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Chantix and Alcohol: A Deadly Combination?

Scott Kappes — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 16:42:01 GMT

The prescription drug Chantix was approved by the FDA last year and has had a great first year for pharmaceutical giant, Pfizer. However, I am sure that the recent attention that Chantix has been getting is not welcomed to say the least. Over the past couple of weeks I have been hearing more and more about Chantix and the implication that it was responsible for Dallas musician Carter Albretch's death. Albrecht's girlfriend is adamant that the medication is the only explanation for the psychotic actions of Albrecht early Labor Day morning.

The way that Chantix works is different than stop smoking drugs that have been previously used by those trying to quit smoking. Chantix actually binds to receptors in the brain to block the sensation that nicotine delivers; this in turn takes all of the pleasure out of smoking.

Albrecht had been drinking the night of the incident and many believe that it was not necessarily the drug itself but rather the combination of the Chantix and alcohol. There have been no extensive studies involving Chantix and alcohol and the effect that they have on one another, but every claim that I have read about aggressive behavior on Chantix has also involved alcohol. The medication's label does say that you should not drink while taking it, but that is a far cry from saying if you drink on this medication it could cause a psychotic episode. The FDA says they will be looking into the incident and I truly cannot wait to see what happens with this.

For more information on this subject matter, please review our section on Drugs, Medical Devices, and Implants.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Saints’ Head Coach Has Filed Chinese Drywall Lawsuit

Scott Kappes — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:49:45 GMT

The head football coach of the New Orleans Saints has filed a lawsuit against a Chinese drywall manufacturer claiming that his Mandeville home contains defective drywall that has caused significant damage to items within his home. The Peyton’s attorney said in a statement that “[they] have confirmed that his home has Chinese drywall and it needs to be rehabbed and fixed.”

In an interview with CNN, Payton said about the possibly tainted drywall from China,
"We’ve had 5 computer failures, we're on our 4th hard drive right now. We had 13 air conditioner service calls and three different coil failures. We're on our third microwave oven panel, we’ve had to install a second set of phone lines, and a second alarm system."

Homeowners in at least 21 states have filed complaints alleging that Chinese drywall used in their homes has caused damage to wiring and electrical components in their homes. Many have also alleged a plethora of health problems allegedly have been induced by the presence of Chinese drywall in their homes.

EPA tests have found the presence of sulfur and two organic compounds associated with acrylic paint in Chinese drywall. These elements are not found in American-made drywall. More tests are needed to determine the exact cause of problems associated with Chinese drywall.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Increased Warnings for Tylenol

Ashley Davis — Fri, 29 May 2009 15:59:31 GMT

According to a U.S report, Johnson and Johnson are increasing the warnings on their product Tylenol to reduce the risk of liver injury. Tylenol contains Acetaminophen which is used to reduce pain and fever is said to have a connection to people with liver injuries. The report from the FDA recommends eliminating Acetaminophen from over-the-counter combination products, such as Tylenol cold.

Since the late 1990’s. liver injury has been a known risk of acetaminophen, but efforts to educate consumers and revise prescribing information have been unsuccessful. From 1990 to 2001, Acetaminophen has been linked to 458 deaths and 26,000 hospitalizations. The drug is a leading cause of acute liver failure among consumers who abuse it.

The FDA’s center for drug evaluation and research recommend lowering immediate-release tablet strength to no more than 325 milligrams from the current 500 milligrams and reducing the single adult dose 650 milligrams, from 1,000 milligrams. They also urged decreasing the maximum daily dose of all acetaminophen to 3,250 milligrams from 4,000 milligrams.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Taser Maker Issues New Safety Warnings

Scott Kappes — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:26:31 GMT

Taser International has issued new warning to police agencies throughout the nation to not shoot at the suspect’s chest. The company said that striking a suspect in the chest can in extremely rare instances poses a risk of an adverse cardiac event.

This is the first time that Taser has ever admitted that there may be any risk of cardiac arrest associated with the use of its 50,0000-volt stun gun.

Officials from Taser were quick to point out that the bulletin does in no way state that Tasers can cause cardiac arrest, but rather advises law enforcement authorities that controversy can be avoided if officers aim for other areas of the body.

Over the past several years the safety of Tasers has been questioned and numerous critics claim that the devices are much more dangerous than the manufacturer has lead people to believe.

Earlier this year a 27-year-old Texas City man died from cardiac arrest after being tazed by La Marque police during an altercation. Just last week the officers involved in the incident were cleared of any wrongdoing by a Galveston County grand Jury.

This will likely continue to be a hot topic in the years to come with strong convictions guiding each side of the issue.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Actos and Avandia(2)

Ashley Davis — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:13:44 GMT

The FDA has recently announced that there will now be a “Black Box” warning on the Type 2 diabetes medications Actos and Avandia due to their connection to increased risks of heart attacks and heart-related deaths. If you have taken or been prescribed Avandia or Actos, you may be at risk.

Type 2 diabetes is a very serious and potentially life threatening disease which affects about 18-20 million Ameicans. It is also the leading cause of coronary heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputation.

The increased warning advises health care professionals to be more cautious in checking for signs of heart failure in their type 2 patients who have taken Avandia or Actos. Negative side effects associated with these drugs are:

Excessive, rapid weight gain
Shortness of breath
Swelling of the extremeties or organs

If you or someone you know has taken Avandia or Actos and are experiencing any of these symptoms, then contact your physician immediately and be aware of the risks.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Ashley Davis

Feeding Tube Error May Have Caused Patient’s Death

Scott Kappes — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:40:37 GMT

The family of Elbert Eugene “Gene” Riggs Jr. has filed a lawsuit against the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio where an improperly inserted feeding tube allegedly directly lead to Riggs death. The feeding tube was mistakenly inserted to into Riggs’ right lung rather than his stomach, where it continued to feed and fill his lung for several hours before the mistake was discovered.

