Tylenol Liver Damage Allegations Lawyer Help: Resource4thePeople Reports Judge Outlines Procedures for Bellwether Trials
San Diego, Ca (PRWEB) November 01, 2013 -- http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/acetaminophen.html
Resource4thePeople today announced the latest developments that may be of interest to consumers following the litigation involving allegations that Tylenol (acetaminophen) products and other acetaminophens may cause liver damage.
There is currently a multidistrict litigation* involving Tylenol lawsuits in which federal cases from across the country involving similar allegations that the medication can cause life-threatening liver damage have been assigned to a single judge in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The judge, Lawrence F. Stengel, has now issued a case management order** in the litigation outlining the selection process for bellwether trials that will be chosen in 2014.
“This is an important step forward in the progress of consolidated federal lawsuits from consumers who are alleging that the use of Tylenol and other acetaminophen products can cause severe liver damage and even death,” said Resource4thePeople.
“As these cases move forward we are reassuring consumers of the continuation of our policy of offering free consultations involving such allegations over their eligibility to seek financial compensation in such cases.”
According to the latest statistics*** provided by the U.S. District Panel on Multidistrict Litigation there were at least 88 Tylenol liver damage lawsuits being overseen by Judge Stengel. The latest reporting period ended Oct. 17, 2013.
“These figures are an increase over the last reporting period and the fact that the judge is in the process of selecting bellwether trials does not in any way affect the legal rights of other consumers affected by these allegations to come forward and file their own individual lawsuit,” said Resource4thePeople.
Most of the lawsuits alleging links between Tylenol and severe liver damage were filed after a June 24, 2009 safety communication**** (updated on April 11, 2013) was issued by the Food and Drug Administration warning that acetaminophen, when taken in doses stronger than the recommended amount, can cause life-threatening health problems.
The FDA said it issued the warning after an advisory committee of medical experts and physicians met to address the problem of liver injury related to the use of acetaminophen in both over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription products.
The FDA said acetaminophen is the generic name of a drug found in many common brand name OTC products such as Tylenol, as well as prescription products such as Vicodin and Percocet.
“Acetaminophen is an important drug, and its effectiveness in relieving pain and fever is widely known,” said the FDA. “This drug is generally considered safe when used according to the directions on its labeling. But taking more than the recommended amount can cause liver damage, ranging from abnormalities in liver function blood tests, to acute liver failure, and even death.”
Resource4thePeople notes that the allegations contained in the consolidated federal lawsuits claiming that the use of Tylenol products may cause liver damage are similar to the warning raised in the FDA health advisory.
"Many consumers are unaware of the possible side effects from the use of the popular pain-killer Tylenol, as evidenced by the allegations made in a multidistrict litigation now pending in federal court," said Resource4thePeople.
Meanwhile, the manufacturer’s web site***** has been updated to reflect the possibility that consumers who have been using the popular Tylenol line of painkillers may have been exposed to the possibility of overdoses that could have led to liver damage.
There are also new dosage instructions on the site in which the manufacturers say they are “taking new steps to reduce the potential for accidental overdose of acetaminophen—the active ingredient in TYLENOL® products — and to help ensure that people who use TYLENOL® Brand, and other products containing acetaminophen, use them appropriately.”
“These are encouraging steps toward informing the public about dangers of overdosing acetaminophen and developing life-threatening liver damage that have been alleged in Tylenol liver damage lawsuits,” said Resource4thePeople.
On its web site, Tylenol is making the following dosage recommendation changes:
• Reducing the maximum daily dose from 8 pills (4,000 mg) per day to 6 pills (3,000 mg) per day
• Changing the dosing interval from every 4-6 hours to every 6 hours.
Resource4thePeople is encouraging all consumers who may be considering using Tylenol or any other acetaminophen-based pain killer to strictly follow dosing recommendations and familiarize themselves with any dangerous side effects these medications may cause.
The web site posting also contains the following warning:
“Some people accidentally exceed the recommended dose when taking multiple products at the same time, often without realizing they contain acetaminophen or by not reading and following the dosing instructions. Acetaminophen –the active ingredient in TYLENOL® products–is safe when used as directed, but when taken in overdose amounts, it can cause liver damage.”
The new dosage instructions are part of a nationwide campaign the popular painkiller's manufacturer has undertaken to inform consumers that taking too much of the medication can cause liver damage problems that may prove fatal.******
As part of the plan, reports the Associated Press in an Aug. 29, 2013******* story published in the New York Daily News, there will soon be red warnings on Tylenol products alerting users to the potentially fatal risks of taking too much of the popular pain reliever.
"The unusual step, disclosed by the company that makes Tylenol, comes amid a growing number of lawsuits and pressure from the federal government that could have widespread ramifications for a medicine taken by millions of people every day," the AP reported in the story.
Sources:
*MDL2436 In Re: Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
**http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/MDL/MDL2436/CMO15.pdf
***http://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_District-October-17-2013.pdf
****http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm168830.htm
*****http://getreliefresponsibly.com/instructions/instructions.php
******http://www.tylenol.com/getreliefresponsibly/home
*******http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/tylenol-issue-warnings-pill-bottles-article-1.1440915
Bill Callahan, iLawSuit, +1 858 602-2749, [email protected]
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