Seroquel side effects
November 20, 2009
Seroquel may cause side effects — you may be entitled to compensation.
Seroquel Side Effects: Tardive Dyskinesia
Tardive Dyskinesia is a serious side effect of Seroquel. Tardive Dyskinesia is a neurological disorder that damages the system that processes neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine affects brain processes that control movement, emotional response, and the ability to experience pleasure and pain. Evidence shows that Tardive Dyskinesia is a side effect of neuroleptic drugs. Seroquel, a neuroleptic drug, may cause Tardive Dyskinesia by blocking and reducing the dopamine’s effect on the brain.
Tardive Dyskinesia is characterized by sudden, repetitive, and uncontrolled movement. Tardive Dyskinesia side effects may include:
- tongue protrusion
- lip smacking
- lip puckering and pursing
- rapid eye blinking
Seroquel Side Effects: Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) is a life-threatening neurological disorder. NMS is caused by decreased dopamine levels in the brain. NMS has only been reported in patients taking antipsychotic drugs. Experts believe that NMS is a serious side effect of Seroquel, an antipsychotic drug, because Seroquel reduces the brain’s dopamine level.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome’s side effects may include:
- Fever
- Muscular rigidity
- Altered mental status
- Autonomic dysfunction
Seroquel Side Effects: Birth Defects / Unwarranted Pregnancies
Scientists are unsure if birth defects are a side effect of Seroquel use because pregnant women were not tested during clinical trials. In animal studies, scientists discovered that Seroquel is toxic to developing fetuses. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to speak with their doctors before using Seroquel. Government regulatory experts advise pregnant women to take Seroquel only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Seroquel use places women at an increased risk for unwanted pregnancies. Experts realized an increased fertility rate in women taking second generation (or atypical) antipsychotic medications compared to women taking first generation. The FDA and AstraZeneca, Seroquel’s manufacturer, were criticized for not warning women about the increased fertility risk.
Tim Edwards and Ed Wallis represent patients (or their loved ones) who took Seroquel and have developed side effects including diabetes, Tardive Dyskinesia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or Birth Defects / Unwarranted Pregnancies.
If you have been injured by taking seroquel, CONTACT US TODAY:
Visit the Seroquel Litigation Resource Page
Or contact us immediately for a free case evaluation:
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman Edwards Wade & Wyatt
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours / weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Or please fill out this form, and we will immediately contact you:
Seroquel cases may go forward
November 20, 2009
As remoted by Bloomberg:
“Nov. 19 (Bloomberg) — AstraZeneca Plc may face as many 6,000 trials of lawsuits claiming its antipsychotic drug Seroquel causes diabetes after a judge said she will recommend sending the cases back to their home courts. U.S. District Judge Anne Conway in Orlando, Florida, who is overseeing pre-trial proceedings in federal Seroquel litigation, said yesterday she’ll urge a panel of judges to return all of the cases to courts across the U.S. for possible trials.
AstraZeneca, the U.K.’s second-largest drugmaker, wanted Conway to send as many as 60 suits back to their home courts for trial as test cases. Lawyers for former users contended they were ready to press forward on their claims that the London- based company downplayed Seroquel’s diabetes risk. Conway’s ruling “will get the litigation moving,” Paul Pennock, a lawyer for former Seroquel users, said in an interview. “The decision will help get a huge group of cases to a state of trial-worthiness.”
The company faces more than 14,000 suits in U.S. state and federal courts alleging Seroquel caused diabetes in some users. Seroquel, which generated sales of $4.45 billion in 2008, is AstraZeneca’s second-biggest seller after the ulcer treatment Nexium.
First Trials?
AstraZeneca officials noted in regulatory filings last month that the drugmaker could face the first trials of Seroquel suits in state courts in Delaware and New Jersey in January. The company also disclosed it has spent $623 million in “legal defense costs” for Seroquel litigation so far. The drugmaker contends evidence in the cases “does not back up the allegations that Seroquel was responsible for the plaintiffs’ alleged injuries,” Tony Jewell, AstraZeneca’s spokesman, said in an e-mailed statement. Since 2006, Conway has overseen the federal cases during pre-trial evidence gathering, part of the Multi-District Litigation program intended to save money by streamlining document exchanges and avoiding duplication.
