Drug Injury Lawyers Blog
Our Boston GranuFlo attorneys represent victims and their families with claims against Fresenius Medical Care for health complications involving GranuFlo, a dry acid product used in Dialysis treatments. Fresenius Medical Care is the largest dialysis operator in this country and the leading supplier of dialysis machines and disposal products used in other clinics. Now, however, there are many reports claiming that GranuFlo ups the risk of low blood pressure, heart attack, metabolic alkalosis, stroke, and death.
Granuflo is used to lower acid in patients on dialysis. It converts to bicarbonate in the bloodstream, which is supposed to neutralize the acid found in the blood. Because GranuFlo has more of an ingredient that becomes a bicarbonate than other dialysates, this can up the chance of a bicarbonate overdose.
Last year, the FDA recalled GranuFlo following an urgent notification by Fresenius warning of the possible risk of heart attack. In its Class I recall, the government regulator said that inappropriate dosing of GranuFlo and NaturaLyte, which also is made by Fresenius and used to reduce acid in dialysis patients, were linked to high bicarbonate levels in the blood, which could cause metabolic alkalosis, a huge risk factor for serious cardiovascular issues, including cardiac arrhythmia, which may result in cardiopulmonary arrest and sudden cardiac death. (The New York Times previously reported that while Fresenius notified its clinics of the elevated heart risks in November 2011, recommending that doctors modify their dosage of the two acids to decrease the risk, the manufacturer did not warn clinics outside its ownership of the possible complication until the following year in March.)
Now, more than 300 GranuFlo injury cases have been filed by claimants and/or their families and hundreds of other patients are said to have suffered from cardiac arrest from the acid concentrate.
Drug and medical device manufacturers are supposed to make products that help patients, not place them at additional risk of complication, including death. You want to work with a drug injury law firm that knows how to pursue compensation from the liable parties, including a negligent manufacturer, distributor, or medical facility from where the drug or medication was administered. Recovery of medical expenses, emotional trauma, lost income, companionship loss, and wrongful death are just some of the damages you could get back. There also may be reason to pursue a Massachusetts medical malpractice case against the physician or another medical professional involved.
Heart Attacks
A heart attack typically happens when an artery sending blood to the heart gets blocked. Symptoms of a heart attack linked to GranuFlo may include tightness, pressure, arm or chest pain or aches, heartburn, nausea, indigestion, breath shortness, anxiety, cold sweating, lightheadedness, dizziness, or problems sleeping. A Granuflo-induced heart attack can be deadly.
Fresenius Medical Care North America, Naturalyte and Granuflo Acid Concentrate, FDA, March 29, 2012
What Is a Heart Attack?, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
More Blog Posts:
GranuFlo Dialysis Treatment Lawsuits Filed Over Cardiac Deaths, Massachusetts Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, July 23, 2013
GranuFlo Lawsuits: Dialysis Patients Report Damaging Side Effects, Including Cardiac Arrest, Massachusetts Drug Injury Lawyers Blog, November 27, 2012
Woburn, MA Compounding Pharmacy Recalls Drugs After Regulators Find “Foreign Matter” in Vials, Boston Injury Lawyer Blog, March 25, 2013
