Personal Injury

Celebrex: All You Need to Know

Celebrex: All You Need to Know

Introduction
Celebrex is the brand name for the medication Celecoxib which relieves arthritic symptoms such as swelling of the joints, pain associated with menstrual cycles and colorectal polyps caused by adenomatous polyposis.  Celebrex is marketed by the Pfizer Corporation.
How does Celebrex work?
Celebrex is a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) in the COX-2 classification.  This means the Celebrex is an inhibitor that stops the body from producing substances that cause pain and inflammation.  The medication must be ingested as per pharmacist instructions, usually around the same time every day.  For dosages exceeding 200 milligrams, Celebrex should be ingested with food.
How do I get Celebrex?
You must talk with your doctor to receive a prescription for Celebrex.  As is the case with all prescription medication you must inform the doctor of all other medications and allegories you have.  Failure to disclose this could lead to very harmful side effects.  It is also the responsibility of the patient to know the dangerous associated with misuse of the drug and the possible dangers from combining prescriptions.
What are side effects of Celebrex?
There are many side effects associated with Celebrex, although most, such as tiredness and upset stomach are minor and uncommon.  Individuals that experience a serious side effect should contact the FDA at 1-800-332-1068 to report it.  The FDA will be able to determine if the serious side effect represents a danger in the drug being available to the general public.
Why is there scrutiny on Celebrex?
Celebrex advertising was pulled from the market for a time after concerns that the drug caused an elevated risk of heart attacks.  This is similar to the controversy and ensuing litigation of a similar anti-inflammatory medication, Vioxx marketed by Merck pharmaceuticals that was briefly pulled from the market over reports that it had caused between 88,000 and 139,000 heart attacks.  Vioxx has since not returned to the market, but has faced litigation from victim’s families, with some but not all litigation ended in punitive damages.  
Celebrex faced similar accusations about misleading advertising and distortion over the potential harm caused by their drug, although Pfizer claims to be within guidelines for truthful advertising set by the FDA.
What should one affected by a serious side effect do?
There are several attorneys that specialize in Celebrex litigation.  You will need to prove that Pfizer Inc was aware of the inherent dangers in the drug but allowed it to go to market with this issues unaddressed.  The attorney will need to prove their advertisements failed to explain the serious nature of the side effects.  Unlike Merck and Vioxx, Pfizer has never pulled the drug from the market, which would constitute an admission of the danger of the drugs.  
Other parties that may be sued include misleading pharmaceutical sales representative that led the patient or doctor to believe in misleading claims about the drug.  Lastly, the doctor may be sued if there is sufficient evidence that he or she did not properly prescribe the drug or failed to take adequate precautions.  Failure to check on the condition of the patient may also be grounds for litigation.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001050/

5 Questions About Celexa

5 Questions About Celexa

Introduction
Celexa is the North American brand name of Citalopram, an anti-depressant marketed by the Forest Laboratories Corporation.  Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that allows the neurotransmitter serotonin to slow down and build up enabling the body’s neurons to fire properly.  The lack of serotonin effects the ability of the neurons to work properly which is one of the causes of depression.
What does Celexa treat?
Celexa is usually prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, body image issues and obsessive compulsive disorder.  Although its side effects may include sexual dysfunction, it can be prescribed for individuals with premature ejaculation.
What are some side effects of Celexa?
As mentioned above and common with all SSRIs, sexual dysfunction may occur during and even after the medication regimen.  The body’s release of dopamine is decreased as concentrations of serotonin increase, leading to apathy and other emotional changes.  As a result, there are clear warnings for individuals taking Celexa under the age of 24 that it may induce suicidal thoughts.  The FDA also warns that does about 40 milligrams may cause heart complications and warn doctors to avoid prescribing such does. 
Can I overdose on Celexa?


Celexa overdose can be fatal as it causes heart disturbances, coma and convulsions.  Normal doses will have blood concentrations of citalopram at 50 – 400 micrograms per liter in the blood and concentrations of 1000 – 3000 micrograms per liter in fatal overdose cases.
What are some other dangers of taking Celexa?
In addition to increased suicide risk, the Food and Drug administration acknowledged in a 2004 warning a risk of adverse effects on the fetus for pregnant mothers, including an increased risk of autism, heart abnormalities and malformation.  According to the New England Journal of Medicine, women taking Celexa in their first trimester quadruple the risk of the fetus developing a heart defect.
What do I do if Celexa caused a birth defect in my child?
A birth defect lawyer can argue that Forest Laboratories concealed of failed to adequately articulate the dangers to pregnant mothers taking Celexa for pregnancy related depression.  In fact, Celexa was marketed to a broad swath of the population including many pregnant women. 
Claims were made in 2006 that stopping the use of SSRIs such as Celexa during pregnancy to protect the developing fetus may also lead to more extreme depression in the mother.  However, the several authors of the study were later found to have significant financial links to pharmaceutical companies.
If you believe that you have been improperly prescribed an SSRI such as Celexa, an attorney may help you recover punitive damages from the manufacturer for failing to provide adequate notice of the potential dangers from this drug.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001041/

What are Chewing Tobacco and Smokeless Tobacco Injuries?

What are Chewing Tobacco and Smokeless Tobacco Injuries?

