Muscle Relaxant Cream Causes Teen Death

Lately there has been a lot of publicity about the death of a 17-year old track star due to her use of the common muscle relaxant sports cream Bengay. As I was reading these articles, it reminded me of case I handled several years ago involving a similar product called Icy Hot. In that case, a diabetic client that I represented had used the product and apparently due to her diabetic condition, developed topical salicylate poisoning due to the main ingredient found in the Icy Hot product she used called Methyl Salicycate. This is the same ingredient used in Bengay.
I am sure it is inconceivable to the parents of this young track star that Bengay could have caused her death. I do not know all the facts but I know from prior experience that these topical treatments can be dangerous. Salicylate poisoning can lead to a marked decrease in blood sugar which, in turn, can lead to a seizure which seems to be the case involving this young teenager’s death. For obvious reasons, a decrease in blood sugar could also adversely affect a diabetic. In my client’s case, due to circulation problems in her feet (a common problem for diabetics) severe burns requiring surgery resulted from the use of this product.
This young teenage runner allegedly used the Bengay treatment to excess. She may have been taking an excessive amount of aspirin as well. In any event, she developed toxicity in her blood and apparently died from complications due to a marked decrease in her blood sugar. The question, of course, is whether this young teenager and/or any other consumer would conceivably be aware of the dangers connected with these over the counter products.
Most consumers do not believe they could die from use of an over the counter topical product but, they can as has been demonstrated. This tragedy underscores the need for greater warnings to the public, particularly when particular adverse events can be anticipated by the manufacturer of the product. I know from the case I handled against the manufacturer of Icy Hot that if a diabetic uses these products, there can on occasion be adverse consequences. At one time, some manufacturers did include warnings advising diabetics to be cautious when using this type of product, however, these warnings were later removed. Query, whether the warning in the Bengay product was sufficient to notify the teenager and her parents that she might be risking death if she overused the product?