New York, NY 9/9/2009 3:32:10 AM
Product Liability Lawyers Investigating Possible Cases of Xenical and Alli Liver Damage
In response to an August 24th “Early Communication” from the FDA announcing an ongoing safety review of the drug Orlistat (marketed as Xenical and Alli), the product liability lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are investigating potential cases of Xenical liver injury and Alli liver injury. The law firm’s Xenical and Alli lawyers are offering free confidential legal consultations to individuals who suspect they may have suffered Xenical liver damage or Alli liver damage.
Xenical is a prescription weight-loss drug that works by preventing the intestines from absorbing fatty acids. Alli is the popular over-the-counter (OTC) version of Xenical and is the first OTC weight loss pill to be approved by the FDA. Alli and Xenical are both marketed by British drug-maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC, though Xenical is manufactured by Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche.
Xenical and Alli FDA Warning
The FDA is currently reviewing 32 reports of liver damage associated with Alli and Xenical which the agency received between 1999 and October 2008. These reports include 27 hospitalized patients and six patients who suffered liver failure. In addition to the 32 reported cases of Xenical and Alli liver damage, the FDA is reviewing other data on suspected cases of Alli liver injury submitted by the manufacturers of Orlistat.
According to the FDA, the most commonly reported Xenical and Alli side effects described in the 32 reports of serious liver injury were jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), weakness, and abdominal pain. While the FDA recommends that consumers currently taking Xenical or Alli continue to use the product as directed, the agency has urged both healthcare professionals and consumers to report Alli and Xenical side effects to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
Xenical and Alli Side Effects
Although the FDA has not established a direct link between Orlistat and liver hepatotoxicity (toxic effects on the liver), the agency says consumers should consult a health care professional if they are experiencing Xenical side effects or Alli side effects or symptoms associated with the development of liver injury, particularly weakness or fatigue, fever, jaundice or brown urine. Other possible symptoms of Xenical and Alli liver damage may include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, light-colored stools, itching or loss of appetite.
Xenical and Alli Lawsuits
If you or a loved one suffered liver injury after using Xenical or Alli, you may be entitled to file a Xenical or Alli liver damage lawsuit seeking compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other injuries. For more information about Xenical lawsuits and Alli lawsuits, contact a Xenical/Alli lawyer at Bernstein Liebhard LLP at (877) 779-1414 or info@consumerinjurylawyers.com, or visit our consumer advocacy website, www.ConsumerInjuryLawyers.com.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
