Dallas Personal Injury Lawyer - FDA & Prescription Drugs

All aTwitter at the FDA

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:56:07 GMT

The growing popularity of social media websites, such as Twitter, is reaching places some never thought possible. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently created various twitter accounts and can be seen tweeting regularly.

Twitter is a social media network that allows for people to microblog under the topic of “what are you doing?” Twitter has been growing at an exponential rate with many companies recently creating accounts. The FDA has joined the trend by having various twitter accounts, including a branch of the FDA named the Division of Drug Information (DDI). The FDA has various other accounts to provide the public with safety information as well. These accounts include FDArecalls, foodrecalls, in addition to FDA_Drug_Info.

The FDA has created these twitter accounts to provide the public immediate information about recalls, warnings, and regulation. These feeds, however, are non-conversational - don't be surprised if the FDA doesn't friend you back (it's not personal).

If you would like the most up-to-date information, create a twitter account and follow these different FDA accounts. Creating an account is quick and easy. While you are at it, you can tweet with our personal injury law firm as well!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Over-the-Counter Drug Truths & Myths

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:34:08 GMT

Don't get me wrong, I love email forwards as much as the next person. It really means someone cares enough about us to make us laugh, cry, think, or be warned.

Unfortunately, the information in these emails is not always true. Even more unfortunately, while the information may be true, it's so far out of date to no longer be relevant.

This morning I received a forwarded email (thanks Aunt Sally!) describing the inherent dangers in cold medicines. Maybe you've seen it too: it warns us that a cold medicine ingredient by the name of phenylpropanolamine (PPA) significantly increases the risk of stroke in women. And this information is true. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally requested for cold medicines to be reformulated WITHOUT this ingredient back in 2000. Nearly nine years ago.

The FDA explicitly states that it is "...aware of emails circulating widely that list many products allegdly containing PPA. These emails, however, generally contain dated and inaccurate information and should be ignored."

What you should do: check the dates on your cold medicines and ensure PPA isn't an ingredient. More than likely, you're in the clear.

Other truths and rumors I've heard recently:

Recall of Tylenol

This one is mostly false. Tylenol, as a brand-name, has not been recalled in recent years. What has been recalled is a generic form of acetaminophen manufactured by Perrigo. This company provides generic store-brand acetaminophen - but the recall was back in 2006, nearly three years ago.

What you should do: again, check the dates on your mega bottles of acetaminophen as well as the manufacturer name against the FDA database of those batches involved in the recall.

Safety Concerns with Bowel Cleansing Products

This is true. Several prescription and over-the-counter products - such as Visicol, OsmoPrep, and other oral sodium phosphate solutions - used as laxatives and for bowel cleansing before colonoscopies have been subject to several FDA alerts in the past few months. Though the products will remain over-the-counter, the FDA is working with manufacturers to change the labelings and warnings on the packaging.

What you should do: if by prescription, talk to your doctor to ensure these products are right for you and your medical conditions; if over-the-counter, follow the directions and use ONLY as a laxative - not as a bowel cleanser.

But How Do I Keep Up?

The best way to keep up with over-the-counter drug information is to simply go to the source. The FDA maintains a database of health alerts, recalls, research, and other safety information. Check it out at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#drugs.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Australian Study Says That Botox Is Not For Women

Jeff Rasansky — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:31:58 GMT

Australian doctors are warning pregnant women to avoid Botox and other wrinkle treatments that are manufactured with botulinum toxin. This warning comes after health authorities have reported that a woman who gave birth to a child after taking a form of botulinum toxin gave birth to a baby who was both blind and deaf.

There are many botulinum toxin treatments that are currently approved for use in the United States. Botox is manufactured with botulinum toxin Type A and is approved for a variety of conditions. Botox Cosmetic is approved for temporary improvement in the appearence of moderate to severe facial frown lines. Myobloc is made from botulinum toxin Type B and is approved for treatment of adults with cervical dystonia (muscle spasms in the neck).

