Erectile Dysfunction Medications Linked to Blindness

Erectile dysfunction drugs have become big sellers since the first one, Viagra, was approved in 1998.  Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are enormous money makers for the drug companies that manufacture them.  What many people may not realize is that Dr. Howard Pomeranz, a neuroopthalmologist and associate professor at  Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in New York is speaking out about the drugs’ side effects of blindness.  Dr. Pomeranz has been letting the public know that he had a patient who used the drug and found that within an hour he was did not have vision in one of his eyes and that he has been hearing of similar patient cases and published reports of people experiencing blindness after Viagra back in 2005.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) became involved and warnings were put on labels for Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, while at the same time the drug companies downplayed the risk of permanent vision loss from the optic nerve having its blood flow shut off.  The official name for the disease is anterior ischemic optic neuropathy and it had always been linked to diseases in the body that compromised circulation, such as blood pressure problems, diabetes, and other issues.  Dr. Pomeranz reports that the FDA then required that the three major manufacturers of the drugs do in depth studies, but as of 2017 only Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, had complied.  That Pfizer study proved that those taking Viagra were at risk of developing ischemic optic neuropathy within 24 hours of taking the drug or other such erectile dysfunction drugs, which was two times the risk of those not taking these drugs.  Pfizer did update its labels but still contends that it is really not scientifically possible to state that the blindness is caused by the erectile dysfunction drugs versus other reasons and conditions, but Dr. Pomeranz contends that this eye disease is likely greatly under reported beyond the 40 or so cases Pfizer reports and the hundreds of cases on the FDA reporting database, so he is getting the word out to his fellow ophthalmologists since they are not the doctors who prescribe the drugs.  While Dr. Pomeranz does not say that patients should not use the erectile dysfunction drugs, he is contending that it is very necessary for patients and medical providers to know the risks and weigh them against the benefits.  

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a problem related to erectile dysfunction drugs, or any medical device, drug, or other product, consult your medical provider and please contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your possible claim and entitlement to compensation for your damages.     

Monsanto’s Roundup Weed Killer Danger Assertions

Monsanto, the maker of Roundup Weed Killer is in a fight regarding its use of glyphosate in its products after the California EPA is pushing and moving forward to declare the ingredient a carcinogen.  After 40 years of Monsanto marketing the product as being just as “safer than table salt” and stronger than the possibility of weeds developing resistance to it, the ingredient is showing up in foods and California wines.  Both of Monsanto’s claims have been proven untrue but the manufacturing giant keeps fighting and pushing the ingredient as good.  The more the weeds resist the pesticide product, the more pesticides are needed in a never-ending circular problem that makes big bucks for Monsanto.  Monsanto tried to get the Courts to accept its argument that it’s not lawful for the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer having any say in our Courts since it’s not elected in the United States and a foreign body.  The Courts shot that argument down and the fight continues.  Meanwhile, even organic brands of food are finding traces of the possible carcinogen, glyphosate in their products.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a product such as Monsanto’s Roundup Weed Killer, consult your medical provider and please contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your possible claim and entitlement to compensation for your damages.

Zimmer Biomet Class I Recall of Shoulder Replacement Systems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes that a Class I recall has been issued on the  Zimmer Biomet Comprehensive Reverse Shoulder with a product description of Comprehensive Reverse Shoulder System Humeral Tray Model 115340 distributed between October of 2008 and September of 2015.  The shoulder replacement systems are reported to have high fracture rates after being implanted for patients with rotator cuff tears with severe shoulder arthropathy.  The fractures that can occur with the product can cause the need for revision surgeries, permanent loss of shoulder function, infection, or even death in rare instances.  For contacts about the risks of your shoulder replacement system, consumers and medical providers can call (574)371-3071 or e-mail corporatequality.postmarket@zimmerbiomet.com.  Problems can be reported to the FDA at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/index.cfm.  

If you or a loved one has been injured by a recalled Zimmer Biomet product, or any medical device, drug, or other product, consult your medical provider and please contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your possible claim and entitlement to compensation for your damages.    

Livly Children’s Sleepwear Recall

Livly Clothing has recalled children’s sleepwear sets consisting of a top and bottom, as well as their long sleeve robes.  The pajama sets have a sewn label that says  “LIVLY, www.livlyclothing.com” and RN number 146214 on that label.  The robe has a chest pocket with the work “Mini” on it and a fabric label with “LIVLY” on the inside of the robe.  

The reason for the Livly recall is failure to meet flammability standards set by the federal government, so there is a possibly of burn risk to children wearing the pajamas or robes.  Livly is offering refunds for the products at www.livlyclothing.com or 844-350-7728.   

If your child has received a burn injury due to the flammable pajama sets or robes of Livly Clothing, consult your medical provider and contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, personal injury attorneys to discuss your possible injury claim.  For a refund on the product recall, which is the more likely scenario with this product recall, ask for a full refund as explained above.   

Oball Rattle Recall for Choking Hazard

Parents of little ones check your baby’s toy collection to see if your child plays with an  Oball Rattle manufactured by Kids II Canada Co.  Although the company is Canadian, the rattles are sold in the United States, and in fact, there have been a minimum of 42 incidents reported in the United States with the rattles.  The problem is that the plastic disc can break and children can chock on small beads contained within.  There were 680,000 of these rattles sold in the United States between January of 2016 and February of 2017.  It has been instructed that consumers immediately take these Oball Rattles away from their children and contact the company for a full refund.  The website link is http://www.kidsii.com/customer-service/recalls and the phone number is (800) 230-8190.  

If your child has been injured by the Oball Rattle, consult your medical provider and contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, personal injury attorneys to discuss your possible injury claim.  For a refund on the product recall, which is the more likely scenario with this product recall, ask for a full refund as explained above.  Be sure to heed the company’s advice to immediately take this rattle away from your little one to be safe.  

XBox One Batter Charger Burn Hazards

Here’s a product that many of you out there are likely to have:  an XBOX.  If so, be aware that there is a recall on the Energizer XBOX ONE 2X Smart Chargers that are needed to charge the video game controllers for the XBOX ONE.  The black chargers pose the risk of overheating and damaging the XBOX ONE controller and burning the gamer using them.  There has been a minimum of 24 reports of deformed plastic covers from overheating and melting, as well as 6 reports of a burning smell coming from the chargers.  The risk is certainly there with such issues for burns or fires.  Consumers have been instructed to stop using the battery chargers altogether and are being offered a refund.  The subject chargers were sold at Best Buy, GameStop, and Amazon from February of 2016 to February of 2017.  The website to check is www.pdp.com and the phone number is 800-263-1156.   

If you or a loved one has already experienced injuries and damages due to an Energizer XBOX ONE 2X Smart Charger, consult your medical provider and contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, personal injury attorneys to discuss your possible injury claim.  For a refund on the product recall, which is the more likely scenario with this product recall, ask for a full refund as explained above.