Attention
Fen-Phen Users:
Fen-Phen
has been marketed under the names Redux,
Pondimin, Fenfluramine, and Dexfenfluramine.
Serious health complications have resulted
from the use of this diet drug. A nationwide
class action is underway, but it is not
too late to opt-out and individually pursue
a lawsuit. Contact
us if you have suffered as the result of
Fen-Phen use.
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 The
once popular diet drug fen-phen was pulled from
the market in September of 1997 when reports linked
the drugs to valvular heart disease. Fen-phen
first surfaced in 1984 when a study indicated
that the combination of phentermine and pondimin
could achieve weight loss when used in a low dose.
Side effects appeared to be more minimal when
the weight loss drugs were used together opposed
to being prescribed separately as it had been
for appetite control. Fen-phen was considered
a revolutionary drug that had significant weight
loss results when pondimin and redux, both manufactured
by American Home Products, were approved for the
short-term use by the FDA for obesity. Fen-phen
was never approved yet it continued to be used
and prescribed.
Soon after fen-phen was pulled off the U.S. market
lawsuits began to be filed throughout the entire
country. American Home Products (AHP) had knowledge
of the research and adverse drug experience reports
on both pondimin and redux, yet did not warn patients
of the health hazards. Only when the FDA began
an official investigation of what the AHP knew
about the risks like valvular heart disease that
was associated to the drug did fen-phen get pulled
from the shelves.
By the time fen-phen was removed from the U.S.
market millions of people had already taken the
drug. The health complications that resulted from
the use of fen-phen are serious and deadly conditions,
including valvular heart disease and primary
pulmonary hypertension.
Right now there are numerous fen-phen class-action
lawsuits underway that do not cover the extensive
health
complications that have resulted from the
use of the diet drugs. If you have questions regarding
your legal rights
with fen-phen and the health complications
you have endured as a result of the drug, please
contact us.
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Notable Quotes
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| “I felt from
the very beginning the drug companies were
covering up. I felt from the very beginning
that these drugs were dangerous.”
-Dr. Leo Lutwak, FDA’s
key reviewer of fen-phen
“Being part of my
kids’ lives and doing their everyday
activities is a struggle. But I just take
one day at a time and do the best I can.”
-Patricia Buol, suffers
severe heart
problems after taking fen-phen
“I have some concerns
that we may be losing sight of what the
FDA is all about. The question is who’s
the agency’s customers? Who’s
the agency partner?”
-Dr. David Kessler,
FDA former commissioner criticizing the
approach to drug regulation
“I was on the drug
for 15 months. I do have the heart
valve problems at this point.”
-Mark Marcketta, original
poster boy for Redux and used in advertisements
and drug and medical journals
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