Watchers of the U.S. Supreme Court seem to agree that the high court will likely rule in favor of a drug manufacturer in a case that saw a Vermont woman loose her arm to gangrene.

However, consumer advocates appeared relieved that the case will affect only situations where there were no allegations that drug companies tried to hide information about potential risks and where the FDA rejected stronger label warnings.

The case, Wyeth v. Levine, has been billed as a major milestone in an effort by the pharmaceutical and other industries to free themselves of unpredictable state court personal injury litigation by embracing instead a single federal regulatory regime — in short, federal pre-emption of state courts.

In 2000, Vermont guitarist Diana Levine went to a clinic seeking relief for her migraine. She was injected with the Wyeth drug Phenergan by means of an intravenous method that was discouraged but not forbidden by the labeling, which had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

But based on arguments before the high court Monday, the case could be decided narrowly, giving little guidance about broader pre-emption issues beyond the area of drug labeling.

Watson Pharmaceutical is recalling more of their fentanyl pain patches because of their tendency to leak harmful fentanyl gel.

The manufacturer is recalling the 75mcg/hr fentanyl transdermal system patches sold in the US from wholesalers and pharmacies. These defective drug patches are used to manage persistent chronic pain that requires constant treatment with opioids.

The recalled patches in particular are from lot number 92461850 and have an expiration date of August 31, 2009. These patches were shipped to customers between January 30, 2008 and March 19, 2008.

According to Watson, some of the patches in this lot have been leaking fentanyl gel and exposing it to patients or caregivers. Fentanyl gel is a highly addictive opiate that is 80 times more potent than morphine. Direct exposure can cause serious effects such as trouble breathing, extreme tiredness, confusion, or death.

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.