| Follow Us: |  |  |  |
|  |
Blog Topics
- Accident Statistics
- Brain Injury Litigation
- Bus Accidents in New York
- Car Accidents in New York
- Cruise Ship Accidents in Newyork
- Dangerous Medications
- Dangerous Premises Accidents in New York
- Dangerous Products
- Differences in NY and NJ Laws
- Gersowitz Libo and Korek Events
- Gross Negligence Cases
- Medical Malpractice
- New Laws/Statutes
- New York Truck Accidents
- News
- Successful Injury Case Strategies
- Topics
- Uncategorized
- Wrongful Death
Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C., a leader among New York personal injury and medical malpractice firms, is now accepting cases for victims who have been diagnosed with bladder cancer after taking the drug Actos to treat diabetes.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in June 2011 that diabetic patients who have taken Actos and other pioglitazone-containing medicines are at a higher risk of developing bladder cancer. The warning notes that the risk is higher in patients who have taken higher dosages of Actos for more than 12 months.
France has stopped the release of these drugs. The FDA noted that it was aware of France’s decision. However, the FDA has not banned these medicines from being issued in the United States.
Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. has been researching patients who have developed bladder cancer as a result of taking Actos and is now accepting new clients. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to the drug Actos, contact Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at (800) LAW-9997 to learn your legal rights.
Depression Drugs Could Be Dangerous for Expecting Moms
Have you taken a prescribed drug to help combat depression during pregnancy?
It is fairly common for expecting mothers to experience some form of depression. Babyzone.com reports that 10 to 20% of women show signs of depression during pregnancy, with 20% of those being serious cases.
Many doctors routinely prescribe drugs called Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) to treat depression in pregnant women.These drugs include Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Effexor, and Cymbalta, among many others.
Reports stemming back to 2006 in the New England Journal of Medicine have made note of the potential complications for newborns whose mothers have taken these drugs in the final trimester of their pregnancy. According to ACOG, some of the less serious complications can include: jitteriness, mild respiratory distress, excessively rapid respiration, weak cry, poor muscle tone, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.
One of the most concerning complications from this drug interaction is Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) in newborns. This disorder severely restricts arteries, causing a lack of oxygen to the bloodstream. This lack of oxygen can cause strain to all of the newborn’s organs, including the brain.
PPHN is normally discovered within the first few hours after birth. Although it is treatable, PPHN can still cause serious and potentially deadly problems, including breathing difficulties, seizures, and developmental disorders.
If you are currently taking an SSRI during pregnancy, consult with your doctor to determine the steps necessary to keep both your baby and yourself as healthy as possible.
If you think that your child may have been affected by the use of an SSRI, please contact Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 800-LAW-9997 or email info@lawyertime.com for a free consultation.
How Safe are Off-Label Prescriptions?
Drug Used to Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder for Soldiers May Be Deadly
Seroquel, an anti-psychotic drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat schizophrenia, bi-polar disorders, and depression, has been on the market for years. Over the past few years, AstraZeneca, the manufacturer for Seroquel, began marketing this drug to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia and other conditions not approved by the FDA.
Studies were recently conducted on the side effects of Seoquel. Vanderbuilt University published a study noting that sudden heart failure may be a new side effect. The FDA and AstraZeneca are both reviewing this study to determine its accuracy.
In October of 2009, AstraZeneca paid out $520 million dollars as part of settlement agreements for two federal investigations over clinical trials and off-label promotion, and two whistle-blower lawsuits over aggressive sales and marketing. Details of the federal investigations and whistle-blower lawsuits were not made public. This $520 million barely made a dent in this multi-billion dollar drug, with sales since 2004 totaling over $17 billion.
One of Seroquel’s most recent uses has been for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder in American soldiers, claiming the drug helps alleviate symptoms of insomnia and restlessness. Thousands of soldiers have been treated for this disorder with Seroquel over the last nine years.
The Associated Press reported on one soldier, Andrew White, who was prescribed the drug after a nine month tour in Iraq after showing signs for PTSD. As his nightmares continued, his dosages of Seroquel were increased over time, and he was taking more than double the maximum dose prescribed to those using it for schizophrenia.
Not long after started this increased dosage, White died in his sleep. There have been atleast a half-dozen deaths among soldiers taking this drug to treat PTSD, but that number is likely grossly understated.
This story raises a much bigger issue. Psychiatrists are allowed to prescribe this drug off-label, which means they can prescribe this drug for unapproved indication. Off-label prescriptions tend to be common place in today’s pharmaceutical-driven society, especially since the FDA procedures to approve a drug are costly and time-consuming.
There is generally substantial literature to support off-label usage, which is what doctors will use to determine whether to prescribe these drugs. Doctors have the ability to issue any drug for an unapproved reason, as long as they use their professional judgment to deem it safe and effective for the condition they are prescribing it for.
Isn’t it time that the FDA crack down on the off-label use of drugs as the risks seem to outweigh any potential benefit?
For more information on the Seroquel case, read the Associated Press article: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iPPHBQ6w28w4kTXzANGm6kCzPN1gD9HTRUQ80
For more information on Off-Label Prescriptions, read this article by the American College of Physicians: http://www.annals.org/content/145/4/305.full?etoc
If you or anyone you know has been adversely affected by using Seroquel, contact Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 800-LAW-9997