The more we learn about the defective drug Trasylol, the angrier we become.

The drug, manufactured by Bayer, was used heavily during heart bypass surgery to reduce the need for transfusions and reduce bleeding beginning in the 1990s.

Since Trasylol is give during heart procedures, most patients don’t even know they were given the drug.

In January of 2006, it was reported that Trasylol may increase the risk of renal toxicity. Other reports link Trasylol with increased risk of kidney failure, cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction or heart failure), cerebrovascular events such as a stroke, encephalopathy or coma.

But Bayer kept the drug on the market until November 2007. The result of this delay is that as many as 1,000 people a month may have died  due to the use of Trasylol during coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

In February 2008, the New England Journal of Medicine published two studies, both confirming that Trasylol causes an increased risk of death and kidney damage compared to alternative medicines or no medicine at all.

Another article, published in May 2008, was actually funded by Bayer but withheld from the FDA! This study showed that the risk of death is 64 percent higher with Trasylol than less expensive alternatives.

If you or a loved one and an open heart surgery or valve surgery at any time from January, 1998 to the present, and had kidney failure or complications within 72 hours of their surgery, please call the defective drugs attorneys in this office for professional insight.

Following a warning from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding Tussionex cough syrup on March 11^{th, information regarding the safe administration of the prescription drug has been released.The FDA recommends that no child under the age of 6 should be prescribed Tussionex under any circumstance.}

The cough syrup should only be taken in 12 hour increments. Overdose may result from taking Tussionex in increments more frequent than the recommended doses.

Symptoms of a Tussionex overdose include:

o Trouble breathing, including slow or shallow breathing

o Slow heart rate

o Sleepiness

o Cold, clammy skin

o Trouble walking or talking

o Feeling faint, dizzy or confused

Serious illness and death have been reported in connection with Tussionex. Defective drug attorneys are currently working on cases involving the mislabeling of prescription drug products.

Two major studies of Bayer’s Trasylol prove that the anti-bleeding drug leaves patients more susceptible to serious side effects and possible death. After the deaths took place during a Canadian drug study, Bayer stopped selling Trasylol. Prior to Bayer’s withdrawal of Trasylol, the product had been available for 14 years.

Trasylol is administered in the surgery room to prevent bleeding during heart surgery, particularly bi-pass surgery.

During two studies, it was discovered that Trasylol increases the risk of death when given to patients undergoing heart surgery.

The first study focused on 10,000 patients undergoing heart surgery between 1996 and 2005. Within 30 days of the surgery, 6.4 percent of the patients who received Trasylol died. Within one year of surgery, 16 percent of patients who received Trasylol died.

When compared to the patients who were given different prescriptions, they found that the risk of death is 2.5 percent higher in patients who received Trasylol.

Bayer funded a second study. About 78,000 patients were studied from 2003 to 2006. The study found that the risk of death from Trasylol was actually 64 percent higher.

Both studies have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

During a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate the effects of Trasylol, the investigating panel discovered that at least 2,000 patients a year die from taking Trasylol.

Bayer did not disclose the results of the study they funded to the FDA panel, claiming that the results were preliminary.

Due to the direct evidence that indicates Trasylol raises the risk of death. It is estimated that Trasylol is responsible for thousands of deaths every month it was in use.

If you or a loved one suffered serious side effects after taking Bayer’s Trasylol during heart surgery, contact a Bayer attorney at Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-800-460-0606. An experienced Trasylol lawyer will be able to evaluate if you are eligible to seek compensation.