2010 June | HensonFuerst | Injury Law Blog

Archive for June, 2010

Jun

New Study Slams Avandia

The popular diabetes drug Avandia (rosiglitazone), is prescribed to help people control their blood sugar. However, this drug has been linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and death… and yet, astonishingly, it is still on the market.

It is astonishing because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been made aware of the risks, but decided (in a split vote) to allow GlaxoSmithKline to continue to sell this product. In 2008, global sales of medicines containing Avandia reached nearly $1.5 billion. Although sales have dropped since then, hundreds of thousands of people still take the drug.

Part of the controversy about Avandia was whether the heart problems were caused by Avandia, or by the entire class of medications, which also includes the drug Actos (pioglitazone). A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (online edition, June 28, 2010) adds another group of data to support withdrawing this medication.

The study, led by Dr. David J. Graham of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, looked at more than 225,000 Medicare patients who started taking either Avandia or Actos. Compared to people who took Actos, those who took Avandia had a 25% increased risk of heart failure, 27% increased risk of stroke, and a 14% increased risk of death.

These mean deaths and permanent physical harm that didn’t need to happen. And do you know what it would take to save lives? Even switching to a different drug would make a world of difference. According to an article published in February in the New York Times (“Research Ties Diabetes Drug to Heart Woes”), secret government reports say that:

“…if every diabetic now taking Avandia were instead given a similar pill named Actos, about 500 heart attacks and 300 cases of heart failure would be averted every month because Avandia can hurt the heart.” [italics added]

That’s 6,000 heart attacks every year that could have been prevented by taking a different medication. But pharmaceutical companies can be persistent and persuasive. The drug remains on the market, and every month people are dying unnecessarily because they are taking a drug that is supposed to safe their lives. In the third quarter of 2009, 304 deaths were linked to Avandia. (And those are just the ones that were reported and linked.)

The conclusion any reader of the study must make is the same one scientists came to earlier (as reported in the New York Times article):

“Rosiglitazone should be removed from the market,” one report, by Dr. David Graham and Dr. Kate Gelperin of the Food and Drug Administration, concludes. Both authors recommended that Avandia be withdrawn.

Yes, that’s the same Dr. David Graham who led the currently reported study.

So what will it take for the powers that be to finally take this drug off the market? Will this latest study be enough?

To be harmed by medication is always a tragedy… but to be harmed by medication that is known to be dangerous seems downright negligent. The drug injury lawyers of HensonFuerst are looking further into this and other research about Avandia, and we plan to use this information to protect our clients and help them get compensation for their damages.

If you believe you have been harmed by the drug Avandia and have questions about your legal options, feel free to contact the attorneys of HensonFuerst. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

Resources

New York Times article. “Research Ties Diabetes Drug to Heart Woes,” by Gardiner Harris. February 19, 2010.

Journal of the American Medical Association. Early release article, posted June 28, 2010. JAMA. 2010;304(4):(doi:10.1001/jama.2010.920).

Popularity: 20% [?]

Jun

Summer Safety #3: Some Drugs and Heat Don’t Mix!

Every medication has potential side effects and risks, but some drugs can make summer heat downright dangerous. Certain classes of medications affect the body’s ability to regulate its internal temperature.

Some medications, such as anticholinergic, inhibit perspiration so the body can’t cool itself off. Diuretics cause the body to eliminate water through urination, but that promotes dehydration which can lead to overheating. Other medications constrict blood vessels… or reduce the force of heart beats… or slightly raise metabolism. Different drugs, different effects, but with all with a common side effect: When the mercury rises outdoors, the body has a more difficult time staying cool.

If you are taking one or more of the following medications, you may not be able to spend as much time in the heat as you used to, and you will have to watch for early signs of heat illness, including dizziness, nausea, muscle cramps, fatigue, headache, or fainting. Extreme heat illness can cause vomiting, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, confusion, disorientation, seizures, coma, or even death.

Please note: This list is not inclusive. If you have any question about your medications or their potential side effects, talk with your doctor.

