reports of serious side effects developing in women who were using Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella.  This line of products can be confusing for many given the similar names and similar functions each are meant to execute.  Therefore, many Ocella lawyers are starting to field inquiries regarding the difference between Yaz and Ocella, and they are explained below.

1.  The Usual Progression

Ocella hit the market recently and well after Yasmin and Yaz were released to the public.  Basically, Ocella is a ‘generic’ form of Yaz, which means that while the active ingredients are mostly similar as are the main purposes for using the drug, there are slight differences that supposedly make the generic version less expensive.  Ocella is basically the latest example of this progression in the pharmaceutical world.

2.  The Manufacturers

Both Yasmin and Yaz are manufactured by Bayer Healthcare, one of the true giants of the industry.  However, in recent years, Barr Laboratories sued for the right to basically invalidate the patent that Bayer Healthcare held on the formula that comprises Yaz and Yasmin and won.  Therefore, they were able to formulate their own product and release it to the public under its own name.

3.  The Formulas

While the formulas are very similar, there are enough differences between them that their effects can vary somewhat depending on the individual using them.  No one is sure how these slight differences will affect any particular patient, but many women report different reactions.

What is not different between Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella is the side effect risk.  These drugs have shown a tendency to lead to side effects that include kidney damage, heart attacks, strokes and even death.  Lawsuits have been filed around the country, and a report recently indicated that Bayer Healthcare had been served with nearly 75 claims after women had developed side effects after using their products.

Therefore, if you have used Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella or even any combination of the three and you’ve suffered from side effects as a result, you need to contact an Ocella lawyer at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Yaz and Wrongful Death Suits

Yaz is a birth control product that’s manufactured by Bayer Healthcare, and while it was seen as the follow-up product to Yasmin, the original birth control product manufactured by the same company, it did not spend as much time on the market before encountering serious problems with several women who were using it.  Tragically, some women have died as a result, and estimates indicate that as many as 50 women have died as a result of using either Yaz or Yasmin, prompting lawsuits by defective drugs lawyers.

When a wrongful death lawsuit is filed, the suit is usually brought by the family of the deceased, as they are the ones who must deal with the loss long-term.  These legal actions can be complicated to bring for several reasons, and below is an overview of how a typical Yaz wrongful death lawsuit would proceed in court.

1.  Establish Causation

The plaintiff must first establish not only that she used Yaz, but that she was generally healthy before using the product and died as a result of taking this product.  This can be difficult to establish, and is usually done by presenting findings in studies and perhaps with testimony from others who have been harmed as a result of using Yaz.  If enough persuasive evidence is allowed to be presented to the jury, causation can be established.

2.  Quantify Damages

One of the most complicated aspects of any Yaz wrongful death lawsuit aside from causation is presenting quantifiable damages to the court.  Generally, wrongful death damages are calculated by using the following factors:

  • Lost earnings throughout the expected working life of the victim, adjusted for raises/cost of living
  • Medical costs
  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of companionship
  • Additional costs (child care, etc.) incurred as a result of this wrongful death

While these damages can be difficult to calculate and then to present to the court in a persuasive manner, an experienced defective drugs attorney will be able to do so.

3.  Getting Started

If you have lost someone you love as a result of her use of Yaz, you need to take action.  Contact a defective drugs attorney at the Phillips National Injury Group today to schedule a free initial consultation, as you could have legal rights and options at your disposal, and you need to obtain this information before making a sound decision regarding how you should proceed.

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Yaz Attorneys to Help the Injured

Yaz is a birth control product that’s administered in pill form that’s been extremely popular with women since it hit the market in 2006.  Yaz is basically another form of Yasmin, the original formula for the birth control medication that’s been manufactured by Bayer Healthcare.  Unfortunately, women across the country have developed serious side effects after using Yaz, prompting action from Yaz attorneys across the United States.  These side effects include:

  • Kidney damage
  • Heart attacks
  • Strokes
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
  • Pulmonary Embolisms
  • Death

All of these conditions are obviously dangerous, but many women who have been injured are not sure where to turn for help.  Fortunately, an experienced Yaz attorney can help you analyze your situation to decide whether or not pursuing legal action is an advisable step to take.  Below is a look at some of the ways in which an attorney can help you if you’ve been injured:

1.  Analyzing the Progression

Clearly, you began to use Yaz at some point, and your overall health was likely recorded by your doctor at the time you began to use it.  Establishing a baseline in regards to your help will allow you and your attorney to lay out just what sort of suffering you incurred as a result of using this product.

