"Agreement reached to settle some Poligrip claims"
Fixodent Lawsuits - Neuropathy Zinc
6/27/10-WFAA.com WFAA-TV|Dallas/Fort Worth - Health News - Zinc danger remains in denture paste "A lot of my clients were complaining of symptoms and go to their doctors, and the doctors will simply ignore them; they are unaware of the zinc poisoning issues. They are unaware that these products even contain zinc," said Andy Alonso, part of a team of attorneys representing more than 100 plaintiffs in a mass tort. He credits News 8 reports for getting the word out.
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3/10/10-Philadelphia Daily News - Zinc in dental adhesives can cause "horrific injuries," lawyer says. More Info...
Philadelphia Daily News - News coverage of Poligrip dental adhesive. More Info...
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) warns about a potential health risk associated with long-term, excessive use of GSK?s zinc-containing denture adhesives Super Poligrip ?Original?, ?Ultra Fresh? and ?Extra Care?. More Info...
Press Release - 2/18/2010 - Parker Waichman Alonso LLP Commends GlaxoSmithKline for its Decision to Voluntarily Stop the Manufacture, Distribution and Advertising of all Super PoliGrip Denture Cream Products Made with Zinc.
Consumer Web Advisory - 2/18/2010 - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) warns about a potential health risk associated with long-term, excessive use of GSK's zinc-containing denture adhesives Super Poligrip 'Original', 'Ultra Fresh' and 'Extra Care'.
ABC News - Study Finds a Possible Link Between Denture Cream and Imbalance
For More Information About The Poligrip Lawsuit - Click Here
GlaxoSmithKline Stops Making 3 Super PoliGrip Products Because of Zinc Risks
The risk of zinc poisoning prompted GlaxoSmithKline to announce it would voluntarily stop manufacturing, marketing and advertising three zinc-containing Super PoliGrip denture cream products on February 18, 2010. The products affected by this announcement are: Super PoliGrip 'Original', 'Ultra Fresh' and 'Extra Care'.
Glaxo said it is currently in the process of reformulating Super PoliGrip 'Original', Super PoliGrip 'Ultra Fresh' and Super PoliGrip 'Extra Care' to non-zinc formulations. The new versions should be in stores by Mid April 2010.
A small amount of zinc is necessary for a balanced diet. However, recent research suggests that long-term excessive use of zinc-containing denture creams like the Super PoliGrip products may lead to the development of neurological symptoms. These may include numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms and legs, difficulties with walking and balance and blood problems such as anemia.
Glaxo maintains that Super PoliGrip 'Original', 'Ultra Fresh? and 'Extra Care' are safe to use as directed, but noted that some consumers may apply more adhesive than directed, or use it more than once per day. In a statement posted on its Web site, Glaxo said it stopped the manufacture, distribution and advertising of the three zinc-containing Super PoliGrip products as a precautionary measure to minimize any potential risks to consumers. The company also said it had discussed the matter with the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and no further action is necessary.
According to Glaxo's statement, consumers who have been using zinc-containing Super PoliGrip 'Original', 'Ultra Fresh' or 'Extra Care' for several years in greater amounts than directed on the package or more than once per day, or have concerns about their health, must:
- Stop using the product.
- Talk to their doctor.
- Use a zinc-free alternative.
This action does not affect any zinc-free Super PoliGrip products, including Super PoliGrip 'Free,' Super PoliGrip 'Comfort Seal Strips', or Super PoliGrip 'Powder'. These products remain available to consumers.
Consumers with questions about this action can call Glaxo toll free at 1-866-640-1017.
Fixodent users should be aware that this denture cream has been linked to extremely serious health problems. If you are a Fixodent user and have experienced any neurological side effects, including numbness, tingling, weakness and pain in the extremities, or a debilitating disorder called neuropathy, we want to hear from you. Your experience may qualify you to become a plaintiff in a Fixodent lawsuit.
If you have suffered health problems related to this dental cream, a Fixodent lawsuit can help put your life back on track. You may be entitled to reimbursement for your current and future medical bills. You may also be eligible to receive compensation for lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our office is offering free Fixodent lawsuit consultations. If you or someone you know suffered health problems that could be associated with the use of Fixodent, we urge you to contact us immediately in order to protect your legal rights.
