February 26, 2014 — A growing number of people are coming forward to report liver injuries after using OxyElite Pro, a popular weight-loss supplement that was recalled in November 2013.
CBS News 6 has reported the case of Austin Ashworth, a 27 year-old soccer player who took OxyElite Pro to get in shape. After using the product for one month, he developed symptoms of liver damage — jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), nausea, and weight loss.
Ashworth was hospitalized for 35 days in less than two months. He also got married — but called his wedding day “horrible.” Five days later, he was in the hospital again. Ashworth said, “It was supposed to be the best day of your life, but I really was just trying to keep it together the whole time.” Although his health is now improving, he continues to endure the threat of liver failure.
40 OxyElite Pro Lawsuits Filed in Federal Court
USPLabs, LLC, the manufacturer of OxyElite Pro, and supplement retailers are facing more than 40 lawsuits from people who developed liver damage. On February 3, the cases were consolidated in federal court in Miami, Florida.
One of the lawsuits was filed by Eric Rizzo, a resident of Islamorada, Florida. After purchasing OxyElite Pro at a Vitamin Shoppe in November, he developed symptoms of liver damage around Christmas. He claims OxyElite Pro nearly killed him and permanently damaged his liver:
“I was getting sicker and sicker, and finally around New Year’s Day a friend said if I didn’t go to the hospital he was going to call 911. He thought it was food-borne. I was a couple days from dying of liver toxicity.”
Doctors were able to stabilize his condition, but they were unable to determine the cause of his liver damage. It wasn’t until Rizzo was discharged from the hospital that he received a call asking if he had used OxyElite Pro. In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an official recall for OxyElite Pro.
Do I have an OxyElite Pro Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting OxyElite Pro induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by OxyElite Pro, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Dietary Supplement Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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