Patients who were prescribed Reglan or the generic form metoclopramide, which was introduced in the 1980s, and have since developed symptoms of tardive dyskinesia or other neurological movement disorders associated with the medication may be eligible to file a lawsuit in order to gain compensation for their suffering, medical costs, and lost wages, among other expenses. Potential plaintiffs who believe they may have a case should consult a lawyer, in particular one with experience regarding Reglan cases. A lawyer will help a plaintiff determine whether or not he or she has a case.
Reglan is a drug that can assist with gastrointestinal conditions, especially ones associated with diabetes and cancer treatments. Potential plaintiffs looking for a successful lawsuit must define and identify important Reglan side effects, especially in the case of tardive dyskinesia associated with the medication. Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder associated with Reglan, which is incurable and comes with extreme costs – not only financial, but social and emotional as well.
Characteristics of tardive dyskinesia include involuntary muscle movements in the face and limbs, uncontrollable lip smacking, protruding of the tongue, blinking or bulging of the eyes, head jerking, lip pursing or puckering, finger movement, grimacing, and extreme pain in the hands. Tardive dyskinesia can cause embarrassment, discomfort in the workplace – including an inability to perform in a workplace environment – and physical and emotional pain. People who fear they my be experiencing these symptoms after having taken Reglan should speak to a lawyer to determine their eligibility to file suit.
Since there is no cure for tardive dyskinesia, compensation won in a Reglan lawsuit will not cure a patient of the condition. However, the settlement won would ease some of the financial burden on the patient and help them deal with the rest of their lives with the disease.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Reglan Litigation Moving Forward
Reglan, a popular gastrointestinal drug, has been a source of controversy for many years as more and more patients have been reporting serious side effects from the drug. It has been linked to conditions such as tardive dyskinesia and other neurological movement disorders, but the most serious associated side effect is Reglan neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Although it has only been observed in a small number of patients, its connection to Reglan is significant and the disease itself is distressing and painful.
Basic symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome are hyperthermia, muscular rigidity, and autonomic instability. These symptoms are also the symptoms of a panic attack, leading some patients to believe that this is all that is wrong with them. However, in a more serious form, it can cause pneumonia, seizures, arrhythmia, respiratory failure, and renal failure – and can be fatal if not detected or treated in time. Several patients have died from the condition and medical attention is needed.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is linked to drugs that have dopamine D2 receptor antagonist properties, often found in antipsychotic medications. However, Reglan – while not an antipsychotic – also contains a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. This particular form has been known for decades to have the potential to cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Those who have been properly treated for the syndrome can be cured of it, but in about 5 to 11 percent of cases the condition is fatal. It was first discovered among psychiatric patients taking antipsychotics, and has been known about since the 1960s. However, there seems to be little that medical professionals are doing to combat the possibility that Reglan might cause this potentially fatal condition, putting patients at risk. The syndrome works quickly, making it imperative that Reglan patients who suspect they may have it should get medical assistance as quickly as possible and to get legal help from a Reglan lawyer.
Basic symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome are hyperthermia, muscular rigidity, and autonomic instability. These symptoms are also the symptoms of a panic attack, leading some patients to believe that this is all that is wrong with them. However, in a more serious form, it can cause pneumonia, seizures, arrhythmia, respiratory failure, and renal failure – and can be fatal if not detected or treated in time. Several patients have died from the condition and medical attention is needed.
Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is linked to drugs that have dopamine D2 receptor antagonist properties, often found in antipsychotic medications. However, Reglan – while not an antipsychotic – also contains a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. This particular form has been known for decades to have the potential to cause neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
Those who have been properly treated for the syndrome can be cured of it, but in about 5 to 11 percent of cases the condition is fatal. It was first discovered among psychiatric patients taking antipsychotics, and has been known about since the 1960s. However, there seems to be little that medical professionals are doing to combat the possibility that Reglan might cause this potentially fatal condition, putting patients at risk. The syndrome works quickly, making it imperative that Reglan patients who suspect they may have it should get medical assistance as quickly as possible and to get legal help from a Reglan lawyer.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Reglan Neurological Side Effects: Permanent and Painful
Tardive dyskinesia is a permanent movement-related neurological disorder that causes various muscle spasms throughout the body, resulting in awkward, uncontrollable, and sometimes grotesque unintentional movements of the face, neck, and extremities. Not only is this physically painful and uncomfortable, the emotional pain and embarrassment that comes with such an obvious and uncontrollable condition is almost equal to the physical pain it provides.
