What is Celebrex?

 

 

Celebrex is the brand name for the medication Celecoxib which relieves arthritic symptoms such as swelling of the joints, pain associated with menstrual cycles and colorectal polyps caused by adenomatous polyposis.  Celebrex is marketed by the Pfizer Corporation.

 

 

How does Celebrex work?

 

 

Celebrex is a NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) in the COX-2 classification.  This means the Celebrex is an inhibitor that stops the body from producing substances that cause pain and inflammation.  The medication must be ingested as per pharmacist instructions, usually around the same time every day.  For dosages exceeding 200 milligrams, Celebrex should be ingested with food.

 

 

How do I get Celebrex?

 

 

You must talk with your doctor to receive a prescription for Celebrex.  As is the case with all prescription medication you must inform the doctor of all other medications and allegories you have.  Failure to disclose this could lead to very harmful side effects.  It is also the responsibility of the patient to know the dangerous associated with misuse of the drug and the possible dangers from combining prescriptions.

 

 

What are side effects of Celebrex?

 

 

There are many side effects associated with Celebrex, although most, such as tiredness and upset stomach are minor and uncommon.  Individuals that experience a serious side effect should contact the FDA at 1-800-332-1068 to report it.  The FDA will be able to determine if the serious side effect represents a danger in the drug being available to the general public.

 

 

Why is there scrutiny on Celebrex?

 

 

Celebrex advertising was pulled from the market for a time after concerns that the drug caused an elevated risk of heart attacks.  This is similar to the controversy and ensuing litigation of a similar anti-inflammatory medication, Vioxx marketed by Merck pharmaceuticals that was briefly pulled from the market over reports that it had caused between 88,000 and 139,000 heart attacks.  Vioxx has since not returned to the market, but has faced litigation from victim’s families, with some but not all litigation ended in punitive damages.  

 

 

Celebrex faced similar accusations about misleading advertising and distortion over the potential harm caused by their drug, although Pfizer claims to be within guidelines for truthful advertising set by the FDA.

 

 

What should one affected by a serious side effect do?

 

 

There are several attorneys that specialize in Celebrex litigation.  You will need to prove that Pfizer Inc was aware of the inherent dangers in the drug but allowed it to go to market with this issues unaddressed.  The attorney will need to prove their advertisements failed to explain the serious nature of the side effects.  Unlike Merck and Vioxx, Pfizer has never pulled the drug from the market, which would constitute an admission of the danger of the drugs.  

 

 

Other parties that may be sued include misleading pharmaceutical sales representative that led the patient or doctor to believe in misleading claims about the drug.  Lastly, the doctor may be sued if there is sufficient evidence that he or she did not properly prescribe the drug or failed to take adequate precautions.  Failure to check on the condition of the patient may also be grounds for litigation.

 

 

 

What is Celexa?

 

 

Celexa is the North American brand name of Citalopram, an anti-depressant marketed by the Forest Laboratories Corporation. Celexa is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that allows the neurotransmitter serotonin to slow down and build up enabling the body’s neurons to fire properly. The lack of serotonin effects the ability of the neurons to work properly which is one of the causes of depression.

 

 

What does Celexa treat?

 

 

Celexa is usually prescribed for anxiety, panic disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, body image issues and obsessive compulsive disorder. Although its side effects may include sexual dysfunction, it can be prescribed for individuals with premature ejaculation.

 

 

What are some side effects of Celexa?

 

 

As mentioned above and common with all SSRIs, sexual dysfunction may occur during and even after the medication regimen. The body’s release of dopamine is decreased as concentrations of serotonin increase, leading to apathy and other emotional changes. As a result, there are clear warnings for individuals taking Celexa under the age of 24 that it may induce suicidal thoughts. The FDA also warns that does about 40 milligrams may cause heart complications and warn doctors to avoid prescribing such does.

 

 

Can I overdose on Celexa?