AstraZeneca officials said they were pleased Conway agreed to ask other judges to delay trying Seroquel cases until she can decide whether 54 cases from Alabama and Florida should go to trial. “Because federal court judges generally follow suggestions from MDL courts, AstraZeneca expects to spend the next eight months analyzing the merits” of the cases still before Conway, Arthur Brown, one of the company’s lawyers, said in an e-mailed statement.
‘Needless Burdens’
AstraZeneca’s lawyers had asked Conway to send back only a limited number of cases to “avoid placing needless burdens” on other judges across the country, according to an Oct. 19 court filing. The company’s lawyers told Conway at yesterday’s hearing they wanted about 60 suits to be sent back to federal courts in California, Mississippi, South Carolina and Ohio as test cases. A small number of trials would give both sides “the benefit of knowing what juries think of these cases,” said Mike Brock, another AstraZeneca lawyer.
Lawyers for ex-Seroquel users countered that since all MDL proceedings had been wrapped up, the cases should be sent back to their home courts starting next month. “While providing the prospect of lifetime employment for AstraZeneca’s attorneys, AstraZeneca’s plan is also plainly designed to permit AstraZeneca to prolong resolution of this litigation,” Camp Bailey, a Houston-based lawyer for Seroquel users, said in a Nov. 6 court filing.
Settlement Talks
Conway also ordered lawyers for both sides yesterday to meet with a mediator “to see if there is any possibility for a settlement” of the Seroquel litigation. The judge said MDL procedures required her to order the settlement talks. “We continue to believe these cases are without merit, but we will honor the judge’s request,” Jewell said in an e-mailed statement. AstraZeneca’s American depositary receipts, each representing one ordinary share, rose 1 cent to $45.47 in New York Stock Exchange composite trading yesterday. They have gained 11 percent this year. The case is In Re Seroquel Products Litigation, 06-MD- 01769, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida (Orlando).”
Tim Edwards and Ed Wallis represent patients (or their loved ones) who took Seroquel and have developed side effects including diabetes, Tardive Dyskinesia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome or Birth Defects / Unwarranted Pregnancies.
If you have been injured by taking seroquel, CONTACT US TODAY:
Visit the Seroquel Litigation Resource Page
Or contact us immediately for a free case evaluation:
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman Edwards Wade & Wyatt
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours / weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Or please fill out this form, and we will immediately contact you:
Weekly Video - Medical Device Safety Act
November 15, 2009
Ed Wallis is currently representing injured children and adults who received a defective Advanced Bionics HiRes90k cochlear implant. For more information on cochlear implant lawsuits, or to discuss your rights, please visit the Cochlear Implant Page, call (901) 527-2125 or SEND AN EMAIL TODAY.
Trasylol Linked to Over 20,000 Deaths
November 9, 2009
A recent study found that patients that received Bayer’s Trasylol during heart surgery were significantly more likely to die within the next decade. Another study of 78,000 patients, originally withheld by Bayer, found a 78 percent increased risk of death within a week following the surgery. In November Bayer suspended sales of Trasylol after a Canadian trial linked the drug to higher death rates. The FDA approved Trasylol in 1993 to help reduce bleeding during open-heart surgery and by 2005 had become “part of the fabric of cardiac surgery,” but a 2006 study linked the drug to higher rates of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and death sparking widespread concern.
Indeed, the lives of 22,000 people could have been saved if the FDA removed Bayer’s Trasylol two years ago, when the study revealed a growing number of deaths linked to the heart drug, according to the researcher who conducted the study.
Bayer challenged the findings from the most recent studies claiming that the data analysis was flawed. Two panels of experts have advised the FDA to keep the drug on the market citing inconclusive evidence. Trasylol is still available through a restricted access program.
“The data have to be reviewed and seen in the light of all the evidence. The bottom line is there are still more people dying using this drug. FDA is the agency that has all the evidence together at this point, and they need to make an informed decision.”
It is not clear when a decision will be made about the future of Trasylol, but the FDA is in the process of reviewing the data.