Tardive dyskinesia is also a relatively common side effect of the digestion aiding prescription drug Reglan. Reglan works by targeting specific dopamine receptors, which means that when it is taken in high doses or over a long period of time, it can produce involuntary tics, or uncontrollable movements in the facial muscles, limbs, fingers, and toes. There are several kinds of neurological movement disorders linked to Reglan, including: cervical dystonia, which is a painful condition in which the patient has spasms in his or her neck muscles, causing the head to twist and be pulled down; orofacial dyskinesia, which is localized to facial movements; and blepharospasm or ocular deviation, which are ocular side effects that may even result in blindness due to a patient’s inability to open or close their eyes at will.
Although Reglan is still approved by the Food and Drug Administration for short-term use in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders where other treatments have not been effective, most victims of these serious Reglan side effects were taking high doses of the medication for extremely long periods of time. In other words, the longer a patient takes Reglan, the higher their chances are of developing tardive dyskinesia or another neurological movement disorder.
Around 250,000-400,000 people in the United States alone suffer from tardive dyskinesia or one of its variations. Unfortunately, no effective treatment has been developed for the disease – and there is, as of yet, no cure.
Tardive dyskinesia is also a relatively common side effect of the digestion aiding prescription drug Reglan. Reglan works by targeting specific dopamine receptors, which means that when it is taken in high doses or over a long period of time, it can produce involuntary tics, or uncontrollable movements in the facial muscles, limbs, fingers, and toes. There are several kinds of neurological movement disorders linked to Reglan, including: cervical dystonia, which is a painful condition in which the patient has spasms in his or her neck muscles, causing the head to twist and be pulled down; orofacial dyskinesia, which is localized to facial movements; and blepharospasm or ocular deviation, which are ocular side effects that may even result in blindness due to a patient’s inability to open or close their eyes at will.
Although Reglan is still approved by the Food and Drug Administration for short-term use in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders where other treatments have not been effective, most victims of these serious Reglan side effects were taking high doses of the medication for extremely long periods of time. In other words, the longer a patient takes Reglan, the higher their chances are of developing tardive dyskinesia or another neurological movement disorder.
Around 250,000-400,000 people in the United States alone suffer from tardive dyskinesia or one of its variations. Unfortunately, no effective treatment has been developed for the disease – and there is, as of yet, no cure.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Reglan Compensation Considerations
When people file a lawsuit, they typically want to know how much money they can expect to receive in compensation. This number can be difficult to predict, as each case has unique features that can affect the final number.
But judges, juries, and defendants to tend to use the same types of factors when determining a reasonable reward amount. By examining previous cases of a similar nature, one can find instances where a defending drug company offered a significant settlement amount out of court, or instances of a jury awarding a plaintiff with a large sum in court. These analysis techniques can be used to estimate Reglan compensation also.
Reglan litigation is currently underway, new Reglan lawsuits are being filed across the country, and most of the Reglan lawsuit settlement amounts have not been decided yet. These lawsuits in most cases were filed in order to seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages due to injury caused by Reglan, and pain and suffering caused by Reglan side effects.
Many Reglan lawsuits assert that the makers of Reglan knew of these potentially devastating side effects but still neglected to communicate this vital information effectively to consumers and doctors. Reglan plaintiffs feel that the true risks were misrepresented on the drug’s warning label, and that even reports of serious Reglan side effects did not prompt the necessary investigation and risk assessment. Many now believe that by filing a Reglan lawsuit they will at last be able to hold the drugmaker responsible.
But judges, juries, and defendants to tend to use the same types of factors when determining a reasonable reward amount. By examining previous cases of a similar nature, one can find instances where a defending drug company offered a significant settlement amount out of court, or instances of a jury awarding a plaintiff with a large sum in court. These analysis techniques can be used to estimate Reglan compensation also.
Reglan litigation is currently underway, new Reglan lawsuits are being filed across the country, and most of the Reglan lawsuit settlement amounts have not been decided yet. These lawsuits in most cases were filed in order to seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages due to injury caused by Reglan, and pain and suffering caused by Reglan side effects.