Drugs that May Increase the Risk of Heat Illness

Cold & Allergy Medications; Antihistamines

pseudoephedrine (Sudafed; Cenafed; many others)

chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton; Teldrin; many others)

diphenhydramine (Benadryl; Tusstat; Tuxadryl)

hydroxyzine (Atarax; Vistaril; Vistazine)

High Blood Pressure Medications

atenolol (Tenormin)

carvedilol (Coreg)

labetalol (Normodyne; Trandate)

lisinopril (Prinivil; Prinzide; Zestril)

metoprolol (Lopressor; Toprol)

propranolol (Inderal)

Diuretics

bumetanide – Bumex

furosemide (Lasix)

hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril; HCTZ)

indapamide (Lozol)

triamterene (Dyrenium; Dyazide; Maxzide)

Tricyclic antidepressants

amitriptyline (Elavil)

amoxapine (Asendin)

chlordiazepoxide (Librium; Libritabs; Mitran)

clomipramine – Anafranil

desipramine – Norpramin

doxepin – Sinequan

imipramine – Tofranil

nortriptyline – Pamelor, Aventyl

trimepramine (Surmontil)

Parkinson’s Disease Medications

benztropine (Cogentin)

levodopa (Larodopa; L-dopa)

trihexyphenidyl (Artane; Trihexy)

Anticholinergics

diphenoxylate with atropine (Lomotil; Lomocot; others)

flavoxate (Urispas)

hyocyamine (Anaspaz; Cytospaz; Gastrosed; Levbid; others)

oxybutynin (Ditropan; Oxytrol)

propantheline (Pro-Banthine)

Psychotropic medications

chlorpromazine (Thorazine)

haloperidol (Haldol)

lithium (Lithobid; Eskalith; Lithotabs)

prochlorperazine (Compazine)

promethazine (Phenergan)

quetiapine – Seroquel

risperidone (Risperdal)

Amphetamines & similar drugs

amphetamine (Adderall)

dextroamphetamine (Adderall)

methylphenidate (Ritalin; Concerta)

phentermine (Adipex-P; Ionamin; Fro-Fast SA)

Popularity: 24% [?]

Jun

Summer Safety #2: Avoid Auto Wreck Risk

Summer safety week at HensonFuerst continues today with tips for the road that could help you to avoid a breakdown or an accident.

We know that heat can affect the way our bodies run, but it also poses a danger for your car. High heat is “a real car killer,” said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Martha Mitchell Meade in an Associate Press article published Thursday.

Here are some tips for how to prepare your car for the stress of summertime heat:

Maintenance and Performance

Cooling system. Most summer breakdowns are caused by overheating. Make sure your cooling system is checked out at the beginning of the season, and recheck coolant levels regularly, especially if you drive a lot of miles. (FYI: Wait until the car is cool before removing the radiator cap–too many people have been burned by hot water and steam.)
Tires. Keep tires inflated to proper pressure, and replace bald tires. Roadways are 15 to 20 degrees hotter than air temperature. A bald or underinflated tire heats up more quickly , breaks down more quickly, and is more likely to blow out. Rotate your tires every time you have your oil changed (and change your oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, as recommended by the vehicle’s manual). FYI: Summer is also the time when trucks are more likely to lose their retreads, so watch for flying bits of tire, too.
Check the battery. Car batteries last, on average, 3 to 5 years… and it can fail without warning. Hot weather can cause corrosion, and corrosion is the biggest cause of car battery failure. According to the Associated Press, AAA Mid-Atlantic reported that service calls for dead batteries in this week’s heat wave jumped by about 124 percent.

