Distasio Law Firm’s experienced mass torts attorneys are here to help Florida residents bring Elmiron lawsuits. We believe Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the maker of Elmiron (also known as Pentosan) should be held accountable for injuries caused by the drug. Typical long-term side effects include a type of eye damage called maculopathy, which involves retina damage and potentially leads to blindness.
To see if we can help you initiate a Florida Elmiron lawsuit, give us a call or fill out a contact form on our website. It’s free, and if we take your case, you owe us nothing unless we recover damages on your behalf.
If you or someone you love suffered injury or damage from taking Elmiron, or any form of pentosan polysulfate sodium, the time to bring a claim and hold Janssen accountable may be limited. Let our dedicated attorneys evaluate your case before it’s too late.
What Can a Florida Elmiron Attorney Do for Me?
A knowledgeable Florida Elmiron lawsuit attorney can listen to what happened to you and determine whether you have a claim. If you have a claim, the lawyer will gather your medical records, review them, hire appropriate medical experts, perform an investigation, and do whatever is necessary to prove your case.
Oftentimes, a case can be resolved without filing an Elmiron lawsuit in Florida. However, if necessary, a lawsuit will be filed to protect your rights. In the end, the goal is to compensate you for the damages caused by taking a dangerous drug. Those damages may include increased medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment of life.
What Is Elmiron?
Elmiron is the brand name for a medication called pentosan polysulfate sodium. It is used to treat the pain associated with osteoarthritis. It is also used to treat a condition called interstitial cystitis. It is the only medication the FDA has approved to treat this condition, and it has been on the market since 1996.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disease that causes inflammation of the bladder. The inflammation associated with IC, also called “painful bladder syndrome,” causes severe bladder pain. Elmiron eliminates or reduces this bladder pain and/or discomfort.
Although Elmiron appears to work, it can also cause eye damage as a side effect. Pentosan lawsuit lawyers allege Janssen knew the drug would cause eye disease but decided to sell it anyway without warning people of the risk.
What Damage Can Elmiron Cause?
Studies have linked Elmiron (Pentosan) to severe eye disease. Since 1996, the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) has documented 68 complaints of eye damage called maculopathy.
In 2018, doctors reported in theAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) that their patients were suffering from pigmentary maculopathy after chronic exposure to Elmiron. In 2019, there was an update that additional patients were suffering from eye damage after exposure to pentosan polysulfate sodium (Elmiron). In 2020, a study found choroidal neovascularization associated with pentosan toxicity.
Currently, it is thought that Elmiron may cause the following eye disorders:
- Macular degeneration
- Pigmentary maculopathy
- Retinal maculopathy
- Retinal Pigmentary Endothelium Injury
There are several common symptoms that may indicate you may have an eye condition associated with taking Elmiron. Eye symptoms include:
- Blindness
- Blurred vision
- Distorted vision
- Difficulty reading
- Eye pain
- Trouble with eyes adjusting to dim light
- Trouble reading
- Prolonged dark adaptation
- Glare
- Blind spots
- Metamorphopsia (straight lines appearing wavy or blank)
Imaging tests that may confirm eye damage include:
- Fundus autofluorescence (FAF) Imaging
- Near-infrared Reflectance (NIR)
- Optical Coherence tomography (OCT)
- Heidelberg Multicolor
Elmiron Lawsuit Allegations
Drug manufacturers have a duty to understand the potential side effects of their medication. They do this by studying its use through clinical trials. They also do this by following up with patients that are on the medication to see what side effects they report.
Once a drug manufacturer becomes aware that their medication can cause a side effect, they have a duty to warn physicians and patients of the issue. They warn through published labeling and prescribing information inserted into the packaging.
According to the current Elmiron lawsuits in Florida, Janssen pharmaceuticals knew through its monitoring programs that its medication was causing eye damage but failed to warn of these potential side effects. In fact, its labeling and prescribing information stated under “Warnings” that there were none.
Contact Distasio Law Firm to File Your Florida Elmiron Lawsuit
Although Distasio Law Firm is based in Tampa, we handle Elmiron cases throughout the state of Florida. It is our mission to hold corporate wrongdoers accountable for damages caused by their dangerous drugs. For more information, or to get started on your Florida Elmiron lawsuit, give us a call.