DANGEROUS DRUGS

continued

Raplon: This muscular block injection was used to help intubation prior to surgery, however, it had to be withdrawn from the market after it caused a number of fatalities and serious cardio pulmonary reactions. Prior to its withdrawal Raplon was given to about a million patients.

Lotronex: This medication, used to treat irritable bowel syndrome in women, was withdrawn after reports of serious adverse effects, including multiple deaths, but it is now back on the market. An investigative article published by the Los Angeles Times in November, 2000 found that multiple patients developed potentially life threatening complications as a result of ingesting Lotronex. The FDA chose a paid consultant from Glaxo Wellcome, Lotronex’s manufacturer, to serve with an advisory committee that recommended approval of the drug. Further, the FDA permitted GlaxoWellcome to put Lotronex on the market without conducting a major new study of its link to ischemic colitis, a potentially fatal condition.

Posicor: This heart failure treatment was placed on the market despite increased numbers of sudden cardiac deaths in people using the drug. It was not withdrawn from the market until after 600,000 people had been prescribed it. Swedish authorities had taken Posicor off the market in 1997. The FDA, however, approved use of the drug, despite over 140 deaths in patients in an ongoing study. Posicor was withdrawn from the market less than one year after being FDA approved. By the time it was withdrawn reports indicated it was linked to 100 deaths, and patients who had been prescribed Posicor died at a rate of about 10% greater than those who were prescribed its competitor.

Hismanal: This antihistamine manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, was withdrawn from the market after severe cardiovascular events and potentially life threatening reactions to the drug were reported.

Hismanal has been associated with the risk of death due to irregular heart rhythms when taken in combination with other drugs.

Seldane: This commonly used prescription antihistamine, was withdrawn from the market in 1997. Even though Seldane was linked to a large number of cases of fatal or near fatal heart arrhythmias, the FDA waited to withdraw this drug until its manufacturer, Hoechst Marion Rouffel, received approval for the marketing of Allegra, a different antihistamine.

Raxar: An antibiotic used in the treatment of an estimated 2.65 million patients, was withdrawn as a result of severe cardiovascular events and deaths amongst patients. By the time of its withdrawal, this drug had generated $23 million in sales for its manufacturer Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., now known as Glaxo Smith Kline, according to an L.A. Times Article.

Given the frightening number of drugs withdrawn for safety issues, one must question the power which drug companies wield with the FDA and whether they are rushing new products to the market.

With high pressure marketing campaigns, drug companies can rack up millions in sales on drugs even if they are only on the market for a short time. However, the cost to the patients who are prescribed dangerous medications is simply too high to bear.

If you, or a family member, has been injured by a dangerous drug you can call Bonina & Bonina, P.C. for a free consultation at 1-888-MEDLAW1.

Then we asked how we could best help those who lost loved ones or were themselves injured by this heinous terrorist act.

We found a way: by volunteering with Trial Lawyers Care, Inc. This is a nonprofit corporation set up by volunteer trial lawyers across the nation to provide free representation to the victims of September 11th in their claims before the Victims Compensation Fund.

Each attorney at Bonina & Bonina, P.C. has committed to representing pro bono clients assigned through Trial Lawyers Care.

John Bonina recently had his first meeting with Special Master Feinberg on behalf of the children of a man killed in the World Trade Center attack. This claim was among the first sixteen claims being presented to the fund by Trial Lawyers Care. All of the attorneys at the firm are working hard to expedite the claims that they have been assigned.

Like all of the over 2,000 attorneys who have already volunteered with Trial Lawyers Care, our goal is simply to help the victims rebuild their lives.

We urge all members of the legal community to volunteer to help on a pro bono basis with Trial Lawyers Care, Inc. Any attorneys wishing to volunteer can contact Trial Lawyers Care at (917) 464-0105 or at www.911lawhelp.org.

Victims of the attack should not hesitate to reach out to Trial Lawyers Care for free legal help either at the above number or at the above listed website.