Archive for 2009

Has Tylenol had its Day in the Sun?

November 12th, 2009. By janem

Bayer is likely seeing its Tylenol sales drop these past few weeks after the FDA finally took aim at acetaminophen over-the-counter (OTC) products and the media made it headlines.

Many consumers are loyal to certain brands and I’ve taken my fair share of Tylenol over the years, but for me, Tylenol’s had its day in the sun. What’s most disturbing is that the FDA has known since at least 1977 that severe liver damage can occur as a result of acetaminophen overdose. Back then,  their advisers recommended explicit warnings not to exceed the dose or take acetaminophen for more than 10 days, but the FDA never took action.

So now the agency is making up for lost time and warning people that taking a few extra Tylenol pills here and there, thinking OTC meds are safe, could result in acetaminophen toxicity. Isn’t that like shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted? Since 1977!

And the German drug maker (with HQ in New Jersey) may soon take a dive in profits-there’s a new kid on the block touting a safe alternative to acetaminophen.

BioElectronics Corp. recently completed an acetaminophen comparison study and its results will be announced next Monday, November 16. Their timing is ripe to introduce ActiPatch and Allay, alternatives to Tylenol and other acetaminophen products.

“We believe this is important research especially considering the many health concerns expressed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration relative to Tylenol, NSAIDs and other over the counter pain medications,” said Andrew Whelan, CEO of BioElectronics, Corp. ” We look forward to reviewing the full study data and submitting it to FDA in support of our current pending 510(K) applications and additional applications we plan to file in the future.”

In the meantime, no doubt consumers are studying labels on OTC meds more carefully these days, especially after the FDA’s recent announcement about the dangers of acetaminophen overdose in children’s meds. The FDA committee has insisted that all children’s and infant’s acetaminophen products be sold at the same concentration, simplifying dosing instructions. Currently the labels are confusing– there are several different strengths of liquids, chewables, and “Junior” tablets that give dosage instructions by weight and age.

What I find mind-boggling is how Bayer has controlled OTC pain meds for so long while there are safer alternatives.

Tags: acetaminophen overdose, tylenol
Posted in Drugs/Medical | 1 Comment »

Verizon Wireless New $350 ETF Fee

November 12th, 2009. By AbiK

I’d been focusing on November 16th—the day the Arbiter 6 report is due on Zetia and Niaspan—but November 15th will be quite a day for Verizon Wireless customers. It’s the day their new Early Termination Fee (ETF) goes into effect.

The old Verizon Wireless ETF fee: $175

The new Verizon Wireless ETF fee: $350

Now, according to a Verizon spokesperson as reported by PCMagazine online, it’s only on “advanced devices”. What’s that mean? Well, “a combination of advanced capabilities that combined increase the cost of the device.”

Now in English:

“These capabilities can include a premium HTML browser; high-resolution MP camera with optical zoom; dual processor chipsets; WiFi; very high display resolution, and operating systems such as Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Palm, or Android.”

I was ok until we got to the “Blackberry, Windows Mobile….” part. Who doesn’t have any of Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ETF Fees, Verizon, Verizon Wireless
Posted in Emerging Issues | 1 Comment »

Quaid Twin Fiasco: It’s All in the Label

November 12th, 2009. By Hunter West

This past September Hospira was approved for a heparin product that features, according to its web site, an ‘enhanced label design.’ Among the features of the label design are, “vibrant label colors to each strength, simplified text and increased font for dosing information, and differentiated warning labels”.

Sounds pretty basic. A hospital is a high-stress environment. Decisions have to be made quickly and accurately with split-second timing. Often there are parents, or loved ones in the room panicking. And while doctors and nurses are trained to focus on the task at hand and resist becoming distracted by any outside force that may take away from the direct relationship between practitioner and patient, the fact remains that people are human and things can get confusing.

Thus, the labeling of medication in such an obvious fashion as to ensure that the wrong medication, or strength is not fed to the wrong individual seems pretty obvious. In a quiet room without distraction a practitioner has the opportunity to carefully size up the vial and the label before injecting the substance into his patient.

However hospitals—and especially the ER—are far from quiet. There are a thousand-and-one things going on at once as you reach for that vial. Did I check the label? Oh, I’m sure I did. This is the right stuff…

For Kimberly and Dennis Quaid, it turned out to be the wrong stuff. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Baxter, Dennis Quaid, Heparin, Hospira
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues | 1 Comment »

Homebuyer wishing he were Toll-free (ie, Toll Brothers-free)

November 11th, 2009. By AbiK

You’ve gotta be way the hell pissed off to start your own website to vent about a company that’s done you wrong. Think about it—you’ve got to be pretty irate to not only want to publicize your situation, but then to actually create a website—complete with email domain and all—to go off on that company.

I came across one such man recently—his website is HowTollDestroyedOurLives.com. The “Toll” being Toll Brothers, of course. Ok, so he’s on a rant…a tear…a vent session. Maybe he’s a little OTT (he could use an editor). Maybe his situation is the outlier—not the norm. But he’s none the less out there publishing pictures (proof!) of things gone wrong with the Toll Brothers condo he and his wife purchased. A “luxury” condo, no less. And things have apparently gone so wrong, that he blames Toll Brothers for sending his wife into the hospital with an irregular heartbeat.

I don’t know the background and full details of this guy’s situation. And, given the industry I’m in, I certainly know that any Tom, Dick or Harry can go and set up their own website and publish “the truth”. We get a lot of that “truth” sent to us here and it never sees the light of day on LawyersAndSettlements.com. Be that as it may, I started to do a little digging on two of our nation’s biggest home builders: Toll Brothers and K Hovnanian. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Hovnanian, Toll Brothers
Posted in Emerging Issues | No Comments »

4 Fees To Spoil Your Christmas

November 11th, 2009. By Kristine B

aka, How the Financial Grinches Stole Christmas…

Christmas is just around the corner. How do I know? Because one of my oh-so-thoughtful Facebook friends has already started the Christmas countdown. And, like so many people out there, my concern is with affording Christmas, especially given all the traps and fees associated with bank accounts, credit cards, prepaid debit cards and payday loans. So, to help sort things out, Pleading Ignorance is looking at the top four fees that are likely to have an impact on you this holiday season. 

Why are we so concerned about fees? Well, people have complained to us over and over again that they had no idea these various fees could be charged (they’re called “hidden fees” because you’re not necessarily aware of them—like it’s some sort of game). So, while you’re out buying that super-duper, fancy-schmancy toy-thing that your child has always wanted and just can’t live without, you may find that in addition to the $50 price on the toy, you may be paying some very steep fees. That’s how the financial grinches can steal your Christmas. Here’s what they’ve got in their bag of tricks this season, and what you need to look out for… 

1. Bank Overdraft Fees 

I’ve already discussed this, but it bears repeating. Yes, some of the banks have agreed to change their overdraft fee policies. Yes, lawmakers are looking to rein banks in (although when we look at all the good it’s doing with credit cards, we have to wonder if it’s worth the effort). 

The banks are being accused of automatically enrolling customers in overdraft protection, not telling them about that protection and then charging a fee for that protection (cue ominous laugh here). Even more terrible, they’re accused of reordering transactions to get the highest number of overdraft fees; processing debits before credits so that customers are forced into Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Credit CARD Act, credit cards, Overdraft fees, payday loans, Pleading Ignorance, Prepaid Debit Cards
Posted in Financial, Pleading Ignorance | 3 Comments »