Oxyelite Pro Lawsuits. Oxyelite Liver Damage

If you or a loved one suffered liver damage or hepatitis symptoms while taking fat-burning supplement Oxyelite Pro, contact Oxyelite attorney Chris Mellino today for a free consultation. You may be able to file a personal injury claim against manufacturer USP Labs and pursue compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.

“Liver failure occurs when large parts of the liver become damaged beyond repair and the liver is no longer able to function,” according to WebMD. Usually, the condition takes years to progress as a result of heavy drinking or cirrhosis, but an acetaminophen overdose and dangerous herbal supplements can cause acute liver failure within 48 hours. In this case, USP Labs has told the FDA that ingredient DMAA, also known as 1,3-dimethylamylamine or methylhexanamine, is cultivated from geraniums. However, “FDA is not aware of any reliable science indicating that DMAA exists naturally in plants,” according to its July 16, 2013, statement.

Per that same statement, USP Labs reportedly destroyed all products containing DMAA on July 2, 2013, in response to an April 24, 2012, warning letter demanding that they be taken off the market. This warning letter stemmed from 86 reports of adverse events, including consumers who suffered:

• elevated blood pressure;
• shortness of breath;
• irregular heartbeat;
• chest constriction;
• a heart attack;
• seizures;
• neurological and psychological problems; or
• death.

In light of the FDA warning, USP Labs introduced new formulas containing aegeline this year. Thus far, however, “health officials have released too little information to know even which formula of OxyElite Pro injured consumers were taking,” an adviser to the company stated.

On October 8, 2013, the Hawaii State Department of Health issued a press release asking retailers, such as GNC, to stop carrying Oxyelite as it investigated 29 cases of acute hepatitis and liver failure, including two transplants and one death, that occurred between May and October of this year.

“Twenty-four cases reported using OxyElite Pro before their illness,” the release stated.

In response, USP Labs issued its own press release, stating, “The cluster of liver issues in Hawaii is a complete mystery and nothing like this has ever been associated with OxyElite Pro in all of the years our products have been in the market.” The Dallas-based company did, however, agree to stop distributing “OxyElite Pro with the Purple Top and OxyElite Pro Super Thermo Powder,” which are the formulas under fire.

The FDA advised consumers to stop taking this dangerous drug and to report any adverse side effects they’ve suffered via its MedWatch system.

October 9, 2013, Hawaii News Now reported that 48-year-old resident and mother of seven children Sonnette Marras died from liver damage after taking Oxyelite Pro to lose weight. She became violently ill and unable to hold down food after several weeks, her husband said. Marras slipped into a coma and was given a week to live after being denied a transplant when doctors found a lump in her breast.

October 11, 2013, the FDA sent another warning letter to USP Labs, but this one concerned ingredient aegeline, which replaced DMAA in new formulas. “Failure to immediately cease distribution of all products containing aegeline may result in enforcement action by FDA without further notice,” the letter stated.

On October 25, 2013, USA Today reported that 48 people have suffered from acute hepatitis since April 1.

November 12, 2013, the FDA published a press release from USP Labs, stating it had voluntarily recalled all Oxyelite powders and capsules containing aegeline.

If you suffered liver damage or hepatitis while taking Oxyelite, contact Ohio attorney Chris Mellino today for a free consultation, or visit our lawsuit information and resources page for more details. The state limits the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit, so don’t delay, or you could lose your opportunity to pursue compensation for medical bills, time you missed from work, and other expenses.