SPECIFIC PRODUCTS
PALLADONE RECALL
Palladone is a once-a-day pain management drug containing a very potent narcotic called hydromorphone hydrochloride which belongs to a group of medicines called opioids which mimic the effects of naturally occurring pain reducing chemicals (endorphins) that are found in the brain and spinal cord. Hydromorphone hydrochloride is used mainly by those suffering from arthritis and in palliative care to treat severe pain in terminal cancer patients.
If this chemical is released into the blood system too quickly it can have serious consequences including death. Palladone has been designed to cause a timed and gradual extended release of the chemical however the use of alcohol by a patient can harm the drugs delivery system leading to ‘dose dumping’ whereby the entire load of painkiller is released into the system all at once causing the potential for disastrous consequences akin to an overdose of heroin. The consequences of dose dumping at the lowest marketed dose (12 mg.) of Palladone could lead to serious adverse events in some patients and the risk is greater for the higher strengths of the product. Current labeling includes the standard warning against the use of alcohol in conjunction with the drug however in view of the risk of serious consequences this is now beleved to be inadequate.
Palladone was approved in the US in September 2004 for patients with chronic moderate to severe pain and on July 13, 2005 Purdue Pharma who manufacturer the drug agreed to withdraw it because of possible deaths that may occur when combined with the use of alcohol. Steven Galson a director for the United States Food and Drug Administration said :-
- “We are concerned that as more people take this drug, safety problems will arise since having one alcoholic drink could have fatal implications.”
If you or one of your family or a friend has suffered an overdose whilst taking Palladone due to the drinking of alcohol at the same time as using the drug you may have a cause for legal action. We are an independent on-line network of specialist personal injury solicitors offering free legal advice on defective pharmaceutical products. All of our solicitors use the no win no fee scheme and do not ask for any financial contribution from you as the case proceeds. Our claims are completely risk free. For free advice from a specialist law firm just complete the contact form and a member of The Law Society panel of personal injury experts will telephone you with no obligation.
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