News Tagged ‘lawsuits

Two more lawsuits filed against makers of heartburn drug Reglan

judge gavelTwo more lawsuits have been filed in federal court in New Orleans against the manufacturers of an acid reflux medication that allegedly causes a debilitating involuntary movement disorder known as tardive dyskinesia. Ellen Austin filed a suit against Actavis, Actavis Elizabeth and Watson Pharmaceuticals. Leslie Keeper filed suit against Qualitest Pharmaceuticals. Both lawsuits claim the drug Reglan, also known as the generic metoclopramide, caused them to develop the movement disorder.

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Reglan (metoclopramide) jury trial to begin next week

Metoclopramide2 150x150 Reglan (metoclopramide) jury trial to begin next weekAn Atlanta woman is suing Pliva, Inc., makers of the prescription heartburn medication metoclopramide, alleging that the drug company failed to adequately warn physicians of the long-term risks involved with taking . Susan Swicegood says caused her to suffer from a debilitating neurological disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia, which involves involuntary muscular movements. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, and will be heard by a jury next week.

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Man suffers permanent disability from heartburn drug

heartburn 150x150 Man suffers permanent disability from heartburn drugWhen 57-year-old August Macaluso, a former nuclear-plant maintenance worker in Charlotte, N.C., began shaking violently, blinking incessantly and slurring his speech, he and his wife Sharon were both puzzled. Desperate for answers, Sharon Googled his symptoms and learned that the drug her husband had been taking for just three months was linked to the involuntary movement disorder Tardive Dyskinesia with frighteningly similar symptoms. He stopped taking the drug and after a battery of medical tests, doctors confirmed the Macalusoes’ worst fears. August had suffered permanent damage.

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Supreme Court considers whether generic Reglan makers can be sued

judge gavelThe U.S. Supreme Court this week asked the Obama administration to comment on whether it believes generic drug companies can be sued over allegations that they inadequately labeled their products. The question arose after an appeals court reinstated a lawsuit by a woman who claimed she developed a severe neurological movement disorder after taking generic versions of the heartburn drug Reglan (metoclopramide). The lawsuit had been previously dismissed by a trial judge.

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Generic Reglan makers released from Tardive Dyskinesia lawsuit

20071012 generic drugs 18 150x150 Generic Reglan makers released from Tardive Dyskinesia lawsuitWyeth, Inc. and Schwarz Pharma Inc. have been dismissed from a lawsuit filed in Texas involving the drug company’s Reglan (metoclopramide), a medicine used to treat gastrointestinal conditions. The lawsuit alleged that the drug caused the plaintiff to develop a severe movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. However, the case will proceed against Activis-Elizabeth, L.L.C., makers of a generic version of that the plaintiff was taking.

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New Jersey judge calls for consolidation of Reglan lawsuits

judge gavelA New Jersey judge is calling for a statewide consolidation of all lawsuits filed against the makers of the heartburn medication Reglan that involve claims that the drug caused a serious and debilitating movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. Judge Eugene J. Codey, Jr., of the Essex County Superior Court, filed the request arguing that the New Jersey court system could better handle the mounting number of lawsuits if they were all centralized in one court. The primary defendant in the lawsuits, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, is headquartered in New Jersey.

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Few resources available for those with Tardive Dyskinesia

nec logo8.30.05 150x79 Few resources available for those with Tardive DyskinesiaPeople with movement disorders that are inherited or caused by infection or other occurrences, such as Parkinson’s disease, have a bevy of resources available. But for those whose debilitating condition came as a result of medication have little support. The National Empowerment Center, an organization dedicated to those with mental illness, is raising awareness and educating the public about such conditions in hopes to change that trend.

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Metoclopramide can diminish quality of life

metoclopramide 150x150 Metoclopramide can diminish quality of lifeThe medication metoclopramide, used in the treatment of some gastrointestional conditions, has received much press lately. Earlier this year the drug fell under a by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after studies showed that patients who took the prescription medication were at high risk of experiencing involuntary movements of their face, hands and torso. The condition, known as Tardive Dyskinesia, is a debilitating disorder that often doesn’t go away even after the offending medication has been discontinued. The result has been measured in countless lawsuits against manufacturers of .

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Are Baby Jessica’s head jerks a side effect of Reglan?

Are little Jessica’s sudden head jerks a side effect of the heartburn drug Reglan? It’s a question posed along with a video of the toddler by Fiestagrill on YouTube.

, also known as metoclopramide, is generally prescribed to treat diabetic gastroparesis in adults and gastroesophafeal reflux in adults and children. Recent clinical studies have shown that it is safe for the treatment of morning sickness in women who are pregnant. However, a recent FDA warning has made people like Fiestagrill question whether the medication is causing serious injury to babies as well as children.

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Supreme Court ruling could cost pharmaceutical industry ‘billions’

hand holding pills 150x150 Supreme Court ruling could cost pharmaceutical industry ‘billions’Last March, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a $6.7 million ruling stating that federal law cannot protect pharmaceutical companies from liability lawsuits that are filed in state court, meaning drug companies are responsible for damages created by products even when the FDA has approved drug labels that include warnings of side effects. That ruling is based on a lawsuit involving Wyeth Pharmaceutical drug Phenergan. As a result of the ruling, numerous lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies that had been lying dormant are finally beginning to move toward trial, according to Bloomberg.

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