(888) 254-1234
blog home Dangerous Drugs | Northern California Personal Injury Blog

Dangerous Drugs | Northern California Personal Injury Blog

Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Recalls Generic Lipitor Due to Contamination Concerns

By Kelly Balamuth on December 21, 2012

Bay Area Drug Defect RecallAs reported by DailyRX.com, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Inc. recently announced a large-scale recall of atorvastatin calcium, the generic form of Lipitor, which is a popular cholesterol medication. Officials with the pharmaceutical company state that the recall is a precautionary measure after certain batches were found to contain glass particles “resembling a fine grain of sand.” As the particles of glass were very small, officials state that it is unlikely to cause a serious safety concern, but the possibility of physical irritation from swallowing pills with tiny glass shards is possible.

Presently, there are no reports of adverse events associated with the generic drug, but Ranbaxy has advised patients taking the medicine that may be affected to consult with a doctor immediately if experience any issues while taking the drug. Retailers and distributors have been asked to return the affected medication. The company will no longer manufacture the medication until the source of the potential contamination has been determined.

The voluntary recall includes 41 lots of medication, each containing 1,000 pills, of the 10, 20, and 40 milligram strengths.

A defective or dangerous drug has the potential to threaten the health and wellbeing of an unsuspecting patient, and defects are often not found until it is too late. The Walnut Creek dangerous drugs attorneys of Balamuth Law have the resources and skills needed to prove liability in your case and will work tirelessly to ensure negligent manufacturers are held accountable for the harm caused. To see how we can help you obtain the compensation that can help you recover well, call (888) 254-1234.

Contaminated Steroid Injections Shipped to Multiple States, Including California, Linked to Infections, Deaths Nationwide

By Kelly Balamuth on October 9, 2012

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a total of 105 individuals have a contracted a deadly form of meningitis due to a contaminated steroid injection, with eight fatalities occurring in multiple states. The New England Compounding Center (NECC), a Massachusetts-based specialty pharmacy, is responsible for producing the contaminated injection and has issued a voluntary recall of the three lots of the injectable steroid. The drug is a preservative-free steroid called methylprednisolone acetate typically used to treat pain and inflammation, and patients in nine different states contracted fungal meningitis after receiving the injection in their spine.

The NECC has also issued a recall for all of its products as a precaution, and though there are no indications that the pharmacy’s other items have been contaminated, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has asked consumers, clinics, and doctors to stop use of any NECC product. Health officials state that 76 medical facilities in 23 different states received the contaminated steroid injection, and an estimated 13,000 people may have been exposed to the contaminated lots of the epidural steroid. A complete list of facilities can be found by visiting this site: http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis-facilities-map.html.

The following are the California facilities: Cypress Surgery Center DBA in Visalia, Encino Outpatient SurgiCenter in Encino, Ukiah Valley Medical Center in Ukiah, and Universal Pain Management in Palmdale.

Cases of this fungal meningitis outbreak have been confirmed in Minnesota, Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Indiana, with fatalities being reported in Virginia, Michigan, Maryland, and Tennessee. Symptoms of fungal meningitis are similar to other forms of meningitis and can include dizziness, confusion, fever, headache, and nausea. Any patient who received an injection from a facility beginning July 1 and experienced symptoms in the one to three weeks following the injection should seek medical care immediately.

At Balamuth Law, our Walnut Creek dangerous drugs lawyers understand the serious impact a defective drug can have on a patient’s health and wellbeing. As such, our skilled legal team is dedicated to protecting the rights of patient harmed as a result of a defective drug and will work to ensure negligent manufacturers are held accountable. To see how we can help you on the road to recovery, call (888) 254-1234 to discuss your case with us.

Parents Filing Lawsuits Alleging Zoloft Caused Birth Defects in Children

By Kelly Balamuth on August 13, 2012

Lawsuits are being filed across the U.S. on behalf of children suffering from birth defects as a result of mothers using the antidepressant drug Zoloft during their pregnancy, as reported by RedOrbit.com. Zoloft is a popular antidepressant drug in the group known as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), and the children of women who took the drug while pregnant were born with serious birth defects. The birth defects allegedly caused by this antidepressant include heart defects, such as atrial septal defects, ventricular septal defects, and tetralogy of fallot.

In addition, there is growing evidence that Zoloft, as well as other SSRIs, may possibly cause rare heart and lung disorders when mothers take them during pregnancy, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Users of the drug have also suffered serious withdrawal symptoms when ceasing use, increasing the rates of suicide in adults and children as well as the risk of bone loss for older patients.

Pfizer, Inc., the maker of the drug, has faced a number of lawsuits the last few years, with plaintiffs seeking compensation for injury, pain, suicide, withdrawal symptoms, and other related damages to infants and mothers not warned of the potentially dangerous side effects of the drug before taking it. As a result, warnings with regards to suicide dangers on anti-depressants have been in place, and doctors prescribing medications like Zoloft are aware of the possible risks.

The Berkeley dangerous drugs lawyers of Balamuth Law recognize the severe threat a defective or dangerous drug can have on the health and well-being of a patient. Our knowledgeable legal team is committed to protecting the rights of patients who have been harmed by dangerous drugs and will work tirelessly to ensure the negligent manufacturer is held responsible. To see how we can assist you with your case, please call (888) 254-1234.

Pfizer Recalls Lipitor Due to Musty Odor

By Kelly Balamuth on December 30, 2010

Following a previous recall, an additional number of bottles of Lipitor have been recalled by the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, according to ABCNews.com. Thousands of bottles of the cholesterol lowering drug have been found to have a musty odor.

The recall has been ongoing since August, but was not made public until October. Recently, about 19,000 more bottles with the smell were discovered. This brings the total number of recalled bottles to 360,000.

The smell is due to the presence of a chemical called 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). In low concentrations, TBA, has very minimal health effects, mainly gastrointestinal issues. The TBA may come from the wood pallets that are used to transport many consumer goods. However, Pfizer prohibits the use of chemically treated wood to ship its products, according to a company spokesman. According to the drug manufacturer, any customers who smell a musty odor coming from Lipitor should return it to their pharmacist.

Companies that manufacture drugs are responsible for making those drugs safe for consumers. A drug manufacturer can be held liable if it fails to warn of dangers or side effects associated with the drug, if the drug is defective or causes injury, or if the manufacturer doesn’t provide instructions for use of the drug.

If you have suffered an illness or injury due to a contaminated or defective prescription medication, contact the Northern California dangerous drug attorneys at Balamuth Harrington. Our experienced lawyers can help you get the compensation you deserve for your drug-related injuries. Call us today at 1-888-254-1234.

Attorney Kelly Balamuth was profiled in the
September 2013 Issue of Plaintiff Magazine.

1001 Country Club Dr., #F
Moraga, California 94556
Phone: (925) 254-1234
Toll Free: (888) 254-1234

Moraga Personal Injury Attorney Disclaimer: The information and materials contained on this web site do not constitute legal advice and are presented without any representation or warranty whatsoever, including as to accuracy or completeness. They are not intended to create, and receipt of them does not establish, an attorney-client relationship between you and Balamuth Law. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

© 2011 - 2024 Balamuth Law - All rights reserved. Serving the Northern California Area.

Website Design & Search Engine Optimization by SLS Consulting