Stenger Law Firm, LLC

SSRI Drugs Linked to Birth Defects

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:20:20 +0000

Antidepressants have become a troubling subject when it comes to birth defects. Some mothers are unfortunately delivering children with birth defects connected to taking drugs called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) during their pregnancy. SSRI birth defects, including heart defects, spina bifida, club foot, and other serious birth defect injuries, are causing concern and leading to litigation filed against the makers of these dangerous drugs.

Complaints of SSRI birth defects have been identified since at least 2005 from women who took Paxil,Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Effexor, or Prozac while pregnant. SSRI drugs are generally used as antidepressants.

A New England Journal of Medicine study found that women who took SSRIs during their first trimester of pregnancy were six times more likely to deliver babies born with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN) than those who didn’t take SSRIs during their pregnancy. PPHN is a lung disorder that restricts the arteries and causes blood pressure in the pulmonary artery of the heart to rise beyond control. The following symptoms may indicate PPHN:

Heart Murmurs
Rapid Heart Rate
Bluish Skin
Low Blood Oxygen Levels
Difficulty Breathing

PPHN is a serious birth defect. Even after treatment, the baby can be susceptible to heart failure, brain hemorrhage, seizures, kidney failure, or organ damage. It can also sometimes be fatal.

Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, Effexor, and Prozac are antidepressants that have fallen under close scrutiny for use by expectant mothers. The FDA has classified these drugs as either Class C or D for the risks the present during pregnancy. These SSRIs have been used for years to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic attacks, ADHD, and some eating disorders.

The attorneys at the Stenger Law Firm, LLC have extensive experience in representing clients that have suffered injuries from SSRIs including Paxil and Zoloft, including several with birth defect injuries.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella linked to Pulmonary Embolisms

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:05:19 +0000

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have been linked to the risk of blood clots which can cause pulmonary embolism. The types of blood clots caused by Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are more formally known as thrombosis. Thrombosis is the formation or presence of a blood clot (thrombus) in a blood vessel. If the thrombus breaks loose and travels through the bloodstream, it is a thromboembolism. The clot may plug a vessel in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke), gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or leg.

Yaz and Yasmin Cases Consolidated in MDL in Southern District of Illinois

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:04:54 +0000

Today the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict litigation filed its order transferring all federal court Yaz/Yasmin lawsuits to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. MDL 2100 was assigned to Judge David R. Herndon. The pretrial proceedings for these cases will be handled under the title, IN RE: Yasmin and Yaz (Drospirenone) Marketing and Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation. The Order comes after a hearing in front of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation last week.

The cases consolidated under MDL involve allegations that Yaz, Yasmin and the generic, Ocella, are associated with increased risks of pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke, heart attack and serious gallbladder disease. The cases will be consolidated for the purposes of discovery and pretrial motions.

Yaz – Yasmin – Ocella and Stroke

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:04:22 +0000

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella have been linked to the risk of blood clots which can cause strokes. Experts believe Yaz and Yasmin have a prothombotic effect due to the progestin drospirenone or drsp. Drsp is a potassium-sparing diuretic which can cause an increase in potassium. Unsafe levels of potassium in the blood, also known as hyperkalemia, can disrupt heart rhythms and slow the flow of blood. This can lead to blood clotting.

A blood clot in a blood vessel is thrombus. If the thrombus causes a thromboembolism. The clot may plug a vessel in the lungs (Pulmonary embolism), brain (stroke), gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, or leg.

Yaz and Yasmin May Be Linked to Pancreatic Cancer

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:03:54 +0000

The birth control pills, Yaz and Yasmin that have been linked with other digestive organ problems such as gallstones, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis and kidney failure may now be linked to Pancreatic Cancer.

As of October 6, 2009 not much is known about the potential link between Yaz, Yasmin and pancreatic cancer.

More Lawsuits Filed Against Bayer Over Yaz and Yasmin

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:03:32 +0000

Bayer has been sued by two Pennsylvania pension funds and accused of misrepresenting the safety and effectiveness of the Yaz contraceptive to boost sales, according to a Bloomberg report. The lawsuit claims that Bayer unlawfully promoted Yaz and Yasmin from March 2006 to March 2009 by hiding the risks of the birth control pills. The risks that were concealed include blood clots, heart attacks, pulmonary embolisms and gallbladder disease. The complaint was filed by the Philadelphia Firefighters Union Local No. 22 Health and Welfare Fund and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, District 47 Health and Welfare Fund. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia).

Ten Lawsuits Filed Against Bayer Over Yaz and Yasmin in New Jersey

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 01:02:56 +0000

According to North Jersey.com, ten women from various states have filed lawsuits against Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceutical, Inc. of Wayne, New Jersey. The lawsuits allege that the women suffered deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism as a result of taking Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella. Like dozens of other lawsuits filed across the country, these cases allege that Bayer mislead consumers about the risks of these birth control pills.

 Bayer has confirmed that they have personal injury lawsuits pending regarding Yaz and Yasmin. According to a written statement, Bayer admitted that as of September 24, 2009 the company had been served with 74 lawsuits involving Yaz and Yasmin.

VioxxTM Jury Awards $47.5M to Idaho Couple

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:12:48 +0000

Merck & Co.’s painkiller Vioxx contributed to an Idaho postal worker’s heart attack, a jury in Atlantic City ruled Monday, reversing the verdict in the man’s first trial and hitting Merck with a total of $47.5 million in damages.

The jurors awarded the man and his wife $20 million in compensatory damages Monday morning, then late Monday hit Merck with $27.5 million in punitive damages.

If you or a family member took Vioxx TM and suffered a heart attack, stroke, embolism, or loss of a loved one, please contact us. We can help to get you the justiceyou deserve.

Take action now! Contact Stenger Law Firm, LLC

$9 Million Punitive Damages Awarded In VioxxTM Lawsuit

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:12:01 +0000

It took only 6 hours of deliberation for an eight-member New Jersey jury to find that Merk had knowingly withheld information from the Food and Drug Administration and the company’s misconduct was “wanton and willful”. They ordered the company to pay punitive damages of $9 million.

If you or a family member took Vioxx TM and suffered a heart attack, stroke, embolism, or loss of a loved one, please contact us. We can help to get you the justiceyou deserve.

Take action now! Contact Stenger Law Firm

New Jersey VioxxTM Lawsuit Verdict: $4.5 Million

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:11:15 +0000

On April 6, 2006 a jury in Atlantic City, NJ awarded John McDarby $3 million in compesatory damages and his wife Irma, $1.5 million. The jury heard the case against Merck and found that they had not properly warned patients of the dangers of its drug Vioxx TM and that it had caused Mr. McDarby to have a heart attack. Mr. McDarby had taken the drug Vioxx TM, for four years. The jury will now determine whether Merck must pay punitive damages to Mr. and Mrs. McDarby.

If you or a family member took Vioxx TM and suffered a heart attack, stroke, embolism, or loss of a loved one, please contact us. We can help to get you the justiceyou deserve.

Take action now! Contact Stenger Law Firm, LLC