The Cochran Firm Legal Blog

In December, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released information regarding contaminated diet aids. These non-prescription diet aids, which were sold not only online, but in mainstream retailers including GNC and the Vitamin Shoppe, and they contained unlisted prescription drugs, or, in some cases, drugs that were denied approval or taken off the market due to dangerous side effects.

The FDA website contains a list of the contaminated weight loss products, which contained sibutramine, rimonabant, phenytoin, phenolphthalein, and/or bumetanide.

Sibutramide is an approved prescription drug for treating obesity, but may lead to increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, heart palpitations, and seizure. These effects are increased by taking the drug in combination with certain products.

Rimonabant is a drug that was denied approval by the FDA because of its dangerous side effects, including seizures, depression, anxiety, insomnia, aggressiveness, and suicidal thoughts. The drug has been linked to at least 5 deaths in the UK over the past 2 years, and its marketing has been suspended in Europe due to safety concerns.

Phenytoin is an anti-seizure medication, and its use has been linked to the deadly skin conditions Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrosis (TEN).

Phenolphthalein used to be an ingredient in over-the-counter laxatives until 1999 when it was identified as a carcinogenic mutagen.

Bumetanide is a prescription diuretic, which can lead to serious dehydration, low blood pressure, and fainting.

Although the FDA's list of tainted diet aids contains about 70 products, only 1--Starcaps--is currently being recalled. This is not because the other drugs are not dangerous, but because the FDA has no power to compel a recall of the products. It can only ask for recalls, then write warning letters. Eventually, if the companies do not respond, the FDA may order seizure of tainted products, injunctions against the company, and seek criminal charges, but in the meantime hundreds or thousands of people may be hurt by these dangerous products.

The FDA needs help in policing dangerous pharmaceutical products, and your product liability suit may be that help. By targeting the central concern of the companies that manufacture, market, and sell these products--their profits--product liability lawsuits compel companies to better police themselves. Including distributors and retailers in your lawsuit encourages stores to pay better attention to the products they carry on their shelves. And enlisting the aid of The Cochran Firm, an alliance of some of the nation's best lawyers with access to nationwide resources, will make you better able to pursue those responsible and make them pay.

If you have been injured by a contaminated diet drug or any other so-called natural supplement, we can help. Schedule a defective product lawsuit consultation with the product liability lawyers of The Cochran Firm today.