 

 

Celexa overdose can be fatal as it causes heart disturbances, coma and convulsions. Normal doses will have blood concentrations of citalopram at 50 – 400 micrograms per liter in the blood and concentrations of 1000 – 3000 micrograms per liter in fatal overdose cases.

 

 

What are some other dangers of taking Celexa?

 

 

In addition to increased suicide risk, the Food and Drug administration acknowledged in a 2004 warning a risk of adverse effects on the fetus for pregnant mothers, including an increased risk of autism, heart abnormalities and malformation. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, women taking Celexa in their first trimester quadruple the risk of the fetus developing a heart defect.

 

 

What do I do if Celexa caused a birth defect in my child?

 

 

A birth defect lawyer can argue that Forest Laboratories concealed of failed to adequately articulate the dangers to pregnant mothers taking Celexa for pregnancy related depression. In fact, Celexa was marketed to a broad swath of the population including many pregnant women.

 

 

In 2006, claims were made stopping the use of SSRIs such as Celexa during pregnancy to protect the developing fetus may also lead to more extreme depression in the mother. However, the several authors of the study were later found to have significant financial links to pharmaceutical companies.

 

 

If you believe that you have been improperly prescribed an SSRI such as Celexa, an attorney may help you recover punitive damages from the manufacturer for failing to provide adequate notice of the potential dangers from this drug.

 

 

What is Cialis?

 

 

Cialis is the brand name of tadalafil which is used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. It is marketed by Eli Lilly and Company. The Food and Drug Administration approved Cialis for sale on November 1, 2003 and again in 2009 as a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, making it the only erectile dynfuction pill that is also used as a once-daily medication. Tadalafil used for this purpose is marketed under the name Adcirca.

 

 

What does Cialis look like and what does it do?

 

 

Cialis comes in doses of 5, 10 and 20mg as is a yellow, almond-shaped pill. Medications such as Cialis inhibit the PED5 enzyme which allows more blood flow to the penile area and relaxes arteries. Cialis differs from other medications in that it is effective for nearly 36 hours, significantly longer than its competitors, which also merits its consideration as a treatment for hypertension.

 

 

What are some risks of taking Cialis?

 

 

There are common side effects of taking Cialis, including aches and pains and the widening of blood vessels, but these symptoms tend to relax after a few hours. Patents taking nitrate medication can also experience an unsafe drop in blood pressure and this fact is noted prominently in Cialis advertisements.

 

 

Cialis and other erectile dysfunction medication were thought to cause vision impairment and blindness, but the FDA found no indication that the drug created an above average risk for the condition. Warning labels have since been amended acknowledging a possible correlation between developing vision impairment and use of the drug. The chance of vision impairment occurring with Cialis remains rather low.

 

 

A small number of patients have also experienced hearing loss which led to further FDA warnings in 2007. Approximately one third of the incidents were temporary which has led the FDA to investigate a possible relationship between the drug and hearing loss.

 

 

Am I eligible for damages from taking Cialis?

 

 

Although Cialis remains on the market, one may be able to prove that they were not made sufficiently aware of the dangers associated with taking the drug. In these situations, you may make the case for misleading advertising, although most issues with Cialis are carefully explained in their advertising. You may have a better case if your doctor prescribed Cialis without noting the potential danger of taking the drug and its permanent side effects. If you have taken Cialis and were not informed of potentially damaging side effects, an attorney will be able to help you build a case for damages.

 

 

What is Crestor?

 

 

Crestor is the brand name for Rousuvastatin, a drug marketed by AstraZeneca that treats high cholesterol and prevents cardiovascular disease.

 

 

How does Crestor work?

 

 

Crestor is an inhibitor that helps to slow the production of cholesterol. The manufacturer notes that this inhibiting of cholesterol production must be accompanied by lifestyle changes and better dietary habits to reduce the risk of health disease. As of 2004, there were over 4 million individuals using Crestor.

 

 

What are the side effects of Crestor?

