Monday, May 4, 2009

Hydroxycut and Vinyl Chloride Causes Liver Damage, Lawsuits Filed

Bagolie Friedman Liver Damage Lawyers and Attorneys are reviewing Hydroxycut and Vinyl Chloride liver damage claims free of charge.

Hydroxycut products, a popular line of weight loss and fat burning supplements, have been linked to serious liver problems and other side effects. A variety of Hydroxycut products were recalled in May 2009, and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers to immediately stop taking the recalled supplements. At the time of the recall, Hydroxycut products had been implicated in at least one fatal case of liver damage.

Problems with Hydroxycut had been reported as much as seven years prior to the recall, yet consumers did not receive any notification of these side effects until May 2009. The Hydroxycut liver damage lawyers at our firm believe the manufacturer of these defective supplements was negligent, and failed to provide timely warning about their potential risks.

If you or someone you know suffered liver damage or any other side effect that you believe was the result of a Hydroxycut supplement, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact Bagolie Friedman Liver Damage Lawyers now for a confidential and free consulation.

Hdroxycut products are marketed for weight-loss, as fat burners, as energy-enhancers, as low carb diet aids, and for water loss under the Iovate and MuscleTech brand names. They are manufactured by Iovate Health Sciences Inc., of Oakville, Ontario Canada and distributed by Iovate Health Sciences U.S.A., Inc. of Blasdell, NY. Hydroxycut products contain a variety of ingredients, including herbal extracts, chemicals and metals.

At the time of the Hydroxycut recall, the FDA said it had received 23 reports of liver problems in people who used Hydroxycut. In addition to one fatality linked to the product, the FDA said some of the Hydroxycut liver problems had resulted in the need for a liver transplant.

The injuries reported to the FDA occurred in persons between 21 and 51 years of age. No other cause for liver disease was identified. In the majority of cases, no preexisting medical condition that would predispose the consumer to liver injury was identified. In some cases, discontinuation of Hydroxycut usage resulted in recovery of liver function. Symptoms of liver injury include jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes) and brown urine. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, excessive fatigue, weakness, stomach or abdominal pain, itching, and loss of appetite.

According to the FDA, these symptoms have occurred while victims were taking Hydroxycut, as well as up to several months after some had stopped taking it. The agency cautioned that consumers should consult a physician or other health care professional if they are experiencing any symptoms possibly associated with these products.

Other Hydroxycut Side Effects have been reported. Te FDA also said it had learned of various other side effects linked to Hydroxycut supplements. Some Hydroxycut users have experienced seizures. Rhabdomyolysis, a type of muscle damage that can lead to other serious problems, such as kidney failure, had also been reported. Finally, cardiovascular problems, ranging in severity from irregular heart beat to heart attack, have also been associated with Hydroxycut use.