The makers of the generic insomnia medication zolpidem, better known as Ambien or Sublinox, has recently published warnings of the drug’s side effects.

Zolpidem can cause abnormal sleep behaviors that the user may not be aware of doing. Talking on the phone, operating a vehicle, and eating are among the potentially dangerous activities one may experience while taking the medication.

The company warns that people with a history of sleepwalking, those who take a higher than recommended dose, or those who mix zolpidem with alcohol or other drugs may have a higher risk of experiencing these side effects. Users who have experienced these abnormal behaviors should stop taking the medication immediately and contact their physician.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by the side effects of a prescribed medication, contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. at 800-346-5529 today.

Newer types of birth control pills still have come with a risk of blood clots, says one study. In fact, these new generations have a higher risk of developing dangerous venous thromboembolisms, which could cause a pulmonary embolism if it travels to the lungs.

Birth control pills that contain the hormone drospirenone come with a particularly high risk of blood clots. Brand name birth control pills that contain drospirenone include Yaz, Yasmin, and their generics. Studies show that newer types pills that have drospirenone increase the risk of clots from eight to ten women per 10,000 per year. That equates to 43-65% higher risk than older generations.

The FDA has also published findings from their investigation into the new pills. The administration found that drospirenone-containing pills do come with a higher risk of blood clots.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by the side effects of a prescribed medication, contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. at 800-346-5529 today.

A new study reveals a dangerous possible side effect of Tylenol and acetaminophen — asthma.

Statistics show that with the increase use of acetaminophen products, asthma rates increased. When use began to level off, so did breathing disorder rates. The study has been published in Pediatrics medical journal and was conducted by the Robert T. Stone Respiratory Center and the Akron Children’s Hospital.

According to the study, children who use acetaminophen (the main ingredient in Tylenol) more than once a month are three times more likely to develop breathing disorders. When taken more than once a year, but less than once a month, chances are 61% more likely.

Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter painkiller sometimes marketed for young children to relieve aches, pains, and fevers.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by the side effects of drugs, contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. by calling 800-346-5529.

The Food and Drug Administration found that nearly a fifth of patients treated with Medtronic’s experimental catheter to correct atrial fibrillation had serious side effects.

Atrial fibrillation is a heart problem that causes the upper chambers to beat irregularly and and rapidly. The American Heart Associate estimates that nearly 2.2 million people suffer from atrial fibrillation.

While about 56% of patients in the catheter’s experiment group found their irregular heartbeat corrected, more than 21% suffered severe side effects such as pneumonia, heart failure, and strokes. Only 26% of patients taking traditional drug medication saw improvement. Cardiology experts will deliberate on Thursday to discuss the device’s safety and effectiveness.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by the side effects of a medical device or prescribed medication, contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. by calling 800-346-5529.

A new study by the Food and Drug Administration shows that birth control pills that contain the hormone drospirenone significantly increases the chance of blood clots. Compared to other birth control pills that do not contain the hormone, women using drospirenone-containing contraceptives have a 1.5 increase of developing blood clots.

The study involved nearly 800,000 women on birth control. Previous research conducted by the FDA showed no differences between drospirenone-containing and drospirenone-free birth control pills; the administration says it will investigate further into the risks of drospirenone.

Birth control pills that contain drospirenone include Yasmin, Yaz, Safyral, Beyaz, Sandoz’s Syeda and Loryna, Teva Pharmaceuticals’ Loryna, Watson Pharmaceuticals’ Zarah, and Barr Laboratories’ Ocella.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by the side effects of a prescribed medication, contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. at 800-346-5529.

A new study published in the journal of Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics claims that most patients prescribed medication for acid reflux, heart burn, and gastric ulcers do not meet the necessary diagnostic criteria. Now a watchdog group, Public Citizen, is calling for these medications to have black box warning labels.

Black box warning labels are the strongest warnings issued on products. Public Citizen says that users are not made aware of possible dangerous side effects and its chance of dependency. Side effects for proton pump inhibitors, or acid reflux drugs, include bone fractures, heart rhythm abnormalities, and infection. Stopping proton pump inhibitors can actually cause acid reflux to worsen, and in patients that should not have been prescribed the medicine, acid reflux can actually develop as a result.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by the side effects of a prescribed medication, contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A. today by calling 800-346-5529.

A new study was recently published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which found that the risk of birth defects in babies is raised by the use of Opioid painkillers shortly before or in the beginning of pregnancy. This class of painkillers includes drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone.

The study involved interviews conducted with 17,000 mothers who gave birth to children with birth defects. It was found that Opioids are specifically linked to heart defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, as well as spina bifida, congential glaucoma, and hydrocephaly.

About three percent of babies born every year are born with major birth defects. More studies on the interaction between prescription drugs and birth defects will continue to be conducted, and women are advised to discuss the use of prescription drugs with their doctor during pregnancy.

If you used Opioid painkillers in the beginning of your pregnancy and your child now has birth defects, please contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529.

A group of women recently came together to file a lawsuit against AstraZeneca, the manufacturers of a heartburn drug, because the women suffered several broken bones after taking the drug.

A 62-year-old woman involved in the lawsuit stated that she has had six fractures since she began taking the drug a few years ago. According to the lawsuit, the drug causes bone deterioration, which leads to breaks and fractures. The drug was labeled with an FDA safety alert that warned that the drug may cause fractures.

The women are seeking damages for emotional distress and medical expenses.

If you or someone you love has suffered injuries as a side effect of medicine, please contact the New Jersey drug side effect lawyers of Levinson Axelrod, P.A., at 800-346-5529.