 

 

Crestor causes some common side effects such as constipation and heartburn and also some very serious ones such as chest pain and difficulty breathing. Patients with liver disease cannot take Crestor, nor can moderate to heavy drinkers. There is tremendous risk in misusing Crestor so it is important to inform the doctor of any side effects associated with taking this drug. The manufacturer also notes that Asian American patients process the drug differently and should start at a lower dose to avoid complications.

 

 

What is rhabdomyolysis and how does it relate to Crestor?

 

 

Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers that releases myoglobin into the blood stream. This results in severe kidney damage as well as symptoms of muscle pain, weakness and vomiting. Dark brown urine discoloration is a sign that this condition is present. Crestor is believed to cause this condition in some patients as it may exacerbate risk factors for myopathy which eventually leads to kidney failure

 

 

Is Crestor causing liver or kidney damage?

 

 

There has been controversy over whether medications such as Crestor are safe for consumers as similar medications have been linked to liver and kidney damage. Some specialized lawyers can take cases involving damage caused by Crestor if it can be proven that Crestor is a direct cause or contributor to the patient’s organ failure. Due to controversy of AstraZeneca’s clinical trials, where evidence of rhabdomyolysis were present, the case can be made that the drug company has not done enough to protect consumers and inform them of the risks of taking their otherwise popular drug.

 

 

Crestor and birth defects

 

 

Additionally, the FDA classifies Crestor as a drug that may cause birth defects for pregnant mothers. If a pregnant mother has been prescribed Crestor without being informed of the potential risks by her doctor, then the doctor is liable for negligence on his part. This is why it is important that women that are pregnant or who may become pregnant must inform their doctor of that fact. Should the doctor fail to recognize that danger, then a negligence case can proceed against the doctor.

 

 

Duragesic is the brand name of fentanyl transdermal therapeutic systems which is a system of delivering pain relief in the form of a patch placed on the skin. The patches come in increments of 12, 25, 50, 75 and 100 micrograms per hour and can be combined to form a more specialized dose, such as the combination of 50+12 patches to create a 62.5 microgram per hour dose.

Duragestic patches contain a powerful narcotic and are only meant of individuals with severe chronic pain. Unlike inhibitors, it works on the brain in order to reduce pain, which can make it potential dangerous. It falls in the same category as commonly abused opioids including methadone, morphine and oxycodone. It is not intended for short term pain from injuries or surgery. Additionally, the patient must be able to handle opioids as demonstrated through continuous of morphine or other opioids in a controlled setting. Tampering with a duragesic patch may cause the medicine to be released unpredictably, which can also cause unintended harm.

Leaking patches are an extremely dangerous problem for duragesic users as seen in 2004 when faulty seal breaches in patches supplied by Janssen Pharmaceutica Products had to be recalled. The rapid release of opioids led to at least one fatality from faulty Duragesic patches. Similar instances occurred where improperly sealed patches could harm both patients and health care professionals applying the patch. Production was recently suspended in 2011 due to some manufacturing issues, although the problem was quickly resolved.

The potential for a drug overdose from a duragesic patch is very high. In cases involving faulty patches the manufacturers are almost always at fault and subject to civil liability. Duragesic patches may also be improperly distributed or handled by health care professionals and negligence on their part can cause harm to the patient.

In some cases, both the doctors and manufactures may be at fault, as determined by the wrongful death lawsuit brought against Johnson and Johnson and a physician’s assistant by the family of Susan Hodgemire. Hodgemire improperly received the patch after a surgery (which was clearly not the intend use of the patch) and died of a drug overdose. The jury awarded $13 million dollars, with 80% of the blame for the death on the manufacturer for failing to adequately address and inform about the dangers of the patch. The physician’s assistant was also liable for giving improper medical advice.

There are some attorneys that specialize in duragesic patch litigation cases. As the FDA has begun issuing warnings and investigation patch manufacturers, there is a good chance that duragesic patch manufacturers can be found liable for damages sustained from the improper dispersal and manufacture of their patch.