Vioxx

On September 2, 2004, Merck & Co., Inc. declared the international withdrawal of Vioxx® from pharmacies due to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (including heart attack and stroke) in patients. This is the largest voluntary drug recall in history.

The drug recall is a result of Merck's own long-term history of using Vioxx® to treat patients at risk of developing recurrent colon polyps. The study identified an increased risk of serious cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, among study patients taking Vioxx® compared to patients receiving placebo.

Vioxx® is used to alleviate pain, inflammation, and stiffness caused by arthritis. It was also used to treat severe cases of menstrual periods. Vioxx® is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) called a COX-2 inhibitor. It was considered especially helpful in stopping pain and inflammation in joint areas.

If you or a loved one has been injured by Vioxx ®, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Please contact Gancedo & Nieves to learn more!

Rezulin

Rezulin® was designed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes who required their insulin and blood sugar levels to be regulated. Approved by the FDA in 1997, it was known to be particularly dangerous to the liver for some time, but was finally recalled on March 21, 2000.

Despite its questionable safety record Rezulin® stayed on the market because of a lack of effective alternatives for treating diabetics. It was the approval of two new, safer diabetes drugs that finally forced the withdrawal of Rezulin from the market. The drug's manufacturer, Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert, voluntarily complied with the FDA request to stop sales of Rezulin®.

Liver damage is a serious condition, which can lead to transplant or death. If you or a loved one has suffered liver damage as the result of taking Rezulin®, or need more information about drug recall history, please contact Gancedo & Nieves today!

Fen-Phen

Prior to their 1997 recall, fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine were two popular diet drugs that worked by speeding up the user's metabolism. Marketed as Pondimin and Redux, the drugs were often used in combination with phentermine, the combination of which came to be known as Fen-Phen. Fen-Phen, was used by more than 6 million Americans for weight loss.

Not surprisingly, Fen-Phen was linked to heart valve disease and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) -- both of which are life-threatening conditions. Heart valve disease causes damage to the valves in the heart that control blood flow to the body. The condition causes the valves to regurgitate blood, which strains the heart. It is estimated that nearly 30% of Fen-Phen users experience heart valve abnormalities. Anyone harmed by Fen-Phen should file a lawsuit or seek settlement for these unacceptable side effects. PPH is a condition in which the lungs' blood vessels are constricted, which decreases the amount of blood that travels through them often resulting in high blood pressure. Heart and lung failure can eventually occur and transplants may be required.

If you have taken Fen-Phen and have not yet seen a physician for evaluation, we recommend that you do so immediately. Please remember that you have legal rights. You may be able make a claim for a Fen-Phen settlement if you have been harmed. If you or a loved one has been injured by Fen-Phen, please contact Gancedo & Nieves today!

PPA

PPA, also known as Phenylpropanolamine, was an ingredient used in some appetite suppressants and cough medicine until a Yale University School of Medicine study found that PPA could be dangerous. PPA was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke, especially in women. The study was presented to the FDA in May 2000, which led to the voluntarily recall of the drug from pharmacies.

Hemorrhagic stroke causes bleeding within the brain. Depending on the case, the victim may experience dementia, paralysis, coma, or death. Because of the severity and possible repercussions of hemorrhagic stroke, the FDA considers the small increased risk enough of a reason to recall the drug from the market.

There are hundreds of over the counter and prescription drugs on the market that contain PPA, click here for a complete list.

If you or someone you love has been injured by a product that contained PPA, please contact us today!

Propulsid®

The prescription medication Propulsid® (cisapride) is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD. Janssen Pharmaceutical, the maker of Propulsid®, had only intended it to be used for a very specific group of patients who had GERD but were otherwise healthy. There are key problems with Propulsid® that were ignored or misunderstood by many doctors. Propulsid® has been linked to dangerous cardiovascular side effects, especially among certain people who should not have taken the medication. It was recalled July 14, 2000.

By the time Janssen Pharmaceutical reported the voluntary recall of Propulsid®, 381 cardiovascular events and 80 deaths had been reported. Although the company strengthened Propulsid's warning label five times, it continued to be improperly prescribed. Although recalled, the drug continues to be available to carefully selected patients through an FDA approved program.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by Propulsid®, please contact Gancedo & Nieves today!