Drugs/Medical Archive

Boy with Breasts? J&J Settles Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuit on 1st Day of Trial

September 10th, 2012. By AbiK

Usually gynecomastia is a subject for plastic surgeons—not little boys on an antipsychotic drug like Risperdal.

However, a Risperdal lawsuit brought against Johnson & Johnson by Aron Banks was about just that—Banks alleged that by taking Risperdal, starting when he was just nine years old, he developed breast tissue (“gynecomastia” is the medical term) which led to sustained psychological trauma.

Banks, who is now 21, claimed he took Risperdal over a four-year period (2000-2004). The drug at the time had not been approved for children.

According to a Bloomberg report (9/10/12), Johnson & Johnson has settled Banks’ lawsuit on the opening day of trial in Philadelphia; another Risperdal lawsuit alleging gynecomastia is due to head to court in Philly on September 20.

Another drug that’s been linked to reports of gynecomastia is Propecia; currently, there are lawsuits underway alleging Propecia-induced sexual dysfunction.

Risperdal has also been linked to an increase in stroke risk for older patients who suffer dementia and take antipsychotics.

The terms of Banks’ Risperdal gynecomastia settlement have not been disclosed.

 

 

 

Tags: Antipsychotic Drug, Gynecomastia, Male Breasts, Risperdal, Risperdal lawsuit, Risperdal Settlement
Posted in Drugs/Medical, lawsuits | 2 Comments »

Concerned about DES Exposure? Take this DES Self-Assessment

August 20th, 2012. By AbiK

Pregnancy drug DES has been back in the media spotlight lately as more and more women become aware of possible DES exposure they may have experienced in utero. DES—or diethylstilbestrol—was prescribed to pregnant women during between the 1940s and the early 1970s to help prevent miscarriage.

DES was ultimately removed from the market when studies revealed the drug’s link to certain cancers, among other potential side effects. DES risks include vaginal and cervical cancers for women whose mothers had taken diethylstilbestrol during pregnancy. Additionally, harmful DES side effects may include breast cancer, early menopause and infertility in women who had actually taken the drug.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a DES Consumer Guide that provides information about DES. The web page includes a DES Self-Assessment Guide that helps indicate whether an individual has had the potential to have been exposed to DES and the possible DES health risks if, indeed, DES exposure did occur. Please note: the DES Self-Assessment Guide cannot specifically determine whether a person was actually exposed to DES, but it does provide a guide for further discussion with a healthcare professional.

If you’re a DES daughter or think you may have been exposed to DES in utero and have experienced harmful side effects, you may also want to consider your legal options. DES victims can fill out a complaint form for a DES attorney to review here.

Tags: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, DES, DES Daughters, DES Mothers, Diethylstilbestrol, Pregnancy Drug, Vaginal Cancer
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues, lawsuits | 1 Comment »

What’s Making You Fat? 2 Popular Drugs could be Packing on Pounds (or Worse)

July 29th, 2012. By AbiK

You’re wondering what’s going on, right? It’s not like you’re doing a solo flight with a pint of Häagen-Daz every night before bed or blowing through the Taco Bell drive-thru each day rattling off an order for a couple dozen 99¢ Beefy Nacho Burritos (in a large shopping bag, thanks). But something’s making you gain weight or keep it on…

Indeed, obesity has become what some would call an epidemic. Heck, all you need to do is turn to the media to find words like “diabesity” being used to realize how much obesity—or discussion about it—has infiltrated our lives. But could there must be something else going on?—something other than a big food orgy that most of us didn’t even know we were attending?

Perhaps. That something could be a vicious cycle you’re in—where, by treating a condition that’s potentially related to weight gain, the treatment you’re on can actually lead to more pounds. Unfortunately for some, the treatment can also lead to harmful drug side effects—which in turn can lead to a drug-related personal injury lawsuit. A vicious cycle, indeed. The following two conditions and treatments are examples of vicious cycles that could be causing weight gain and putting you at risk for some unwanted side effects:

1. Antidepressants are Making You Gain Weight

Somehow it’s easy to link depression to weight gain—it’s that “emotional eating” theory. But treating depression with antidepressants can also lead to weight gain. That’s right—the very drug you might be taking to help you avoid emotional eating might also be causing your weight gain. Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft each have possible weight gain as a side effect (in addition to other serious potential side effects like SSRI birth defects or suicidal thoughts). And it’s estimated that about 25% of those taking an antidepressant will experience some weight gain.

Additionally, atypical antipsychotic medications Zyprexa, Abilify, Risperdal and Seroquel have been linked to rapid (and dangerous) weight gain in children.

2.  Diabetes Medication is Making You Gain Weight

Remember that 70’s Billy Preston song, “Will It Go Round In Circles”? Well, diabetes and treating diabetes have that ‘going around in circles’ thing going on. Unfortunately, being overweight or obese can be a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Once diagnosed, some diabetes patients are put on a thiazolidinedione drug such as Actos. One of the more common side effects of Actos can be weight gain—the very thing that may have contributed to onset of type 2 diabetes in the first place (see it coming full circle?) The Actos labelling info also includes “rapid weight gain” as a possible serious side effect which requires immediate medical attention.

Weight gain may be the least of the worries for Actos side effects, though. Actos has also been associated with bladder cancer, heart failure and liver problems.

As always, before stopping any medication, or when noticing any concerning side effects, talk to your doctor.

Tags: Abilify, Actos, Antidepressant, Diabetes drug, Drug Side Effects, Effexor, Obesity, paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Zyprexa
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues, lawsuits | 4 Comments »

Colorado Health Warns Dr. Stephen Stein Patients To Get Tested for HIV, Hepatitis

July 14th, 2012. By AbiK

LawyersandSettlements.com just posted about an important alert from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment—patients of facial and oral surgeon, Dr. Stephen Stein, who had practices in Highlands Ranch, CO and Denver, CO—are urged to get tested for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Patients of Dr. Stein may have been exposed to infection, the Colorado health department reports, as Stein had been found to have re-used needles for procedures on multiple patients.

This CBS News video provides more information, and concerned patients can find more information by reading the FAQs posted by the Colorado department of health.

Tags: Colorado Dentist, Colorado Department of Health, Dental Malpractice, Dr. Stephen Stein, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV
Posted in Drugs/Medical, Emerging Issues, Personal Injury | No Comments »

MSNBC Video: Maybe Propecia Side Effects Don’t Ever Go Away

July 13th, 2012. By AbiK

Not good news for the men who allege they’ve been affected by Propecia side effects including sexual dysfunction, erectile dysfunction and even infertility. Check out the msnbc video below—and if you’re considering legal help yourself after taking the hair loss drug, you can fill out a Propecia complaint form here.

 

Tags: Hair Loss, MSNBC, Propecia, Propecia side effects, Sexual Dysfunction
Posted in Defective Products, Drugs/Medical, lawsuits, Personal Injury | No Comments »