2.  Determining the Liability

While no attorney can guarantee if a potential defendant would be liable in a legal action, an attorney with experience and skill will be able to help you determine if your use of Yaz was the cause of your injuries.  If that turns out to be the case, then it’s possible that Bayer Healthcare could be liable for the damages you’ve incurred.

3.  Quantifying Damages

The final step towards making a decision regarding the filing of a legal action involves organizing the costs involved with your suffering.  This is not always a tangible, numbers-based analysis, but different forms of damages include:

  • Medical costs
  • Lost income
  • Ongoing medical care costs
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of companionship

Obviously these are only a few examples, but you’ll need to obtain an idea of what a claim would be worth if it proves to be successful before making the decision of whether or not to move forward.  In short, if you’ve been injured by this product, you need to seek the help of a Yaz attorney as soon as possible so that you can make a decision regarding how to respond with a basis of knowledge and sound legal advice.  Contact the Phillips National Injury Group today to get the answers you need.

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Yaz and Strokes

We’ve been covering the problems associated with the birth control product known as Yaz recently, and today we’re going to continue by discussing another of the leading side effects experienced by women who have used Yaz as their method of choice for birth control.  This side effect is the tendency for this product to lead to strokes, and below you’ll find some basic reasons as to why Yaz lawyers are fielding many inquiries around the country based on this growing issue.

Getting right to the point, researchers have not yet figured out exactly why Yaz has led to strokes in so many women who were otherwise completely healthy and who did not pose any sort of medical risk before beginning with the use of this product.  However, statistical evidence has shown an increased likelihood of such an occurrence to take place, which has led to several warnings from the government and lawsuits being filed.

Strokes are not only extremely dangerous and potentially deadly, but in many ways they remain a mystery to the world of medical science.  The reason is that strokes attack and affect the brain, which clearly remains the most intricate and complicated area of the body.  A stroke occurs either when a blood clot forms in the brain or a blood vessel in the brain bursts, leading to brain bleeds and a deprivation of oxygen and necessary nutrients that can be difficult if not impossible to control.

What’s worse is that while there are some common symptoms related to strokes, the specific symptoms and resulting damage to a patient will largely depend on the area of the brain that was damaged by the original episode.  Therefore, different patients have different consequences to deal with after a stroke occurs.  Some are paralyzed to differing degrees of severity.  Others are unable to communicate and still others lose basic motor functions that were taken for granted to that point.

While the progress regarding rehabilitation from a stroke is encouraging, the fact remains that many patients who suffer from these severe episodes never completely recover if they survive at all.  Therefore, if you have taken Yaz and suffered a stroke, you need to contact a Yaz lawyer as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.

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Yaz and Heart Attacks

The birth control market has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years for many reasons, and as a result of this phenomenon, companies have been putting enormous resources to work towards penetrating this market and this need by consumers.  One of the leading companies in this regard is Bayer Healthcare, and in 2006, they released a product that was seen as the next step in the development of dependable, easily managed birth control.  The product is known as Yaz, and it’s a follow-up product to Yasmin, which was released in 2001.  Unfortunately for too many women, Yaz has been linked to serious side effects, prompting Yaz lawyers from all over the United States to field incoming inquiries regarding these injuries.

One of the most common side effects that’s been linked to Yaz is the tendency for women to suffer from heart attacks as a result of using it.  Several different theories have been put forth as to the root cause of this problem, but it becomes even more daunting that experts have been unable to identify a specific cause for them.  Some of these theories include:

  • The amount of estrogen released into the body can create an imbalance with the circulatory system
  • Some women have had a history of heart-related problems and are more susceptible to heart attacks when using Yaz
  • Some women have diabetes and/or high blood pressure, creating the same problems
  • Obesity has also been linked to heart attacks with women who have used Yaz

Regardless of the specific conclusion, the reality is that there have been enough reports generated of this sort to prompt a public outcry from every corner of the United States.  As a result, 74 lawsuits as of this writing have been served upon Bayer Healthcare claiming injuries because of the use of both Yaz and Yasmin, and that number is expected to continue to rise.

If you are using Yaz and experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Chest pains
  • Shortness of breath
  • General difficulty breathing
  • Numbness in your extremities
  • Dizziness

You need to contact your doctor immediately.  You should do the same if you experience any sort of abnormal symptoms, no matter how minor they may seem at the time and even if you have no medical history that would warrant a heightened sense of awareness to any problems.  If you have suffered a heart attack or any other injury as a result of using this product, you should also contact a Yaz lawyer as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.

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