Fosamax (alendronate sodium) is an osteoporosis drug manufactured by Merck to treat bone loss. Fosamax is prescribed to millions of people to reduce the risk of bone fractures, primarily involving the hip. Hundreds of Fosamax lawsuits have already been filed by consumers who experienced severe side effects from taking Fosamax. These side effects included a rare decay of the jawbone known as osteonecrosis of the jaw, or ONJ. Recently, a medical study linked Fosamax to a rare type of bone fracture in the femur.

Medical Study Links Fosamax to Femur Bone Fracture

A medical study in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma links Fosamax to a rare type of fracture in the femur. The small, observational study looked at 70 patients who experienced low-energy femur fractures, which occur when someone falls from a standing height or less. Twenty-five patients (36%) were taking Fosamax on average for four years or more. The Fosamax patients’ fractures had some distinct characteristics: nineteen (76%) of the 25 patients had a simple fracture with a straight line across the bone and a beak-like overhang on one side. Also, the patients’ bones didn’t look like typical osteoporotic bone; they looked strong.

Merck Disagrees with Fosamax Fracture Femur Medical Study

Merck pointed out that Fosamax and other bisphosphonate medications have been shown to decrease the risk of a type of femur fractures common in patients with osteoporosis. In a statement on the new study, Merck said that “a causal association with bisphosphonates and either the fracture pattern or the frequency of these fractures has not been established by the authors.”

Speak to a Fosamax Lawyer

If you took Fosamax and suffered osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), a broken leg, or femur fracture, we encourage you to contact a Fosamax attorney at our law firm immediately. An experienced product liability attorney can assist you in a legal action against the makers of Fosamax. Contact our law firm and learn more about your legal rights and the options available to you and your family.

Depakote is used to treat long-term manic and depressive parts of rapidly-cycling bipolar disorder, migraines, epilepsy and chronic pain associated with nervous system diseases. Marketed by Abbott Laboratories, Depakote is a widely used drug. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be aware of the risks to the fetus. Use of Depakote during pregnancy can cause congenital malformations including neural tube defects and other deformities.

Depakote Side Effects

Severe Depakote side effects may include:

• Malformations
• Intrauterine growth retardation
• Neural tube closure defects
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Atrial septal defects
• Pulmonary stenosis
• Hypoplastic right heart
• Dysplastic ribs
• Cleft palate
• Hand malformations
• Hydronephrosis (distention and dilation of the renal pelvis)
• Undescended testes
• Hypospadias (male birth defect that involves the urethral opening occurring in the wrong place)
• Skeletal defects
• Spina bifida
• Spina bifida occulta
• Spina bifida closed neural tube defects
• Spina bifida meningocele
• Spina bifida myelomeningocele (cystica)
• Anencephaly
• Rachischisis
• Death of the newborn

Speak to a Depakote Lawyer

If your child was born with severe birth defects that may have resulted from taking Depakote during pregnancy, contact our law firm immediately to discuss your legal options. Speak to a lawyer about your child’s skeletal defects, spina bifida, growth retardation or other injuries and learn about what legal options are available to your family. Our law firm has represented thousands of clients over the last twenty five years and thoroughly understands drug litigation. Contact an attorney today for a free and confidential Depakote lawsuit evaluation.

The FDA has issued numerous warnings regarding Byetta side effects. Serious side effects from the use of Byetta may include acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic pancreatitis or necrotizing pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that can cause bleeding, tissue damage and infection. The FDA warns that at least two people have died as a result of Byetta-associated pancreatitis. A severe case of pancreatitis can lead to the release of toxins and enzymes into the blood stream. These toxins can injure the heart, lungs, kidneys or other organs resulting in pancreatic death.

Byetta Information

Byetta is made by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc, and marketed jointly by Amylin and Eli Lilly & Co. The drug was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005 to help type 2 diabetics better control blood sugar when other drugs were not adequate. While Byetta may lower blood glucose levels on its own, it can also be combined with other medications such as pioglitazone, metformin, sulfonylureas, and/or insulin (not FDA approved yet) to improve glucose control. The approved use of exenatide is with either sulfonylureas, metformin and thiazolinediones. Byetta is injected subcutaneously twice per day using a pre-filled pen device.

Byetta Lawyer

If you or a loved one were prescribed Byetta and have been diagnosed with serious side effects including acute pancreatitis, necrotizing pancreatitis or hemorrhagic pancreatitis, then you may have a legal right to file a Byetta pancreatitis lawsuit. Please contact our law firm to discuss your legal options. Your initial consultation with a Byetta lawyer about your potential case is free and confidential.

Alli, a diet product by GSK used for reducing the amount of fat absorbed from food, is being investigated by the FDA due to reports of severe liver damage and liver failure in similar products as Alli. For more information about Alli and the possible Alli recall, please visit: FDA Alli Recall. Currently, Alli is only being investigated for possible liver damage.

