Additional Practice Areas
Accutane: The acne drug Accutane has been linked to an increased risk of birth defects among children whose mothers took the drug while pregnant.
Actos: The diabetes drug has been linked to an increased risk of congestive heart failure. The Food and Drug Administration added a “black-box” warning to the drug in May 2007 because of Actos side effects.
AMO Complete: Advanced Medical Optics recalled its AMO Complete contact lens solution in May 2007 after it was linked to an outbreak of Acanthamoeba keratitis, a form of parasitic eye infection.
Avandia: The FDA has warned that the diabetes drug Avandia could increase a patient’s risk of heart attack, stroke, death from cardiovascular problems or other side effects.
Baby Car Seats: Millions of baby car seats have been recalled by their manufacturers due to manufacturing defects that could lead to serious injury or death in the event of an accident.
Benzene: Benzene is a naturally occurring chemical that is used in a number of man-made products. People who work around benzene, a Class A carcinogen, for an extended period of time are at an increased risk of leukemia.
Bextra: This COX-2 painkiller was on the market barely three years before being withdrawn in 2005 at the request of the FDA. Bextra carries a risk of heart attack, stroke and fatal skin reactions.
Byetta: The Food and Drug Administration has warned that use of the type 2 diabetes drug Byetta can lead to a serious condition known as hemorrhagic or necrotizing pancreatitis.
Castleberry Canned Food Recall: More than 80 types of canned food were recalled by the Castleberry Food Co. after they were linked to several cases of botulism.
Celebrex: Celebrex, another COX-2 drug, was designed to relieve the pain of arthritis and menstrual cramping. It was pulled from the market in 2004 due to an increased risk of heart problems and stroke.
Chemical Exposure: Toxic chemicals such as creosote, lead and vinyl chloride can be found in the workplace. Exposure to these chemicals may lead to blood disorders, birth defects, cancer or heart problems.
Digitek: The heart drug Digitek was recalled in April 2008 due to improperly manufactured tablets containing double the normal dose. Taking these tablets could cause digitalis toxicity, leading to heart attack, stroke or death.
Duragesic Patch (Fentanyl): The Duragesic (fentanyl) pain patch has been recalled on multiple occasions due to manufacturing defects which could lead to overdose. Fentanyl gel is about 80 times more potent than morphine.
Fleet Phospho-Soda: The use of “Fleet Phospho-soda” and “Fleet Phospho-soda EZ-Prep Bowel Cleansing System” has been linked to kidney damage from acute phosphate nephropathy.
Fosamax: Fosamax is associated with a condition known as osteonecrosis of the the jaw, which is also known as jaw necrosis or jaw death.
Gadolinium Contrast Dyes: Gadolinium MRI contrast dyes have been linked to a condition known as nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), which can cause movement problems due to a thickening of the skin.
Heparin Allergic Reactions: Heparin was recalled by one of its manufacturer in February 2008 after it was linked to hundreds of cases of potentially fatal allergic reactions and at least 19 deaths.
Januvia: In September 2009, the FDA warned that the diabetes drug Januvia may be linked to an increased risk of pancreatitis.
Ketek: Ketek is an antibiotic used for the treatment of adults with serious bacterial infections—like strep throat, pneumonia, sinus infections and chronic bronchitis. It has been associated with liver toxicity, liver failure and even death.
Kugel Hernia Patch: The Kugel hernia patch was recalled on three separate occasions due to design problems that could cause bowel perforation or other injuries.
Las Vegas Hepatitis Exposure: Unsafe injection practices at two Las Vegas endoscopy centers caused as many as 50,000 patients to be exposed to hepatitis C or other blood-borne illnesses.
Medical Malpractice: Medical malpractice can involve any number of medical mistakes, resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Examples of medical malpractice include wrong diagnosis, failure to obtain informed consent, failure to diagnose, abandonment and negligent errors.
Medtronic Lead Wires: Sprint Fidelis defibrillator lead wires were recalled in October 2007 due to an increased risk of failure that could lead to repeated, painful shocks to the heart.
Meridia: The diet pill Meridia was recalled in October 2010 after it was linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular side effects by the FDA.
Neurontin: Neurontin was approved by the FDA in 1994 for the treatment of epilepsy. However, the drug has been pushed on doctors for off-label uses such as bipolar disorder, pain, migraines, ADD, restless-leg syndrome and Lou Gehrig’s disease. It has been associated with numerous side effects, most notably the tendency to commit suicide.
