Zimmer Knee Replacement Recall

Atrial Septal Defects Caused by Paxil

5/19/2011

Paxil problems. Paxil, a widely distributed antidepressant, is used to help control and treat depression and other anxiety disorders. Studies have shown that children of mothers who use Paxil while pregnant, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, are at an increased risk of suffering from a Paxil birth defect. More specifically, a human fetus may be more at risk for developing an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) if exposed during the first trimester of pregnancy. ASD is only one of many side effects of Paxil that has been examined.

When a child is born with an Atrial Septal Defect, it affects the heart. This can sometimes be difficult to repair. These types of Paxil birth defects are part of a group of congenital heart diseases that require surgery to repair the holes between the chambers of the heart. There is a high success rate for repair of these Atrial Septal Defects through surgery, and generally extends the lifespan of the child. While the success rate is high for these types of surgeries, this Paxil side effectshould not be taken lightly. Early diagnosis and treatment of ASD is important. There are some symptoms of ASD to be aware of if you have used Paxil in the past. Symptoms of these side effects of Paxil include easily becoming tired or fatigued, sweating more than usual, shortness or quickness of breath, growth rate drops and respiratory infections become frequent. Some ASD conditions require open-heart surgery. Others who show no major symptoms for this side effect Paxil might not ever have to have significant treatment. If your child was born with a heart defect as a result of exposure to Paxil, you may be eligible to seek monetary compensation with a Paxil lawsuit for your child’s injuries and expenses. Contact a Paxil birth defects lawyer as soon as possible in order to fully understand all of your rights and legal options. They will be able to provide you with the assistance you may need.

Associated Birth Defects with Paxil

5/19/2011

side effects Paxil. Recently, studies have suggested birth defects from Paxil are more likely to occur in pregnant women who use the drug during the first three months of pregnancy. Two studies demonstrated the increased risk for Paxil birth defects when using Paxil during pregnancy. The results indicated that women who used the antidepressant during the first three months of pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk for giving birth to a baby with heart defects when compared to women who used other antidepressants or women in the general population. In addition to a child suffering from a Paxil birth defect, another study linked Paxil use to persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN) which is a life-threatening condition that can potentially lead to multiple organ failure or death.

In 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Paxil warning to alert users of the antidepressant about the increased risks of newborns experiencing Paxil bad side effects when exposed during the early stages of development. Studies have indicated the heart defects were in most cases atrial and ventricular septal defects. These heart defects are holes in the walls between chambers of the heart, but vary in location based on which heart defect has occurred. These particular adverse effects of Paxil range in severity. They can be minor and possibly resolved without treatment, or can be severe and require surgery to repair. PPHN is another Paxil birth defect that should be considered before using the antidepressant. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine linked Paxil to PPHN. PPHN requires quick diagnosis and treatment but may still be fatal. If a child does survive PPHN, they usually suffer from permanent damage such as hearing and speech impairment and injury to the brain. Other possible side effects of Paxil include difficulty in breathing, seizures, vomiting, low blood sugar, tremors and irritability.

If your child was born with a birth defect resulting from the use of Paxil while pregnant, consider speaking to a Paxil lawyer.

Paxil Attorney

5/19/2011

Paxil lawyers are available to represent those who have been injured from Paxil side effects as a direct result of using Paxil during pregnancy. A Paxil lawyer fully understands the defective antidepressant as well as the defective drug product liability laws. They will find the laws that are applicable to your case and determine the appropriate steps. A Paxil lawyer is trained to work with those who have fallen victim to the side effects from Paxil. These lawyers will work with you regarding your legal rights and options in filing a case.

A Paxil attorney can determine if you have a strong legal case. If so, they will help you file a Paxil lawsuit. The importance of a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, is to help a person suffering from the side effects of Paxil receive compensation for their losses and/or expenses. In order to win lawsuits against Paxil, both the plaintiff and attorney must agree the alleged injuries were caused by Paxil use, and the compensation sought is acceptable to cover the losses incurred. What often happens in Paxil lawsuits is the lawyer will attempt to prove in a court of law that the manufacturer of the antidepressant acted negligently by marketing and supplying a defective drug associated with serious side effects like those suffered by the plaintiff. If the judge or jury determines the Paxil attorney and victim proved their claims to be valid, they will then determine the amount of compensation that is owed in the Paxil settlement for related medical expenses, loss of income, psychological suffering and other related damages.

