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Yaz and Yasmin May Cause Stroke

If you are taking Yaz or Yasmin, you need to read this blog to learn about the warning signs of stroke. Contact an experienced Northern Kentucky injury lawyer if you have suffered serious Yasmin or Yaz side effects.

Taking Yaz or Yasmin May Cause Deep Vein Thrombosis

There are many serious Yaz and Yasmin side effects, including deep vein thrombosis. If you have developed this painful condition and are taking one of these oral contraceptives, you may be able to recover compensation.

Yaz Can Lead to Irregular Heartbeat

Yaz birth control can lead to serious health complications, including heart arrhythmia, also known as irregular heartbeat. If you have been injured from taking Yaz or Yasmin, you may be entitled to compensation.

Hyperkalemia is a Potential Complication of Yaz Birth Control

Hyperkalemia is a potentially fatal condition that may be caused by Yaz or Yasmin.

Lawsuit Filed Against Bayer for Misrepresenting Safety and Effectiveness of Yaz

Two pension funds for city employees and firefighters have filed a lawsuit against the drugmaker Bayer, claiming that the company misrepresented the effectiveness and safety of Yaz in an effort to boost sales.

The federal complaint in Philadelphia was recently made public.  It states that Bayer unlawfully promoted the birth control product from March 2006 to March 2009 by keeping secret the side effects associated with the contraceptive.  Some of the serious health affects that are believed to be caused by Yaz include heart attack, blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, kidney failure and liver failure.

Women taking Yaz have complained that they experienced some of these severe side effects caused by the contraceptive.  Numerous lawsuits have been filed as a result against Bayer.

In the lawsuit involving the pension funds, the plaintiffs have alleged that the drug manufacturer downplayed the risks of Yaz when it promoted the product.  According to the lawsuit, the TV ads “misleadingly and deceptively” promoted Yaz for uses that were not approved by the FDA.

If you have been injured from taking Yaz, you may be entitled to compensation and should contact the Law Office of Schachter, Hendy & Johnson at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297 for more information.

Yaz Can Lead to Too Much Potassium in the Blood

Some women may be at a higher risk of developing serious health problems from Yaz or Yasmin birth control.  Numerous women have claimed that these birth control products have led to major health issues, including heart attack and stroke.  The problem is believed to be caused by one of the ingredients in the birth control that can increase the potassium levels in the blood.  This increased potassium can result in a serious condition, known as hyperkalemia.

Women who are already at risk of high potassium levels may be more prone to suffer from Yaz or Yasmin.  For example, women who are taking other medications that can cause increased potassium could be in danger of experiencing adverse health effects.  Anyone taking Yaz or Yasmin should consult with their doctor for more information.

It is believed that Yasmin and Yaz has been a factor in cases involving heart attack, stroke, pulmonary embolism, kidney disease and deep vein thrombosis.  These birth control products are among the most popular oral contraceptives in the United States. 

If you have suffered a serious medical condition and you believe that Yasmin or Yaz may have been the cause, you should contact an experienced Northern Kentucky injury lawyer at the Law Office of Schachter, Hendy & Johnson at (859) 578-4444 or (888) 606-5297 for legal advice.

Yaz Lawsuits Reveal New Evidence of Problems

Last week the New York Times ran a story about the increasing number of complaints and lawsuits related to injuries suffered by women who have taken the birth control drug Yaz or its sister product Yasmin.  They say that the drugs put women at higher risk for blood clots, strokes and other health problems than some other birth control pills do. 

The health questions and the lawsuits may rattle consumer confidence, but the warnings from federal health authorities about advertising and quality control raise larger questions about Bayer’s approach to complying with government rules, said Michael A. Santoro, an associate professor at the Rutgers Business School who has studied ethics in the pharmaceutical industry.

FDA Issues warning Letter about side effects of YAZ birth control

In October 2008, the FDA issued a warning letter to Bayer, the manufacturer of YAZ about the problems related to the drug that were being reported by numerous patients.  A key ingredient in YAZ has the effect of raising potassium levels and can result in blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis. 

Additionally, the FDA warned Bayer not to promote YAZ as a drug for Premenstrual Syndrome.

Types of sports-related injuries

Attorney Ronald E. Johnson of Schachter & Hendy concentrates on legal issues surrounding children's injuries.

There are more than 30 million children who play different kinds of organized sports in the US, while others play in recreational activities. According to a 2002 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nearly 1.9 million of those children are injured and the most common injury is musculoskeletal.

