Carcinogenic (cancer causing) materials have been discovered in baby shampoo products made and distributed by Johnson & Johnson Company. These chemicals include Quarternium-15 which prevents products from spoiling and contamination by releasing formaldehyde to kill bacteria.

There is an argument as to how much risk these chemicals pose to users of these products. Johnson and Johnson claims that using a single dose of any of their products cannot cause a bad reaction in children. But the question remains as to how much risk repeatedly using these products can pose.

Johnson & Johnson has only taken corrective steps after threatened boycotts from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and proddings from thousands of consumers.

Several lawsuits have been filed against Merck Pharmaceuticals, manufacturer of Propecia,

Propecia is used to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH, enlargement of the prostate gland) and baldness.  The lawsuits accuse Merck of downplaying the risks associated with Propecia and failing to warn patients about the severity of sexual side effects.

The side effects that have plagued men are:  decreased libido, decreased semen output, and depression.  Because so many men feel embarrassment about the side effects of Propecia, scores have chosen to remain anonymous or to not report their conditions.

According to a study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine in March 2011, drugs in the same class as Propecia are linked to a variety of sexual side effects.  It is possible that they are also linked to an increased risk of the development of breast tissue.

In a separate study in March 2011, the Journal of Sexual Medicine researches reported “men who developed side effects suffered those effects on average for 40 months after discontinuing medication”.

In June 2011, the FDA issued a warning that Propecia could be linked to an increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer.

Preemies are sometimes given steroids known as glucocorticoids after birth to improve lung function and to stabilize low blood pressure. These are common complications of being born prematurely.  “Premature” is defined as being born under 32 weeks of gestation.

A new study conducted at University of British Columbia and University of CA, San Francisco shows that preemies given the steroids hydrocortisone or dexamethasone had on average a 10 percent smaller cerebellum than premature babies who were not given the drugs.

Lead study author Dr. Emily Tam said: “Their cerebellums were growing slower, and we know from other studies that a smaller cerebellum in preemies is associated with poorer outcomes.”  The cerebellum is the area of the brain that is associated with not only motor skills but also learning and behavior.

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends avoiding high dose dexamethasone in babies after birth.

The study did not involve those premature babies that were given steroids BEFORE birth.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Suzette Fransen Cain and Julius Cain filed suit against Wyeth Company in federal court in New Orleans.

 The lawsuit alleges that Wyeth Co. knowingly made and manufactured hormone replacement drugs which are harmful to patients.

The drugs at issue are Prempro, Premarin, and Provera.  Wyeth is accused of manufacturing hormone therapy drugs that dramatically increase the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, strokes, blood clots and cardiovascular disease.

Cain was prescribed Prempro for over eight years. She was subsequently diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2010 and has undergone a mastectomy and extensive treatment.

The defendants are accused of wrongdoing on several levels including providing an unreasonably dangerous product, unfair and deceptive trade practices, unjust enrichment, manufacturing a product with redhibitory defects, intentional misrepresentation or fraud, negligently misrepresentation and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Cain is asking for more than $10 million in damages for loss of earnings, medical expenses, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, court costs, interest and attorney’s fees.

Everyone wants to believe that if they are admitted to the hospital, the staff is adequately equipped to give you proper care.  That may not be certain today, though.  There is a current shortage on certain drugs leading to the endangerment of patients, disruption of hospital care, and raising the cost of care.

The primary drugs that are in short supply are injectable generic drugs that are ordinarily cheap.  These shortages cause a delay in surgeries and cancer treatments, leave patients in unnecessary pain, and cause hospitals to give less effective treatments, which often results in complications and longer hospital stays.

According to the Associated Press, the shortages could cost hospitals at least $415 million per year.  So far, hospitals have been absorbing the extra costs but they’ll soon have to start passing them on to insurers and patients.

The FDA says the primary cause of the shortages is production shutdowns and manufacturing problems.  Other reasons cited were theft of prescription drugs from warehouses and “gray market” vendors who buy scarce drugs from small regional wholesalers or pharmacies and then sell them to hospitals at many times the normal price.  These “gray market” sellers may not be licensed, authorized distributors.

The average price markup on drugs sold by secondary distributors is 650 percent.  In one extreme case, a vendor was offering a generic beta blocker for dangerously high blood pressure.  The normal price per dose is $25.90, but it was being sold for $1,200 (per dose).

