Mass Tort in Washington, D.C., and Boston, Massachusetts - Ephedra, Vioxx®, Ortho Evra®, and More
Pollack & Flanders, LLP, procures settlements for clients injured by dangerous pharmaceutical drugs throughout Washington , D.C., and Boston , Massachusetts , including Vioxx®, Ortho Evra®, Accutane®, and ephedra. The lawyers of Pollack & Flanders, Attorneys at Law, work to protect people from the harm of these drugs by holding manufacturers accountable for drugs’ adverse effects. In addition to unforeseen side effects and unproven results, many drug cases allow the lawyers of Pollack & Flanders to showcase the known but devastating side effects of many drugs. Even if a dangerous drug has since been taken off the shelves, individuals who have been injured by those drugs are still entitled to compensation. The following drugs are currently the subjects of pharmaceutical litigation:
- Accutane®
- Vioxx®
- Ortho Evra®
- Ephedra
- Baycol®
- Fen-Phen/PPH
- Lotronex®
- Prempro™
- Serzone®
- Vaccine Litigation
Accutane®
Used to treat only the most serious cases of acne, Accutane® is a powerful and effective prescription treatment. While Accutane® use can be effective in treating severe acne, the drug has also been linked to a range of dangerous conditions resulting in serious injury and even death.
Side Effects Associated with Accutane® Use
While it is only prescribed under strict medical guidance, Accutane® use has been associated with a wide range of side effects. Minor effects like dry skin, sun sensitivity, and nausea are relatively manageable. However, the drug is also linked to serious birth defects, including physical deformity, mental retardation, and fetal death. So that necessary precautions can be taken, all possible side effects need to be fully disclosed to every patient in Washington , D.C., and Massachusetts who takes Accutane®. Our lawyers know of Accutane® users whose depression and suicides were linked to Accutane® use.
Injured Victims of Accutane® Should Seek a Lawyer
The Accutane® lawyers of Pollack & Flanders may be able to obtain compensation for your case if you or a loved one has been impacted negatively by using Accutane®. For a review of your case, please contact the Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts Accutane® lawyers at Pollack & Flanders today. Our attorneys can evaluate your Accutane® case to determine if you are eligible for damages.
Vioxx®
Vioxx® is a prescription drug intended to treat arthritis. A three-year study found a connection between Vioxx® usage and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. Its manufacturer, Merck, voluntarily recalled the drug on September 30, 2004.
Vioxx® Dangers
Vioxx® has been linked to increased risk of serious conditions such as sudden cardiac death, heart attack, stomach problems (such as intestinal bleeding), serious allergic reactions, and kidney and liver failure. Since the recall, many Washington , D.C., and Boston residents who used Vioxx® have spoken with attorneys regarding possible compensation. Time is of the essence, as victims have a limited amount of time after the recall to act.
If You or a Loved One Has Taken Vioxx®, Talk to an Attorney
Patients who have taken Vioxx® should consult their doctor before discontinuing their medication; it is important to carefully consider any health conditions that may be related to the use of Vioxx®. Those in Washington , D.C., and Boston who have taken Vioxx® should contact the attorneys of Pollack & Flanders immediately, as they may be entitled to compensation. Contact Pollack & Flanders today to learn about your legal rights pertaining to the Vioxx® recall and other defective drugs. Our Vioxx attorneys may be able to help you obtain restitution for your Vioxx® case.
Ortho Evra®
Approved by the FDA in 2001, Ortho Evra® was the first contraceptive patch available for use in the United States. Since then, more than 4 million women have used the patch as their preferred method of birth control.
Ortho Evra® Side Effects
Unfortunately, a number of patients have reported serious side effects associated with patch use, including fatal strokes and heart attacks. According to consumer reports to the FDA, it is estimated that 23 deaths and dozens of other nonfatal blood clots and strokes are linked to Ortho Evra® use. Contact our lawyers in the Boston , Massachusetts and Washington , D.C. , area if you have experienced dangerous side effects after using Ortho Evra®. Our lawyers may be able to help you seek entitled compensation.
Ortho Evra® Lawsuits
The Ortho Evra® warning label has recently undergone a revision to warn patients that it exposes them to higher levels of estrogen than the pill because the hormones are released directly into the bloodstream via the patch. A number of lawsuits have since been filed against the makers of Ortho Evra®, Johnson & Johnson's Ortho-McNeill, claiming that the manufacturers knew of the risks associated with the patch and failed to properly warn patients. If you or a loved one has suffered adverse health effects such as blood clots, stroke, heart attack, or death following Ortho Evra® use, contact our lawyers in the Washington , D.C., and Boston , Massachusetts area. Our Ortho Evra® lawyers can review your claim and determine if you have a valid lawsuit.
Ephedra
Ephedra is an herbal supplement that has been included in many diet pills over the last several years. Although herbs are not under the jurisdiction of the FDA, and therefore cannot be removed entirely from the market, the FDA has issued warnings about the dangers of ephedra, which is often presented under alternate names such as ephedrine, ma huang, epitonin, and pseudo ephedrine. In fact, many Massachusetts and Washington , D.C. , area victims of ephedra didn't contact attorneys for quite some time, simply because they did not know they were taking ephedra.