The manufacturer of Dysport has submitted an application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and hopes to have approval from the agency to market the drug as a treatment for cervical dystonia later this year. However, last year, the Australian Federal Health and Aging Department released documents that detailed the case of a child who was born deaf and blind in November 2005 after the other was given Dysport during the first few weeks of preganancy.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Chemicals Found in Some Medications Are Risky for Premature Babies

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:02:21 GMT

According to studies, chemicals found in medications are posing serious risks for premature babies. According to research that has been conducted by a team from the University of Leicester, various chemicals that are added to improve taste and absorbtion might prove to be harmful to babies. This comes from a report done by the Science Daily.

Researchers published a study that showed that "excipients" in medications might prove to be harmful to premature babies. The study was led by Dr. Hitesh Pandya, Senior Lecturer in Child Health in the Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation at the University of Leicester and Consultant Pediatrician at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

The chemicals that were generally involved were ethanol, sorbitol and Ponceaau 4R. Dr. Pandya said, "This study documents a worldwide problem. It shows that the collection of medicines given to babies may ultimately lead to them being exposed to harmful chemicals with the potential for short and long term toxic effects. Our research highlighted this, and we are planning further studies on the chemicals to understand exactly what these effects might be.

Dr. Pandya went on to say, "We feel it is important that the [medicine regulators] not only ensure that all manufacturers provide detailed labeling of the excipient content of their products but all lead action to determine whether existing practice constitutes a risk, and if so, how this might be dealt with."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

How to Hire a Dallas Paxil Attorney

Jeff Rasansky — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:56:14 GMT

When deciding which Paxil attorney is the right one for you, there are several things that need to be considered. One attorney might not be the same as another in several different ways. First of all, each attorney is required to go to law school and pass the bar examination in his or her state. Sometimes, an attorney will also be licensed in other states through passing the bar in those states and meeting other requirements. This is, however, where the similarity between one Paxil attorney and another ends.

There are different education requirements that a lawyer must fulfill, but they are quite different depending on the state in which they are licensed. As a result, However, a person is typically required to file a lawsuit with a Paxil lawyer in the state that he or she resides. Even within one state, though, there are serious differences to consider. All lawyers must complete specific courses and continuing education, but some lawyers may go above and beyond those requirements.

These attorneys may be a part of various groups and they may have furthered their education on their own accord. Additionally, a particular lawyer may have legal and civic honors from various institutions. This does not guarantee that your attorney will be the best one, however, they are important indicators of dedication. Taking your career seriously is something that a person wants to see in an attorney who will be working for him or her to represent an important case.

Our firm has a track record of success when it comes to these kinds of claims. If you or someone you care about has been injured as the result of taking Paxil, contact us by filling out the free case evaluation form to the right of this blog.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Risks of Taking Warfarin

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:39:58 GMT

A study published in the September issue of Neurology reveals that patients who have been taking Warfarin may have suffered large amounts of bleeding in the brain and an increased risk of death if they suffer from a hemorrhagic stroke. Warfarin is usually prescribed to prevent the clotting of blood.

Studies show that Warfarin aids in preventing stroke for patients with an abnormal heart rhythm, however, Warfarin is shown to over-thin blood and there is an increased risk of hemorrhage when taking it.

It’s been reported that Warfarin’s side effects send more elderly patients to the emergency room every day than any other medications. The reason for this is believed to be that the correct dosages for Warfarin are very difficult to determine.

Other brand names for Warfarin include Coumadin, Jantoven, Marevan and Waran. It is usually administered orally, but may sometimes be injected. It is used to stop blood clots and embolisms and most often given to people who have a history of stroke and heart attacks. Hemorrhage is a very common side effect of Warfarin. In 2004 and 2005, around 58,000 senior citizens visited the ER due to Warfarin complications.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Elderly Still Being Treated With Antipsychotic Drugs

Jeff Rasansky — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:23:01 GMT

A few weeks ago we wrote about the fact that stroke and death have both been linked to the use of antipsychotics in treating the elderly. Alarmingly, researchers are finding that atypical antipsychotics are actually increasingly being used to treat the elderly for dementia related symptoms. What’s wrong with this picture?

