According to a study published in the Journal of Orthopedic Trauma, Fosamax and other bisphosphonates that are taken over long-periods of time may cause patients to be at risk for stress fractures.

Bisphosphonates are prescription drugs used to increase bone density, but according to Dr. Dean G. Lorich and Dr. Joseph M. Lane, they may eventually suppress the ability of bones to heal after a stress injury.

The study focused on 70 patients. There were 25 patients who had been taking Fosamax for a minimum of five years. Of the patients taking Fosamax, 19 had a femoral stress fracture. Of the patients that were not taking Fosamax, only one patient presented with a stress fracture.

While further research is necessary, the doctors recommend that physicians should monitor the bone regeneration of patients who are taking bisphosphonates for a long period of time.

Defective drug attorneys are working to help those who have become ill or who have suffered injury due to defective prescription medication.

On June 27, 2008, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department in Florida will conduct an event called Operation Medicine Cabinet. The program is aimed to safely dispose of unused prescription medication.

The purpose of the program is to help prevent accidental medication errors as well as promote proper disposal of prescription medication. Improperly disposed medication has been found to have an effect on the environment.

If a medication has been flushed down the toilet, or put down a drain, it may not be filtered out at a water treatment plant. Because of this, marine life has begun to test positive for medication toxicity in some parts of the country.

In the program, all medication that is turned in will be incinerated.

Defective drug attorneys are working to help those who have become seriously ill due to defective medication and medication errors.

Diacetyl naturally occurs in butter, beer, coffee, vinegar, and other food products.  It is also used as an artificial flavoring in snack foods, syrups, processed cheese, icings, salad dressings, and particularly in microwave popcorn.  Diacetyl is used to give over 6,000 products a buttery flavor.

This “flavor” is the cause of bronchiolitis obliterans, commonly known as popcorn workers lung.  Once the chemical is inhaled, it damages the airway lining and tissue, leading to scarring that hardens and crimps airflow.  The only cure for the disease is a lung transplant.

Popcorn workers lung is a very rare disease, and it was thought to be limited to people working in the flavorings industry. But this past July, the FDA was informed that a patient who had consumed two bags of microwave popcorn per day over a 15 year period had been diagnosed with Popcorn Workers Lung. This was the first such report of the disease in a consumer, and the FDA is currently investigating the incident.

The FDA has maintained that it has no jurisdiction to evaluate hazards posed by breathing vapors from food additives. It was only this year that OSHA started to investigate diacetyl exposure in snack food industry workers, and that agency is expected to look into setting standards for workers next month. 

Some manufacturers have already begun discontinuing the use of diacetyl in their products.  These manufacturers include ConAgra, General Mills (Pop Secret), and American Pop Corn Co. (Jolly Time).

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug or product, contact the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP today, at 1-800-460-0606.

A new electronic system is being backed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Medical Association (AMA) and many more groups and manufacturers. The new system will notify physicians electronically if a drug or medical device has been linked to new dangers.

The system is called the Health Care Notification Network (HCNN). The HCNN is expected to begin operation next month. Over 100,000 physicians have already signed up to the service.

HCNN is a free service offered to physicians that is being funded by drug and medical device manufacturers. The service will deliver the same information that is currently delivered to physicians via the postal service. The new electronic system is intended to deliver the information quickly to physicians, which can potentially help to save lives. The information will be delivered via e-mail.

Defective drug attorneys are working to help support those who have suffered from serious adverse reactions due to faulty prescription medications or medical devices.

The recent recall of the heart drug Digitek is causing problems for consumers. Digitek is a generic drug made by Actavis Totowa that treats congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. It was recalled because of the possibility that some tablets were twice the thickness, containing twice the approved dose.

Though Actavis Totowa recommends users switch to the brand-name drug Lanoxin, many pharmacies no longer stock it and some insurers do not cover it. If Lanoxin is not available, it is recommended users take digoxin. However, switching to substitutes or abruptly stopping use of Digitek can cause serious health problems.

If you take Digitek and are unsure what to do, talk to your doctor. 

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug or product, contact the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP today, at 1-800-460-0606.

Ethex Corporation has expanded its recall of morphine tablets on June 16, 2008. The recalled tablets potentially contain twice the dose of morphine that is on the prescription drug label.

Ethex Corporation originally recalled a single lot of morphine tablets on June 9, 2008. The recall has been expanded to include both 60 mg and 30 mg lots of extended release morphine tablets.

The recall expansion is being described as a precaution by Ethex Corporation. There have not been any reports of adverse reactions linked to the tablets.

Serious adverse reactions can develop due to an overdose of an opioid medication, like morphine. Symptoms of an opioid overdose include respiratory distress, low-blood pressure and hypotension.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has listed the following recalled lots: 30mg Tablet/NDC # 58177-320-04: Lots 75090, 77846, 77847, 80048, 83320, 89661, 89665, 90252 through 90258, and 93284 and 60mg Tablet/NDC # 58177-330-04: Lots 91762 (previously reported), 75091, 75092, 77848 through 77851, 82517, 82518, 83333, 83817, 83862, 84111, 84112, 84315, 84900, 85326, 85335, 85807, 86270 through 86276, 87723, 87939, 88007, 89083, 89668, 89669, 89821, 90260 through 90272, and 91763 through 91765.

Defective drug attorneys are working to prevent the serious illnesses and injuries that can result from faulty prescription drugs.

ETHEX Corporation is recalling one lot of 60 mg morphine sulfate tablets due to a risk of overdose. The tablets were manufactured with double the dose of morphine sulfate that is on the label, which could cause serious adverse reactions.

The lot affected by the recall is number 91762. No additional lots are being recalled.

The morphine tablets were released between April 15 and April 27, 2008. They are under the ETHEX label.

As with all opioid medication, the consequences of an overdose can be fatal. An overdose of morphine may result in difficulty breathing and lowered blood pressure.

To this date, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not received any reports of adverse side effects.

Defective drug attorneys are working to help prevent serious consequences of faulty prescription medication by holding drug manufactures responsible for their negligence.

New studies show that Paxil causes increased birth defects when taken during the first trimester of pregnancy.  In many cases the most prominent birth defects were atrial and ventricular septal heart defects (holes in the heart chamber walls).  Other possible birth defects may include:

Difficulties with breathing

Seizures

Vomiting

Low blood sugar

Tremor

Irritability

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug or product, contact the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP today, at 1-800-460-0606.

On June 9, 2008, Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. voluntarily recalled two lots of the Daytrana Methylphenidate Transdermal System. Daytrana is the only transdermal patch approved for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Noven is recalling the product due to a problem with the release liner removal specifications. Do to the malfunction, patients could have difficulties removing the patch resulting in damage to the product.

Any damaged or hard to remove Daytrana patch should be discarded.

Noven is working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to incorporate needed changes to the Daytrana patch.

Defective drug attorneys are working on cases that involve faulty prescription drugs.

No CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) propelled albuterol inhalers will be manufactured or sold inside the United States after December 31st, 2008. This change is a part of the Clean Air Act and the International Environmental treaty. Because CFCs are harmful to the environment, the Food and Drug Administration recommends that users switch to HFA (hydrofluoroalkane) propelled inhalers soon. Manufacturers have been increasing production of HFA inhalers, so a safe and effective alternative to CFC inhalers are available now.

Patients currently using CFC albuterol inhalers should talk to their doctors about making the transition to a different inhaler. HFA-propelled inhalers have a softer spray, and require a different priming, cleaning and drying routine.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by a dangerous drug or product, contact the attorneys at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP today, at 1-800-460-0606.