A Paxil birth defect lawyer can represent victims in two ways. An individual lawsuit or a Paxil class action suitcan be filed. While an individual suit represents one individual, a class action lawsuit represents many victims. At least 200 lawsuits have been filed because of the serious side effects of Paxil. The risks associated with Paxil may outweigh the benefits and should be seriously considered before using the antidepressant.

Topamax Information

5/17/2011

Topamax birth defects warning. Topamax, also known in its generic form as Topiramate, is a medication that is used to prevent certain seizures in those diagnosed with epilepsy as well as a preventive technique for migraine headaches. Since its distribution on the market, there have been a number of reports that mention the potential risk of Topamax side effects involving birth defects when the drug is taken during pregnancy. Since then, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has scrutinized the relationship between Topamax and pregnancy. As a result, the FDA has changed the pregnancy classification from a Pregnancy Class C category to a Pregnancy Class D category. The known side effects of pregnancy and Topamax are serious and should not be taken lightly.

Topamax medication has been widely used to treat seizures and to prevent migraine headaches. Unfortunately, Topamax birth defects are not fully understood at this point in time. Even though birth defects are not fully known, the drug is still not recommended for women who are pregnant without consulting a doctor or other healthcare professional. The FDA has issued a Topamax warning for the drug stating that when used during the first trimester of pregnancy, the fetus is at an increased risk for developing a Topamax cleft lip or cleft palate. The most serious side effect of Topamax is a cleft palate. This condition occurs when the lips and palate fail to completely fuse together during the early stages of development resulting in a life-long medical problem. This is one of the most common reasons why people file Topamax lawsuits. It is also one of the most devastating conditions for a child to experience as a result of using Topamax during pregnancy.

If your infant has been affected by these Topamax birth defects, you may be eligible to file a Topamax class action lawsuit. These life-long conditions are always expensive and put families through financial hardship that is no fault of their own. A Topamax lawsuit may be your most appropriate next step in order to recover damages caused by the manufacturer.

Warning to Those Pregnant and on Paxil

5/19/2011

Paxil problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Paxil warning to alert doctors, other healthcare professionals and patients about the results from earlier studies. The results from these studies suggested that the antidepressant increases the risk of having a child born with birth defects, specifically heart defects. These Paxil birth defects are especially prominent when women take Paxil during the first three months of pregnancy. Paxil has been approved by the FDA to treat depression as well as other psychiatric disorders. The FDA wants to better understand the chance of developing a Paxil birth defect.

Healthcare professionals and other doctors are being advised by the FDA to discuss the potential risks of having a child suffer because of birth defects from Paxil. These healthcare professionals are encouraged to especially share this Paxil warning with women who plan to become pregnant or are in their first trimester of pregnancy. Healthcare professionals are also being encouraged to discontinue the use of Paxil during pregnancy for their patients. If an antidepressant is absolutely necessary, it is advised to explore other medication options. However, there may be certain circumstances where the side effects of Paxil may be outweighed by the benefits for the mother. The ratio of risks and benefits should always be considered. Women who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant should consult their physician. Women who are pregnant on Paxil should not discontinue taking the medication without first talking to their physician. The FDA has asked the manufacturer of Paxil, GlaxoSmithKline, to change the Paxil pregnancy category to a stronger warning label. Now, the pregnancy category is classified as a D and not a C. Some of the birth defects that children may experience include Atrial Septal Defects (ASD), Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD) and Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN), all of which are devastating conditions for a child to experience.

If your child suffers from a Paxil side effect, it is recommended that you contact a Paxil birth defect lawyer. They will be able to evaluate your circumstances and let you know if you are eligible to file a Paxil lawsuit to seek monetary compensation for any loss and/or medical expenses that you may have experienced.

Birth Defects from Paxil

5/19/2011

side effects to Paxil. A Paxil warning was issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The warning advised mothers who are expecting and those who plan to become pregnant to avoid taking Paxil during pregnancy. The FDA warning for Paxil users came as a result of different data that reflected risks of Paxil birth defectsdoubled in those mothers who used the antidepressant while they were pregnant, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

The FDA Paxil warning included some of the most common birth defects from Paxil. The most common side effects of Paxil include Atrial Septal Defects (ASD) and Ventral Septal Defects (VSD). These conditions are characterized by holes in the walls between the chambers of the heart. These congenital heart defects are almost twice as likely to occur in women who took Paxil during the first trimester of pregnancy. Sometimes, the symptoms for these Paxil bad side effects can either be minor or more severe requiring surgery to repair. Not only is it dangerous to use Paxil during the early stages of pregnancy, but researchers have also found that using the antidepressant Paxil during the later stages of pregnancy increases the risk of having a child born with a Paxil birth defect. More specifically, babies exposed to Paxil during the later stages of development are at an increased risk for being born with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension (PPHN). This devastating condition affects the way the circulatory system develops after birth. This condition usually leads to severe respiratory failure, hospitalization and possibly death. There are also some other side effects from Paxil to be aware of. They include cardiomyopathy, craniosynostosis, omphalocele, club foot, spina bifida, anencephaly and hypoplastic left and right heart syndrome. The FDA’s awareness of these side effects has caused a change in the pregnancy category from C to D.