Trasylol can cause renal (kidney) failure, often leading to the patient’s death. Trasylol was also proven to increase risk of heart attack, stroke or encephalopathy (degenerative brain diseases). Some symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Fast heart beat
- Nausea and vomiting
- Skin rash, irritation or inflammation
- Sudden or severe pain in the chest, legs, head or groin
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or neck
If you or your loved one has suffered any of these conditions, please call us as soon as possible. Let us put our experience and expertise to work for you. We are currently helping others who have received a defective Advanced Bionics cochlear implant, Transvaginal mesh/sling devices, or took prescription drugs such as Trasylol, Chantix, Digitek, Byetta, Ortho Evra, Seroquel, Reglan, and Yaz/Yasmin. The firm also handles medical malpractice claims.
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman, Edwards, Wade & Wyatt, PC
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours, weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Free Case Evaluation Form:
Tennessee Lawyers Offer Free Case Evaluation on Raptiva
November 9, 2009
The FDA and pharmaceutical manufacturer Genentech have notified consumers and healthcare professionals of the phased withdrawal of the psoriasis medication Raptiva from the U.S. market over potential progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare brain infection. While this is not a recall of Raptiva, patients taking the drug should notify their physician and discuss switching to an alternative treatment. Physicians are being asked not initiate Raptiva treatment for any new patients.
In February of 2009 the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory to notify health care providers of three confirmed occurrences of PML in patients taking Raptiva. Last October the administration amended the label of Raptiva with a boxed warning highlighting the potential risk life-threatening infections, including PML. The complete removal of the medication from the U.S. market is expected to be completed by June 8, 2009.
If you or a loved one has taken the prescription medication Raptiva and have experienced have developed progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), we may be able to help. We are providing free case evaluations to you.
Let us put our experience and expertise to work for you. We are currently helping others who have received a defective Advanced Bionics cochlear implant, Transvaginal mesh/sling devices, or took prescription drugs such as Trasylol, Chantix, Digitek, Byetta, Ortho Evra, Seroquel, Reglan, and Yaz/Yasmin. We also handle medical malpractice claims.
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman, Edwards, Wade & Wyatt, PC
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours, weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Free Case Evaluation Form:
Denture Cream with Zinc
November 9, 2009
Denture cream containing zinc may have caused your nerve damage.
Attorneys Tim Edwards and Ed Wallis are providing free case evaluations for those affected by zinc poisoning from denture cream products such as Fixodent and PoliGrip. Hundreds of people are suing consumer products giants Procter & Gamble Co., which makes Fixodent, and GlaxoSmithKline, maker of PoliGrip, the Associated Press reported in an article on September 18, 2009.
Lawsuits currently filed claim the denture cream products are defective, that the companies failed to adequately warn people about the potential dangers and that no corrective steps were taken. In fact, on June 4, 2008, the medical journal Neurology published a study about a possible link between denture cream zinc and nerve damage. The study was conducted by doctors at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. The research involved four patients who all used large amounts of denture cream and developed nerve-related disorders.Additionally, the National Institutes of Health has warned consumers that too much zinc can purge the body of copper, and a copper deficiency can cause nerve damage.
Nerve damage may cause symptoms such as:
- weakness and numbness in arms and legs;
- difficulty walking and loss of balance, and
- cognitive or memory impairment.
If you have developed nerve damage after the use of denture cream products such as Fixodent and PoliGrip, please call us as soon as possible. Let us put our experience and expertise to work for you. We are currently helping others who have received a defective Advanced Bionics cochlear implant, Transvaginal mesh/sling devices, or took prescription drugs such as Trasylol, Chantix, Digitek, Byetta, Ortho Evra, Seroquel, Reglan, and Yaz/Yasmin. The firm also handles medical malpractice claims.
You can also read more on our page for denture cream.
