Neurological side effects caused by denture cream usage
Many people reach a time in their lives where dentures are needed. Imagine being a typical denture wearer and suffering from serious neurological side effects from the denture cream you use. This is a distinct possibility, as certain denture creams are known to contain zinc.
According to researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, numerous patients who used denture cream suffered from neuropathy symptoms typical of copper depletion and zinc poisoning. The study was published in the Neurology Journal in 2008. Patients in the study were found to have used up to 2 tubes of denture cream per week. When used properly, one tube of denture cream should last 3-10 weeks. While zinc is safe when ingested in small amounts, it can be dangerous, and even deadly, if taken in excess.
Neuropathy is typically characterized by pain and numbness in the hands and feet. Generally caused by diabetes, neuropathy can also result from traumatic injuries, infections and exposure to toxins, such as zinc.
Denture cream users who experience symptoms of zinc poisoning or neuropathy should contact a doctor immediately. Additionally, denture cream users may be eligible for a monetary settlement if they suffer from neuropathy. Please contact Drug Alert Updates for more information.
December 11, 2009
Tags: neurological damage, neuropathy, side effects Posted in: Denture Cream 
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Benzene, a known cause for leukemia
What is benzene?
Benzene is a clear liquid often used in manufacturing rubber, plastics, paint, pesticides and other products. Benzene has a slightly sweet odor and is highly combustible. It is widely used in the United States. Benzene is a known carcinogen and is also found in gasoline and tobacco products.
How you could be exposed to benzene
Benzene exposure is common among workers in facilities that use the chemical in their products. Benzene can also enter the environment through spills, volcanic eruptions and forest fires. Benzene is also used in some common household products such as: glues, paints, pesticides, inks, detergents and furniture wax. The most common exposure to benzene is through tobacco smoke.
Health effects resulting from exposure to benzene
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that long term exposure (more than 1 year) to benzene has been linked to increased incidences of leukemia, a cancer of the tissues that form white blood cells. Chronic exposure to benzene may cause bone marrow to not produce enough red blood cells, leading to anemia. Other symptoms of benzene exposure include: drowsiness, vomiting, convulsions, headaches and dizziness.
For more information on benzene exposure, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or contact Drug Alert Updates. Benzene exposure is a serious risk to your health.
December 9, 2009
Tags: anemia, carcinogen, leukemia Posted in: Benzene No Comments
Psoriasis drug linked to 3 deaths
According to the FDA, at least 3 people have died due to complications from the psoriasis drug, Raptiva. Two of the deaths were confirmed to have been caused by progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or PML. All three patients were treated with the drug for more than 3 years.
In October 2008, Genentech, the marketer of Raptiva, issued a warning to healthcare professionals of the increased risk of PML in patients being administered Raptiva. This warning was issued after a death was reported in a Raptiva patient.
PML is a rare, neurological disease characterized by progressive damage to the brain. PML usually affects people with severe immune deficiency and often results in an irreversible decline in neurologic function and death. Currently, there is no known treatment for PML.
If you or a loved one have taken Raptiva and experienced serious side effects, please contact Drug Alert Updates. We are here to assist with answering questions and determine if you are eligible for compensation for your injuries.
December 3, 2009
Tags: FDA, neurological disease, psoriasis, side effects Posted in: Raptiva One Comment
Nervous System Disorder linked to Reglan usage
Tardive dyskinesia, a syndrome that causes involuntary movements in the lower face, has been associated with the gastrointestinal drug, Reglan. Reglan is approved for short term (3 month) usage for the treatment of various gastrointestinal diseases. Common side effects include: repetitive chewing, lip smacking, jaw swinging, impaired finger movements, tongue thrusting and grimacing.
In February 2009, the FDA required that a “black box” warning about tardive dyskinesia be added to all packaging of Reglan products. Drug manufacturers are also required to implement a risk evaluation to ensure that patients receiving the drug are fully informed about the risk of developing the side effects.
If you or a loved one have been affected by Reglan, please contact Drug Alert Updates. We will be able to assist you with any questions that you may have and determine if you are eligible for compensation through a Reglan lawsuit.
December 3, 2009
Tags: FDA, side effects, tardive dyskinesia Posted in: Reglan No Comments
Continuous Health Concerns Over Oral Contraceptives
A recent New York Times article documents the health concerns of the popular oral contraceptives, Yasmin and Yaz. The article points out that although these two contraceptives were at the top of Bayer’s sales chart, they do come with some increased risks over other oral contraceptives.
