Hydroxycut Liver Failure Lawsuit Filed Following Recall

A Wisconsin man has filed a product liability lawsuit alleging that the recently recalled Hydroxycut dietary supplement caused him to suffer jaundice and necrosis of the liver after just over three weeks use.

The Hydroxycut lawsuit was filed on June 8 in the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin by 28-year-old Marques Parke and his wife, Dawn. The complaint names both Iovate Health Sciences, the manufacturer of the supplement, and Wal-Mart, which sold the Plaintiff Hydroxycut at their Sam’s Club Stores.

Parke alleges that he suffered serious Hydroxycut liver damage side effects after normal, short-term use of the supplement, which was marketed as a weight-loss aid, fat burner and energy enhancer.

Iovate issued a Hydroxycut recall on May 1, 2009, after the FDA identified at least 23 reports of liver damage and one death among users of the product. Although the risk of liver injury was cited as the primary reason for the recall, the FDA also indicated that Hydroxycut was linked to reports of seizures, heart problems and a rare muscle damaging condition known as rhabdomyolysis.

After taking Hydroxycut rapid release tablets between March 5, 2008 and March 29, 2008, Parke became ill and went to the emergency room, where he was diagnosed with hepatitis and jaundice. Less than two weeks later he returned to the hospital with worsening symptoms and doctors discovered he had acute hepatitis with necrosis of the liver. He was hospitalized for 11 days.

According to the Hydroxycut lawsuit complaint, a liver specialist said the plaintiff “developed hepatoxicity due to the dietary supplement Hydroxycut.”

The case joins a handful of other lawsuits over Hydroxycut filed since the recall last month. More complaints are expected over the coming months as Hydroxycut recall lawyers are investigating potential cases throughout the United States on behalf of individuals who have suffered liver damage or other injuries that may be linked to the dietary supplement.