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The first trial agains Merk & Co, the drugmaker of Fosamax started August 10, 2009.  Over 900 lawsuits are pending across the United States.  Plaintiff’s claim the osteoporsis drug causes the death of jawbone tissue.

Thursday a Broward Circuit Court jury awarded $1.93 million to the spouse of a woman who smoked two packs of cigarettes a day for more than 40 years.   The jury found Philip Morris was liable Monday and decided on damages Thursday. The jury awarded total damages of $5.3 million but assigned 63.5 percent of the blame to the plaintiff reducing the award to her husband.  Over 7,000 sick smokers are suing statewide in individual spinoffs from a 1994 class action that was disbanded on appeal. The class action named for Howard Engle resulted in a $145 billion verdict, which was overturned.

Roche Holding AG is pulling its Accutane acne medicine from the U.S. market after juries awarded at least $33 million in damages to users who blamed the drug for bowel disease. Generics of the powerful medicine have been available since 2002 and now dominate the market, Roche said. Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Mylan Inc said they will continue to sell generic versions.

The FDA warned consumers last week to avoid two brands of pistachios that are related to the salmonella-related recall, but may have been repackaged and set to airports and hotels.    Orca Distribution West Inc. repackaged the two brands of pistachios, California Prime Produce and Orange County Orchards. Orca is the distributor for Setton Pistachio, who “voluntarily” recalled all of its pistachios back in late March because of potential salmonella contamination. However, Setton never publicly announced the recall, which spurred the FDA to conduct a follow-up audit of the company. During the investigation of Setton, the FDA discovered that Orca was repackaging the recalled nuts.

Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, elderly people, or the ill. More than 660 products were linked to this pistachio recall.  If you or a loved one may have become ill from eating one of the recalled products, please call the lawyers at Beltz and Ruth.  1-800-749-3221

The Food and Drug Administration issued a public advisory on June 16, 2009, warning the public about the risks associated with the use of some Zicam Nasal Cold Remedies. Specifically, the FDA issued a warning that users could lose their sense of smell.  The condition, known as anosmia, can be temporary or permanent, and leave lasting effects on the injured. Even one time usage of the Zicam Cold Remedy products can result in a loss of your sense of smell.

Those Zicam products identified by the FDA include:

• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel
• Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs
• Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs Kids Size*

*Swabs Kids Size are no longer sold in stores but consumers may have some in their household.  These were actually discontinued before the FDA warning was issued but still pose a threat to children and should not be given to children.

Loss of smell affects your ability to taste, resulting in less enjoyment with eating. The quality of life is also affected by the inability to enjoy pleasant aromas.   Your safety is at risk with a loss of the sense of smell as you may not sense smoke, or other dangers.

If you or a loved one has lost the sense of smell after using Zicam Cold Remedies, you may be entitled to compensation from the drug manufacturer for your medical expenses, lost income, pain, suffering and the loss of your quality of life.   For a free, confidential consultation of your legal rights, contact Beltz & Ruth, P.A at 1-888-235-8978 or complete an online form submission.

The FDA is considering action after results from a clinical trial suggested increased death in liver transplant patients switched to Wyeth’s transplant drug, Rapamune.  The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing possible changes to labeling for the drug, which is approved to prevent kidney rejection in transplant patients.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. of Roy, Utah, is voluntarily recalling some skin sanitizers and skin protectants marketed under several different brand names because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found in the product during a recent inspection. The FDA is warning consumers to not use any Clarcon products.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Clarcon Biological Chemistry Laboratory Inc. of Roy, Utah, is voluntarily recalling some skin sanitizers and skin protectants marketed under several different brand names because of high levels of disease-causing bacteria found in the product during a recent inspection. The FDA is warning consumers to not use any Clarcon products.

Consumers should not use any Clarcon products and should throw these products away in household refuse. Analyses of several samples of over-the-counter topical antimicrobial skin sanitizer and skin protectant products revealed high levels of various bacteria, including some associated with unsanitary conditions. Some of these bacteria can cause opportunistic infections of the skin and underlying tissues.  Such infections may need medical or surgical attention, and may result in permanent damage. Examples of products that should be discarded include:
Examples of the products that should be discarded include:

* Citrushield Lotion
* Dermasentials
* DermaBarrier
* Dermassentials by Clarcon Antimicrobial Hand Sanitizer
* Iron Fist Barrier Hand Treatment
* Skin Shield Restaurant
* Skin Shield Industrial
* Skin Shield Beauty Salon Lotion
* Total Skin Care Beauty
* Total Skin Care Work

The Food and Drug Administration ordered Merck to include more prominent warnings about fainting that can occur after receiving the Gardasil shot.  Gardasil is a vaccine given to millions of girls and young women to protect against cervical cancer. The FDA said all vaccine recipients should remain seated or lying down and be closely observed for 15 minutes following vaccination, “to prevent falls and injuries.”  Some Gardasil fainting victims have suffered from jerking movements and siezure-like actvity and some have fallen causing traumatic injuries.

If you or someone you know has been injured after receiving the Gardasil vaccine, please call Beltz and Ruth at 1-800-749-3221.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on May 1, 2009 to immediately stop use of Hydroxycut dietary supplements by Iovate Health Sciences Inc. after reports of serious health problems in users taking the recommended doses. Iovate recalled 14 Hydroxycut products from the market.

FDA has received 23 reports of adverse liver effects in users of Hydroxycut products, including jaundice, liver damage, and liver transplant. In one case, a 19-year-old died as a result of the associated liver damage. Symptoms of serious liver disease include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms of liver disease might include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, unusual tiredness, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, or loss of appetite.

FDA has also identified several other serious adverse events associated with Hydroxycut, including cases of seizures, rhabdomyolysis, and cardiovascular disorders ranging in severity from palpitations to a heart attack.

Hydroxycut products are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the “Iovate” and “MuscleTech” brand names. Unlike with prescription medicines, FDA does not test and identify all weight loss products on the market that have potentially harmful contaminants in order to assure their safety. The public is advised to consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing symptoms possibly associated with these products.

Below is a list of the recalled products, along with their bar codes:

Findings were presented at last months annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology that girls and women who receive the Gardiasil vaccine to prevent cervical cancer  may be at increased risk of a rare but serious disorder of the nervous system in the first few weeks after getting their shots.  While the overall risk of contractin Guillain-Barre syndrome does not appear higher, there is clear evidence of an increased incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome in the first six weeks, especially the first two weeks, after vaccination.

Much more study is needed before any conclusions regarding Gardasil and GBS can be made. Plus, the chance of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome, regardless of whether you’re vaccinated, is extremely low.