Reglan Side Effects Lead to Lawsuits
Reglan side effects include but are not limited to:- Blepharospasm
- Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
- Tardive Dyskinesia
- Ocular Deviation
- Akathisia
- Cervical Dystonia
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Reglan Side Effects Costly
The impact of Reglan side effects on victims can be detected not only physically, but also socially, emotionally, and financially. Many who suffer from Reglan side effects are no longer able or willing to function in social and work settings, in some cases even withdrawing from family members. Some victims of Reglan side effects shut themselves off inside their homes, having become unwilling recluses because of their serious Reglan side effect symptoms. A great part of these symptoms have no known cure and will incur high costs over a lifetime for treatments such as rehabilitative therapy and speech therapy.Many Reglan lawsuits assert that the makers of Reglan knew of these potentially devastating side effects but still neglected to communicate this vital information effectively to consumers and doctors. Reglan plaintiffs feel that the true risks were misrepresented on the drug’s warning label, and that even reports of serious Reglan side effects did not prompt the necessary investigation and risk assessment. Many now believe that by filing a Reglan lawsuit they will at last be able to hold the drugmaker responsible.
Highlights from Recent Reglan Settlements
- A jury recently awarded a Reglan lawsuit plaintiff with $6.7 million.
- A New England law firm shared information regarding a jury award of $1.6 million for a Reglan lawsuit they handled.
- The same New England law firm also shared information about out-of-court Reglan lawsuit settlements that were as low as $1.2 million and as high as $5.2 million.
- It is common for out-of-court settlements to hinge upon confidentiality agreements.
- Financial compensation depends on a variety of factors including the emotional, mental, and physical consequences from side effects, the severity and permanence of injuries suffered due to side effects, and any misdiagnoses that may have taken place.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Reglan Lawyers A Valuable Resource
The Food and Drug Administration placed a black-box warning on the prescription drug Reglan in 2009 in an attempt to warn consumers about the high risk of neurological movement disorders associated with the medication. Although this warning may help to prevent these serious side effects in the future by warning both consumers and doctors of the side effects of the drug, the warning comes too late for many who have already been affected by these disorders.
Reglan, a drug prescribed to treat acid reflux in nausea particularly in patients with chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes, has been linked to several severe and incurable neurological disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, cervical dystonia, or blepharospasm. All of these conditions involve involuntary muscle movements in the patient, which can be grotesque, embarrassing, and awkward. A patient of one of these disorders may suffer from involuntary muscle movements that cause grimacing, head jerking, lip smacking or puckering, and moving fingers. There are no cures for these lifelong diseases.
As more and more side effects of Reglan become clear, lawsuits have been pouring in from across the country, filed by patients who are eligible to file formal complaints due to side effects suffered because of Reglan – patients who are eligible must prove that they have had a personal Reglan prescription, and that it was taken for at least three months. They must also have developed an uncontrollable muscle disorder associated with Reglan during or after their treatment with the medication. Patients who believe they are eligible should speak with a lawyer who will then consider whether or not to file a lawsuit on behalf of the patient. Patients who have suffered from the side effects of Reglan – or metoclopramide, the generic – may have no other way of recovering some form of compensation for their health issues.
Reglan, a drug prescribed to treat acid reflux in nausea particularly in patients with chronic conditions such as cancer and diabetes, has been linked to several severe and incurable neurological disorders such as tardive dyskinesia, cervical dystonia, or blepharospasm. All of these conditions involve involuntary muscle movements in the patient, which can be grotesque, embarrassing, and awkward. A patient of one of these disorders may suffer from involuntary muscle movements that cause grimacing, head jerking, lip smacking or puckering, and moving fingers. There are no cures for these lifelong diseases.
As more and more side effects of Reglan become clear, lawsuits have been pouring in from across the country, filed by patients who are eligible to file formal complaints due to side effects suffered because of Reglan – patients who are eligible must prove that they have had a personal Reglan prescription, and that it was taken for at least three months. They must also have developed an uncontrollable muscle disorder associated with Reglan during or after their treatment with the medication. Patients who believe they are eligible should speak with a lawyer who will then consider whether or not to file a lawsuit on behalf of the patient. Patients who have suffered from the side effects of Reglan – or metoclopramide, the generic – may have no other way of recovering some form of compensation for their health issues.
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