Approximately 30 percent of all nursing home residents have been administered antipsychotic drugs at one time or another. A few atypical antipsychotics are Risperdal, Seroquel, and Zyprexa.

Atypical antipsychotics are approved in the U.S. to treat schizophrenia but some physicians are using these drugs to treat the symptoms of dementia.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration asked the manufacturers of conventional antipsychotics to include a black box warning to their labels because they have been linked to an increased risk of death when used in the elderly. However, scientists from the University of Toronto discovered that the overall use of these drugs among the elderly has increased.

Dr. Geoffrey Anderson wrote in an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal about the serious adverse events associated with using atypical antipsychotics to treat the elderly. He goes on to report that the overall rates of use of the drugs actually increased between the first warning in 2002 and their follow-up in 2007.

Anderson says that “This finding highlights the limited impact of warnings and suggests that more effective approaches are needed to protect vulnerable populations from potentially hazardous medications.”

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Vioxx to begin Settlements

Jeff Rasansky — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:52:17 GMT

For those who claim Vioxx was responsible for their heart attacks, settlement packages are in the mail. Many of you may remember that Vioxx was removed from the market after it was linked to heart failure and a subsequent settlement ($4.85 billion) between Merck and Co. and plaintiffs’ lawyers was reached.

The number of eligible and registered claimants is almost 50,000, which makes up over 97 percent of the claimants who are actually eligible. According to the Associated Press, Merck waived its right to walk away from the settlement on August 4 and, over the next two days, deposited $500 million in an escrow account and gave a letter of credit to cover payments to the claimants.

The amount of these settlement packages can range from $5,000 to a couple of million dollars, and the federal government is arranging to be reimbursed for care provided to Vioxx victims under Medicare and Medicaid. Merck is up against over 200 potential class action suits.

It was a long four years after Merck took Vioxx off the market. This led to tens of thousands of lawsuits. The Vioxx case has since tarnished Merck’s reputation within the industry.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Have You Been Injured by Trayslol?

Jeff Rasansky — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:07:04 GMT

Trayslol, a medicine manufactured by Bayer which also goes by the name aprotinin, has been widely used since the 1990s. It was used as a medicine given during heart bypass surgery to reduce bleeding and the need for blood transfusions.

Most patients didn’t even know they were given the drug. However, in January of 2006, it was reported that Trayslol administration might have increased the risk of renal toxicity.

Other reports have linked Trayslol with increased risk of kidney failure, cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or heart failure), and cerebrovascular events like stroke, encephalopathy or coma.

Trasylol may have cost over 22,000 lives. One doctor estimates that as many as 1,000 people per month died as a result of the use of Trayslol during Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery.

If you or someone you care about may have been injured by the use of Trayslol, contact an attorney by filling out the form to your right.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky

Side Effects of Antibiotics?

Jeff Rasansky — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:15:51 GMT

Did you know that the side effects of antibiotics are responsible for over 140,000 trips the ER every year?

The Centers for Disease Control have released their findings for a new study on antibiotic reactions in the U.S. According to a survey they conducted, a sample of 63 hospitals recorded more than 6,600 emergency visits that were the direct result of bad reactions to antibiotics.

Penicillin and amoxicillin were responsible for half of the visits to the emergency room. The other half of the visits were the result of reactions to cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones—the class that includes Cipro.

Most of the reactions to these drugs were allergic reactions, which ranged from rashes to anaphylaxis. However, the bottom line of this study is that overuse of antibiotics has become a serious public health problem.

A more alarming statistic they have found is half of the 100 million antibiotic prescriptions written for respiratory tract infections in the U.S. are unnecessary.

For more information about this study, visit cdc.gov.

Antibiotics have been a hot topic lately. We’ve blogged about it in the past and we promise to keep you updated as we learn more.

If any of you have had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic, please leave us a comment and let us know what happened.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jeff Rasansky