People who use Reglan may be at risk to tardive dyskinesia. Recently published analyses suggest that Reglan, also known as metoclopramide, is the most common cause of drug-induced movement disorders. More than two million Americans use these products for the treatment of a number of gastrointestinal disorders depending on what form the physician prescribes the medication. The FDA has become aware of continued spontaneous reports of tardive dyskinesia in patients who used metoclopramide, the majority of whom had taken the drug for more than three months.

To find out more, please visit: Tardive Dyskinesia Lawsuits.

Patients who use the drug Reglan may be at risk to movement disorders and a condition known as tardive dyskinesia. Recently published analyses suggest that Reglan, also known as metoclopramide, is the most common cause of drug-induced movement disorders. The FDA also reports continued spontaneous cases of tardive dyskinesia in patients who used metoclopramide, the majority of whom had taken the drug for more than three months. Over two million Americans use these products for the treatment of a number of gastrointestinal disorders and more cases of movement disorders and tardive dyskinesia are expected to be reported.

Tardive Dyskinesia Symptoms

Twitching	Abnormal head movements
Involuntary facial movements	Tongue protrusions
Lip smacking	Lip puckering
Rapid eye movements	Excessive eye blinking
Frowns and grimacing expressions	Shaking of hands
Shaking of feet	Other injuries

Reglan Tardive Dyskinesia Lawsuit

Reglan users who suffer severe side effects may seek damages in tardive dyskinesia lawsuits. Reglan patients who may have tardive dyskinesia should talk to a trial lawyer about a Reglan side effect, or metoclopramide side effects, lawsuit concerning their Parkinson-like tremors. More information is available here: Reglan Side Effects Lawsuit.

Speak to a Reglan Lawyer

If you or a loved one has taken Reglan (metoclopramide) for more than twelve consecutive weeks and currently suffer from some of the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia or have been diagnosed with tardive dyskinesia, then you may be entitled to recover monetary damages for your injuries. Contact the Willis Law Firm to speak to an experienced product liability lawyer about your legal rights against the manufacturer(s) of Reglan or generic metoclopramide.

You are not alone. Join other tardive dyskinesia victims in speaking up and fighting for their legal rights. Please fill out our free legal evaluation form on the right side of this page and we will call or e-mail you back within 24 hours. Please keep in mind that certain states have a statute of limitations that limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit or seek legal action, so don’t wait to contact our law firm. All cases are taken on a Contingency Fee Basis (No fees or expenses are charged to the client by the attorneys, unless there is a recovery made for you.)

The Yaz birth control pill could be putting millions of young women at risk of serious side effects, including stroke, heart attack and even death. Bayer USA, the maker of Yaz, has already been warned by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for running TV commercials that minimize the potential health consequences of Yaz.

In the summer of 2009 several lawsuits were filed by women who claimed Yaz made them ill. The lawsuits allege Bayer overstated the benefits of Yaz and failed to warn that it could put women at risk of serious injury. It is expected that similar Yaz lawsuits will be filed in the near future.

Yaz Birth Control Pill

Yaz is a combination birth control pill for women that contains both estrogen and progestin. Yaz is considered a low-dose pill because it contains no more than .035 milligrams of estrogen.

Yaz received FDA approval as an oral contraceptive in March 2006, and as a treatment for the emotional and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in October 2006. Finally, in January 2007, Yaz was approved to treat moderate acne in women who desire an oral contraceptive for birth control.

Yaz is one of the best-selling oral contraception pills in the United States, with sales of $616 million in 2007.

Yaz Side Effects

Evidence is growing that Yaz carries serious health risks. Yaz contains a synthetic type of progestin called drospirenone. According to the FDA, drospirenone can lead to hyperkalemia, a condition caused by excessive amounts of potassium in the blood, in high risk patients. This condition may result in potentially serious heart and health problems.

Because of this risk, women with conditions that predispose them to hyperkalemia (such as renal insufficiency, hepatic dysfunction and adrenal insufficiency) should not take Yaz. Women taking Yaz must also be concerned about the drug interactions that could increase potassium, in addition to the drug interactions common to all combination oral contraceptives.

In order for Yaz users to avoid high potassium levels, blood tests should be drawn every few months. Most women who take Yaz don’t know about taking these blood tests because the instructions to take the tests are given in a small package insert with the birth control – something few people ever read.

Women involved in Yaz lawsuits have claimed that they suffered from a variety of serious ailments. These Yaz side effects include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and stroke. Yaz has also allegedly been associated with heart attacks and deaths in young women.

Finally, the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) lists a variety of other side effects reported by Yaz users. These include severe allergic reactions, rash, hives, itching, difficulty breathing, chest tightening, fainting, irregular heartbeat, liver problems, unusual or severe vaginal bleeding, unusual tiredness or weakness, vaginal irritation or discharge, and vision changes.