Neither the FDA nor GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil, has issued a Paxil recall even with knowledge of these side effects. If your child has suffered from a birth defect, contact a Paxil birth defects lawyer as soon as possible.

Paxil Birth Injuries Cases

5/18/2011

Paxil suit. There have been many lawsuits against Paxil for children that were born between 1992 and 2006. These Paxil lawsuits concern mothers who took the antidepressant drug Paxil during the entire pregnancy or even just part of the pregnancy. GlaxoSmithKline, the manufacturer of Paxil, introduced the new drug as an effective tool to treat depression and other anxiety disorders. While the belief was that the antidepressant drug was safe, there have been a number of reported incidents concerning the occurrence of negative side effects of Paxil. These Paxil side effects have sparked much controversy over the drug.

It is believed GlaxoSmithKline allegedly knew about the increased risk for a child being born with Paxil birth defects when a mother took the antidepressant during pregnancy. It is also believed that the manufacturer did not provide an adequate Paxil warning to users of the antidepressant, causing a number of women to have children born with the adverse effects of Paxil. There was an FDA Paxil warning issued about the dangers of using Paxil while pregnant after reviewing two studies that showed women who used Paxil within the first three months of pregnancy were at a significantly higher risk of giving birth to a child with a heart defect when compared to those who did not take Paxil during pregnancy. Paxil has been linked to side effects such as increased birth defects, lung damage, heart valve defects, persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN), atrial and ventricular valve defects (holes), abnormal cranial shaped heads, respiratory pulmonary failure and other rare birth defects. One Paxil lawsuit that was filed in Philadelphia ruled in favor of the defendant and found that GlaxoSmithKline had failed to properly warn healthcare professionals and women of the associated risks of using the antidepressant Paxil while pregnant. The Paxil birth defect lawsuit awarded $2.5 million in damages to the defendant because the child was born with side effects from Paxil in the form of heart defects after his mother took Paxil during pregnancy.

If you took Paxil during pregnancy and your child was born with a heart defect, you are encouraged to contact a Paxil birth defects lawyer.

May 2011

Current Events & Law Firm Marketing Strategy

While we strongly advocate having a detailed strategic marketing plan on which to base your marketing efforts, sometimes you have to set the plan aside and go an entirely different direction. I was reminded of this when the recent tornadoes ripped through the United States and caused so much death and destruction.

Several of our law firm clients were impacted by the tornadoes, both on a personal level and on the business side when a lack of power and dangerous road conditions temporarily shut down operations. As area businesses get back to work, it is not just business as usual. The marketing plans that many firms had in place don’t make sense in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster. It’s time to press “pause” on law firm marketing strategy and take a close look at what makes sense today. Some things to consider:

1. Get your staff involved in a community service project to assist victims. For law firms, it may make sense offer some free legal services to those impacted or to set up a temporary location near the damaged area so those in need of your services can get there. Use advertising dollars to get the word out that help is available.

2. Help to promote awareness of the issues facing victims on your social media sites and give readers a link to make donations to the American Red Cross or other worthy charity to help victims.

3. Publish articles that deal with specific issues people are facing now. This may include information on how to deal with the insurance company on a property damage claim, the types of government assistance that are available to victims or details on when and how to file for Social Security disability. Many of these folks may not have access to the Internet, so look at options for getting printed copies to them.

When people have their foundations rocked, they appreciate the assistance so many others are willing to give. And while they may not need the services of your law firm today, they will remember that you helped them in their time of need. Jeanne Frazer heads up The Expert Speakers, a group that provides marketing, management and motivational speakers, writers, coaches and mentors with expertise in all facets of marketing and management for law firms for events, seminars and workshops. Frazer is also president of vitalink® a creative + strategic marketing think tank that specializes in marketing for attorneys, law firms and legal associations. Jeanne may be reached at jfrazer@theexpertspeakers.com or 919.850.0605.