Digitek Recall

Texas Digitek Recall Lawyers and Digoxin Toxicity and Wrongful Death Attorneys

Digitek Recall

On April 25, 2008, the drug manufacturer Actavis Towtowa (formerly Amide Pharmaceuticals) announced a Class 1 nationwide recall of all its Digitek lots. The recalled drug was sold as Digoxin, the generic version of Digitek, by Mylan Pharmaceuticals under the Bertek and UDL Laboratory labels. Click here to view the FDA recall notice issued on April 25, 2008.

A Class 1 recall is used by the FDA upon discovery of a dangerous or defective product that could potentially cause serious health complications or even death. The FDA—after receiving multiple reports of illness from Digitek and Digoxin patients— recalled the drug because the pills were being manufactured with double the thickness and double the active ingredient of a properly manufactured Digitek tablet. As a result, patients were ingesting twice the normal dosage of the active ingredient, subjecting them to a number of serious, and sometimes fatal conditions.

On January 9, 2009, it Actavis Towtowa announced that it has agreed with the FDA to permanently shut down several plants where Digitek (Digoxin) was produced until the Digitek manufacturing facilities meet the U.S. standards for the testing and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

Our Drug Recall Lawyers are Currently Handling Hundreds of Digitek Toxicity Cases Across the Country

The trial attorneys at Zehl & Associates have years of experience against drug companies in federal and state courts throughout the country. Our Texas Digitek lawyers are currently working on over a hundred cases from across the United States involving clients who took Digitek or Digoxin and suffered heart attacks, strokes, death, irregular heartbeats, seizures, dizziness, and other side effects.

Digitek’s History and Prescribed Uses

Digitalis has been used to treat heart conditions since the 1700’s, when it was discovered inside a garden herb known as the foxglove plant.

Digitek is a type of digitalis medicine used to keep the heartbeat strong and beating at regular intervals. The drug accomplishes this by increasing calcium levels inside the heart’s cells. Once the drug reaches the heart muscle, it binds to sodium and potassium receptors in order to stop calcium from leaving the heart’s cells. As calcium levels rise inside the heart, the heartbeat will become stronger

In addition to strengthening the heartbeat, digitalis medicines can also be used to control cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) by slowing down the signals coming from the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes. As these signals slow down, occurrences of cardiac arrhythmias will slow down as well.

Digitek, Digoxin Overdose, Kidney Failure and Digitalis Toxicity

An overdose of digitalis, either through one large exposure or several smaller exposures over time, can result in a condition called digitalis toxicity. As digitalis builds up within the body, patients will begin to experience symptoms of overdose. The most serious side effects reported by people who ingested the defectively manufactured Digitek pills are kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, death, reduced heart rates and excessive heart rates.

Other common side effects include nausea, dizziness, seizures, hallucinations, fatigue, and irregular heartbeat.

People with reduced kidney function are at an even greater risk of digitalis toxicity because they are less able to naturally process and excrete the excess medication through urination. Low levels of either magnesium or potassium in one’s body can also increase the risk of digitalis toxicity, which can eventually lead to kidney failure and other potentially fatal conditions.

Digitek Overdose Symptoms

The full range of Digitek overdose symptoms includes nausea, kidney failure, vomiting, loss of appetite, dizziness, confusion, changes in vision, seeing light halos around objects, low blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmia, heart palpitations, abnormally slow heartbeat, decreased urination, swelling, difficulty breathing when in a prone position and even death.

Congress Requests Information from FDA regarding Digitek Recall

The Digitek Recall investigation is widening. On October 10, 2008, Congress formally requested information from the FDA regarding Actavis Towtowa’s recall of Digitek. Representative John Dingell (D-MI) wrote “Recalls of this seriousness cause us to question whether the FDA was deceived regarding the good manufacturing practices of this company, or did the FDA simply fail to conduct adequate and timely inspections of these facilities.” A link to the press release can be found here: Congress Requests Digitek Recall Information from FDA. The Digitek attorneys at Zehl & Associates, who currently represent people all over the country who have been injured by the drug, are monitoring Congress’ investigation into the recall of Digitek.

Contact One of Our Digitek Recall Lawyers Today

If you or someone you know was injured from taking the drug Digitek, contact one of our experienced Digitek recall attorneys today for a free consultation by simply clicking here or calling us toll free at our toll-free number.