What We Do
Defective Medical Products
- Medicines
- Accutane Lawsuit
- AMO Complete Moistureplus Recall
- Apothecure Colchicine Lawsuit
- Baxter Heparin Recall and Lawsuit
- Bismacine Chromacine
- Botox
- Carbinoxamine
- Chromium Poisoning (Toxicity)
- Colchicine Recall Lawyer
- Colistimethate Lawsuit Lawyer
- Edetate Disodium
- Fentanyl
- Fentanyl Patch Recall
- Fentora
- Fleet Lawsuit - Phosphate Nephropathy
- Fosamax Osteonecrosis Jaw
- Ketek Liver Failure
- Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
- Promethazine
- Rocephin Death
- Selenium Poisoning (Toxicity)
- Topical Anesthetic
- Total Body Formula Recall and Lawsuit
- Trasylol and Kidney Failure
- Trasylol - Lawyer and Lawsuit
- Trasylol Recall
- Tysabri Lawsuit - No Recall
- Zelnorm Heart Attack Stroke Lawsuit
- Medical Equipment
- Medtronic Defibrillator Leads
- Medtronic Lawsuit
- Medtronic Lawyer
- Guidant Recalls
- Free Guidant Recall Consultation
- Guidant Ancure
- Guidant Lawsuit Recall
- Guidant Pacemaker Defibrillator Defect
- Guidant Pacemaker Recall
- FDA Pacemaker Defibrillator Statement
- Infusion Pump
- FDA Recalls
- News & Topics
- Archives
Welcome to Pritzker | Ruohonen
Colchicine - "Recall" by FDA Prompted by 23 Deaths - Lawyer Fred Pritzker Representing One of the Families
Injectable colchicine may be responsible for 23 deaths. Three of the deaths from intravenous colchicine occurred in March and April of 2007 and were associated with the use of compounded colchicine that, due to an error in preparation, was eight times more potent than the amount stated on the label. Our law firm is representing the family of one of these three people. Partner Fred Pritzker is lead attorney in this case. To contact Fred Pritzker, please call him toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the free case consultation form for his review.
On February 6, 2008, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to take enforcement action against companies marketing unapproved injectable colchicines. Colchicine is a highly toxic drug that can easily be administered in excessive doses, especially when given intravenously. There is a narrow margin between an effective dose of the drug and a toxic dose that can result in serious health risks, including death. The FDA is aware of 50 reports of adverse events associated with the use of intravenous colchicine, including 23 deaths. Potentially fatal effects include low blood cell counts, cardiac events, and organ failure.
"Today's action [the equivalent of a colchicine recall] supports our ongoing efforts to end the marketing of unapproved drugs with serious health risks," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., FDA's deputy commissioner for scientific and medical programs, chief medical officer, and acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). "Such products put consumers' health and sometimes their very lives at grave risk. It is a priority that these products be removed from the market."
"Until recently, there was one manufacturer of unapproved injectable colchicine, and that firm has ceased manufacturing the product," said Deborah Autor, director of the FDA's Office of Compliance, CDER. "This serves as the agency's warning that firms wishing to make injectable colchicine in the future must not manufacture the product until they apply for and are granted approval by the FDA to do so."
In addition to being manufactured by pharmaceutical companies, injectable colchicine products are sometimes formulated on a smaller scale by compounding pharmacies, often for use in the treatment of back pain. The FDA has not approved colchicine in any dosage form for the treatment of back pain.
This action by the FDA could be considered a colchicine recall. Anyone who has been injured by injectable colchicine should contact a lawyer. If a family member has died after being given colchicine, you may have a wrongful death claim. Please contact our law office for a free consultation.
Free Case Consultation
Firm News
Fred Pritzker Listed in The Best Lawyers in America
Fred Pritzker has been notified that he will again be listed in The Best Lawyers in America for his work in personal injury litigation.
Pain and Suffering
Rich Ruohonen recently chaired a legal seminar on obtaining compensation for pain and suffering in a personal injury case. Rich uses his knowledge, experience, and reputation to maximize recoveries for clients.
Medtronic Recall and Medtronic Lawsuit
FDA has annonced a Medtronic Spring Fidelis defibrillator lead recall. Two of our clients with defective Medtronic leads were shocked over twenty times before medical professionals were able to turn off the defibrillator.
Fleet Lawsuit
We are representing several people who experienced kidney failure (acute phosphate nephropathy) after use of Fleet Phospho-soda solution or Fleet Accu-Prep solution for bowel cleansing.
Ortho Evra Lawsuit: Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch
The Ortho Evra birth control patch has been linked to an increased risk of blood clots that can lead to pulmonary embolism, stroke and heart attack.
Trasylol Recall
Bayer has agreed to a marketing suspension of Trasylol, a drug used to control bleeding during heart surgery, pending detailed review of preliminary results from a Canadian study that suggested an increased risk for death.
Fentanyl Lawsuit and Fentanyl Recall
There have been a number of recalls regarding fentanyl due to the risk of a fentanyl overdose.
Fosamax and Osteonecrosis
Several cases of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw have been associated with the use of oral bisphosphonates, including Fosamax®, Actonel®, and other medications.