UPDATED Public Health Alert: Counterfeit Alli containing sibutramine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is updating its warning to the public about a counterfeit version of Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill pack) being sold over the internet, particularly at online auction sites. FDA advises people who believe that they have a counterfeit product not to use the drug.
Alli is an FDA-approved over-the-counter weight loss drug that contains orlistat as its active ingredient. The counterfeit version of Alli does not contain orlistat; rather, it is made with varying amounts of sibutramine, a stimulant drug.
Although sibutramine is the active ingredient in another FDA-approved prescription weight loss drug, it is only to be used in specific doses and under the supervision of a physician. The counterfeit product is illegal and unsafe.
Additional FDA laboratory tests on the counterfeit product show that people may be taking 3-times the usual daily dose (or twice the recommended maximum dose) of sibutramine if they are following the dosing directions for Alli. Healthy people who take this much sibutramine can experience anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, tachycardia (a racing heart), insomnia, and small increases in blood pressure. This excessive amount of sibutramine is dangerous to people who have a history of cardiovascular disease, and can lead to elevated blood pressure, stroke, or heart attack.
FDA recommends everybody check and make sure they are not taking counterfeit Alli. If they suspect they are taking the counterfeit product, they should stop taking the drug. People should contact their healthcare professionals if they have taken the counterfeit product and are experiencing more than mild side effects, especially if they have a history of cardiovascular disease.
Although the counterfeit product looks very similar to Alli, this product can be identified by:
If you have been victimized by a defective product contact the Renton personal injury lawyers at Kornfeld Law today.
3 Injured on HWY 2
A Leavenworth man and two Maple Valley residents were injured Friday in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 2 west of Leavenworth.
The accident was reported at 11:20 a.m. Friday. Matthew Weisenburger, 45, of Maple Valley, lost control of the 2006 Ford Escape he was driving eastbound on Highway 2, about 25 miles west of Leavenworth, according to a Washington State Patrol memo. The vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 1999 GMC Suburban driven by Randy Kim Roberts, 55, of Leavenworth.
Weisenburger was transported to Cascade Medical Center with arm and leg injuries. Megan Weisenburger, 18, a passenger in his vehicle, was taken to Cascade Medical Center with possible broken ribs, according to the State Patrol report. Roberts was transported to Cascade Medical Center with a foot injury. No information was available from Cascade Medical Center.
Weisenburger was cited for driving too fast for road conditions, which were icy, the report said.
— Rick Steigmeyer, World staff
Police report: One dead, four injured in head-on wrongway crash
A medical problem may have led an Oregon man to black out while driving, which in turn led to an accident that injured four Vancouver residents, one critically, and killed the Oregon man.
The Oregon State Police identified the Vancouver residents as Terry Bradbury, 43; Charles Bradbury, 14; Ashlee Bradbury, 15; and Dawn Nicole Misener, 17. All were taken to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, where Ashlee Bradbury was reported in critical condition Saturday afternoon. Terry Bradbury was reported in serious condition and Charles Bradbury was in stable condition. There was no report available for Misener.
Police said all four were expected to survive the accident.
The accident occurred at 5:35 p.m. Friday on Highway 26 near Boring, Ore. A 2008 Toyota Prius driven by Anthony Petereit, 53, of Boring, was eastbound in the westbound lanes when it struck the Chevrolet S10 pickup that Terry Bradbury was driving.
According to a police news release, Petereit had some health problems, including diabetes, and may have blacked out at the wheel, allowing the Toyota to cross a grassy median and roll into the oncoming lanes.
Petereit, who had been on his way home from work, was pronounced dead at the scene.
NP couple sues over botched throat surgery
A North Platte couple filed a lawsuit against a former North Platte doctor over what they say was an unnecessary and botched operation that damaged the woman’s vocal chords.
Barbara and Bradley Peterson filed suit against Dr. Lawrence Davis, now living in Colorado, on Dec. 7.
They alleged in their complaint that in December 2007 Barbara was seen at Davis’ office for treatment of a multinodular goiter. Davis recommended a total thyroidectomy be performed, the document said.
Davis explained to Barbara that he would use a recurrent laryngeal nerves monitoring device during the procedure to identify and avoid damage to the sensitive nerves in her throat, the suit claimed.
Immediately following the procedure, however, Barbara Peterson began experiencing hoarseness and shortness of breath. The suit stated that Davis saw Peterson at least six times following the procedure, and each time she exhibited those symptoms.
The lawsuit alleged Davis told Peterson the problems would abate and that he vocal cords were not damaged during the procedure.
In March 2008 Kearney ear, nose, and throat specialist Dr. Thomas Connely evaluated Barbara Peterson, the suit said. He diagnosed her with bilateral vocal cord paresis, meaning her vocal cords were not functioning. Connely also told Peterson that despite Davis’ claims to the contrary, the North Platte doctor had not uses a monitoring device during the thyroidectomy, the suit stated.
In July 2008 Omaha ear nose and throat physician Dr. Frederic Ogren confirmed Connely’s diagnosis, and the lawsuit said in August 2008 Barbara Peterson had to be checked into the emergency room at Great Plains Regional Medical Center due to respiratory distress.
In January 2009, Ogren performed a tracheostomy and laser cordotomy on Barbara Peterson. The suit said a few days later she experienced severe breathing difficulties and was again taken to GPRMC.
The lawsuit said Ogren removed Peterson’s tracheostomy tube in May 2009.
The Petersons claim Davis was negligent in not employing a monitoring device and that the procedure was unnecessary in the first place. Barbara suffered permanent vocal cord damage, scarring on her neck from the tracheostomy (necessitated by the botched thyroidectomy), and permanent shortness of breath, according to the complaint.
They are seeking damages for past and future medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering. The suit claimed medical expenses had already exceeded $67,000.
Davis was also named in a lawsuit filed in July by the estate of Doug Watson. That lawsuit alleged that Davis inserted a tube into Watson’s artery, instead of his jugular vein, leading to a crippling stroke. No new motions have been filed in that case since August.