Avoiding Accidents

Watch for heat hazards. Just as you need to watch for black ice in winter, summer brings its own set of road issues. In Delaware yesterday, one stretch of highway was backed up for miles when heat buckled a patch of asphalt. Potholes, sinkholes, and heaving can happen out of the clear blue–literally–so keep a watchful eye on the road.
Watch for stalled or disabled cars. You have prepared your car for summer, but not everyone is as conscientious. It’s a fact of life: there will be cars abandoned on the shoulder…there will be blown-out tires. Worse, there will be drivers who slow down just to take a good long look at an over-heated engine. Keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you, just in case.
Be kind–the car you save may be your own. As temperatures rise, so do tempers…and hot tempers means a greater potential for road rage. Try to be a courteous driver, and give others the benefit of the doubt. Our best advice (pun alert) is to simply chill out.

And one final tip: Keep your car stocked with a summer survival kit, just in case you end up stuck on the side of the road. Items that may come in handy are a charged cell phone, dried fruit or other snacks, bottles of water, a hat (in case you need to walk for help), and an instant cold pack that you can use to help decrease your body temperature in the event of an emergency.

Happy travels!

Popularity: 18% [?]

Jun

Another Toyota Sneak Recall

Once again, Toyota waited until the end of the work week to issue another recall press release. This time, there will be a recall of about 17,000 2010 Lexus HS 250h vehicles.

This hybrid did not pass recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests–when hit from behind, the vehicles spilled fuel. This is a pretty big problem, considering that rear impacts are common, and leaked fuel could end up contributing to greater personal injury in an accident.

If you have been in a car wreck involving a Toyota or Lexus vehicle, and you have questions about whether a defect could be to blame, call our accident lawyers at 1-800-4LAW-MED. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

To read all recall information, click here: Toyota Recall Page.

Popularity: 14% [?]

Jun

Preventing Heat-Related Illness

We’re kicking off a week of summer safety tips with a topic that is at the top of everyone’s mind today: HEAT!

Much of North Carolina is currently under a heat advisory, and there’s not much chance of a change over the next few days. Temperature has been in the 90s, with high humidity adding new meaning to the word “sweltering.” It’s a good time to remember that heat is more than just uncomfortable… it can be deadly.

Those who have a higher risk of heat illness are infants, young children, people age 65 and older, people with mental illness, and anyone with cardiovascular health conditions, including heart disease and high blood pressure. Visit adults at risk at least twice a day and closely watch them for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Infants and young children, of course, need much more frequent watching.

To stay healthy through the heat wave, follow these tips from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Stay hydrated! Your body uses up fluids trying to stay cool, even when you’re not sweating. No matter what you are doing–sitting on the deck, playing golf, gardening, or just watching the kids–drink more non-alcoholic liquid. (And make sure the kids stop to drink, too.) Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. FYI: Water is the best thirst quencher–add berries, slices of cucumber, or a wedge of lemon or lime to add a zest of flavor. Avoid high-sugar and high-caffeine drinks if possible because they can cause you to lose more bodily fluids, but if that’s all you have, they are better than not drinking anything. Also, very cold drink may cause stomach cramps.
Do not leave any human or animal in a parked vehicle. That sounds like common sense, but every year we hear about people who do it anyway; they leave the car think they will only be gone for a minute or two, and return to a virtual oven. Even an open window won’t do much to bring down temperatures in a car on days like this. (On an 85-degree day, the temperature inside a car with slightly open windows can reach 110 degrees within about 10 minutes. A few minutes at that temperature can cause irreversible brain damage or even death.)
Act like a mushroom and stay in a cool, dark place. Try to get to a place with air conditioning, even if it means hanging out at a shopping mall or public library. Close the blinds or curtains in your house to keep out as much sunlight as possible. The less time you spend in the heat, the better off you’ll be.
Wear light-weight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing.
Take cool showers to lower body heat. It may also help to cool your pulse points. Your pulse points are the places in your body where the blood runs closest to the surface of the skin. Cool yourself more quickly by holding a refrigerated water bottle or cool, damp cloth on the inside of your wrists, the back and sides of your neck, and the back of your knees. FYI: Although a fan may make you feel cooler, it does not prevent heat illness once temperature climbs over 90 degrees.
Limit outdoor activity to early morning or evening hours.

