October 3, 2013 — The Hawaii Department of Health has linked at least 30 liver injuries to OxyElite Pro, a dietary supplement containing DMAA that is used for weight-loss and body-building.
At least one person has already had a liver transplant, and several more are on the list or being evaluated for a transplant. The incidents occurred between May and September 2013, and victims have reported rapid onset of liver inflammation (hepatitis) and liver failure.
The Hawaii Department of Health issued a press release, warning that the only common risk-factor in these injuries was OxyElite Pro:
“The only common finding among all the cases, at this point, is the use of a dietary or nutritional supplement for the purpose of weight loss and/or muscle gain in the past six months. Cases have been reported from every county in the state.”
Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL
OxyElite Pro Linked to Liver Damage Epidemic in Hawaii
October 8, 2013 – OxyElite Pro will be removed from store shelves nationwide. USPLabs has agreed to stop selling the product until the CDC completes their investigation. Click here to read more.
October 8, 2013 – The FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication to warn about the outbreak of non-viral hepatitis — 24 out of 29 people report using OxyElite Pro. Click here to read more.
October 4, 2013 — A “bad batch” of OxyElite Pro may be responsible for the epidemic of liver injuries in Hawaii. Although OxyElite Pro is used throughout the United States, liver injuries have only been reported in Hawaii, fueling speculation that the state received a contaminated shipment. The manufacturer, USPLabs, recently re-formulated OxyElite Pro, and liver injuries might be a reaction to new ingredients. Click here to read more.
October 3, 2013 — The Hawaii Department of Health has reported a cluster of at least 32 liver injuries have been associated with OxyElite Pro, including cases of acute hepatitis and liver failure. At least one person has had a liver transplant, and many more are on a waiting list or are being evaluated for a transplant. Click here to read more.
Hawaii News Now Exclusive Reports
Hawaii News Now has been reporting on the sudden outbreak of liver failure cases linked to the use of OxyElite Pro in Hawaii. Below are links to the video library:
- Woman who took diet pills dies of liver failure
- Dying woman’s family says she took diet pills before getting sick
- More cases of liver failure linked to diet supplement
- Gov’t shutdown impeding OxyElite Pro liver injury investigation
Additional Resources:
Hawaii State Department of Health – Hawaii Department of Health Oxyelite Pro Weightloss Supplement Pill Liver Failure Hepatitis Outbreak
Why So Many Liver Injuries in Hawaii?
The big mystery is why OxyElite Pro was linked to so many liver injuries in Hawaii. It is possible that a “bad batch” was shipped to Hawaii, but no one knows for sure. The FDA has received at least 86 adverse event reports, but most reports involve cardiovascular side effects (heart attacks, stroke, chest tightness, high blood pressure, etc.), seizures, nervous system disorders, psychiatric disorders, and death.
What’s clear is that no one should have been able to buy OxyElite Pro in Hawaii between May and September 2013, when these injuries occurred. The FDA has been working to take OxyElite Pro and other DMAA supplements off the market since April 2012, when they sent a Warning Letter to USPLabs and 10 other manufacturers. USPLabs fought the FDA and continued selling the products. Stores like GNC and Vitamin Shoppe carried OxyElite Pro until early 2013, when the FDA finally ordered U.S. marshals to seize the products. In July 2013, USPLabs was forced to destroy $8 million worth of OxyElite Pro and Jack3D.
DMAA in OxyElite Pro Introduced by Chemist in BALCO Sports-Doping Scandal
It is safe to assume that most people who took OxyElite Pro thought it was an all-natural dietary supplement. In reality, the active ingredient — DMAA or 1,3-dimethylamylamine — was first synthesized as a nasal decongestant spray in the 1940s by Eli Lilly & Co. It wasn’t very successful, and was discontinued a couple years later.
DMAA didn’t return to the market until 2005, soon after ephedrine was banned. The man who re-introduced DMAA was Patrick Arnold, a chemist who served federal prison time for his role in the BALCO / Barry Bonds sports-doping scandal, according to a Washington Post article published in 2006.
Do I have a DMAA Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting DMAA induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by DMAA, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
