Stratton Faxon is currently reviewing and prosecuting manufacturers of certain prescription drugs on the market that may be dangerous to you or your family. This list may be updated from time to time to stay current with important recalls and other life-saving information. At Stratton Faxon, our team is not only experienced in litigating these types of liability cases, but is also extremely committed to holding drug makers accountable. If you or anyone you know has suffered an injury after taking one of these doctor-prescribed medications, contact our office immediately for a free consultation.

Avandia®
Avandia®, or rosiglitazone, is a widely-prescribed drug to treat diabetes.  In 2007, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine announced patients taking Avandia are up to 43% more likely of having a heart attack or suffering from a cardiovascular disease.

Chantix®
Chantix®, one of the more recent and highly-popular anti-smoking drug to hit the market, has been linked to depression, suicidal thoughts and violent behavior in some users, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to researchers, hundreds of patients taking Chantix have reported serious accidents, vision problems and heart trouble.

Duragesic® (Fentanyl) Patches
The Duragesic patch, containing the opioid pain medication called Fentanyl is used to treat patients suffering from chronic pain. On July 15, 2005, a public health advisory on Duragesic (fentanyl) was issued by the FDA due to an investigation involving over a hundred deaths that may have been related to the use of the transdermal pain patches. Each patch is designed to deliver a steady dose of fentanyl, however, the amount of fentanyl contained within the patch can cause death if it is delivered in an uncontrolled manner, such as occurs when the patch leaks or is defective in some other manner. Signs of fentanyl overdose include slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness or coma, confusion, tiredness, cold and clammy skin, and small pupils.

Fosamax®
Fosamax® (alendronate), one of the most widely-used drugs in its class used to treat Osteoporosis, has been linked to a serious and painful condition called osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Otherwise known as "dead jaw," osteonecrosis is a severe condition in which the jaw dies and is unable to regenerate, eventually leading to exposed bone in the mouth and facial disfiguration. Sixteen millions Americans were prescribed Fosamax in 2006 alone.

Heparin (Nationwide Recall)
There has been an urgent nationwide recall of heparin units manufactured by Baxter Healthcare Corporation. The recall is the result of an increased number of adverse reactions to the drug, which is one of the oldest and still widely-prescribed of its kind of the market, most commonly used in heart surgery or dialysis treatments to help prevent blood clotting. The FDA received reports that hundreds of people were dying from a contaminated form of the drug originated in China.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
HRT's estrogen-progestin drug therapy now has been shown to significantly increase the risks for strokes, breast cancer, heart attacks, pulmonary embolism, and more. It was decided by a jury in Nevada that Wyeth, the pharmaceutical giant responsible for making the hormone-replacement drugs, had to pay more than $43 million each to three women who claimed in a lawsuit the company’s drugs caused their breast cancer. In fact, researchers believe the 12% drop in women ages 50 – 69 diagnosed with breast cancer is a direct result of millions of women no longer using HRT therapy.

Levaquin®
Levaquin (generic levofloxacin) is a powerful, prescription antibiotic made by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical that has been linked to an increased risk of tendon ruptures, tendonitis, and other serious injuries. In July 2008, the FDA notified the drug manufacturer that a stronger warning on the product labeling would be required regarding the increased risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture in patients taking these drugs. In many instances, people who suffer symptoms of tendon rupture—such as swelling or bruising in the area of the tendon—have no reason to suspect the antibiotic as a cause for the pain, therefore, they do not discontinue it in time to prevent more serious damage.  In some cases, Levaquin tendon ruptures have required victims to undergo surgery and extensive rehab.

Ortho Evra
Ortho Evra is a birth control patch that is applied to the arms, torso, abdomen, or buttocks once a week and offers the same effectiveness as birth control pills with even greater simplicity. It turns out, however, that women using Ortho Evra are at an increased risk for fatal blood clots compared to women taking birth control pills.

Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
This fatal skin disease, known as Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (NSF), appears to only occur in patients with kidney disease who undergo an MRI or MRA where a gadolinium-based dye is used. The disease may take up to a year to develop however some patients experience symptoms within hours after the procedure.

NuvaRing®
The NuvaRing is a plastic vaginal contraceptive ring. It is marketed as an easy-to-use birth control alternative which delivers a lower estrogen level than birth control pills or the patch. However, potentially fatal side effects have been linked to this contraception including an increased risk of blood clots and serious cardiovascular problems. NuvaRing lawsuits have already been filed, claiming the manufacturer intentionally hid the risks of the product from consumers.

Paxil®
On September 27, 2005, the FDA and Paxil manufacturers (GlaxoSmithKline) notified healthcare professionals of changes to the “Pregnancy/Precautions” section of the prescribing information for Paxil. A study suggested women taking Paxil are at an increased risk of their children being born with major birth defects as compared to other antidepressants.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)
PPH is a rare, progressive disorder characterized by hypertension of the pulmonary artery. Symptoms of PPH include shortness of breath, bouts of fatigue, and dizziness. Over the counter drugs, certain appetite depressants and prescription medications are suspected to be linked to this serious condition, which in some cases has proven to be fatal.

Reglan®
Reglan is a drug prescribed to treat a variety of symptoms, including heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. The FDA recently announced that manufacturers must add a “black box warning” to the class of drug's label regarding the risk of its long-term or high-dose use. Chronic use of the drug has been linked to tardive dyskinesia, which may include involuntary and repetitive movements of the body, even after the drug is no longer taken.

Seroquel®
Seroquel (quetiapine) is pharmaceutical drug approved by the FDA in 1997 to treat schizophrenics and patients with bipolar disorder. In January of 2004, four different organizations issued a warning regarding a study which linked six different atypical antipsychotic drugs todiabetes, obesity, and high cholesterol which can raise a person’s risk of heart disease. However in 2006 alone, 10 million prescriptions were written for Seroquel. Then, most recently, The New York Times reported that internal documents revealed the drug maker tried to hide and/or downplay the link between Seroquel and diabetes for nearly 10 years.

Shoulder Pain Pumps
Shoulder pain pumps are implanted during surgery to deliver pain medication (such as Marcaine or Bupivacaine) directly to the shoulder joint for several days after a procedure. The objective of this medical device is to provide comfort to the patient but a research study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine recently linked shoulder pain pumps to a rare condition known as Postarthroscopic Glenohumeral Chrondrolysis (PAGCL). PAGCL causes severe pain, requiring constant medication, and may ultimately result in a total shoulder joint replacement surgery. Some manufacturers of shoulder pain pumps include I-Flow Corporation, Stryker Corp, and DonJoy Inc.

Trasylol®
Trasylol, a drug frequently used during heart surgery to control bleeding, has been found to double the risk of kidney failure in some patients. An estimated 10,000 people are forced to undergo dialysis each year after receiving the drug, which was approved by the FDA in 1993.    A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2006 revealed that Trasylol, in addition to doubling the risk of kidney failure in patients, also increases the risk of heart attack by 48%, heart failure by 109% and stroke by 181%. The study also estimates that the side effects of Trasylol have increased worldwide medical costs by more than $1 billion per year.

Prescription drug-related injuries affect approximately 1.5 million people each year. Just because a drug or medical device is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not ensure it is a safe treatment for YOU or your loved one. Many new drugs go without the proper testing because pharmaceutical companies rush to get them on the market. By the time dangerous side effects and/or adverse reactions are discovered, the safety of the general population has already been greatly compromised. As this section illustrates, not every new drug can be a “wonder drug.” Ask questions, do your research and when necessary, consult a lawyer. It could literally save your life.

Do not discontinue taking any medications without first consulting your physician. For more information regarding drug safety, visit the Department of Health and Human Services.