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman, Edwards, Wade & Wyatt, PC
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours, weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Free Case Evaluation Form:
Tennessee & Mid South Byetta Lawyers
November 9, 2009
As reported by the FDA on November 2, 2009:
Byetta (exenatide) - Renal Failure
Audience: Endocrine and nephrology healthcare professionals
[Posted 11/02/2009] FDA notified healthcare professionals of revisions to the prescribing information for Byetta (exenatide) to include information on post-marketing reports of altered kidney function, including acute renal failure and insufficiency. Byetta, an incretin-mimetic, is approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
From April 2005 through October 2008, FDA received 78 cases of altered kidney function (62 cases of acute renal failure and 16 cases of renal insufficiency), in patients using Byetta. Some cases occurred in patients with pre-existing kidney disease or in patients with one or more risk factors for developing kidney problems. Labeling changes include:
- Information regarding post-market reports of acute renal failure and insufficiency, highlighting that Byetta should not be used in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance <30 ml/min) or end-stage renal disease.
- Recommendations to healthcare professionals that caution should be applied when initiating or increasing doses of Byetta from 5 mcg to 10 mcg in patients with moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance 30 to 50 ml/min).
- Recommendations that healthcare professionals monitor patients carefully for the development of kidney dysfunction, and evaluate the continued need for Byetta if kidney dysfunction is suspected while using the product.
- Information about kidney dysfunction in the patient Medication Guide to help patients understand the benefits and potential risks associated with Byetta.
Tim Edwards and Ed Wallis are representing injured persons who have taken Byetta. If you have suffered an injury and would like a free case evaluation related to Byetta, please call us or email us today. Let us put our experience and expertise to work for you.
Read more on our Byetta page, or contact us today:
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman, Edwards, Wade & Wyatt, PC
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours, weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Free Case Evaluation Form:
FDA: Byetta Label Revised to Include Safety Information on Possible Kidney Problems
November 9, 2009
NOTE:
If you have taken Byetta and have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer or pancreatitis, please call TIm Edwards or Ed Wallis today for a free case evlaution. We may be able to help. (901) 527-2125 or (901) 275-0600.
As reported by the US Food and Drug Administration:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today acted on new safety information about possible kidney function problems, including kidney failure, in patients taking Byetta (exenatide), a drug used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
From April 2005 through October 2008, the FDA received 78 reports of problems with kidney function in patients using Byetta. Some cases occurred in patients with pre-existing kidney disease or in patients with one or more risk factors for developing kidney problems.
Nearly 7 million prescriptions for Byetta were dispensed between April 2005 and September 2008. The 78 cases represent a small percentage of the total number of patients using the drug to control blood sugar (glucose) levels.
The most common side effects associated with Byetta include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These side effects may have contributed to the development of altered kidney function. Kidney malfunction can result in a build-up of waste products in the blood, leading to serious illness or life-threatening conditions.
“Health care professionals and patients taking Byetta should pay close attention to any signs or symptoms of kidney problems,” said Amy Egan, M.D. M.P.H., of the Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology Products at the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Patients also should be aware that problems with kidney function could lead to changes in urine color, frequency of urination or the amount of urine, unexplained swelling of the hands or feet, fatigue, changes in appetite or digestion, or dull ache in mid to lower back.”
Patients who experience any of these symptoms should immediately discuss them with their health care professional.
To help health care professionals and patients better weigh the known risks and benefits of Byetta, the FDA worked with the manufacturer to update the drug’s prescribing information (label). A description of these label changes can be found online.
Byetta is manufactured by San Diego-based Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Tim Edwards and Ed Wallis are representing injured persons who have taken Byetta. if you have suffered an injury and would like a free case evaluation related to Byetta, please call us or email us today. Let us put our experience and expertise to work for you.
Read more on our Byetta page, or contact us today:
Tim Edwards
Ed Wallis
Glassman, Edwards, Wade & Wyatt, PC
26 N. 2nd Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-2125
(901) 275-0600 (after hours, weekends)
EMAIL BY CLICKING HERE
Free Case Evaluation Form:
Rep. Bruce Braley stands up for patient safety and patient rights
November 9, 2009
New Medical Malpractice Website
November 9, 2009
Instead of tort reform, why don’t we figure out a way for doctors to quit commiting malpractice? 98,000 Americans die every year because of medical negligence, or as one site puts it, that’s the equivilent of two 737’s crashing every day.








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