Class Action Blog : Consumer Fraud, Consumer Protection, Securities and Antitrust Lawyer & Attorney : Meiselman, Denlea, Packman, Carton & Eberz

Tinnitus is a medical condition that causes those afflicted to constantly hear noise, typically an incessant ringing in the ears. For many sufferers, this is not a small inconvenience. In fact, some tinnitus victims become so frustrated that they consider surgically removing their ear drums, and other experience suicidal ideation.

Unfortunately, there are very few medical treatments for tinnitus. However, this has not stopped unscrupulous marketers from selling bogus tinnitus cures to consumers desperate enough to try anything. One such marketer may be Quietus, which is sold on late-night television shows and on the Internet. Quietus is touted as a “homeopathic remedy” that “helps support your body’s healing power and helps your inner ear function better.” Not surprisingly, the makers of Quietus are unwilling to divulge its contents.

There are serious questions as to whether Quietus is capable of helping consumers with tinnitus at all.

Tinnitus is not a disease; but a symptom resulting from a range of underlying causes that can include: ear infections, foreign objects or wax in the ear, nose allergies that prevent (or induce) fluid drain and cause wax build-up. Tinnitus can also be caused by natural hearing impairment (as in aging), as a side-effect of some medications, and as a side-effect of genetic (congenital) hearing loss. However, the most common cause for tinnitus is noise-induced hearing loss.

A serious problem that I have with the whole "tinnitus cure" issue is the fact that the symptoms of tinnitus can have a variety of different causes and for that reason medications and treatment strategies may vary based on these factors. Sad to say, there really is no panacea for all those suffering from tinnitus symptoms so, it might be wise to first understand the cause of your particular condition before making the decision to buy a product such as Quietus for tinnitus or any other tinnitus supplement.

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The ever present desire for athletes to train to the extreme to obtain an edge on the competition exists at every level of athletics from high school to the professional athlete.  In the past this desire has led to the imprudent use of anabolic steroids by athletes in all levels of competition.

The dangers of using anabolic steroids have been well-documented and the subject of extensive media coverage.  The BALCO investigation is just one example. The serious and often fatal risks associated with using steroids to increase body strength and performance, clearly should prohibit the use of such substances.  There is, however, the ongoing desire to obtain that edge on the competition.   Thus, to avoid the stigma associated with steroids, certain products have been developed by some manufacturers that have been marketed as dietary supplements, but which actually contain synthetic steroids.

The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) issued a Public Health Advisory on July 28, 2009, warning consumers to stop using body building products marketed as dietary supplements, but are instead unapproved and misbranded drugs.  These products are sold online and in retail stores and are promoted as hormone products and/or alternatives to anabolic steroids.  The FDA warned that these products are potentially harmful and that it has not approved them or reviewed their safety before marketing.

The FDA also sent a warning letter to American Cellular Labs, the manufacturer of TREN-Xtreme and MASS Xtreme.  Other products identified by the FDA include ESTRO Xtreme, AH-89-Xtreme, HMG Xtreme, MMA-3 Xtreme, VNS-9 Xtreme, and TT‑40‑Xtreme.

The FDA has received adverse event reports for these products which include cases of serious liver injury, stroke, kidney failure, and pulmonary embolism.  Other conditions that can be associated with these products include shrinkage of the testes, male infertility, masculinization of women, breast enlargement in males, short stature in children, adverse affects on blood lipid levels and increased risk of heart attack and stroke.  As such, the FDA recommends that consumers immediately stop using these products and has also cautioned that athletes taking these products may test positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

If you have been injured as a result of using any of these products, please contact us to discuss your legal options.

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