New York Injury Talk Blog

Topamax, or topiramate, is an FDA approved medication used to treat certain types of seizures in epileptic patients, as well as preventatively treat migraine headaches. Although approved by the FDA, new data has come to light that presents a great risk to infants whose mothers were taking Topamax when pregnant. However, women who are pregnant should not immediately stop taking Topamax or any antiepileptic medication without first consulting their doctor. Suddenly stopping antiepileptic drug use can lead to serious health problems for both women and their babies.

According to the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry, an increased risk of oral cleft lip and/or cleft palate has been shown in infants whose mothers were taking Topamax during their pregnancy. A cleft lip or palate occurs when parts of the lip, or palate, do not completely fuse together, and can cause a range of complications from a slight speech impediment to difficulty eating and even ear infections. A cleft lip or palate can be corrected with surgery, which is costly and can traumatically affect one’s family.

It is the responsibility of a pharmaceutical manufacturer to ensure that any and all medications put on the market have been thoroughly researched so as to know every benefit and every potential side effect. If the manufacturer releases a product prematurely, without proper warning labels, that manufacturer can be held liable for the financial and emotional hardships resulting from its use. An experienced New York Topamax lawyer can advise you and your family on the best course of legal action in such a case.

Every healthcare professional is obligated to give their patients all the information, the benefits and negative side-effects, about any given drug. If all the risks of prescribing Topamax to a pregnant woman, or woman of childbearing age, are not considered, or exposed, then that physician may also be held liable.

The dedicated New York Topamax oral cleft defect attorneys at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP are prepared to help you reclaim any medical expenses and recover any other losses or damages because of injury to you, or your child. Please call our office today for a free consultation at 212-222-4336.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced that drug maker Genentech has withdrawn the psoriasis drug Raptiva from the market because of its link to drug related injury, one of which is a fatal brain infection. According to this news report, Raptiva could cause potential risk of patients developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy or PML, which is a rare, serious, progressive neurological disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system.

Raptiva is an injection psoriasis patients take weekly to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Genentech estimates that 2,000 patients in the United States may be receiving Raptiva for chronic plaque psoriasis. FDA officials have told doctors nationwide not to initiate new Raptiva treatment and talk to their patients about alternative treatments and therapy.

All drugs have side effects, but when drugs cause serious or fatal side effects leaving you in worse shape than you were when you started treatment, something is horribly wrong. The New York pharmaceutical drug litigation lawyers at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro, LLP, have represented numerous clients and their families over the years that have been injured by dangerous and defective drugs put on the market by drug manufacturers without proper testing or research.

If you are the victim of a defective or dangerous drug in New York, you could be entitled to compensation to cover medical expenses, additional treatment costs, pain and suffering, and loss of earnings. Please call us today to schedule your free consultation. We will remain on your side, fight for your legal rights and make sure that these drug makers are held accountable for their negligence.

Weight Loss Supplement Hydroxycut Recalled Due to Liver Damage, Injuries and Death

Hydroxycut, the number one weight loss supplement in the world, was recalled on May 1st by the FDA. The FDA reports that there are at least 23 reports of serious liver injuries and death (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2009/NEW02006.html), including jaundice and elevated liver enzymes, an indicator of potential liver injury, to liver damage requiring liver transplant. Other health problems reported include seizures; cardiovascular disorders; and rhabdomyolysis, a serious type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious health problems such as kidney failure.

If you or anyone you know have been using Hydroxycut, stop using it immediately. Symptoms to watch for include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), brown urine, light-colored stools, fatigue, stomach cramps or pain, weakness, nausea, and vomiting.

This Hydroxycut recall applies to the following products, which are being removed from the market:
• Hydroxycut Regular Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Rapid Release Caplets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Max Liquid Caplets
• Hydroxycut Regular Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Caffeine-Free Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Hardcore Drink Packets (Ignition Stix)
• Hydroxycut Max Drink Packets
• Hydroxycut Liquid Shots
• Hydroxycut Hardcore RTDs (Ready-to-Drink)
• Hydroxycut Max Aqua Shed
• Hydroxycut 24
• Hydroxycut Carb Control
• Hydroxycut Natural

If you have any symptoms of liver injury you should see your doctor immediately. Keep any unused portions of the product for evidence in case you decide to pursue a claim for compensation.

If you have suffered any of these symptoms or injuries contact our experienced Product Defect and New York Personal Injury Lawyers and click here to visit our website for more information.

Dominick Tenuto, a Staten Island man who contracted paralytic polio 30 years ago when his 5-month-old daughter was vaccinated using a live virus, has been awarded $22.5 million in compensation. According to this news report, Tenuto, now 61, was seeking millions from Lederle Laboratories, the manufacturer of the vaccine, Orimune. Tenuto contracted polio a month after his daughter was vaccinated. He lost use of his legs. He also sued the estate of pediatrician Dr. Leroy Schwartz, but the jury only held Lederle liable in this case. Tenuto is still wheelchair-bound because of the drug related injury in Staten Island.

Adverse drug reactions or effects can seriously change our lives. Although all drugs have some form of side effects, it is the drug manufacturer's responsibility to make sure that consumers are aware of those adverse effects before they make a decision to use that drug. It's also a drug manufacturer's duty to ensure that it doesn't make or distribute dangerous or defective products.

If the drug is defective or if the drug manufacturer has not done a proper job of informing consumers about the possible side effects, then the drug maker can be held liable for injuries caused to the consumer. In the case of this Staten Island man, he was left with a permanent disability.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or if you have lost a loved one because of a defective drug or defective products, please call a skilled New York personal injury attorney at Wingate, Russotti & Shapiro for a free consultation. We will remain on your side, fight for your rights and make sure you receive the compensation you rightfully deserve.