Elmiron is the brand name for pentosan polysulfate sodium, and it is manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Elmiron is a medication that is used to treat interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome. Those who suffer from this condition often feel the frequent need to urinate and experience pain during sex. Some patients have also been prescribed Elmiron to treat osteoporosis.
Unfortunately, many patients have experienced serious effects from Elmiron, which lead to extensive losses. If this happened to you, discuss the matter with an Elmiron injury attorney right away.
What is the Problem with Elmiron?
At the end of 2018, a research paper noted some side effects of Elmiron. Specifically, the researchers found that the drug caused atypical maculopathy. This is damage to the retina caused by toxicity. The retina is usually one of the first parts of the body to be affected by a toxic substance. Over time, this could cause permanent blindness after years of deterioration. Elmiron can cause several eye diseases that result in vision damage, even short of blindness.
After the initial paper, researchers studied the safety of Elmiron in more detail. They began to quantity the number of people who may have suffered vision loss from taking this medication. Additional research found that nearly a quarter of the control group suffered some sort of vision damage after taking Elmiron.
The problem with Elmiron is that it is a drug that takes time to build up in the patient’s system. This means that many patients were on the drug for at least six months, giving plenty of time for the medication to cause retinal damage.
The Warning Label for Elmiron Was Only Recently Changed
Nonetheless, Johnson & Johnson continues to sell Elmiron in spite of the mounting evidence that the drug could be dangerous. It was not until July 2020 that the FDA approved a new warning label for the drug to alert the public of the dangers of vision loss.
Some possible eye problems on the warning label include:
- Difficulty reading
- Slow adjustment to low or reduced light environments
- Blurred vision
You Can File an Elmiron Lawsuit
The number of Elmiron lawsuits is growing. The first lawsuits were filed in early 2020, and the number of lawsuits is now approaching one hundred. There are predictions that there will be hundreds of lawsuits in the near future.
Elmiron lawsuits have recently been consolidated into multidistrict litigation in federal court in New Jersey. This helps pave the way to trials for these cases. Federal courts do this for efficiency purposes when there are a large number of similar lawsuits.
If you have been injured by Elmiron, you can seek the following in a lawsuit:
- Lost wages if your loss of eyesight keeps you from working or reduces your earning capacity
- The medical costs to treat your vision problems
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
Florida Elmiron Lawyers Helping Clients with Product Liability Cases
The attorneys at Ged Lawyers, LLP can help you if you have taken Elmiron and are experiencing any kind of vision issues. Call us today at (561) 995-1966 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation as the first step to filing a claim for financial compensation.