Nursing Home Abuse: Negligence in nursing homes can lead to serious injuries including falls, pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration, gangrene and bedsores.
Ortho Evra Patch: The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots, which may place users at risk of heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis or other side effects.
Pacemakers/Defibrillators: Thousands of pacemakers and defibrillators have been recalled by their manufacturers due to defects which could cause the devices to fail to operate.
Permax: The Parkinson’s disease drug Permax was withdrawn by the FDA in March 2007 due to concerns that it could lead to serious and potentially fatal heart problems.
Raptiva: The psoriasis drug Raptiva was recalled in April 2009 due to a possible link to a fatal type of brain infection known as progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
Reglan: The FDA added a black box warning to the labels of Reglan and metoclopramide due to an increased risk of a movement disorder known as tardive dyskinesia. Reglan was marketed as a treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease and diabetic gastroparesis.
ReliOn Insulin Syringes: Nearly one-half million ReliOn insulin syringes were recalled by Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club in October 2008 because of a labeling error which could cause some patients to receive too much insulin.
Remicade: This drug, used to treat autoimmune disorders, is associated with numerous side effects such as tuberculosis, invasive fungal infections, lymphoma, cancer, seizures, multiple sclerosis, heart failure, liver damage and even death.
ReNu with MoistureLoc: Bausch & Lomb recalled its ReNu with MoistureLoc contact lens solution in April 2006 after it was linked to an outbreak of the fungal eye infection Fusarium keratitis.
Risperdal: The atypical antipsychotic drug Risperdal has been linked to an increased risk of severe weight gain, which could place patients in danger of developing diabetes.
Seatbelt Failure: Defective seatbelts can cause the devices to fail to function properly in a crash, leading to spinal injuries, brain damage or other serious and potentially fatal injuries.
Seroquel: The antipsychotic drug Seroquel has been linked to an increased risk of weight gain and diabetes. Seroquel is prescribed for the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and bipolar depression.
Silica and Silicosis: Silica is a naturally occurring mineral component of sand. The inhalation of silica dust by workers is linked to scarring of the lungs and mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer.
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome: The use of ibuprofen and several other drugs has been linked to a serious skin condition known as Stevens Johnson syndrome.
SUV Rollover Accidents: Experts believe that the Ford Explorer and other sport utility vehicles (SUVs) may be more likely to rollover in the event of an accident due to their high center of gravity or tire blowouts.
Tequin: As of May 2006, Tequin is no longer being made or sold due to its side effects, such as hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia, central nervous system side effects and ruptured tendons.
Toyota Recalls: Toyota vehicles were recalled on several occasions during 2009 and 2010 due to accelerator, brake and floor mat problems, as well as accelerator pedal and anti-lock braking problems.
Trasylol (Renal Failure): Patients who are admistered the drug Trasylol to prevent bleeding during heart surgery may be at an increased risk of suffering heart attack, stroke, kidney failure or other side effects.
Viagra: Approved a bit too hastily by the FDA in 1998, Viagra is a treatment for erectile dysfunction. But it has been linked to heart attack, stroke and a serious eye condition known as NAION.
Vicodin, Oxycodone and Codeine: Women who use the painkillers Vicodin, oxycodone or codeine during the early stages of pregnancy may be more likely to give birth to a child with birth defects.
Vioxx: This painkiller was removed from the market in September 2004. People who have taken Vioxx have an elevated risk of heart attacks, strokes and congestive heart failure.
Welding Rod Exposure: Welding rod exposure may affect a limited number of people, but it has been known to cause a variety of neurological and movement disorders. Manganese, which is often used in the welding process, is particularly toxic.
Zelnorm: Zelnorm was withdrawn from the market in March 2007 after studies linked the IBS drug to an increased danger of heart attacks or cardiovascular side effects.
Zetia and Vytorin: According to a November 2009 study, patients taking the cholesterol drugs Zetia and Vytorin are five times more likely to suffer side effects such as heart attack or death from heart disease compared to users of other cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Zyprexa: The antipsychotic drug Zyprexa has been linked to an increased risk of diabetes and diabetes-induced heart attacks.
Zicam Cold Remedy: “Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel,” “Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs” and “Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kids Size” were recalled in June 2009 after it was revealed they could cause permanent damage to the sense of smell.
Zinc Denture Creams: Hundreds of Poligrip and Fixodent denture cream adhesive users have suffered permanent nerve damage as a result of zinc poisoning.