Poligrip/Fixodent Denture Cream
Morris, Sullivan & Lemkul is committed to litigating cases against GlaxoSmithKline (the manufacturers of Poligrip, Super Poligrip and/or Fixodent) on behalf of individuals who have suffered neurological problems that may have been caused by exposure to excessive levels of zinc in denture cream.
If you or a loved one have used Poligrip or Fixodent denture cream adhesives (are NOT diabetic) and since developed Zinc Poisoning, Hypocupremia, Hyperzincemia, Neuropathy or any other serious side effect, you should contact us immediately. You may be entitled to compensation and we can help.
Poligrip/Fixodent Denture Cream
Denture creams are classified as Class 1 drugs, thereby not requiring zinc to be listed on the label or packaging. Denture creams such as Poligrip, Super Poligrip, Fixodent and others have been found to contribute to zinc toxicity, leading to many forms of neurological (neuropathy) injuries or side effects. Typically, neuropathy has been linked to people who have diabetes.
Injuries and Side Effects caused by a zinc overdose may include:
- Neuropathy
- Hyperzincemia (high levels of Zinc in the blood)
- Hypocupremia (low levels of copper in the blood)
- Lack of Coordination
- Burning Sensations
- Problems with Balance
- Loss of Ability to Move Legs, Feet, Arms and/or Hands
- Decrease in Walking Stride
- Loss of Strength
- Other Neurological Problems
FDA Alert
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates denture adhesives, which are medical devices under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. A denture adhesive is a device intended to be applied to the base of a denture before the denture is inserted in a patient's mouth to improve denture retention and comfort. FDA has classified this product as a low-risk device (class I). While manufacturers are not required to submit marketing applications to FDA for most class I devices, they still must register and list a class I device with the agency and comply with other applicable FDA requirements. These requirements include adverse event reporting, manufacturing controls, and labeling that is neither false nor misleading. FDA monitors adverse events from medical devices through mandatory and voluntary reporting systems. Manufacturers and hospitals are required by law to report deaths and serious injuries. Manufacturers also must report malfunctions that could result in death or serious injury. FDA reviews reports submitted to the agency and has authority to take immediate action, when warranted, to protect public health.
How do I find out if I have Zinc Poisoning?
The following simple blood and urine tests may be used by your health care professional to determine if you have high levels of zinc:
- A Zinc RBC
- A Copper RBC
- A spot urine test for Zinc
- A spot urine test for Copper
- A blood test for ceruloplasmin.
What is peripheral NEUROPATHY:
Neuropathy is a medical term describing disorders of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system
Symptoms and Signs
While every person's experience with peripheral neuropathy can be as unique as the individual, there are some common neuropathy symptoms and signs.
- Numbness, tingling, abnormal sensations, or pain in your feet. Some people feel like they have socks on, even though they are barefoot. Over time, this feeling spreads to your legs and hands.
- Difficulty walking and loss of balance.
- Difficulty gripping items or opening jars, etc.
Peripheral neuropathy symptoms and signs can vary in how they begin. Some neuropathies come on suddenly; others gradually over many years. There are three types of peripheral nerves affected, and symptoms depend on these nerves and their location:
- Sensory Nerves: affect sensation
- Autonomic Nerves: affect internal organ functions; and,
- Motor Nerves: affect muscles.
Many types of peripheral neuropathy affect all three types of nerves to various degrees, but some affect only one or two.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these neuropathy symptoms, we encourage you to visit your physician as soon as possible and discuss your symptoms and your concerns and to contact our office if you've been using Fixodent and/or Poli-Grip regularly.
To learn more about symptoms of neuropathy please go to: http://www.neuropathy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=About_Symptoms