Ryan Lutz February 5th, 2009
C.B. Fleet has recalled its Phospho-soda® laxative that it has aggressively promoted since the early 1990s as a safe bowel cleanser for colonoscopy and medical procedure preparation. Phospho-soda® is an over the counter saline laxative consisting mostly of monobasic sodium phosphate monohydrate and dibasic sodium phosphate heptahydrate. It is often taken to prepare for colonoscopy.
Fleet® Phospho-soda® works by drawing liquid from the body into the colon; therefore it can cause severe dehydration that can lead to kidney damage. Phospho-soda® should be used only under the direction of a physician. Since 2004, there have been close to 200 individual lawsuits filed against CB Fleet across the United States. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege that they have suffered kidney failure, chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease as a direct result of using Fleet® Phospho-Soda® in a dose recommended by Fleet as “safe”.
Medical research suggests that the incident rate of kidney failure associated with the use of oral sodium phosphates, such as Phospho-Soda® is 1 in 1000. The kidney damage caused by Phospho-soda is often called Acute Phosphate Nephropathy, Acute Renal Failure, Chronic Renal Failure, or Acute Nephrocalcinosis.
If you or a loved one have suffered kidney disease or kidney damage that developed after taking Fleet® Phospho-soda® as a bowel cleanser in preparation for a colonoscopy or surgery, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injury. Call one of our Fleet® Phospho-soda® lawyers today. We want to help.
Kristian Rasmussen February 4th, 2009
Cory Watson Crowder and DeGaris is representing Chantix victims and their families. Chantix victims or their survivors are suing Pfizer, the drug company that makes Chantix® (varenicline) . Chantix , a smoking cessation drug, is blamed for suicide and other serious side effects and the FDA has alerted the public to potential side effects of the drug. On February 1, 2008, under increasing pressure from the FDA, Pfizer amended the information contained in the drug label and package insert for patients to include stronger warnings for these serious adverse events. Contemporaneous with the February 1, 2008 label change, the FDA issued a Public Health Advisory alerting health care providers, patients, and caregivers to new safety warnings “related to changes in behavior, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal ideation, and actual suicidal behavior.” For more information please contact attorney Kristian Rasmussen by email (Krasmussen@cwcd.com) or calling (205) 328-2200; toll free 1-800-852-6299
mmccraney February 1st, 2009
To the extent the State Bar rules require us to designate a principal office and/or single attorney responsible for this site, Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris, P.C., designates Hirlye R. “Ryan” Lutz, III as the attorney responsible for this site. He is located at 2131 Magnolia Avenue, Suite 200, Birmingham, Alabama 35205.
Alabama: No representation is made that the quality of legal service to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers
Stephen Hunt January 28th, 2009
The FDA reports that the makers of Plavix (Clopidogrel busulfate) have agreed to work with FDA to investigate how genetic factors and the use of other drugs ( especially the proton pump inhibitors-PPIs) may impact the effectiveness of Plavix. FDA is recommending that: Healthcare providers should continue to prescribe and patients should continue to take clopidogrel as directed, because clopidogrel has demonstrated benefits in preventing blood clots that could lead to a heart attack or stroke. Healthcare providers should re-evaluate the need for starting or continuing treatment with a PPI, including Prilosec OTC, in patients taking clopidogrel. Patients taking clopidogrel should consult with their healthcare provider if they are currently taking or considering taking a PPI, including Prilosec OTC
Details :available at :http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2009/safety09.htm#plavix . Attorneys at Cory Watson Crowder and DeGaris are interested in talking with patients who have concerns about the effectiveness of Plavix. Please contact Stephen Hunt at shunt@cwcd.com or 800-852-6299.
Kristian Rasmussen January 28th, 2009
Attorneys Kristian Rasmussen and Beth Ellis Chambers of Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris have been investigating claims on behalf of Chantix victims for more than a year now. “Pfizer requested and received an ‘expedited’ review from the FDA in an effort to rush the drug onto the open market. Based on our investigation and review of information available to the public, we believe Chantix was rushed to market before it was adequately studied, placing consumers at significant risk of serious injury,” said Rasmussen who continued,. “ Pfizer should feature a guinea pig instead of a tortoise in its advertisements for Chantix.”. The FDA has already required Pfizer to strengthen the information contained in the drug label and the Federal government banned the use of Chantix by pilots and air traffic controllers. The new ISMP report urges the FDA and Pfizer to add a prominent warning about accident risks to the patient medication guide and prescribing information for doctors.