After the mistake was discovered by an X-ray, the doctor failed to correct the problem in time, according to the lawsuit filed on behalf of Riggs.

Government attorneys representing BAMC admit that the feeding tube was misplaced upon initial insertion, but deny that the error contributed to Riggs’ death in a written response to the lawsuit. Instead, government attorneys claim that Riggs died as a result of underlying health problems, including chronic leukemia.

Gene Riggs died on September 19, 2006 just five days short of he and his wife Tinie’s 57^th wedding anniversary.

Tinie Riggs said she is suing the government out of principle — by law, you cannot sue individual military hospitals or military doctors — not just money, although she could win around $1.7 million for wrongful death and up to $250,000 for noneconomic losses.

“I'm doing this because the system if broken,” she said. “The system is broken, and it's time to fix it.”

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Eyelash Thickener Gets Warning From FDA Over Misleading Website

Scott Kappes — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:47:55 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to Allergan Inc., the makers of the eye lash thickener Latisse, claiming that the Latisse website downplays the risks associated with the product.

In a letter dated September 10 the FDA said that the Latisse site did not display adequate warnings about potential side effects associated with Latisse. According to the letter the website either failed to mention or displayed potential side effects in small text that does not attract the same attention as the text highlighting the product’s efficacy.

Potential side effects of Latisse include bacterial eye infection, allergic reactions, excess hair growth outside intended treatment area, and permanent changes in eyelid and iris pigmentation.

Latisse was approved last December by the FDA to make eyelashes fuller, thicker, and darker.

The FDA ordered Allergan to immediately discontinue distribution of “misleading” marketing materials and send an written response to the FDA by the September 24.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

First Yamaha Rhino Rollover Trial Underway

Scott Kappes — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:21:27 GMT

A Texas jury has been given the task the of determining whether Yamaha Motor Co. is responsible for damages caused by their allegedly defective Rhino ATV. The jury’s decision will have monumental ramification that will echo throughout the nation and set a precedent that may be cited in future similar cases.

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed on behalf of individuals that have been injured while using the Yamaha Rhino ATV. The lawsuits claim that the Yamaha Rhino’s design is flawed and makes the Rhino more susceptible to roll-over accidents than other similar vehicles.

The landmark trial which, began last week, involves the death of a 13-year-old boy, Forest “Eddie” Ray, who was tragically while operating a Yamaha Rhino ATV.

The lawsuit alleges that Yamaha chose to skimp on the cost of producing the vehicle and these money saving choice resulted in a defective and dangerous product being sold to the public. Specifically the lawsuit claims that Yamaha failed to equip the Rhino with a rear differential that would have made the vehicle much safer.

The plaintiffs argue that the presence of a rear differential would have prevented the ATV from rolling over when Ray made a turn from grass onto a paved road; however, according to testimony of a Yamaha engineer the Rhino is designed be an “exclusively off-road vehicle.”

The defense also argues that the 13-year-old was left unsupervised and was not wearing a helmet or a seatbelt at the time the accident occurred. Yamaha claims that the Rhino is intended for use only by drivers 16 and older and that drivers and occupants are always encouraged to wear safety belts and protective gear.

Yamaha contends that the Rhino met all safety standards, and in fact had been delayed from the market to ensure that these standards were met.

It will be very interesting to see where the jury comes out on this case. They will undoubtedly be faced with difficult decisions that will take careful deliberation, and hopefully in the end justice will be served.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

15 Hospitalized In Metro Bus Accident

Scott Kappes — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:08:02 GMT

This morning 15 people were taken to the hospital after a Houston Metro bus collided with a minivan in Midtown. After the initial collision the bus veered off of the road and into a car dealership’s storage lot, causing damage to as many as 12 luxury automobiles. The accident occurred just after 8am when the minivan allegedly ran a stop sign and was struck by the passing metro bus.

The bus was carrying 25 passengers as it headed north on San Jacinto, toward downtown, said Metro spokeswoman Raequel Roberts.

The damage to the cars at Advantage BMW could be very costly, with most of the vehicles being BMW’s in the 300 and 500 series. A witness said that the sticker on at least one of the vehicles was $75,000.

Currently there is no word on the extent of the injuries of those taken to various hospitals.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes

Homeland Security Report Criticizes FEMA Over Response to Formaldehyde Complaints

Scott Kappes — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:13:57 GMT

According to a Homeland Security Department report FEMA took too long to respond to initial reports of dangerous levels of formaldehyde in trailers used to house victims of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in 2005. The report claims that FEMA “did not display ungency” to the problem that may have posed “a significant health risk” to the inhabitants of trailers.

A total of about 203,000 travel trailers and mobile homes to temporarily house some 700,000 people that were displaced by the vicious hurricanes of 2005.

Most of those that were living the trailers have since moved out; however, about 3,000 units still serve as a primary home for some hurricane victims in Mississippi and Louisiana.

According to the report approximately one in every three temporary housing units had “significant potential formaldehyde problems.”

Clark Stevens, a FEMA spokesman, said the agency agreed with the findings. He said FEMA "has already made great progress" to ensure its trailers and mobile homes were safe.

"When they (FEMA officials) did learn of the formaldehyde problems, nearly a year passed before any testing program was started and nearly two years passed before occupied trailers were tested and the occupants were informed of the extent of formaldehyde problems and potential health threats," the report said.

See the full report from the Homeland Security Department inspector general click here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Scott Kappes