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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.   

Yankee Candle Recall

The popular Yankee Candle company and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have put out a joint statement regarding a recall for a line of Yankee Candle’s Luminous Collection, their newest line of candles.  There is a risk of consumers is apparently one of receiving a laceration injury due to the jars cracking when the candle is lit and heats up.  The affected candles include Yankee Candle’s Sea Salt & Coral, Blackberry & Sage, Apple Blossom & Melon, Sugarcane & Honey, Pine & Sandalwood, and Cinnamon & Cedar Luminous candles.  The company has instructed consumers to take their candles to their local Yankee Candle store for a full refund, and a free candle of your choice!

If you or a loved one has already experienced injuries from a Yankee Candle product, 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.

Breast Implants & Possible Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Back in 2011 the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced a possible link of breast implants to anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.  Since that time, the World Health Organization has come out and concurred with he findings and research and data has continued.  Women who have had breast implants run the risk of developing a rare T-cell lymphoma and it is thought that the breast implants with textured surfaces have had a higher occurrence of the problem than those with smooth surfaces.  Since there is still not definitive knowledge on this subject, medical providers are receiving recommendations to monitor their patients with breast implants with routine care and support with awareness of the risk that appears to still be rare at the present time.  It is also recommended that consumers do their research prior to making the decision to undergo breast implant surgery, and for those individuals who opt to have it, it is important to follow medical instructions to the letter on how to monitor breast implants and notice any changes.  It is vital at this point that all cases of ALCL be reported so that governing medical bodies, researchers, medical providers, and makers of breast implants can stay abreast of the risks and developments of problems. 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a problem related to breast implants, 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.     

Polaris Sportsman 850 & 1000 ATV Recalls

Polaris has announced recalls involving its all-terrain vehicle models Sportsman 850 and Sportsman 1000 due to burn and fire hazards.  Both models run the risk that the right-side panel heat shield will melt, which could lead to fire risks and burns to riders.  The Sportsman 1000 model also poses the risk of exhaust leaks, fire risks, and burn injuries due to its exhaust springs at times stretching the exhaust seal.  Polaris has received complaints of a minimum of 793 problems with the ATV’s, with reports of warping, melting, and burned side panels, as well as 47 fires, and 4 burn injuries.  The recalled models come from 2015 and 2016, so it is vital to check the Polaris website at http://www.polaris.com/en-us/rider-support/off-road-recalls to enter a vehicle identification number, or call the company at 800-765-2747.     

If you or a loved one has already been injured due to problems with a Polaris Sportsman ATV, consult your medical provider and contact Inserra Kelley Sewell, personal injury attorneys to discuss your possible injury claim.     

Abilify and Impulse Control Like Gambling Addiction

The latest drug linked to problems for patient consumers is Aripiprazole, and anti-psychotic medication better known under the names of Abilify, Abilify Maintena, and Aristada.  The  U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come out with a warning that people taking the above drugs have had impulse-control issues, such as out-of-control desires for sex, shopping, binge eating, and gambling.   To make the link stronger to these drugs, people reporting problems with uncontrollable urges in these areas have found that the urges came to an abrupt end once doses of the prescribed drugs, including Abilify, were stopped or reduced.  The FDA insisted that new warnings be added with these drugs’ labels and medication guides that compulsive behaviors have been linked to them. 

The FDA says that both patients and caregivers, who notice excessive urges, should see their healthcare providers right away so as to hopefully stop or at least lessen the consequences of such uncontrollable urges, given that urges in any areas listed can cause very harmful results.  Medical and mental health professionals should be aware of, and ready to warn about, the uncontrollable urge side effects of these drugs when prescribing for patients with conditions such as Tourette’s, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autistic related irritability.  While these drugs can decrease hallucinations and other symptoms that come with these conditions, and help with things like disorganized thinking and mood regulation, the risks of compulsive, unbridled behaviors in the areas of sex, gambling, spending, and eating might make the risks outweigh the benefits.  It is important that the risks and benefits be weighed carefully by medical providers and patients/caregivers. 

If you or a loved one has already suffered the ill effects of compulsions taking Aripiprazole under any of its brand names or generic names, consult your medical and/or mental health provider and contact  Inserra Kelley Sewell, personal injury attorneys, to discuss whether you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.