The drug manufacturer Actavis Totowa LLC notified healthcare professionals of a Class I nationwide recall of all strengths of Digitek, a drug used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The products are distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc., under a “Bertek” label and by UDL Laboratories, Inc. under a “UDL” label. The defective drug is being recalled due to the possibility that tablets with double the appropriate thickness may contain twice the approved level of active ingredient. The existence of double strength tablets poses a serious risk of digitalis toxicity in patents with renal failure. Symptoms of digitalis toxicity include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, cardiac instability and bradycardia. Several reports of illnesses and injuries have been reported to the FDA. Patients should contact their healthcare professional with questions regarding this medication.

PriCara Recalls 25 mcg/hr Duragesic (Fentanyl Transdermal System) CII Pain Patches

PriCara, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. said today that all lots of 25 microgram/hour (mcg/hr) Duragesic (fentanyl transdermal system) CII patches sold by PriCara in the United States and all 25 mcg/hr fentanyl patches sold by Sandoz Inc. in the United States are being voluntarily recalled as a precaution from wholesalers and pharmacies. The recalled patches all have expiration dates on or before December 2009, and all are manufactured by ALZA Corporation, an affiliate of PriCara. The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. All 25 mcg/hr fentanyl patches manufactured by ALZA and sold in Canada also are being recalled.

Fentanyl Gel Leaks

Duragesic 25 mcg/hr (fentanyl transdermal system) and Sandoz Inc. 25 mcg/hr fentanyl transdermal system patches being recalled may have a cut along one side of the drug reservoir within the patch. The result is possible release of fentanyl gel from the gel reservoir into the pouch in which the patch is packaged, exposing patients or caregivers directly to fentanyl gel. As per the approved product labeling for Duragesic, fentanyl is a potent Schedule II opioid medication. Fentanyl patches that are cut or damaged in any way should not be used. Exposure to fentanyl gel may lead to serious adverse events, including respiratory depression and possible overdose, which may be fatal. Anyone who comes in contact with fentanyl gel should thoroughly rinse exposed skin with large amounts of water only; do not use soap. Immediately safe-guard affected patches with cut edges by storing them in a plastic container in a safe place, using caution not to handle them directly. Keep defective fentanyl patches away from children and animals and do not dispose of them until you have spoken to an attorney or healthcare professional. Patches with a cut edge that have leaked gel will not provide effective pain relief.

Anyone who has 25 mcg/hr Duragesic or Sandoz Inc. fentanyl patches should check the box or foil pouch for the expiration date to see if they have patches that are being recalled. The recalled patches all have expiration dates on or before December 2009. The cut edge in affected patches can be seen upon opening the sealed foil pouch that holds the patch. Affected patches should not be handled directly.

Patients using fentanyl patches who have medical questions should contact their health-care providers.

Duragesic Fentanyl Patches

Duragesic patches are used to manage persistent moderate to severe chronic pain that needs to be treated around the clock and which cannot be treated by: combination narcotic, short-acting, or non-narcotic pain treatment products. It should only be used by people who are receiving or have developed a tolerance to pain therapy with opioids. Duragesic should not be used if patients have pain that will go away in a few days, such as pain from surgery, medical or dental procedures, or short-lasting conditions. Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of fentanyl patches should be reported to your health-care providers. Duragesic brand and other fentanyl patches are available by prescription only, through pharmacies, and should be used only under the supervision of a physician.

Duragesic patches sold in Europe, Latin America and Asia are not affected by this recall.

On November 5, 2007 the FDA requested Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corp to suspend the further sale or use of the antibleeding drug called Trasylol, amid growing concerns and strong medical evidence that Trasylol may be linked to a higher risk of kidney and renal failures, heart attacks, stroke and death than other antibleeding drugs used during a cardiac bypass, heart catherization or other cardiac surgery or operations.

Trasylol (aprotinin), Bayer’s injectable drug used to prevent excessive blood loss during heart surgery, has produced distrubing results in a recent New England Journal of Medicine study. The New England Journal of Medicine, January 25, 2006, states that patients who were given Trasylol, compared with controls, had nearly double the risk of death, renal failure, or stroke and a more than 50% increased risk of heart attack. Trasylol also increases the risk of kidney damage and kidney failure. If you or a loved one have experienced complications after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), or any serious surgery, you should contact your medical providers to determine if Trasylol was used during the procedure.

Speak to a Trasylol Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered a heart attack, heart damage, stroke or kidney failure after Trasylol was used during heart surgery, contact our law firm at once. It may be too late to recover from the debilitating effects of Trasylol, but an experienced product liability attorney can assist you in a legal action against the makers of Trasylol. You are not alone. Join other heart attack, heart damage, stroke and kidney failure victims in speaking up and fighting for their legal rights. You may be entitled to file a lawsuit for your pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical bills and other legal remedies and damages. Contact our law firm today.