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illness

Heat stroke is the most serious heat-related illness. It occurs when the body becomes unable to control its temperature: the body’s temperature rises rapidly, the body loses its ability to sweat, and it is unable to cool down. Body temperatures rise to 106°F or higher within 10 to 15 minutes. Heat stroke can cause death or permanent disability if emergency treatment is not provided. Heat exhaustion is a milder form of heat-related illness that can develop after several days of exposure to high temperatures and inadequate or unbalanced replacement of fluids.

Warning signs of heat exhaustion vary, but may include the following:

Heavy sweating
Paleness
Muscle Cramps
Tiredness
Weakness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea or vomiting
Fainting
Skin: may be cool and moist
Pulse rate: fast and weak
Breathing: fast and shallow

Warning signs of heat stroke vary, but may include the following:

An extremely high body temperature (above 103°F)
Red, hot, and dry skin (no sweating)
Rapid, strong pulse
Throbbing headache
Dizziness
Nausea

What to do for Someone with Heat Stress

If you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Have someone call for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person. Do the following:

Get the person to a shady area.
Cool the person rapidly, using whatever methods you can. For example, immerse the person in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the person with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101°–102°F
If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

RESOURCES:

CDC Extreme Heat Info: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat/

Heat information for Workers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/heatstress/

Keeping you dog cool: http://www.mydogiscool.com/

HensonFuerst Law: http://www.lawmed.com/

Popularity: 16% [?]

Jun

Man dies in North Carolina auto accident

According to the Winston-Salem Journal, a man died after he was thrown from his car in a North Carolina auto accident.

The man was driving a 1999 Ford and ran off the road, overcorrected, overturned his car and was ejected, resulting in the North Carolina auto accident.

Are You Ready for Phone-Free Driving?

According to the News & Observer Road Worrier, the U.S. Senate is considering a bill that would reward states with millions of dollars in grants if they outlaw all phoning and texting while driving. The bill is called H.R. 3994: Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009. (You can read the bill itself here: Distracted Driving bill.)

Research shows that talking on a cell phone–even a hands-free phone–increases your risk of being in a car wreck. In fact, driving while distracted is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. (Is it time for a new acronym? If we already have DWI, is it time for DWD?)

North Carolina already bans cell phone use while driving for school bus drivers and people under age 18. Texting is banned for all drivers. But as noted by the Road Worrier:

Our partial bans are steps in the right direction, but their limitations make them hard to enforce. Even if a cop sees that driver gripping her new Samsung Galaxy S Pro Android phone, it might be hard to guess how she’s using it or how old she is.

The bill has already been endorsed by the National Safety Council.

HensonFuerst also supports the bill. Cell phones are great–we don’t know how any of us would get through a day without them–but most of us underestimate the effect they have on our ability to pay attention when attention is critical, like when driving. Just yesterday we posted an entry on our Traumatic Brain Injury blog (Head Injury from Summer Fun) that reported that cell phone use is to blame for some of the increase in head injuries for cyclists.

There has to be a way to integrate beneficial technology into our lives, without putting ourselves at risk of injury, trauma, or death. Everyday, the injury attorneys of HensonFuerst represent people who have been seriously hurt in wrecks caused by distracted drivers. Power down the cell phones…save a life.

More Information

To sign a “No Phone Zone” pledge (Oprah’s website!), click here: No Phone Zone Pledge.

If you have been involved in a cell phone-related motor vehicle wreck and you want to learn about your legal rights, see the HensonFuerst auto wreck page: http://www.lawmed.com/north-carolina-auto-accident-lawyer.php.

To read more about the effects of distracted driving, and to watch Public Service Announcement, go here: www.Distraction.gov.

Read the full Road Worrier article: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/22/545192/senate-pushes-for-phone-free-driving.html#ixzz0rbIVBMPi

Popularity: 20% [?]

Jun

City of Raleigh sues club for violence, death

The city of Raleigh is looking to sue a local club for being a public nuisance, according to NewsObeserver.com.

