subject: Disorders and Their Symptoms That Could Give Rise to Poligrip Lawsuits [print this page] Disorders and Their Symptoms That Could Give Rise to Poligrip Lawsuits
Though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) didn't mention Fixodent or Poligrip lawsuits outright in its notice last month to denture adhesive manufacturers, it did discuss the "adverse events" (read: denture cream injuries) that have prompted many people to file lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline and Procter & Gamble. In the letter, issued on February 23, the FDA discussed reports of consumers suffering from zinc toxicity caused by the zinc contained in some denture creams. Specifically, the agency noted myeloneuropathy of the extremities and blood dyscrasias. Below is a description of those disorders' symptoms and what action should be taken by denture cream users if they experience them.
Neuropathy is a disorder of the peripheral nerves (those apart from the brain and spinal cord). Myeloneuropathy is damage to the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves. Myelin sheath is a layer of fats and proteins that coats nerves and facilitates electrical impulse transmission (think of it like insulation on electrical wire). When myelin sheath is damaged or destroyed, it is difficult for impulses to travel through nerves, thereby inhibiting neural function. This can manifest in a number of ways, such as slowed or weakened motor skills and insensitivity to pain.
There are a number of known causes of myeloneuropathy, including autoimmune response, disease, vitamin deficiency, and environmental toxins. A copper deficiency can also lead to neurological impairment, and this is the source of myeloneuropathy associated with the use of a denture cream with zinc. Both zinc and copper are essential minerals in the human diet, with copper being necessary to maintain healthy neurologic function. Too much zinc, however, can purge the body of copper, leading to demyelination (loss of myelin sheath). A person who uses too much denture cream with zinc could develop a copper deficiency that leads to myeloneuropathy that affects the arms and legs in particular. Symptoms of this disorder may include, difficulty walking and balancing, tingling, numbness, and loss of sensation in the arms and legs.
In its letter to denture cream manufacturers the FDA mentions another adverse event, blood dyscrasias, that is linked to denture adhesive zinc. Blood dyscrasias is a catch-all term that can refer to any abnormal blood condition, including blood's function and also a blood component (red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets) that is in supplies higher or lower than normal. Just as low copper levels can negatively impact nerve cells, they can also disturb the blood's normal balance. One instance of this is anemia (a low red blood cell count). Others are leucopenia and neutropenia (types of white blood cell deficiencies). A person suffering from anemia might experience dizziness, fatigue, headaches, and difficulty concentrating, while a low white blood cell count could make it difficult to fight infection. Zinc toxicity, or too much zinc in the blood, can also be a form of blood dyscrasias, resulting in symptoms such as a metallic taste in the mouth, low blood pressure, yellow eyes or skin, nausea, and vomiting.
Any of the symptoms described above are cause for concern and warrant a trip to the doctor as soon as possible. If you are using or used a denture cream with zinc, be sure to mention this to your physician so the proper diagnosis can be made. Blood, hair, and urine tests can all detect high zinc levels and low copper levels. Once you stop using denture cream containing zinc, your zinc levels can drop quickly. Without confirmation of zinc poisoning, you may have trouble succeeding in a denture cream lawsuit, which is another reason why you should get checked out immediately if suffering from symptoms of blood dyscrasias or myeloneuropathy.
Once you have a certified diagnosis of zinc toxicity, the Rottenstein Law Group can help you take legal action against a denture cream manufacturer such as GSK or P&G. These companies for years failed to warn of their products' dangerous side effects, which resulted in many people using excessive amounts of denture cream and developing neurologic disease. If you believe you or a family member suffered neurological damage caused by Fixodent or Poligrip, let the experienced lawyers of RLG assist you in filing a Fixodent or Poligrip lawsuit.
