The prescription drug Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium, or PPS) is used to treat interstitial cystitis and has been linked to a unique progressive eye disease. This disease causes progressive worsening of eyesight. This life-altering side effect is known as pigmented retinal maculopathy, or pigmentary maculopathy. It is a retinal-related condition and is usually diagnosed by a retinal specialist. Ophthalmologists can also diagnose this condition. A drug that is used to treat pain and discomfort should not be the cause of Elmiron users’ worsening vision, but sadly, studies show that there is a clear connection.
Call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one was diagnosed with a progressive eye disease after taking Elmiron. You may be eligible for an Elmiron settlement compensating you for your medical bills and other damages suffered. Our Elmiron claim lawyers work on a contingency-fee basis. This means that you will never owe us any money until we obtain a recovery for you.
Elmiron lawsuits are against plaintiff Janssen Pharmaceuticals for the failure to properly warn the public about the vision loss risks associated with drug use. At this time, there is no mention of a recall, though the American Academy of Ophthalmology revealed in 2019 that patients taking this drug showed signs of toxicity resulting in vision loss.
Financial Compensation For Eye Damage From Elmiron
If you have suffered eye damage as a result of taking Elmiron, we can help you obtain financial compensation for multiple things, including:
- Medical bills: We can help you get compensated for any medical bills you have already racked up as a result of your eye disease. We can also help you obtain compensation for any medical bills you can be expected to face in the future due to your eye disease.
- Lost wages: If your eye disease has caused you to miss any time from work, we can get you financial compensation for the wages you were unable to earn as a result.
- Loss of earning capacity: If the damage to your eyes has caused you to be unable to work again, or unable to work at the job you used to again, we can help you obtain a financial recovery compensating you for your loss or reduction of earning capacity.
- Pain and suffering: It can be emotionally devastating to suffer from changes to your vision, and we can help you obtain financial compensation for the terrible emotional and psychological effects you’ve suffered due to your vision changes.
The above is not a complete list of the types of compensation you may be eligible for. Call us today for a free consultation to find out all of the damages you may be compensated for and how much your Elmiron case may be worth.
Vision Loss From This Progressive Eye Disease
The Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, GA discovered a new progressive eye disease in six patients from 2015 to 2018. They reviewed the patients’ medical histories and found that all six individuals had taken Elmiron. They published their findings in the Journal of Ophthalmology.
This progressive eye disease can involve the following symptoms:
- Trouble reading
- Trouble seeing in dim lighting
- Distorted vision
- Blurry vision, often in the center of the vision field
- Dark spots in the center of the vision field
- Straight lines can appear curved
- Less saturated colors
- Blindness
Other researchers have since confirmed the disease and its link to Elmiron, including the IC Network, Harvard Medical School, and doctors at Kaiser Oakland. Harvard Medical School even found that the disease could progress in Elmiron patients long after they stop taking Elmiron; having treated a patient whose disease was still progressing six years after she suspended taking the drug.
The FDA has since announced labeling changes for Elmiron which warn of pigmentary changes in the retina as a side effect. For some, however, the damage has already been done. If you are suffering from pigmented retinal maculopathy and have taken Elmiron, call us today. We can help you get the compensation you deserve by filing an Elmiron vision loss lawsuit on your behalf.
Our Elmiron Attorneys Can Help You
Our battle-tested, aggressive attorneys have represented victims of drug-induced vision loss for decades. We have successfully recovered millions of dollars for victims; including a $15,000,000 settlement of drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a syndrome which can cause vision loss. Our Elmiron legal team currently has over 50 cases.
Call our Elmiron lawyers today for a free consultation or text us from this page if you or a loved one was diagnosed with pigmented retinal maculopathy or another progressive eye disease after taking Elmiron. You can also fill out the free consultation form on this page, or use the text feature. You may qualify for financial compensation via an Elmiron lawsuit settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions on Elmiron’s Link to Eye Disease
What Are The Changes In Vision Reportedly Caused By Elmiron?
Maculopathy is a disease related to the macula, which is the central portion of the retina. It is a painless disease that involves the degeneration of the macular. At the start, the patient may not even notice any vision problems. Over time however, objects may begin to appear deformed or smaller in size. Where the macula is focused, the patient may lose their ability to see. For instance, they may be able to see a person’s facial features but not their expressions.
Some of the primary changes in vision include:
- Slow adjustment to dim light
- Difficulty reading
- Blurred vision
These effects have been shown to continually worsen over time.
How Is Maculopathy Diagnosed?
When a person is experiencing vision issues, the best way to diagnose maculopathy is the Amsler Test. This is conducted during an OCT. As of June 2020, a warning label was added recommending that the patient receive vision tests within six months of starting Elmiron treatment for early detection. That of course does not help those who were unaware of this side effect previously.
Are There Still Side-Effects If You Stop Taking Elmiron?
The disease can continue in patients even after they stop taking Elmiron. Several studies involved those who stopped taking the drugs and still experienced vision loss for years. Doctor Rachel Huckfeldt, a Harvard University doctor, found that her patient suffered continual worsening vision loss even ten years after stopping Elmiron.
Has Elmiron Been Recalled?
As it stands, Elmiron has not been recalled despite the numerous studies that link long-term usage of this treatment with vision loss. As of April 2021, according to drugwatch.com, there is no mentioned plan to request that Janssen recall the drug.
Is There An Elmiron Class Action Lawsuit?
Multiple class action lawsuits have been filed regarding Elmiron. However, class action lawsuits and individual lawsuits are two different things, and thousands of individual Elmiron vision loss lawsuits have also been filed by people alleging that Elmiron damaged their eyes.
An Elmiron lawyer at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers can give you a free consultation and tell you if you’re better off filing an individual lawsuit or joining a class action lawsuit. Many victims of dangerous drugs like Elmiron can end up recovering far more money by filing an individual lawsuit than they can by joining a class action lawsuit.
Call us today for a free case review to find out if filing an individual lawsuit or joining a class action lawsuit is best for you. We can help you file an individual lawsuit or join a class action lawsuit, and we won’t charge you a fee until and unless we win your Elmiron litigation.
How Many Elmiron Lawsuits Have Been Filed?
As of October 2022, 1,926 Elmiron lawsuits have been filed and consolidated into an Elmiron multidistrict litigation. The Elmiron MDL is being handled in New Jersey District Court. The Elmiron plaintiffs claim that they developed eye damage after using the drug.
The first trial in the MDL is scheduled for March 2023. If Janssen is found liable in this trial, Elmiron lawsuit settlements may soon follow regarding the other cases in the MDL.
If you have suffered eye damage because of Elmiron, call us today for a free consultation. We can help you file an Elmiron lawsuit which will be part of the Elmiron MDL.
