Tylenol Liver Injury Lawsuits Face MDL Federal Consolidation

Dr Shezad Malik Law Firm, based in Dallas Texas has written several articles regarding the dangers of liver damage and injury with the use of Tylenol, when taken at the usual prescribed dosage. Many Tylenol product liability lawsuits have been filed alleging liver damage and liver failure from Tylenol side effects. Recently, a motion has been filed to centralize and consolidate all federal Tylenol lawsuits in one court for pretrial proceedings as part of an MDL, or multidistrict litigation.

Johnson & Johnson Tylenol Allegations

All of the complaints allege that Johnson & Johnson, and it’s subsidiary McNeil Healthcare, sold Tylenol without warning doctors or patients of the severe risks of liver injury and damage from acetaminophen, the active drug chemical.

If a Tylenol MDL is approved, then the cases are consolidated for pretrial procedings, to coordinate discovery and the bell wether trials. The lawsuits and claims would be individualized actions, and each plaintiff must establish that Tylenol drug was defective and the cause of an injury.

Risk of Tylenol Liver Failure

In 1986, medical studies demonstrated that acetaminophen injury was increased in patients with reduced levels of glutathione liver enzyme which is important in the detoxification process in the liver. Increased levels of acetaminophen and its breakdown active products, increases the risk of liver failure.

In 1993, medical studies demonstrated that acetaminophen liver failure risk was dose dependent and increased by fasting. In 1994, there was a label warning that alcohol use also increased the risks of liver failure.

FDA Investigation and Warnings

The FDA has stated that acetaminophen overdose is a leading cause of liver failure in the U.S., resulting in more than 50,000 emergency room visits, 25,000 hospitalizations and over 450 deaths annually. According to a 2002 FDA advisory committee meeting, there were between 1,000 and 2,000 acetaminophen-induced liver failures each year.

Read more here about the inherent risks of Tylenol and the incidence of liver injury and liver damage by taking prescribed doses of Tylenol.