Bayer promoted Yaz not only as a birth control method, but as a way to combat acne and severe premenstrual depression. Bayer was required to change their advertising earlier this year, as they were accused of making false claims on the benefits of the pill. They were also cited for not following quality control procedures when manufacturing the pill.
The age at which girls begin taking birth control is gradually decreasing, making them the main target of campaign ads. It is so frustrating to me to learn that these large drug companies are putting products on the market without properly disclosing their adverse side effects. Think of your daughter, sister, niece, friends- they need to hear about the harmful side effects of oral contraceptives.
Please view the New York Times article and check out the comments section. There are many powerful accounts of women that have been affected by Yaz.
We at Drug Alert Updates would love to help you if you or someone you know have been affected by using Yaz. Please contact us with any questions you may have.
December 3, 2009
Tags: Bayer Pharmaceuticals, birth control, side effects Posted in: Yasmin/YAZ No Comments
Lawsuit filed against Bayer Pharmaceuticals
A West Virginia man filed a federal lawsuit against Bayer in which he alleges he was not warned of the potential side effects of Trasylol prior to his coronary artery bypass surgery. As a result, the plaintiff suffers from acute renal failure.
Trasylol is commonly used to control bleeding in heart surgeries. It was approved by the FDA in 1993, and is a colorless solution administered through an IV during heart surgeries. When it first appeared on the market, it included a warning about possible anaphylactic reactions, but declined to note the possible links to renal toxicity.
The lawsuit, filed October 20 by James Foster Mathis, alleges he experienced renal failure after he was administered Trasylol on June 28, 2004, before an aortic valve replacement and coronary artery bypass graft.
“Trasylol was indicated for prophylactic use to reduce perioperative blood loss and the need for blood transfusion in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery,” the suit states. “The effects of Trasylol use in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery involve a reduction in inflammatory response, which translates into a decreased need for allogenic blood transfusions and reduced bleeding.”
Since Trasylol’s approval by the FDA in 1993, 4.3 million patients have been subjected to the potentially lethal drug, Mathis claims. In 2005 alone, Trasylol generated about $293 million in sales, the complaint says.
Mathis says he suffered acute renal failure and permanent injuries as a result of his exposure to Trasylol. Numerous other lawsuits have been filed against Bayer for Trasylol use.
To read the entire article, view the West Virginia Record.
For more information on what you can do if you have been affected by Trasylol, please contact Drug Alert Updates.
November 30, 2009
Tags: Bayer Pharmaceuticals, birth control, FDA, renal failure Posted in: Trasylol No Comments
South Carolina woman suffered life-threatening side effects from Yaz birth control pill
Candice Atkinson, a South Carolina woman, filed a personal injury
lawsuit against Bayer Corporation and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,
for severe side effects from the prescription birth control drug Yaz,
manufactured and marketed by Bayer. The complaint was filed in the Superior
Court of New Jersey, where Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is located.
Atkinson, age 33, states that Yaz is a dangerous prescription drug sold without adequate warnings about the risk of serious side effects. Atkinson alleges that Yaz is improperly advertised and over-promoted for its benefits of assisting in the treatment of acne.
“Bayer promoted Yaz with the slogan `the difference a little chemistry can
make,`” added Atkinson. “What Bayer did not disclose was how negative that
difference can be. Yaz gave me life-threatening injuries that have forever
altered my life.”
Atkinson was prescribed Yaz by her dermatologist for the treatment of acne. She was unaware that it had not been approved by the FDA, even though Bayer advertised it for preventing or reducing acne.
“Several months later, I developed sharp pains in my left shoulder and had
difficulty breathing,” Atkinson continued. “I went to my doctor for an
examination. Testing revealed multiple blood clots in both lungs. I was
hospitalized immediately. Fortunately, the treatments eliminated the blood
clots, but only one month later I was diagnosed with gallstones. I then had to undergo gall bladder surgery in January 2009. I have suffered months of anxiety and nausea related to these medical procedures and drugs given to treat the adverse side effects I developed from taking Yaz.”
Atkinson claims that she would not have experienced these life-threatening health effects if she had not taken Yaz or had been warned of the possible side effects. Bayer failed to warn doctors and consumers that Yaz is actually more dangerous than previous oral contraceptives.
For the complete story, visit Reuter’s.
Drug Alert Updates would like to help you if you or a loved one have been affected by Yasmin or Yaz. Please contact us for more information.
November 30, 2009
Tags: Bayer Pharmaceuticals, birth control, side effects Posted in: Yasmin/YAZ No Comments
Birth control linked to heart attacks
When you think of someone who is at risk of a heart attack, do you picture someone in their late 60s or 70s who is overweight, a smoker and generally takes poor care of themselves? That is what comes to my mind. I don’t often think of a young woman that is the “picture of health” to be at risk for a heart attack.
