"Agreement reached to settle some Poligrip claims"
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.
Poligrip Lawsuit
Our firm is currently evaluating potential Poligrip lawsuits. Poligrip and similar products have been linked to neuropathy and other neurological problems. If you are a Poligrip user and have been diagnosed with neuropathy that has no known cause, Poligrip could be to blame. Though the link between Poligrip and neuropathy is not widely known, several victims have already filed Poligrip lawsuits against GlaxoSmithKline.
The Poligrip lawsuits filed so far claim that GlaxoSmithKline failed to warn that overuse of this product can lead to neuropathy and other neurological disorders. The victims of Poligrip neuropathy may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you or someone you care about suffers from neuropathy that could have been caused by Poligrip, we urge you to contact us right away to discuss filing a Poligrip lawsuit.
Poligrip Neuropathy
Many people with ill-fitting dentures rely on zinc-containing denture creams like Poligrip to keep them in place. However, if you ingest too much of the zinc in Poligrip, you might eventually experience copper depletion. People who suffer from chronic low levels of copper in their blood can develop severe neurological problems, including neuropathy.
Neuropathy is characterized by the following symptoms:
- tingling or numbness in the extremities
- loss of ability to move legs, feet, arms, or hands
- poor balance and coordination
- decrease in walking stride
- abnormal blood pressure and heart rate
- reduced ability to perspire
- constipation and bladder dysfunction.
Neuropathy is a painful disorder that can cause permanent disability. Victims of neuropathy often face large bills for medical care, rehabilitation, and specialized equipment. Often, the disability resulting from neuropathy is so severe, victims are unable to work.
Sadly, neuropathy from Poligrip could have been avoided in many cases if GlaxoSmithKline had provided consumers with adequate warnings about the zinc found in the product. Because Poligrip and similar dental creams are classified by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as Class I medical devices, GlaxoSmithKline has not had to include such safety warnings.
The evidence linking denture creams like Poligrip to neuropathy is growing. In August 2008, the journal "Neurology" reported on four patients suffering from neuropathy and other neurological symptoms typical of zinc poisoning and copper depletion. It was determined that excess use of dental creams could have been responsible for their symptoms. The article noted that one tube of denture cream should last 3 to 10 weeks, but patients in the report 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 subjects suffered from excessive zinc and insufficient copper levels. In a couple of cases, patients who took copper supplements and/or stopped using denture cream had improved copper and zinc levels. But only two patients showed "mild neurological improvement" after they began the supplements and stopped using denture creams, while the others had no improvement whatsoever.
Possible Misdiagnoses of Poligrip Zinc Poisoning
Many doctors are not aware that Poligrip can cause zinc copper depletion, as well as severe neurological problems like neuropathy. This can lead to a mistaken diagnosis.
Most often, if a patient with Poligrip zinc poisoning is misdiagnosed, they are thought to have a demyelinating disease. These types of disorders involve destruction of the myelin sheath - the protective covering of the nerve cells. Our Poligrip lawsuit lawyers are currently investigating several cases of zinc copper deficiency that were first diagnosed as one of the following demyelinating diseases:
Multiple Sclerosis: People with denture adhesive neuropathy are often suspected to be suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. This is not surprising, as Multiple Sclerosis affects more than 400,000 people in the U.S. Many of the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are identical to those of zinc copper depletion. Multiple sclerosis can be difficult to diagnose early in the course of the disease, because symptoms often come and go — sometimes disappearing for months.
Demyelinating Syndrome: This syndrome is often associated with other diseases, such as lupus. Typical symptoms 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.
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.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. Early symptoms of this disorder-such as varying degrees of weakness or tingling sensations in the legs-are similar to those caused by zinc copper deficiency. 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.
Other Related Links
Excess use of denture cream tied to nerve damage
More claims of denture cream poisoning
Compensation for Victims of Poligrip Neuropathy
Poligrip is used by thousands of denture wearers, so it is likely that it has caused many people to suffer. It is important that GlaxoSmithKline be held accountable for failing to warn Poligrip users that the zinc this product contains could seriously endanger their health.
If you or someone you love suffers from neuropathy that could be tied to the use of Poligrip, 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 Poligrip lawsuit today.
