Renovating Old Buildings & Asbestos Exposure a Real Risk

By Amanda Antell

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral fiber. Due to its strength and resistance to heat, asbestos has been widely used in building materials and friction products. It was also commonly used as insulation in buildings.

Zithromax Linked to Severe Skin Reactions SJS & TEN

By Robert J. Boumis

People sometimes forget how revolutionary antibiotics are. For the majority of human history, bacterial infection could strike down anyone. Something as innocuous as strep throat could threaten someone’s life, without the safety net of antibiotics. Unfortunately, one very prevalent antibiotic, Zithromax, may be linked with life-threatening side effects.

Some patients who have used the antibiotic Zithromax (also known generically as azithromycin or popularly as the Z-Pak), have gone on to develop Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or its more severe form, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN).

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FDA Meets On Efficacy of Yaz Blood Clog Warning Labels

By Amanda Antell

In a recent FDA meeting, an extensive research study that was conducted over the past six years showed the results of over 800,000 women taking different brands of oral contraceptives. The results of the FDA study concluded that new users of Yasmin or Yaz birth control are twice as likely to experience blood clots compared to older birth control pills that contain the progestin levonorgestrel. Yaz and Yasmin contain the hormone drospirenone.

After the presentations were complete and both sides had made their comments and arguments against each other’s studies, members of the public were allowed to speak; each was limited to three minutes. Family members of Yaz blood clot victims described how Bayer stole their happy daughters, who had suffered and died after experiencing a pulmonary embolism, or other complications from taking Yaz. Members of women’s health organizations spoke about the unnecessary health risks posed by drospirenone. Two scientists confirmed this statement, including Bert Gerstman, an epidemiologist, who criticized the design of Bayer’s studies.

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Pradaxa Lawsuits & Bleeding Reports Continue to Rise

By Amanda Antell

The popular blood-thinning drug Pradaxa is now available to millions of patients with atrial fibrillation in over 70 countries worldwide. Boehringer Ingelheim, Pradaxa’s manufacturer, recently boasted that Pradaxa alone earned them $1 billion in one year. The drug has also racked up hundreds of reports of death from internal bleeding and over a thousand reports of severe bleeding side effects. Subsequently, hundreds of Pradaxa injury lawsuits have been filed.

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Over 1,300 Actos Lawsuits Filed Over Cancer, Other Damage

By Amanda Antell

Hundreds of Actos users have taken legal action against Takeda Pharmaceuticals for long-lasting damages caused by the Type-2 diabetes drug.

Actos (pioglitazone) is a prescription drug used to improve glucose control in adults over the age of 18 with Type-2 diabetes. Actos was the tenth bestselling drug in the U.S. in 2008, with sales exceeding $2.4 billion. However, Actos has been found to be associated with bladder tumors, bladder cancer and cardiac complications, causing it to be withdrawn in some countries.

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Thousands of Lawsuits Allege Defective Metal Hip Implants

By Anne Bucher

Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy unit has been accused of defectively designing metal-on-metal hip implants. Numerous plaintiffs have alleged that DePuy knew of the risks but continued to sell these harmful products until Johnson & Johnson voluntarily recalled more than 90,000 hip implants in 2010. The company claims that 12 percent of DePuy’s hip implants failed within five years.

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