Defective Drug & Medical Devices

Defective drug and medical devices litigation is an area of products liability that holds pharmaceutical companies, manufacturers, and medical device distributors liable for dangerous drugs or products that result in injury, illness, or wrongful death. At Baggett McCall, LLC, we offer strategic advocacy to protect the rights of our clients and maximize compensation for losses resulting from defective drug and medical devices.

Defective drug and medical device litigation can be complex. Be careful to choose a lawyer to handle your case who has had success in all aspects of litigation, from the investigation of dangerous drugs or medical devices through assessment of damages. Contact us today for an initial consultation or case evaluation.

Ketoacidosis (Excessive Blood Acid Levels) Arising from Type 2 Diabetes Medications

 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the type 2 diabetes medicines canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin, all of which are SGLT2 Inhibitors, may lead to ketoacidosis, a serious condition where the body produces high levels of blood acids called ketones that may require hospitalization. The FDA issued the warning after receiving reports of a number of cases of acidosis reported as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), ketoacidosis, or ketosis in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors in 2013 and 2014. All patients required emergency room visits or hospitalization to treat the ketoacidosis. The FDA has continued to receive additional reports for DKA and ketoacidosis in patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors.

 

Patients should pay close attention to any signs of ketoacidosis and seek medical attention immediately if they experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, confusion, and unusual fatigue or sleepiness. Do not stop or change your diabetes medicines without first talking to your doctor. Healthcare professionals should evaluate for the presence of acidosis, including ketoacidosis, in patients experiencing these signs or symptoms; discontinue SGLT2 inhibitors if acidosis is confirmed, and take appropriate measures to correct the acidosis and monitor sugar levels.

 

SGLT2 inhibitors are a class of prescription medicines that are FDA-approved for use with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. When untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious problems, including blindness, nerve and kidney damage, and heart disease. SGLT2 inhibitors lower blood sugar by causing the kidneys to remove sugar from the body through the urine.

 

Complex defective drug and medical device litigation

If you use a pharmaceutical product that was approved by the FDA that was later found to be defective, you are generally preempted from filing a claim. This is a very difficult area of law, but our attorneys have had significant success in overcoming the challenges presented by legislation that protects pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. If you or someone you love has suffered because of a negligent drug company, please contact us immediately for a free consultation and case evaluation regarding a product recall or dangerous medical device.

defective drugs

Drugs and Devices of Potential Concern:

Elmiron: Elmiron is a drug developed and prescribed to treat interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome. This condition affects more than 12 million Americans, mostly women. It is not a cure for the illness, although it aids in relieving symptoms. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown the use of Elmiron is linked to significant visual damage including impairment, blurred vision, and even blindness. If you or a member of your family have taken Elmiron on a long-term basis and suffered some significant change in your vision, please contact us to investigate your legal rights.

BELVIQ or BELVIQ XR: Weight loss drugs
3 types of Cancers associated with this drug include Pancreatic, Lung, and Colorectal.

Zantac: Has been known to cause cancer including colon, stomach, small intestine, colorectal, esophageal, and liver. Individuals less than 60 years old have experienced pancreatic cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and multiple myeloma of the stomach, colon, intestines, or bladder cancer.

Actos: A prescription medicine used to treat type II diabetes.  When used for longer than one year, it has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Diabetes Drugs: Januvia, Byetta, Janumet, and Victoza, used in the treatment of diabetes, have been linked to pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.

Talcum Powder: Exposure has been linked to an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

If you or someone you love has been injured by any dangerous medical device or pharmaceutical drug, please Contact Baggett McCall, LLC in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for a free consultation, or call 337-478-8888 or 800-639-2524 now to speak directly with an experienced personal injury, wrongful death, defective drug, and/or defective medical device lawyer. Choose your lawyer carefully.