What types of sports related injuries are there?  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIAMS/National Institutes of Health

• Sprains
• Strains—injuries to muscles or tendons.
• Growth plates—the area of developing tissues at the end of long bones in growing children.
• Repetitive motion injuries—repeated stress on bones or inflammation of tendons occur when muscles and tendons are overused.
• Heat-related injuries—these include dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
• Keeping kids hydrated
• *Adapted with permission from Patient Care magazine, copyrighted by Medical Economic

Protecting children from unintentional injuries

Attorney Ronald E. Johnson of Schachter & Hendy concentrates on legal issues surrounding children's injuries.

Many children are injured each year by accidents. USA Safe Kids is an organization dedicated to helping children and their families. According to their website, the children at the highest risk of injury are younger children, males, minorities, and poor children. They feel it's important to educate parents about how they can protect their children and reduce this significant risk of injury.

According to USA Safe Kids, children from low income families are twice as likely to die in a traffic accident, four times more likely to drown, and five times more likely to die as a result of a fire. Unfortunately, statistics show that death rates for children of low-income families are increasing, mostly from firearm and pedestrian injuries.  The USA Safe Kids website also says that Black and Native American children have disproportionate death and injury rates due to higher levels of poverty and lower levels of education, employment and income. 

USA Safe Kids also says that children in rural areas have a greater risk of unintentional injuries and death, from drowning, traffic accidents, firearms, fires, and agricultural injuries. Statistics also show that young male children are at a greater risk of injury because of risk-taking and rougher play than females.

Safety issues for children in hot weather

Attorney Ronald E. Johnson of Schachter & Hendy concentrates on legal issues surrounding children's injuries.

Summer is here and with more intense sun, comes extreme heat. Parents should learn some important facts to keep their children safe in the heat.

According to Safe Kids USA, heat affects children more easily than it affects adults so parents should watch their children carefully for any sign of heat stroke or dehydration. Last year 42 children died in the U.S. from heat stroke caused by being left or trapped in a vehicle.

Heat stroke happens when a child's core body reaches a temperature of 104 degrees F. A core body temperature of 107 degrees F is fatal.

It's really important that parents make sure their children don't accidentally get locked in a car, so they should make sure they keep the car doors and trunk locked and keep keys and remotes away from children. They should make sure to NEVER leave a child alone in a car for any reason for any amount of time.

Parents can be aware of the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) these signs include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, tiredness or weakness, dizziness or headache, sick stomach or vomiting, or faintness.

To prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke, parents should make sure the keep children indoors with air conditioning in cases of extreme heat and drink plenty of water (not sugary drinks) if they are outdoors and and active.

Zicam Maker violated FDA Regulations

Matrixx Initiatives, Inc., the company that makes Zicam, received a Warning Letter from the Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA"). The FDA stated that the Company is in violation of its regulations by failing to file a new drug application for its Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel and Zicam Cold Remedy Gel Swabs and that those products are misbranded under their regulations for failing to adequately warn of risks. The FDA referred to numerous complaints it has received of anosmia associated with the use of these products.

 

The Company believes these products are safe and do not cause anosmia. The Company’s position is supported by the cumulative science and has been confirmed by a multi-disciplinary panel of scientists. (See the Company’s Report on Form 10-K under the heading "Legal Proceedings - Product Liability Matters" for additional information.)

 

The Company believes the FDA action is unwarranted and is in the process of determining its response, which may include removing these products from the marketplace. These products constituted approximately 40% of the Company’s net sales in 2009.

Zicam Recall Result of FDA Warning

FDA's warning applies to Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs Kids Size, but does not affect Zicam oral zinc tablets or lozenges.

"The biggest unknown is the degree to which the sales of our products (are) maintained," Hemelt said.

Matrixx is seeking a meeting with FDA officials with the hope of reversing the agency's decision, Hemelt said, adding that several studies showed no loss of smell with nasal Zicam products and arguing that FDA's conclusions were "erroneous."

While Hemelt said Tuesday's warning came as a "complete surprise," he said the company had been visited in May by FDA inspectors who drew attention to about 800 reported complaints that had not been given to the agency.

A law passed in 2007 required wider mandatory reporting of certain products, but Hemelt said the company did not send along the reports based on the opinion of its lawyer.

If the company's efforts fail to persuade the FDA, Matrixx will have to downsize, Hemelt said. "Obviously, we have to learn how to shrink this company if we're unable to get these products back on the shelf."

Zicam Cold Remedy Causes Loss of Sense of Smell Says FDA

The most interesting thing about this report is that it is yet one more example of how products that manage to slip through the cracks at the FDA are the ones that cause the most harm to consumers.  Zicam is not classified as a medication, so it did not have to undergo formal FDA approval, which would have uncovered this dangerous and life altering side effect.  This is very similar to the pain pumps that did not have to undergo FDA approval because they were Class II devices.  In this case Zicam was classified as a homeopathic remedy instead of a medication.  This is a dangerous loophole in the FDA regulations that must be closed before more unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of it.