Reglan, made by Schwarz Pharmaceutical, treats individuals with stomach conditions, persistent heartburn, and other gastrointestinal problems.  Unfortunately, it has also been linked to causing the neurological disorder Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) in individuals with chronic or high dose use of the drug.  TD causes uncontrollable movement in the mouth, tongue, jaw, eye and face.  There are no known treatments for this disease, and in some cases TD may be persistent or even irreversible even after one has stopped taking Reglan. 

Nearly 1,000 complaints have been filed in New Jersey on behalf of individuals with Tardive Dyskinesia linked to Reglan use.  The complaints assert that the manufacturers failed to warn patients and the medical community in general of the potential risk of Tardive Dyskinesia from taking Reglan.  Additional cases are pending in a number of states, so if you or someone you know has been effected by Reglan use, contact a defective drug attorney immediately to determine if you have a case.

Prempro, a hormone therapy drug made by pharmaceutical giant Wyeth and Pfizer, combines progestin and estrogen to treat the many symptoms of menopause.  However, this combination of hormones has also been found to significantly increase the risk for cardiovascular disease as well as for invasive breast cancer.  Most women, if given the choice, would probably prefer the symptoms of menopause – as awful as they can be – to the potentially fatal side effects associated with Prempro.  In conjunction with that sentiment, in 2002 the Women’s Health Initiative published their study on the side effects of the hormone therapy drug determining that the risks of taking Prempro outweighed the benefits.   The study noted that taking the combination of hormones increased one’s risk for heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, and breast cancer spreading to the lymph nodes.  These findings encouraged many women to stop taking the drug, but women can still attain the negative effects of the drug even after they stop taking it.

Now, women are fighting back, alleging that Wyeth failed to warn patients and doctors of the potential side effects of the hormone therapy treatment.  Defective drug lawsuits have been filed throughout the country, as women everywhere try to make up for some of the pain and suffering they have endured.  Thousands of women are receiving compensation for their medical bills and lost time.  If you or anyone you know has suffered because of this drug, contact an experienced defective drug attorney immediately for more information.

In 2008 the FDA released a warning regarding problems with pelvic mesh implants like the Bard Avaulta, noting that complications with the mesh implant have been linked to the design of the vaginal mesh.  The mesh is surgically implanted in order to prevent pelvic organ prolapse, or POP, a condition in which the pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, rectum or vagina, slip out of place.  POP can occur in women after childbirth or surgery.  In many cases, however, the implantation of the mesh has caused some of the following complications: pelvic pain, extrusion of the mesh device, infection, removal of the mesh device, scarring, hardening of the mesh device, and difficulties during sex.  A number of women have had to have a second surgery to remove the sling, sometimes leaving permanent disfiguration.

Defective medical device attorneys across the country have begun filing complaints against Bard, alleging that the negligent design of the vaginal sling has put women at greater risk for infection, severe pain and suffering, and increased risk for additional surgery.  Women negatively affected by the design of the pelvic mesh implants are seeking compensation from the manufacturer for the complications they have endured.

According to estimates by the federal government, approximately 1,000 people are injured every year in accidents involving carnival amusement rides.  It’s important to remember that fact this summer, as thousands of Californians head to carnivals in their area.

Most carnival accidents occur because of three reasons - malfunctioning equipment, inadequate state regulations and human error.  There have been a number of carnival accidents in California recently.  In July, several people at a carnival in Pleasanton were injured when a chain came loose from an amusement ride and struck several persons.  At least seven people were injured.  The accident came just a few days after a ride operator was severely injured on a roller coaster at another carnival in Petaluma.

The biggest problem with preventing these accidents and injuries is that there is little regulation, and even lesser oversight.  Unfortunately, in several states, carnival rides are only inspected about once a year.  It doesn't help that the federal administration has no rules that apply to all 50 states.  For instance, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has standards in place for equipment, but has no oversight over carnival operators or companies.  With no oversight or enforcement, it's easy for carnival operators to simply pack up their unsafe equipment and move to a new location.

In a situation like this, California premises liability lawyers would advise that riders keep their own safety in mind before they get on a ride. 

Ultimately, you're the best inspector of a ride.  If a ride looks or sounds bad, assume it is, and stay away.

Try visiting a carnival on a weekday, when it's quiet and when accidents are less likely to occur.

Avoid wearing clothing with hanging straps and cords that can get entangled in ride equipment.

Keep your hands and limbs inside the car.

Wait for the ride to come to a stop before you exit.

How is it that a diabetes medication known to cause heart attacks and heart failure is still on the market? When it comes to the controversial diabetes medication Avandia, this is precisely what personal injury lawyers, writers from The New York Times and consumer advocacy groups are all trying to find out. The drug, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, was once one of the best selling drugs in the world, generating a staggering $3.2 billion in 2006. Yet the troubles for Avandia started in 2007 when a Cleveland cardiologist released a study that suggested that the drug caused heart attacks. This prompted the Food and Drug Administration to issue a warning, and soon sales of the drug started to slip even as GlaxoSmithKline worked to assure patients that it was safe.  

The FDA themselves have been split on the issue of Avandia. Some officials have recommended the drug be pulled off the market since it poses a danger to consumers. Others within the agency insist that since the reports on the drug have been conflicting, there is no need to discontinue the product until further testing is done. GlaxoSmithKline maintains that its own independent studies and scientific testing found that Avandia does not increase the risk of heart attacks.  

And yet it seems there must be something to the safety warnings as lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline continue to mount, like the one that was filed in the beginning of March 2010 by Santa Clara County, California. The lawsuit claims that GlaxoSmithKline intentionally suppressed vital information, hiding it from consumers by not alerting them to the risk of heart attack. The lawsuit seeks restitution for all purchasers of Avandia in the state of California, claiming the company violated the state’s false-advertising statutes, and follows a Senate report released in February that found that GlaxoSmithKline was guilty of minimizing the hazards involved with taking the drug. This suit, although the first of its kind involving Avandia, is a preview of things to come for GlaxoSmithKline as diabetes patients discover that a drug that is supposed to assist their health might instead have life-threatening effects.

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