Elmiron Vision Loss Lawsuits in Weston, FL
Let Our South Florida Elmiron Lawyers Help
Since 2018, researchers have linked Elmiron to a vision-threatening eye condition known as pigmentary maculopathy. The more studies that emerge, the stronger this link becomes. Nevertheless, Elmiron’s manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., did not update the medication’s warning label until June of 2020. By that time, thousands of consumers had already been affected – some experiencing rapidly deteriorating vision in as little as 6 years.
In its late stages, Elmiron toxicity can result in permanent vision loss. If you take Elmiron and have suffered vision impairment or retinal injury, you may be entitled to compensation.
Rash Mueller can help you get it – call our compassionate team at (954) 914-7116 to learn more about your rights and legal options during a free consultation.
What Is Elmiron?
Elmiron is Janssen’s brand of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) and the only FDA-approved drug to treat interstitial cystitis (IC), or painful bladder syndrome. Painful bladder syndrome causes chronic pain and discomfort in the bladder, pelvis, genitalia, and abdomen – and people with IC often have to urinate more frequently and urgently than others. PPS is a type of blood thinner, but it works by coating the bladder with a protective lining to protect the organ from irritants and provide relief.
Unfortunately, Elmiron may also coat the retinal tissue of the human eye, interfering with a layer of cells that nourishes the retina. As a result, long-term Elmiron use may lead to:
- Blurred vision
- Reduced night vision
- Vision impairment
- Halos and glare
- Blind spots (scotoma)
- Metamorphopsia
- Disorders of the retina and the macula*
- Unilateral blindness
- Total vision loss
*The retina is the layer of cells lining the back wall inside your eye. It senses light and sends signals to your brain, allowing you to see. The macula is the central area of the retina and the part of the retina that allows you to see details and objects in front of you, including faces and written text.
Disorders of the retina and macula linked to Elmiron use include degenerative maculopathy, macular retinopathy, macular/pattern dystrophy, pigmentary maculopathy, retinopathy, and retinal pigment epithelium atrophy.
If you have been diagnosed with any of the conditions above or suffered vision changes described in the previous section, please call our South Florida Elmiron attorneys today.
How Is Elmiron Toxicity Diagnosed?
In many cases, Elmiron toxicity and pigmentary maculopathy are mistaken for other, age-related eye conditions. Most people who take Elmiron are women between the ages of 37 or 62, so doctors may not detect the relationship between Elmiron use and vision problems right away.
The longer you take Elmiron – and the more of the drug you take – the higher your risk for Elmiron toxicity. If you take Elmiron, you should have your retinas examined at least once a year. If you begin showing signs of Elmiron toxicity, you may need to stop taking the drug.
Like other forms of maculopathy, pigmentary maculopathy can lead to blindness. Researchers do not yet know whether stopping Elmiron use will reverse existing toxicity. Talk to your doctor today, then speak to our Elmiron attorneys in Weston, FL
Why Didn’t Janssen Warn Consumers?
For years, the warning label on Elmiron explicitly read “Warnings: None.” Although Elmiron came with a standard list of side effects, warnings about vision loss were nowhere to be found. Eventually, Janssen added some vision-related side effects “affecting less than 1% of users,” but the company never mentioned permanent vision loss or maculopathy on any of their prescribing information or patient-facing materials. Why?
From the time Elmiron was introduced to the market in 1996, Janssen made about $150 million per year in the United States alone. Most patients take 3 capsules a day and stay on the drug for more than 10 years – one month’s supply costs about $1,000.
While patients took more and more of a potentially harmful drug, Janssen said nothing about Elmiron’s link to vision-threatening eye conditions. Only when research and lawsuits against the drug and the company emerged did Janssen take action and add a warning for consumers.
As a result, plaintiffs are coming forward, claiming that Janssen’s misinformation makes the company responsible for patients’ injuries.
Is Janssen Pharmaceuticals Responsible for Your Elmiron Injuries?
The moment the first study linking Elmiron to retinal injury and vision impairment emerged, Janssen should have investigated and warned patients of the threat. Instead, the company continued to collect hundreds of millions of dollars per year from consumers who were slowly experiencing Elmiron toxicity and losing their vision.
If you took Elmiron for one (1) year or more and experienced vision changes such as blurred and distorted vision, difficulty reading, and reduced night vision, you should speak to an attorney to find out if Janssen Pharmaceuticals is responsible for your injuries.
At Rash Mueller, we can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case during a free consultation and help you file a lawsuit or join an existing class action or multi-district litigation.
Our attorneys have more than 40 years of collective legal experience, a track record of success in class actions and other difficult cases, and a personalized approach that shows our clients we care.
To get started, please call us at (954) 914-7116 or send us a message online today.
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