Woman claims denture cream caused neuropathy (too much zinc)

[Guest guest]

This is interesting in that it is a documented fact that ASD kids are high in

copper and low in zinc - could that also be causing a neurological issue ...

Woman claims denture cream caused neuropathy

Files suit against GlaxoKline

Friday, May 07, 2010

By Pohla , Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A County woman claims harmful levels of zinc in denture cream led to a

nerve disorder that forced her to resign her clerical job and left her unable to

drive or walk without a walker or a cane.

In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court, Terri

Charpentier, 41, of , alleges that the zinc level led to a copper

deficiency, which in turn led to neuropathy that for a while forced her to use a

wheelchair. She had to give up her job in 2007.

GlaxoKline Consumer Healthcare, maker of Super Poligrip, is one of the

defendants, and its Moon headquarters is the reason the suit was filed here,

said N. Peirce III, an attorney for Mrs. Charpentier. The suit also names

other GlaxoKline entities.

Similar suits have been filed across the country, and some law firms are seeking

litigants with medical conditions from use of zinc-containing denture adhesives.

The link between denture adhesives with zinc and neuropathy has been reported in

medical journals since 2008.

GlaxoKline voluntarily stopped making, distributing and advertising its

zinc-containing Super Poligrip products this past February. At that time it also

issued a consumer advisory warning against " long-term, excessive use " of the

dental adhesive. It has since introduced zinc-free versions of several Super

Poligrip products.

Also in February, the American Dental Association issued a statement

acknowledging " a few recent case reports " indicating a " possible association

between excessive use of zinc-containing denture creams and neurological and

hematological problems.

" Published reports of excessive use have typically described [it] as one to two

tubes of denture adhesives a week over a period of years, " GlaxoKline wrote

in response to an e-mailed question Thursday. " That is in contrast to our label,

which clearly states that a 2.4 oz. tube should last about 8-10 weeks. "

Mrs. Charpentier, who declined a request for an interview, first noticed

symptoms of her nerve disorder in 2005. " The condition started with numbness in

her toes and feet and worked its way up her legs " to the lower part of her body,

Mr. Peirce said.

She began using copper supplements in 2007 and stopped using Super Poligrip in

2009. " Once she stopped using it, her [copper] levels increased to the proper

point. However, the damage was already done, " the attorney said.

" She has had some recovery -- she no longer requires a wheelchair. However, she

is unable to drive and unable to walk without a walker or cane, so while the

symptoms have decreased in severity, they have left her with lasting side

effects. "

Pennsylvania law does not allow suits such as Mrs. Charpentier's to ask for a

specific amount of dollar damages.

GlaxoKline said it could not comment on this or any other lawsuit