Dangers of Ephedra
The FDA issued the warning against ephedra after taking into consideration studies showing that ephedra use raises blood pressure and significantly stresses the circulatory system. Ephedra has been linked to a number of serious health problems, including heart attack, stroke, hepatitis, and seizures. Unfortunately, many ephedra users were unaware of its dangers. At Pollack & Flanders, we understand the emotional trauma that can result from the dangerous side effects of ephedra, and our attorneys will fight to help victims obtain compensation for injuries that are caused by this dangerous drug. Those living in Massachusetts and Washington , D.C. , who have taken ephedra should speak to the attorneys of Pollack & Flanders as soon as possible.
Baycol®
Between 1997 and 2001, Baycol® was routinely prescribed to patients with high cholesterol. Also known as cerivastatin, Baycol® belongs to the “statin” group of drugs, all of which were shown to have a potentially deadly side effect called rhabdomyolysis.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by the release of muscle cell contents, or myoglobin, into the bloodstream; this condition can cause kidney failure. After it was determined that 83 people had died as a result of Baycol® -related kidney failure, a voluntary recall was placed on Baycol® by the manufacturer of the drug, Bayer A.G. Pharmaceuticals.
Symptoms of Rhabdomyolysis
Those who used Baycol® for any length of time are at a heightened risk of developing rhabdomyolysis. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis may include:
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dark urine
- Muscle/joint pain
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and have used Baycol®, see a physician immediately. If you or a loved one has been injured by Baycol®, you may be entitled to financial compensation.
Fen-Phen
At the height of its popularity, it is estimated that more than six million people in the United States were using Fen-Phen to lose weight. In 1997, Fen-Phen was recalled due to findings that linked it to primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) and heart valve disease.
Dangers of Fen-Phen
PPH causes the lungs’ blood vessels to become dangerously narrow, significantly restricting the flow of blood and raising blood pressure. If left untreated, PPH can cause heart and lung failure, resulting in death. Heart valve disease is just as life-threatening; once valves are damaged, they usually have to be replaced so the patient can avoid serious health problems. Up to 30 percent of people who used Fen-Phen later developed heart valve disease. If you have experienced either PPH or heart valve disease after using Fen-Phen, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact our lawyers in Washington , D.C., or Boston , Massachusetts to discuss your legal options.
Lotronex®
Lotronex® is a prescription medicine prescribed to treat women with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). While it was approved by the FDA in February 2000, it was recalled only nine months later after a growing number of patients experienced serious constipation. Many patients required hospitalization, including surgery and blood transfusions, and some patients even died. To learn more about the dangers of Lotronex®, contact Pollack & Flanders in Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.
Prempro™
Prempro™ is a hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drug intended to treat symptoms of menopause. While Prempro™ has been proven to decrease occurrence of hip fractures and colorectal cancer, the drug was found to pose serious health risks in 2002 by a study known as the Women's Health Initiative. Researchers found Prempro™ patients were more susceptible to strokes, heart attacks, and breast cancer.
Despite a constant debate over the benefits of hormone replacement therapy, many women rely on Prempro™ to ease the discomfort associated with menopause. After the Women's Health Initiative discovered the drug's risks outweighed its benefits, its study was discontinued, and the American Heart Association and the Journal of the American Medical Association officially requested the termination of its usage. If you have experienced the harmful side effects of Prempro™ or other HRT drugs, contact Pollack & Flanders today to discuss your legal options.
Serzone®
Serzone® is a prescription drug used to treat depression. Its popularity is due to the fact that the side effects usually associated with anti-depressants—sexual problems and insomnia—are limited with Serzone®. Unfortunately, reports have shown a much higher incidence of liver failure among Serzone® patients than those not using the drug. In December 2001, the Food and Drug Administration required a black box warning be added to the drug's label. If you have been a victim of Serzone®-related liver failure, speak to the experienced pharmaceutical litigation attorneys at Pollack & Flanders.
Vaccine Litigation
While the vaccination of children against various infectious diseases has been proven effective, there is also growing concern that vaccines may be harmful in some cases. Vaccination involves the injection of weakened or non-living microorganisms that cause a disease, which stimulates the patient's immune system to prepare a defense against the disease. Reactions to vaccines can occur because of the organisms introduced into the body. For example, the vaccination may actually produce the disease it was intended to prevent. Also, some widely used vaccines contain the controversial preservative Thimerosal, which contains a small amount of mercury that some believe can be harmful to children. Many vaccines can also produce severe allergic reactions. If you or your child has been harmed by a vaccination, our firm can help you receive compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, and other expenses. Contact the attorneys of Pollack & Flanders as soon as possible to ensure effective representation.
Contact Our Boston, Massachusetts or Washington, D.C. Offices
It is imperative that you contact your physician immediately whenever you have concerns about negative medical side effects of a drug you are taking. However, it is also important to realize that the manufacturers of dangerous drugs need to be held accountable for any injury the drugs may cause. If you live in the Washington, D.C., or Boston, Massachusetts area and are a victim of Vioxx®, Ortho Evra®, ephedra, Accutane®, or another defective drug, contact the attorneys at Pollack & Flanders. Our lawyers have experience fighting some of the largest drug companies in the world and believe that you are entitled to compensation for the physical, emotional, and financial stress that you have gone through as a result of taking defective drugs.
If you live in Boston, Massachusetts or Washington, D.C., and have been injured by Accutane®, ephedra, Vioxx®, or Ortho Evra®, contact the attorneys of Pollack & Flanders today!
Pollack & Flanders, LLP
15 Broad St., Suite #900
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
ph: 1.866.425.2699
fax: 617.259.3050
Washington Office
1250 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Suite #200
Washington, D.C. 20036
ph: 1.866.425.2699
fax: 202.261.3508
