What in the World is a Pulmonary Embolism?

Posted by admin in What in the World is...? | Yasmin Lawsuit News | Yaz Class Action Lawsuit News - (0 Comments)

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of the main artery of the lung or one of its branches by a substance that has travelled from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream. The “substance” is almost always a blood clot and the “elsewhere” is usually the deep veins in the legs. There is strong evidence that the oral contraceptives Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella cause such damage in an inordinate number of women.

Unlike older birth control pills, these three contain a synthetic form of progestin called drospirenone. An FDA-funded study involving more than 800,000 American women found that those taking pills with drospirenone were 75 percent more likely to experience clots compared to those taking other oral contraceptives.

As early as April 2002, the risks associated with drospirenone were well known and the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen listed Yasmin among its “DO NOT USE” drugs, due to the risk of heart problems and death.

Over 50 reports of Yasmin or Yaz deaths were reported to the FDA between the first quarter of 2004 and third quarter of 2008, according to several Yasmin wrongful death lawsuits filed in various state and federal courts throughout the country. The fatalities involved women as young as 17 years old and included cardiac arrests, pulmonary embolisms and strokes, with elevated levels of potassium in the blood frequently reported.

Below are some of the life-threatening results of the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella:

• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
• PE (Pulmonary Embolism)
• Blood Clot in Lung, Brain or Leg
• Death

If you or a loved one has used Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and suffered any of the conditions listed above, it is not too late to assert your claim for damages. Contact us by filling out the form on the right. We will put you in touch with experienced Yaz Attorneys who will give you a free case evaluation and get you the compensation that you deserve.

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By The Numbers: Hundreds of Deaths Directly Attributed to Pradaxa

Posted by admin in By the Numbers | Pradaxa Lawsuit News - (0 Comments)

Pradaxa is a direct thrombin inhibitor and the first new oral blood thinner approved by the FDA in more than half a century. It is prescribed specifically to people who suffer atrial fibrillation, the most common heart arrhythmia and a frequent cause of stroke. Unlike the industry standard, Warfarin, Pradaxa does not require constant monitoring or dietary restrictions and does not negatively interact with other drugs.  These user-friendly attributes, and the drug’s effectiveness in preventing stroke in people with a-fib, virtually guaranteed its popularity.  Even the FDA showed its support by approving the drug for use in October 2010, a mere 10 months after submission of the application by Boehringer Ingelheim (B-I), the maker of Pradaxa.

During the first three months Pradaxa was on the market in the U.S., the FDA received 307 reports of Pradaxa problems involving internal bleeding and other complications, particularly among elderly users. Within the first year, B-I itself reported 260 fatal bleeding incidents worldwide among Pradaxa users.

According to a report released by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices in January 2012, at least 505 instances involving Pradaxa bleeding problems were reported during the first quarter of 2011 and 117 bleeding-related fatalities were reported in the second quarter of 2011.

In March of 2012, an 83-year-old Pradaxa patient was evaluated at the University of Utah medical center for what seemed a rather routine fall.  Initially, the patient was fully alert and oriented and could respond to verbal commands, and his neurological exam produced no findings of great concern.

CT scans revealed small, superficial areas of hemorrhage in his brain, and within two hours after arriving at the hospital new scans showed extensive progression of brain hemorrhaging.  Efforts to stop the hemorrhaging, including intravenous fluids and a protein called recombinant factor VIIa, proved ineffective and the patient fell into a deep coma and died within six hours.

These are conditions attributed to the use of Pradaxa:

  • Brain Hemorrhaging/Bleeding
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeding
  • Kidney Bleeding
  • Internal Bleeding
  • Heart Attack/Cardiac Injury
  • Death

If you or someone you care about took Pradaxa and suffered any of the damages listed above, you may have a claim against the manufacturer of Pradaxa.  Our experienced Pradaxa attorneys are currently investigating claims of serious injuries and deaths involving Pradaxa.  Contact us by filling out the form on the right and we will get you a free case review and the compensation that you and your family deserve.

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Breaking News: Bayer to Pay $110 Million in Yaz/Yasmin Settlements

Posted by admin in Breaking News | Yasmin Lawsuit News | Yaz Class Action Lawsuit News - (0 Comments)

Bayer AG, Germany’s largest drug maker, will pay at least $110 million to settle about 500 lawsuits to resolve the claims that Yaz and Yasmin caused blood clots that can lead to heart attacks, strokes and even death. The $110 million settlement would pay an average of $220,000 per case.

The notice of the settlements was announced just days after the FDA ordered a label change for the drospirenone-containing contraceptives. The new label will include a statement about the increased risk for developing dangerous blood clots. These 500 or so cases are in addition to 70 lawsuits which were settled for an undisclosed amount in February of 2012. Bayer faces more than 11,000 lawsuits over injuries allegedly caused by the pills. Lawyers cite FDA reports on at least 50 deaths attributed to the use of Yaz and Yasmin between 2004 and 2008.

Yasmin was introduced in the U.S. in 2001. Yaz was approved for sale in 2006, followed by a generic form of Yaz called Ocella, manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, in May of 2010. Unlike older oral contraceptives, these three contain a synthetic form of progestin called drospirenone. An FDA-funded study involving more than 800,000 American women found that those taking pills with drospirenone were 75 percent more likely to experience clots compared to those taking other oral contraceptives.