The primary problem with buying stolen drugs is that hospitals can’t always tell whether a medication has been properly refrigerated or is expired.  Using these defective drugs can be dangerous because the active ingredient might have degraded and the drug might not work well or could even harm or kill the patient.

Although the Hospital Association urges hospitals not to buy from unaccredited vendors and to insist on proper documentation of the drug’s source if they must, only three states (Kentucky, Maine, and Texas) have price-gouging laws that specifically cover medicines.

Is the physical risks of smoking worth the mental and psychological problems that may arise by using Chantix? Changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions make Chantix dangerous.

Chantix is a prescription anti-smoking drug designed to lower nicotine cravings and ease nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Chantix received FDA approval in 2006 after the drug was proven to block the brain receptors responsible for the pleasurable effects of smoking.

In February 2008 the FDA issued a Chantix public health advisory and warning. Prescribing physicians and Chantix users were cautioned that the drug had been linked to neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, agitation, and actualized suicidal behavior. In the statement issued by the FDA, the public was also alerted that Chantix may raise the reoccurrence risk of past psychiatric illness or may aggravate current mental illness.

If you have suffered adverse side effects from taking Chantix, call our defective drugs attorneys today and set up a no-cost consultation.

Lexapro is prescribed to treat patients with depression and generalized anxiety disorder. However, the drug is not without its problems. The FDA has issued two alerts concerning injuries caused by Lexapro.

The first alert is that Lexapro has been known to cause persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHT) in babies whose mothers used the drug during pregnancy.

Babies with PPHT have an inadequate blood supply to the lungs which causes oxygen depleted blood to return to the heart. Although some infants can recover quickly, others can have complications and require care throughout the rest of their lives. Statistics show that if the mother was on Lexapro while pregnant they are six times more likely to have a child with a birth defect.

The second FDA alert is regarding serotonin syndrome. Serotonin controls moods, emotions, sleep cycles and appetite. Some drugs like Lexapro can contribute to having too high of levels of serotonin in your body.

Serotonin syndrome can be fatal. Symptoms of this syndrome may include: restlessness, increased heart beat, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, tremor, muscle spasms, and several others.

If you believe you have suffered injury by taking Lexapro please call one of our defective drug attorneys today. You may have a case against the makers of Lexapro.

Has your doctor ever prescribed a drug for you and told you that you need to consider the benefits and risks of taking a medication?

There have been many lawsuits against drug manufacturers for not fully disclosing the risks of their medications. One such drug is Actose, which is prescribed to help manage Type II diabetes.

In some cases, Actose may lead to congestive heart failure and increase the risk of heart attacks. According to the FDA, there is a 40 percent chance of increased risk of bladder cancer due to taking Actose.

The longer a patient remains on Actose the higher the risk of bladder and heart damage. Our defective drug attorneys can help to answer your questions about health damages due to Actose and help determine if you may have a case.

Who wants to think that a physician would prescribe a drug that may cause you to attempt or commit suicide? Unfortunately, that may be the case.

Chantix, a drug prescribed as a cessation aid to stop smoking, has been known to cause an increase in both suicides and suicide attempts in those who have taken it. It is currently unclear why Chantix has caused these symptoms.

Chantix works by blocking the pleasant effects of nicotine on the brain.

Chantix has also been linked to other physical ailments including Stevens Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.

Our defective drug attorneys can to help you determine if you have a case against the makers of Chantix (Pfizer, Inc.). Call for a no-obligation consultation today.

Did you know that some drugs can have a severe, negative impact on your bones?

Boniva is one such drug. It is used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in women who are past menopause.

Boniva has been linked to osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), a rare condition in which the jawbone in the mouth dies. ONJ is commonly referred to as “dead jaw”.

The typical signs and symptoms of osteonecrosis of the jaw may include pain, swelling or infection of the gums, loosening of the teeth, poor healing of the gums, numbness or a feeling of heaviness in the jaw, drainage and exposed bone.

In the most serious cases, some patients may require the removal of sections of the jaw.

Boniva is in the same drug class as Fosamax and Actonel.

If you have experienced any of these symptoms or have been told you have ONJ while taking or after taking Boniva, contact us today. You may have a case against the makers of Boniva.