One of the major health risks for oral contraceptive users is the potential risk of a heart attack. Taking birth control is a responsible way for a woman to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. However, many women are soon discovering that their birth control pills are putting them at an increased risk for many life-threatening health problems.
“Well, what can I do about it? Many people are wondering that same question – if Yasmin does more harm than good, then why weren’t we warned about it? If you or someone you know has suffered from complicated side effects of Yasmin, YAZ or Ocella, it’s time to stand up and do something about this mistreatment. Please contact us with any questions you have and we would be glad to assist you.
November 30, 2009
Tags: birth control, heart attack, side effects Posted in: Yasmin/YAZ No Comments
Trasylol linked to 1,000 deaths per month
Trasylol, a drug used in one third of all cardiac bypass operations to control bleeding, was on the market for 14 years, possibly contributing to thousands of deaths. Why did it take Bayer Pharmaceuticals and the FDA 2 years to take the drug off the market? At the height of the drug’s use, it was the probable cause of up to 1,000 deaths per month.
A renowned researcher estimated that up to 22,000 patient’s lives could have been saved if the FDA had removed Trasylol back in 2006 when the studies began.
60 Minutes shares an insightful video about Joe Randone and his family’s journey to sue Bayer after Joe’s death. Joe was born with a heart murmur, but went on to lead a normal active life. In January 2006, Joe checked himself into the hospital for a routine heart valve replacement surgery. He was told that his surgery had only a 5 percent risk of complications, and he would be able to leave the hospital 5 days after surgery.
Trasylol was put into Joe’s IV and remained on a steady drip for 4 hours. After the surgery, his family was told that there had been complications, but the doctors failed to go into detail. Shortly thereafter, Joe suffered 2 heart attacks and kidney failure. Randone’s surgeon noted that he suffered from “Aprotinin-induced graft thrombosis”. Aprotinin is the generic name for Trasylol, and thrombosis means blood clotting.
Joe was able to return home after the surgery, only to have multiple other health problems. He became so swollen that he couldn’t even shut his eyes. Joe’s eyes were sewn shut to protect his corneas, his gallbladder had to be removed and his legs had to be amputated due to poor circulation. Over the course of 8 months, Joe underwent 19 surgeries.
To make matters worse, Joe could have been given two different drugs without the consequences. Both drugs were found to be effective in studies conducted, without the adverse side effects. Joe eventually died in August 2006.
I truly feel that Bayer and the FDA are more concerned about profits than about protecting and maintaining the health of their consumers. After reading Joe’s story, I almost felt physically sick thinking about the numerous surgeries that his body had to go through, and all for what? Joe and thousands of other people could be leading perfectly healthy lives now if they had not been given Trasylol during surgery. It completely astounds me to think that a drug can be put on the market before it is proven to be completely safe. Studies are conducted to prove the effectiveness of a drug and are tested on a small group of people. If the drug proves to be effective and safe within the small test group, it will then go on the market. My question is: who is protecting the consumer if it is not the FDA or the manufacturer of the drug? The answer remains to be seen.
I urge you to share this story with loved ones and friends, regardless if they have been directly affected by Trasylol or not. No one should have to suffer through life-threatening health complications after taking this drug. Please contact Drug Alert Updates for more information on Trasylol.
November 30, 2009
Tags: Bayer Pharmaceuticals, FDA, side effects Posted in: Trasylol 12 Comments
Study links ReNu infections to improper storage practices
On May 15, 2006, Bausch & Lomb issued a worldwide recall for its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution. ReNu had been one of Bausch & Lomb’s biggest moneymakers on the market.
Doctors in the U.S. began to see a trend of patients suffering from fungal keratitis, an eye fungus caused by the Fusarium fungus in the cornea. Symptoms include red, inflamed eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, severe eye pain and yellow discharge. If left untreated, Fusarium keratitis can lead to permanent scarring of the cornea, and in extreme cases, partial to full blindness.
A recent article published in the Archives of Ophthalmology stated that Bausch & Lomb failed to regulate storage and transport temperatures of their products, resulting in the product losing its effectiveness.
If you or a loved one have used a Bausch and Lomb Renu contact lens solution and suffered any eye injury as a side effect, request a free consultation and claim evaluation to determine if you may be entitled to compensation.
November 30, 2009
Tags: ReNu, side effects Posted in: Contact Lens Solution No Comments