An Iowa woman who believes that Procter & Gamble's Fixodent and GlaxoSmithKline's Super Poligrip denture adhesive creams caused her neuropathy, is suing the two companies.
The lawsuit is the latest of several announced by the law firm Parker Waichman Alonso on behalf of users of zinc-containing denture creams.
According to the complaint, Shawn Renay Rankin, 48, stopped using the denture adhesive creams in March 2009 after she was diagnosed with neuropathy.
Rankin's lawsuit alleges that because of her use of Super Poligrip and Fixodent, she ingested excessive amounts of zinc, which over time caused her to suffer copper depletion, as well as neurological and permanent injuries.
The complaint further alleges that defendants failed to provide adequate warnings about the zinc in their products or provide adequate instructions to prevent deviation from accepted use.
Super Poligrip and Fixodent both contain a form of zinc, which is bonded to an unknown formulation, the lawsuit says. A small amount of zinc is necessary for a balanced diet. However, being exposed to an excessive amount of zinc can result in copper depletion and serious negative adverse neurological effects.
The companies have challenged the idea that the zinc in their products is hurting people who use it. In a previous statement, GlaxoSmithKline said that "the vast majority of the zinc in the product remains in the adhesive and is not released into the mouth. Thus the potential for absorption of zinc through the gums is minimal."
Rankin’s lawsuit, along with dozens of others filed before it, has been consolidated for centralized and coordinated pre-trial proceedings in the Denture Cream Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division.
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