Tylenol Liver Problem Allegations Alert: Resource4thePeople Announces Continuation of No-Cost Consultations for Consumers in 2014
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) January 17, 2014 -- http://www.resource4thepeople.com/defectivedrugs/acetaminophen.html
Resource4thePeople announced today that its national network of attorneys will continue to offer free consultations in 2014 to consumers who are seeking compensation in connection with allegations that Tylenol products and other acetaminophens may cause liver damage.
These allegations are contained in the court files of nearly 100 federal lawsuits* involving such claims against Tylenol that are part of a multidistrict litigation consolidated before a federal judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
"We are also announcing that we will continue to provide consumers with updates involving this litigation in which the judge is now presiding over pre-trial evidence-gathering over claims that patients suffered life-threatening liver damage because of their trust in Tylenol and other acetaminophen medications," said Resource4thePeople.
The announcement of the continuation of the no-cost consultations was made after numerous inquiries were received from consumers about whether Resource4thePeople's national network of attorneys would, after 2013, continue to offer them in connection with Tylenol allegations.
“The increase in the number of consumers inquiring about issues raised in the Tylenol federal multidistrict litigation and other lawsuits demonstrates that there are great numbers of affected consumers seeking experienced, aggressive legal help,” said Resource4thePeople.
Resource4thePeople said that eligible consumers will be provided information about what legal options they may have to seek compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering and other costs in connection with expenses they have incurred in connection with the allegations.
"However, each case is different and there may be legal time limits involved and consumers are advised to contact us as soon as possible in order to preserve all of their legal options," said Resource4thePeople.
Lawyers for the alleged victims in the multidistrict litigation currently are pressing their case to review internal documents directly affecting these claims, according to the court file.
U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence F. Stengel is weighing a request by defense lawyers from Tylenol and parent company Johnson & Johnson to limit access to these documents, said Resource4thePeople.
Resource4thePeople notes that Tylenol, on its web site**specifically warns that Tylenol contains acetaminophen and alerts consumers that severe liver damage may occur if you take "3 or more alcoholic drinks every day while using this product."
The same warning also was posted*** by the U.S. Food and Drug Agency on its web site in addition to details about dosage dangers:
"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. 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 has found in reviewing the inquiries from consumers about the possibility of suffering liver damage from the use of Tylenol products that many consumers were not aware of the dangers caused by combining alcohol and acetaminophen," said Resource4thePeople.
"Therefore, we are urging all consumers to completely familiarize themselves with the dosage instructions and warnings about interactions involving alcohol that can have extreme, life-threatening consequences."
Most of the lawsuits alleging links between Tylenol and severe liver damage were filed after a June 24, 2009 safety communication (updated on Nov, 15, 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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
Sources:
*MDL2436 In Re: Tylenol (Acetaminophen) Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
**http://www.tylenol.com/head-body/extra-strength-tylenol
***http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm168830.htm
****http://getreliefresponsibly.com/instructions/instructions.php
Bill Callahan, iLawSuit, +1 858 602-2749, [email protected]
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