Fixodent Zinc Poisoning
The culprit behind the neuropathy and other Fixodent symptoms is zinc. Like most dental creams, Fixodent contains this mineral. Zinc in small amounts is not dangerous, but excessive exposure can cause an individual to become copper deficient. If the body is deprived of copper for a long period of time, neurological problems, including neuropathy, can result. The problems with Fixodent occur when consumers have been using large amounts of the product over a long period of time to keep poor fitting dentures in place.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of Fixodent users have no idea that the product could put their health at risk. Because Fixodent is considered to be a Class I medical device, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not require warning labels for the product. There is no mention that using excessive amounts of Fixodent could prove dangerous.
More than 35 million Americans - most of them elderly - are denture wearers. A large number of those use adhesives, like Fixodent, to keep dentures in place. Obviously, the public health implications of Fixodent zinc poisoning are enormous.
Fixodent Neuropathy
Neuropathy is by far the most serious health problem linked to Fixodent and other denture creams. Neuropathy is a disorder caused by damaged nerves. Neuropathy is often a consequence of diabetes or poor nutrition. It can also be a reaction to a toxin, or a side effect of certain drugs, such as chemotherapy agents.
Symptoms of neuropathy vary, but may include:
- numbness or tingling in the feet, legs, hands, and/or arms;
- a reduction in strength or ability to move legs or feet, or arms and hands;
- unexplained pain in the extremities;
- a tendency to stumble or fall down; instability and lack of balance;
- change or decrease in walking stride;
- abnormal blood pressure and heart rate;
- reduced ability to perspire;
- constipation and/or bladder dysfunction;
- sexual dysfunction.
When neuropathy is caused by Fixodent or other denture adhesives, copper depletion caused by exposure to excess zinc is to blame. This is what researchers at the University of Texas discovered when they studied a group of neuropathy patients for an article that appeared in the August 2008 issue of Neurology.
The article noted that one tube of denture cream should last 3 to 10 weeks, but patients in the study were all using at least two tubes a week. Three had also lost their teeth at a relatively young age, meaning they had used "extremely large amounts of denture adhesive daily for years." Blood tests revealed that all of the patients suffered from excessive zinc and insufficient copper levels.
Unfortunately, the study also confirmed that the damage caused by the zinc in denture creams like Fixodent can be permanent. Only two patients showed "mild neurological improvement" after they began using copper supplements and stopped using denture creams, while the others had no improvement whatsoever.
Possible Misdiagnoses of Fixodent Side Effects
The side effects caused by Fixodent are very similar to the symptoms of demyelinating diseases. Demyelinating diseases occur when the myelin sheath - a protective coating of the nerve cells - is destroyed. Research has shown that victims of severe zinc poisoning and copper deficiency also show evidence of demyelination. Fixodent side effects, such as pain or weakness in the extremities, difficulties with coordination, and movement problems, are also characteristic of demyelinating disorders.
Some of the demyelinating diseases most often misdiagnosed in patients suffering from Fixodent side effects include:
Demyelinating Syndrome: Typical symptoms of this disorder include odd sensation in legs, arms, chest, or face, such as tingling or numbness, or weakness; blurriness or double vision; loss of dexterity; and coordination problems. This syndrome can be associated with other diseases, such as lupus.
Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose early in the course of the disease, because symptoms often come and go — sometimes disappearing for months. Because of this difficulty, doctors may at first think that a patient has Multiple Sclerosis, when in fact they are suffering from denture neuropathy.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. The first symptoms of this disorder include varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs. In many instances the weakness and abnormal sensations spread to the arms and upper body. These symptoms can increase in intensity until certain muscles cannot be used at all. When severe, a patient may suffer life-threatening paralysis.
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP): A rare neurological disorder in which there is swelling of nerve roots and destruction of the myelin sheath over the nerves. This disorder causes weakness, paralysis and/or impairment in motor function, especially of the arms and legs. Sensory loss may also be present causing numbness, tingling, or prickling sensations. The motor and sensory impairments usually affect both sides of the body, and the degree of severity may vary.
If you use Fixodent and suffer from neurological problems, you should ask your doctor to test your blood for zinc and copper levels to rule out Fixodent side effects.
Other Related Links
Excess use of denture cream tied to nerve damage
More claims of denture cream poisoning
Legal Help for Fixodent Victims
If you are a Fixodent user, and have experienced symptoms that could be related to zinc poisoning, you have valuable legal rights. Please fill out our online form, or call 1 800 LAW INFO (1-800-529-4636) to discuss the possibility of filing a Fixodent lawsuit.