Below are some of the life-threatening results of the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella:

• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
• PE (Pulmonary Embolism)
• Blood Clot in Lung, Brain or Leg
• Death

If you or a loved one has used Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and suffered any of the conditions listed above, it is not too late to assert your claim for damages. Contact us by filling out the form on the right. We will put you in touch with experienced Yaz Attorneys who will give you a free case evaluation and get you the compensation that you deserve.

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FDA Update: Yaz Labeling Inadequate

Posted by admin in FDA | FDA Update | Yasmin Lawsuit News - (0 Comments)

The much-anticipated 12/8/11 meeting of an FDA panel of experts resulted in a 21 to 5 vote that that labeling on Yaz and Yasmin, made by Bayer, and Ocella, made by Barr Laboratories (now Teva Pharmaceuticals), is inadequate and needs more information about the potential risk of blood clots in the legs and lungs.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella use a manmade hormone called drospirenone, which mimics the naturally occurring female hormone progesterone. Panelists spent more than nine hours discussing often conflicting data on the blood clot risk of drospirenone-containing drugs compared with older medications. While the group disagreed on the quality of the evidence, the overwhelming majority said it should be clearly stated in the label, including the potentially fatal nature of blood clots.

Within two years of its marketing approval, Yaz had grown into the best-selling birth control pill in the U.S. with peak sales of $781 million in 2009, according to data from IMS Health. But sales plummeted from one million per month to about 200,000 after the company added information about studies that found a heightened risk of blood clots which can lead to strokes and heart attacks. The most recent study by the FDA found women taking Yasmin had a 75 percent higher chance of suffering a blood clot than patients taking a combination of older drugs.

The past decade illustrates the need to consider a Yaz recall or implementation of warnings that significantly curtail, or limit the use of drospirenone-containing birth control pills. FDA’s study arguably supports the idea that no drospirenone birth control pill should be any girl or woman’s first choice when they choose a form of hormonal birth control. As a result, few, if any, young women, based upon available science, should consider any drospirenone pill as their initiation into the use of hormonal birth control.

The FDA has not set a timetable for any changes in Yaz’s labeling.

Following are some of the life-threatening results of the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella:

• Stroke
• Heart Attack
• DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)
• PE (Pulmonary Embolism)
• Blood Clot in Lung, Brain or Leg
• Death

If you or someone you love has used Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella and suffered any of the conditions listed above, it is not too late to assert your claim for damages. Contact us by filling out the form on the right. We will put you in touch with experienced Yaz Attorneys who will give you a free case review and get you the compensation that you deserve.

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What in the World is an Acetabulum?

Posted by admin in Metal Hip Lawsuit | What in the World is...? - (0 Comments)

The hip is one of the body’s largest joints and is a ball-and-socket. The socket is formed by the acetabulum, which is part of the large pelvis bone. The ball is the femoral head, which is the upper end of the femur (thighbone). The bone surfaces of the ball and socket are covered with articular cartilage, a smooth tissue that cushions the ends of the bones and enables them to move easily.

If your hip has been damaged by arthritis, a fracture, or other conditions, common activities such as walking or getting in and out of a chair may be painful and difficult. Your hip may be stiff, and it may be hard to put on your shoes and socks. You may even feel uncomfortable while resting. One option to remedy this condition is a total hip replacement.

In a total hip replacement, the damaged bone and cartilage is removed and replaced with prosthetic components.

• The damaged head of the femur is removed and replaced with a metal stem.
• A metal or ceramic ball replaces the damaged femoral head that was removed.
• The damaged cartilage surface of the socket (acetabulum) is removed and replaced with a metal socket.
• A plastic, ceramic, or metal spacer is inserted between the new ball and the socket to allow for a smooth gliding surface.

All artificial hip replacement systems have risks related to implant or material wear. Metal-on-metal hip replacement systems have unique risks in addition to the general risks of all hip implant systems.

Because the metal ball and the metal cup slide against each other during walking or running, some tiny metal particles may wear off of the device and enter into the space around the implant. Some of the metal ions from the metal implant or from the metal particles may even get into the bloodstream causing dangerous toxic buildup.

In August 2010, DePuy, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, recalled 93,000 metal hip implants, after data suggested that about one out of every 8 may fail within five years. However, in September 2011, data from a British registry suggested that nearly 30% of implants may fail within 6 years.

Another metal-on-metal hip, the Wright Profemur, was originally billed as a totally unique modular approach to hip arthroplasty. However, studies have shown that it has a more than 11% failure rate within only three years of implant, much higher than industry standards. This means that approximately one out of every 9 people who received the Wright Profemur hip implant experienced severe problems within a few years after their hip replacement.

Following are some of the significant problems associated with metal-on-metal hip replacements:

• Hip fracture
• Hip Implant failure
• Dislocation of implant
• Loosening of implant
• Metallosis (metal toxicity)
• Cobalt in blood
• Chromium in blood
• Pseudotumer
• ALVAL (inflammation due to presence of cobalt and chromium)

If you or someone you love has suffered any of the symptoms listed above and had a Johnson & Johnson, DePuy or Wright Medical hip replacement system implanted, or if you had a hip replacement and do not know what kind of hip implant you have, contact us by filling out the form on the right side of this page. We will connect you with experienced Metal Hip attorneys who will give you a free case review and help you and your family get the compensation you deserve.

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