• How does Rezulin® work?
Patients with Type II diabetes are able to produce insulin, but their bodies are unable to use the chemical properly. As a result, these patients have too much sugar stored in their bodies. This condition is known as hyperglycemia. Rezulin®, which is also referred to by its generic name, troglitazone, was designed to combat the dangers caused by hyperglycemia by suppressing the secretion of insulin by the liver. The body's organs are better able to use the available insulin when the correct amount is produced. Thus, Rezulin® has the capability to restore the body&Mac226;s sensitivity to insulin by lowering sugar levels in the blood. Unfortunately, while Rezulin® does help to solve one medical condition, it can also cause very serious side effects. Rezulin® can trigger extensive, and in some cases life-threatening, liver complications.

• What are the dangers associated with Rezulin®?
The Food and Drug Administration has documented that of the 90 patients who have suffered liver damage, 10 required liver transplants and 63 have died as a result of liver injuries caused by Rezulin®. A variety of symptoms can indicate that the liver has been damaged. Nausea, vomiting, dark urine, clay-colored stools, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, and jaundice are all indications of liver disease. If you have taken Rezulin® and are currently suffering from these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately and ask to have a liver function test conducted to diagnose your condition.

• What is a liver function test?
A liver function test is a blood test that can detect several kinds of liver damage. There are two basic types of the test and each one detects a specific problem. One version of the test indicates the enzyme levels of the liver. The other version of the test is used to assess whether the blood clots properly. Rezulin® affects the levels of enzymes in the liver, specifically ALT (aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate aminotransferase). Elevated levels of these enzymes, especially of ALT, are clear indicators of liver damage.

• When was Rezulin® removed from the market?
In June 1999, a Food and Drug Administration committee restricted doctors' ability to prescribe Rezulin® to patients who did not respond to any other kinds of medication. After further research, the FDA found that two alternative drugs, Avandia® and Actos®, provided the same therapeutic benefits as Rezulin®, but did not pose the same serious risks to the liver. In March 2000, the FDA finally decided to remove Rezulin® from the market completely. If you are currently still taking Rezulin®, do not stop your treatment without first consulting your physician.

• Do Rezulin® users have a right to be compensated for their injuries?
If, after proper medical evaluation, it is determined that you are suffering an injury related to the use of Rezulin®, you may have the right to legal compensation. If Rezulin® has affected you, or someone close to you, you may be able to file a claim against the drug's manufacturer.

• What kind of legal action should I take?
Weitz & Luxenberg is currently agreeing to represent individual clients who have suffered significant liver damage as a result of taking Rezulin®. This would not be in a class action setting, where many people who have been harmed by the same product in various degrees sue the manufacturer together. Rather, if your injuries have been sufficiently serious, Weitz & Luxenberg will represent you individually.

• Do I have to pay for legal services?
The firm of Weitz & Luxenberg accepts cases solely on a contingency basis. This means that you are only obligated to pay the firm legal fees if its attorneys win financial compensation for you. If no money is awarded, you do not have to pay any fees to the firm at all. Costs and expenses may be payable at the conclusion of the case.

• How do I know which law firm to retain?
Hiring the right law firm to litigate your claim can profoundly affect your life and your future. The field is crowded and confusing. The firm you choose must be experienced in administrating "toxic tort" cases, familiar with the local courts, staffed with the right number of competent attorneys and support staff and have the financial commitment to see your case through to completion. Weitz & Luxenberg meets all of these qualifications. It has set the standard for successfully litigating mass tort claims. The firm has won verdicts or settlements of several hundred million dollars for individuals and groups of victims in Asbestos, Breast Implants, and DES litigations and it is currently involved in a major litigation against the makers of the drug Propulsid®.