“The public needs to know all of the risks and benefits associated with using a drug like Chantix .We encourage the FDA to take a closer look what’s going on” said Rasmussen who said his firm represents more than 300 Chantix victims after investigating claims from more than 2,300 individuals with inquiries about potential Chantix related injuries.
Kristian Rasmussen January 27th, 2009
Law firm Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris is urging pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. to strengthen its public warnings about potentially serious or fatal injuries that may be caused by its smoking cessation drug Chantix . On October 22, 2008 the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) released the results of an analysis performed by independent experts of adverse event reports. According to the ISMP report, Chantix accounted for more serious injuries being reported to the FDA than any other prescription drug for a second consecutive quarter. Specifically, the report says Chantix accounted for more serious injuries than all of the top ten prescription drugs combined during the first quarter of 2008, including 50 additional deaths reported.
Kristian Rasmussen January 26th, 2009
A lawsuit filed against Pfizer, Inc. charges the drugmaker failed to warn an Indiana man of potentially devastating side effects when he began taking Chantix in October 2007. The man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in January, 2008. Less than a month after the Plaintiff committed suicide, Pfizer modified the package insert on Chantix to recommend that all patients being treated with Chantix “be observed for neuropsychiatric symptoms including …suicidal ideation and suicidal behavior.” “Pfizer’s action was too little too late” said attorney Kristian Rasmussen who is representing the man’s family. The lawsuit accuses Pfizer of putting profits before patient safety and claims Pfizer failed to report suspected side effects for fear the warnings would cut into sales and profits . For more information about lawsuits stemming from Chantix side effects, please contact attorney Kristian Rasmussen by email (Krasmussen@cwcd.com) or calltoll free 1-800-852-6299.
Kristian Rasmussen January 23rd, 2009
(Birmingham, AL) A lawsuit charges pharmaceutical giant Pfizer was motivated by greed when it failed to warn the public of potentially deadly side-effects associated with its popular smoking cessation drug varenicline which is marketed under the trade name Chantix. The suit, brought by the widow of an Indiana man, alleges the decedent committed suicide after using Chantix as prescribed. The victim’s death occurred only a few days before the information contained in the drug label and package insert for patients was amended to include warnings for the increased risk of experiencing suicide and similar tragedies. Further, the widow blames Pfizer in the lawsuit by identifying many specific instances of bad conduct, and suggests that Pfizer pursued profit over patient safety. “This man’s death was a direct result of taking the drug Chantix”, said Kristian Rasmussen, a veteran pharmaceutical litigation attorney . Rasmussen and Elizabeth Ellis Chambers of Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris a are representing the victim’s widow.
Kristian Rasmussen January 22nd, 2009
The magnitude of the health risks associated with Chantix, Pfizer Inc.’s smoking cessation drug is alarming. The evidence is clear and proves:Pfizer rushed the drug Chantix onto the open market without performing adequate studies.
The magnitude of the safety risk is alarming both in terms of the high number and the severe nature of the injuries caused by Chantix. Cory Watson Crowder and DeGaris is representing more than 360 Chantix victims or families of victims who suffered devastating side effects including suicide, suicide ideation, SJS and other serious injuries. For more information please contact attorney Kristian Rasmussen by email (Krasmussen@cwcd.com) or call toll free 1-800-852-6299.
Kristian Rasmussen January 16th, 2009
Kristian Rasmussen, a veteran pharmaceutical litigation attorney with the law firm Cory Watson Crowder & DeGaris said, “The magnitude of the health risks associated with Chantix is alarming – we are trying to determine whether the drug maker, Pfizer, failed to disclose information it may have had about adverse side effects.” Rasmussen said his team, that includes pharmaceutical and medical experts along with attorneys, has been investigating reports of devastating side effects for more than a year. “What we are finding is that the magnitude of the safety signal associated with using Chantix is alarming both in terms of severity of injury and the number of different serious reactions,” said Rasmussen. For more information please contact attorney Kristian Rasmussen by email (Krasmussen@cwcd.com) or calltoll free 1-800-852-6299.