The law firm of Hissey Kientz, LLP is announcing the launch of its new website, Herbal Fen Phen Lawyers (http://www.herbalfenphenlawyers.com/). Herbal Fen Phen products have been marketed to former patients as a “natural alternative” to Fen Phen, despite warnings from the FDA that herbal Fen Phen may be linked to serious side effects, including primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes or death.
(Vocus) August 8, 2009 -- The law firm of Hissey Kientz, LLP is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, Herbal Fen Phen Lawyers (http://www.herbalfenphenlawyers.com/). The site will serve as a news and information resource for individuals who may have suffered injuries such as primary pulmonary hypertension after using products marketed as “herbal Fen Phen” or other dietary supplements containing ephedra.
After Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine)—two drugs that were prescribed as part of the diet drug combination Fen Phen—were recalled in September 1997, some companies began marketing over-the-counter supplements touted as an “all natural” and “herbal” equivalent. These herbal Fen Phen supplements usually contained a combination of two ingredients: ephedra (ma huang) and St. John’s wort.
In November 1997—just two months after the Fen Phen recall was issued—the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about herbal Fen Phen products that were being marketed to former patients as a “natural alternative” to Fen Phen. The agency warned that herbal Fen Phen may contain ingredients that had been linked to serious side effects, including high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes and death.
In addition, herbal Fen Phen has also been associated with a condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Patients with PPH experience high blood pressure in the artery that carries blood from the heart to the lungs. Without proper treatment, PPH can cause the heart to have to work harder to pump blood, potentially leading to heart failure or death.
The early symptoms of PPH can mimic those of other conditions, which can lead to delays in properly diagnosing the disease. The most commonly reported symptoms of PPH include shortness of breath, weakness and repeated fainting or passing out. Women are more likely to show early PPH symptoms than men.
A physician may wish to perform medical tests in order to rule out other diseases and confirm a PPH diagnosis. These can include simple blood tests; a physical examination to check for irregular heart sounds; heart catheterization; a CT scan, chest X-ray, echocardiogram or other imaging studies.
Once a PPH diagnosis has been confirmed, a doctor may prescribe a number of possible treatments. These can include prescription medications such as Letairis, warfarin, Digitek (digoxin), Flonan, Remodulin or Tracleer; as well as changes in a patient’s diet or mild exercise. A lung or heart transplant may be necessary depending on how soon a diagnosis is made, the severity of symptoms and how a patient responds to treatment.
About Hissey Kientz, LLP
Hissey Kientz, LLP (Fleet Phospho Soda; digoxin toxicity from Digitek; the Composix Kugel mesh hernia patch; renal failure caused by Trasylol; the Duragesic or fentanyl pain patch; Raptiva; FELA railroad injuries; gadolinium MRI contrast dyes or other defective drugs and devices. To learn more about the firm and other drug cases, visit Hissey Kientz, LLP or call toll-free at (866) 275-4454.
Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/herbal-fen-phen/ephedra/prweb2728914.htm.
Copyright©2009 Vocus, Inc.
All rights reserved