Many individuals who are working on improving their strength, endurance and weight-loss use dietary supplements. Some of those dietary supplements that are claimed to have fat-burning ingredients contain dangerous chemicals. One of those dietary supplements is known as OxyElite Pro, a dietary supplement sold as a fat-burning pill.
Until early in 2013, OxyElite Pro contained an illegal stimulant drug similar to Ephedrine. The drug or the harmful chemical compound is known as DMAA, also known as 1,3-dimethylamylamine, methylhexanamine, or geranium extract, which has been called out as an ingredient that is illegally and dangerously added to many dietary supplements
DMAA has been associated with deadly cardiovascular side effects. The United States military has banned the on-base sales of OxyElite Pro and other DMAA supplements. Another of those banned dietary supplements is Jack3d.
Side effects of those taking OxyElite Pro include jaundice, liver failure, hepatitis (liver inflammation), stroke, kidney failure, heart attack and death. In at least one instance, a young man who was taking OxyElite Pro later suffered liver failure resulting in a liver transplant.
The manufacturer of OxyElite Pro is USP Labs. Lawsuits are pending around the country, some of which are in federal multi-district litigation (MDL), which has consolidated approximately ten lawsuits and three class action cases. There are two lawsuits that are pending and filed in Hawaii and 56 other liver damage cases related to OxyElite Pro that have been filed in thirteen other states, including Hawaii.
The products that OxyElite Pro has recalled include these:
- OxyElite Pro Super Thermo Powder
- OxyElite Pro Super Thermo Capsules
- OxyElite Pro Ultra-Intense Thermo Capsules
According to the FDA, OxyElite Pro contained aegeline, which was an unimproved ingredient. USP Labs has agreed to remove that product as of November 2013.
In November 2013, the Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would destroy $22 million worth of OxyElite Pro because of its related dangerous contents.
Users of OxyElite Pro must be diligent about the onset of problems. These are many of the known side effects causing serious injury to users:
- Liver inflammation.
- Acute non-viral hepatitis.
- Elevated liver enzymes in blood.
- Jaundice.
- Liver damage (hepatotoxicity)
- Liver failure.
- Hospitalization and surgery for liver transplant.
- Brain damage (hepatic encephalopathy)
Kreisman Law Offices has handled many of the dietary supplement cases including one that recently was resolved by binding arbitration. Like the OxyElite Pro cases, our case was also locked into the multi-district litigation (MDL), this time in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California at San Diego. In our case, very similar to the cases that are ongoing now involving OxyElite Pro, involved just two month’s use of a dietary supplement, that likewise contained dangerous and sometimes deadly chemical compounds. Our client quickly sustained liver failure and required an emergency liver transplant that was done at Chicago’s University of Illinois Hospital. There was no doubt that the dietary supplement was sole cause of the client’s liver failure. The treating physicians all confirmed that the chemical compound added freely to the supplement was agent that attacked and damaged the liver as it often does to users. Our client has a lifetime of the possibility of rejection even though this very complicated surgery was successful. The client was just 33 years old at the time and the mother of three young children. The experience was devastating to the young family.
If you or someone you love has been injured or has died as a result of taking OxyElite Pro find out whether you may take legal action to recover compensation for these injuries and loss. Robert Kreisman of Kreisman Law Offices has been handling dietary supplement litigation lawsuits for more than 40 years around Illinois and the United States. Kreisman Law Offices has successfully represented individuals who have liver failure, kidney damage, liver transplant, jaundice, heart attack and other heart and liver problems caused by the use of unsafe dietary supplements.
With Kreisman Law Offices’ years of experience in trying and settling pharmaceutical litigation matters, we provide the best possible services to our clients and have achieved unsurpassed results. Our service is unmatched. Please call us 24 hours a day at 312.346.0045 or toll free 800.583.8002 for a free and immediate consultation, or complete a contact form online.
