Defective & Dangerous Products

• TV Ads for Zetia and Vytorin Pulled

  Jean Martin | January 23, 2008 6:05 PM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  The makers of Vytorin and Zetia have announced that they are pulling TV ads for the drugs. The companies waited a whole week to take this action after it was reported that a study found that Zetia was not effective at reducing cholesterol and that Vytorin was no more effective than the much cheaper Zocor (Vytorin is a combination of Zetia and Zocor), and might actually be worse. The study...

• Zetia and Vytorin - What Now?

  Jean Martin | January 15, 2008 10:26 AM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  Zetia and Vytorin are not effective, and worse, may actually do more harm than good. Study results that were delayed in being publicized the reports show that while Zetia and Vytorin may slightly reduce cholesterol, they do not reduce plaque build-up in the arteries, and in some cases actually increase the production of plaque. This is not good news for the millions of people who are paying as...

• Zetia and Vytorin - That Which Does Not Kill Us Make Us Sicker?

  Jean Martin | January 15, 2008 9:38 AM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  Yesterday it was announced that, once again, new highly-touted medications are not effective, and worse, may actually do more harm than good. Results from a study regarding Zetia and Vytorin were finally released after much delay and speculation. Much to the public's chagrin, the reports are that Zetia and Vytorin may slightly reduce cholesterol, but they do not reduce plaque build-up in the...

• Defibrillator Leads Endanger Patients

  Jean Martin | January 14, 2008 1:25 PM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  Implantable defibrillators that are intended to save lives may malfunction and cause injury to the very people intended to be helped. There are increasing reports that leads used in Medtronic and St. Jude implantable defibrillators --specifically in the Medtronic Sprint Fidelis leads and St. Jude Riata lead wires-- have fractured or separated, perforating the heart walls, causing the device to...

• Modular Homes: Problems in Installation

  Matt Buckmiller | January 10, 2008 6:14 PM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  Modular homes are homes built in modules at a factory. A modular home is required to conform to all state, local, and regional codes where the home is to be placed. While most homeowners share the sentiment that there are less likely to be problems with modular homes then on-site constructed homes, nothing could be further then the truth. While in most cases, the modular home is free from...

• Federal Court Expands Scope of Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch Proceedings

  Gary Shipman | January 09, 2008 12:30 PM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  On January 8, 2008, a Federal Court judge in Rhode Island expanded the scope of the consolidated proceedings involving hernia patches manufactured by Davol/Bard to cover all Davol Marlex/Teflon products, with or without "memory recoil rings." On August 25, 2000, Davol/Bard submitted an application to the Federal Drug Administration to notify of its intent to market the Composix® E/X Mesh Patch...

• FDA Warns Doctors About Problems With Bone Drugs

  Gary Shipman | January 08, 2008 9:00 AM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  On Monday, the FDA issued a warning to doctors and patients about the possibility of debilitating bone, joint or muscle pain associated with the use of various drugs, including Fosamax, Boniva, Zometa, Reclast and Actional.The drugs that are the subject matter of the warning are known as biophosphonates, and are used to treat osteoporosis and other bone-thinning diseases. According to the FDA,...

• St. Judge Defibrillator Wire Can Puncture Heart

  Gary Shipman | November 12, 2007 6:14 PM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  While Medtronic recalled its heart defribrillator wires, reports are circulating that St. Jude defibrillator wires can puncture holes in the hearts of cardiac patients.St. Jude's line of Riata defibrillators contain wires that connect the defibrillators to a patient's heart, and when properly operating, are affixed to the heart wall and transmit an electric shock if the device senses a problem...

• Roche Drug Cellcept Increases Risk of Birth Defects

  Gary Shipman | October 30, 2007 2:35 PM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  On Monday, the Food and Drug Administration said that Cellcept, a drug manufactured by drug giant Roche Holding AG and used for certain organ-transplant patients, was "associated with increased risk" of miscarriages and birth defects.Both the FDA and Roche advised women of child-bearing age to insure that they have a negative pregnancy test before starting Cellcept, which is given to people who...

• Medtronic defibrillators contain faulty wire

  Gary Shipman | October 16, 2007 9:17 AM | 0 CommentsWilmington, NC

  Patients with a Medtronic heart defibrillator have been advised by the company to consult their doctors about a "potentially" faulty wire attached to the devices, causing potential panic among patients.On Sunday, Medtronic warned physicians to stop using the faulty wire, and by Monday, doctors office across the country were flooded with calls from their patients, who are trying to determine...