Introduction
Smokeless tobacco, also known as snuff or chew is now known to cause severe injuries and disease in frequent users including several forms of cancer, tooth loss and cardiac disorders.  Such is the risk that all packages of chewing tobacco now come with explicit warnings of the potential dangers mandated by federal law.  Misleading advertising of smokeless tobacco as a “safe-alternative” to smoking cigarettes has caused thousands of Americans to develop smokeless tobacco injuries.
What are some of the dangers of smokeless tobacco?
The National Cancer Institute notes that chewing tobacco contains 28 cancer-causing carcinogens.  Smokeless tobacco is addictive and habit forming and has dangers that potentially exceed smoking tobacco.  For one, more nicotine is absorbed through mouth tissue and into the brain where it remains in the user’s system for longer.  The smokeless tobacco user avoids the lung damage associated with smoking tobacco but is at increased risk of oral cancers and a type of mouth sores known as leukoplakia.  Depending amount of usage, a user can absorbs the nicotine of 1.5 to 2 packs of cigarettes, with a 30 minute session equating to 3 – 4 cigarettes’ nicotine content.
How do I quit using smokeless tobacco?
The National Cancer Institute maintains a smoking quitline at 1-877-44U-QUIT.  All tobacco users are urged to quit as tobacco use is universally detrimental the health and well-being of the user.
Am I entitled to sue smokeless tobacco companies?
For decades, smokeless tobacco companies engaged in misleading advertisements and distortions about the health risks posed by their product.  Since the some states have filed class action lawsuit against the smokeless tobacco manufacturers that entitle frequent users to receive compensation.  It is important to note that several of these settlements including California and Massachusetts, accused U.S. Smokeless Tobacco and Co of price fixing and gouging consumers rather than injuries inflicted on frequent users. 
Litigation regarding the health effects and misleading advertising of smokeless tobacco began in the 1990s.  Class action suits have subsequently been filed against the companies and attorneys have been able to prove that the medical issues that arise from the use of tobacco occur during regular use as intended, implicated the company in liability for medical expenses and harm incurred by the user.
If you believe you are entitled to damages from the smokeless tobacco companies, you should consult an attorney who can help you determine if you are eligible for compensation for expenses incurred or pain and suffering experienced by the family or user when attempting to quit a very addictive product that had been marketed misleadingly.
Source: https://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/tobacco/smokeless-tobacco

Truth About Cialis

Truth About Cialis

Introduction
Cialis is the brand name of tadalafil which is used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.  It is marketed by Eli Lilly and Company.  The Food and Drug Administration approved Cialis for sale on November 1, 2003 and again in 2009 as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, making it the only erectile dysfunction pill that is also used as a once-daily medication.  Tadalafil used for this purpose is marketed under the name Adcirca.
What does Cialis look like and what does it do?
Cialis comes in doses of 5, 10 and 20mg as is a yellow, almond-shaped pill.  Medications such as Cialis inhibit the PED5 enzyme which allows more blood flow to the penile area and relaxes arteries.  Cialis differs from other medications in that it is effective for nearly 36 hours, significantly longer than its competitors, which also merits its consideration as a treatment for hypertension.
What are some risks of taking Cialis?
There are common side effects of taking Cialis, including aches and pains and the widening of blood vessels, but these symptoms tend to relax after a few hours.  Patents taking nitrate medication can also experience an unsafe drop in blood pressure and this fact is noted prominently in Cialis advertisements.
Cialis and other erectile dysfunction medication were thought to cause vision impairment and blindness, but the FDA found no indication that the drug created an above average risk for the condition.  Warning labels have since been amended acknowledging a possible correlation between developing vision impairment and use of the drug.  The chance of vision impairment occurring with Cialis remains rather low.
A small number of patients have also experienced hearing loss which led to further FDA warnings in 2007.  Approximately one third of the incidents were temporary which has led the FDA to investigate a possible relationship between the drug and hearing loss.
Am I eligible for damages from taking Cialis?
Although Cialis remains on the market, one may be able to prove that they were not made sufficiently aware of the dangers associated with taking the drug.  In these situations, you may make the case for misleading advertising, although most issues with Cialis are carefully explained in their advertising.  You may have a better case if your doctor prescribed Cialis without noting the potential danger of taking the drug and its permanent side effects.  If you have taken Cialis and were not informed of potentially damaging side effects, an attorney will be able to help you build a case for damages.
Source: 
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000252/
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2007/ucm109012.htm

Gleevec Facts

Gleevec Facts

Introduction
Gleevec is the brand name for Imatinib, a drug currently marketed by Novartis for the treatment of leukemia and other forms of cancer.  Unlike chemotherapy, Gleevec does not kill all cells in a targeted area but inhibits a specific enzyme which prevents cancer cells from growing.  This drug is often the first drug prescribed to control leukemia.  Gleevec is taken orally and is processed by the liver.  Additional experimentation is ongoing to test if Gleevec can help treat pulmonary hypertension.
What are the side effects of Gleevec?
Weight gain, pain, and nausea are common as well as a much more uncommon case of congestive cardiac failure.  Some tests show that large doses of Gleevec can damage the myocardium of the heart.  Pregnant women should not take this medication as there is a chance it will result in birth defects.  More recently, patients on Gleevic have reported having hearing loss to the FDA.  Lastly, Gleevec may cause unpredicted interactions with other medications as it disrupts the natural functioning of enzymes that process medication leading to potentially higher or lower than expected levels of other drugs in a patient’s system.
Are generic forms of Gleevec available?
At this time, the cost of a year’s treatment with Gleevec can range from $32,000 to $98,000 a year with individual pills costing around $20 – 30 dollars.  Efforts to manufacture a generic version in India were met by a Novartis lawsuit that had to be taken before the World Trade Organization.
What can I do if I experience damage from taking Gleevec?
Although instances of hearing loss are rare, there is a chance that more instances of hearing loss will come to light in the future.  Individuals that experience can pursue litigation to secure damages for medical bills, loss of wages and pain and anguish.  Evidence exists that Gleevec can damage the heart, so this should be taken into account when considering your legal options.  Most importantly, liability rests with the doctor to monitor side effects while taking this drug and inform the patient of the potential risks.  Side effects are common with this drug and failure to inform the patient thusly may represent a breach of professionalism on the part of the doctor.
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000345/