Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Makers of generic drugs who do not adequately label their products to warn consumers of possible risks are not exempt from liability, according to a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. The court ruled on a product liability lawsuit brought by Gladys Mensing, who was prescribed metoclopramide to treat diabetic gastroparesis, a debilitating condition in which the stomach empties too slowly. Following use of the medication, Mensing developed a serious movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. Research has shown that the condition can be caused by long-term use of metoclopramide. Mensing sued several makers of generic metoclopramide, known by the brand name Reglan, for not adequately warning consumers of the risk of developing the movement disorder.

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The Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign Organization has released a video to help raise awareness of the seriousness of the condition in which the stomach takes too long to digest food. The video, called The Faces of Gastroparesis 2009, can be seen on YouTube, and here:

People of all ages, shapes and sizes suffer from gastroparesis. The National Institutes of Health estimates as many as 10 million people are living with gastroparesis. Because of the lack of medical education and improper diagnosis, many more may be suffering in silence. Symptoms include abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting and can result in dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and malnutrition.

Treatments include medication, such as Reglan (metoclopramide), and surgery. Those with gastroparesis suffered yet another blow this year when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning on Reglan after numerous cases of a serious movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia were reported in patients who took Reglan. Long-term users were as much as 20 percent at risk of developing the condition.

Because treatments offer only temporary benefits to patients, activists groups such as the Gastroparesis Awareness Campaign Organization are working to raise awareness in hopes of finding better, safer treatments and, eventually, a cure.

Millions of people turn to medication to treat the annoying and painful symptoms of heartburn. But doctors say that people who use medications to treat their symptoms should use them with caution and limit use if at all possible.

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Last month, a 12-year-old girl’s mysterious sneezing illness promoted a flurry of attention after her story was told on MSNBC’s Today show. Lauren Johnson sneezes 10 times a minute – up to 12,000 of times a day – and doctors have no clue why. Weeks later she was diagnosed with Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptoccus, or PANDAS. Her parents say that antibiotics have improved her disorder, but that she is at risk of showing symptoms again in the future.

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