Within the past month, the club lost its liquor license after a fight where two men were shot and injured in the club’s parking lot.

Raleigh police have responded to several stabbings, assaults, gunfire and weapons violations at the club, and a North Carolina man was shot to death in 2007 in the club’s parking lot.

FDA Finds New Outlet for Consumer Drug Information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the website Drugs.com (www.drugs.com) have teamed to broaden the reach of FDA’s consumer health information.

A new partnership forged by the two entities provides consumers with a joint resource on Drugs.com’s site that features FDA Consumer Update articles, videos, and slideshows. It will also bring FDA health information to Drugs.com’s mobile phone platform.

“The partnership with Drugs.com means that reliable, useful, and timely health information will be available to an even wider audience,” says Beth Martino, FDA’s associate commissioner for external affairs. “Partnerships like this are an important part of FDA’s effort to ensure the public has easy access to reliable, useful information that can help people protect and improve their health.”

With more than 12 million unique visitors each month, this terrific site seeks to provide comprehensive drug information online, and to assist in the reduction of medication errors. Featured services include an A-to-Z Drug List, a Pill Identifier (for those stray pills you find in the bottom of your bathroom cabinet), Clinical Trial Results, Pregnancy Warnings, and many more.

To read the FDA’s take on this new partnership, click here: Drugs.com Furthers Reach of FDA Consumer Health Information.

Unfortunately, even with the best information, drug injuries can happen. For example, there may be a prescribing error, or a defect in the manufacturing process. If you believe that you have been injured by a prescription or over-the-counter medication, please seek help from a physician. If you have legal questions, visit the HensonFuerst Drug Injury information page, or call one of our drug injury lawyers at 1-800-4LAW-MED. If you have questions, HensonFuerst has answers.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Jun

FDA Reminder: Grill Safely to Prevent Foodborne Illness

Summer officially starts next week, but grilling season has already been going strong in North Carolina for weeks. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a reminder to practice basic food safety to help prevent foodborne illness.

These may sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many people let safety lapse when the food is outdoors. The FDA wants to remind you to:

Wash hands. It seems basic, but not everyone does it. Wash hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before cooking or eating. If you’re in an outdoor setting with no bathroom, use a water jug, some soap, and paper towels. Consider carrying moist disposable towelettes for cleaning your hands.
Keep raw food separate from cooked food. Don’t use a plate that previously held raw meat, poultry, or seafood for anything else unless the plate has first been washed in hot, soapy water. Keep utensils and surfaces clean.
Marinate food in the refrigerator, not out on the counter. And if you want to use some of the marinade as a sauce on the cooked food, reserve a separate portion. Don’t reuse marinade that contained raw meat.
Cook food thoroughly. To kill any harmful bacteria that may be present, use a food thermometer. Hamburgers should be cooked to 160°F. If a thermometer is not available, make sure hamburgers are brown all the way through, not pink. Chicken should be cooked to at least 165°F. If you partially cook food in the microwave, oven or stove to reduce grilling time, do so immediately before the food goes on the hot grill.
Refrigerate and freeze food promptly. It can be hard to remember while a party is going on, but food should not be left out of the cooler or off the grill for more than two hours. Never leave food out for more than one hour when the temperature is above 90°F.
Keep hot food hot. Hot food should be kept at or above 140°F. Hot food should be wrapped well and placed in an insulated container. If bringing hot take-out food such as fried chicken or barbecue to an outdoor party, eat it within two hours of purchase. In addition to bringing a grill and fuel for cooking to an outdoor location, remember to pack a food thermometer to check that your meat and poultry reach a safe internal temperature. When re-heating food at the outing, be sure it reaches 165°F.
Keep cold food cold. Cold food should be held at or below 40°F. Foods like chicken salad and desserts that are in individual serving dishes can be placed directly on ice or in a shallow container set in a deep pan filled with ice. Drain off water as ice melts and replace ice frequently.

Popularity: 17% [?]

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