Elmiron Lawsuit Attorneys

Elmiron Lawsuit Attorneys Whittel & Melton Helping Victims of Eye Damage Seek Compensation from the Makers of the Dangerous Drug Elmiron Contact Us Online or Statewide and Toll-free at 866-608-5529

Elmiron, also known as pentosan polysulfate sodium, has been the recent subject of numerous lawsuits for victims who have suffered serious eye or vision damage after using this dangerous drug. In June 2020, the maker of Elmiron – Janssen Pharmaceuticals, updated its drug label to add a warning that use of the drug could result in changes to pigments in the retina, which could lead to blurred vision, sensitivity to light, and reading problems. The company also recommends that anyone using the drug Elmiron should routinely get their eyesight tested.

The problem is that this warning has come too late for those who have been using Elmiron since before June 2020. Furthermore, the label of the drug also states that users who stop taking Elmiron can have their eyesight worsen and that any eyesight changes may be irreversible.

What is Elmiron and What Does it do?

Elmiron is a prescription drug that is used to treat constant bladder discomfort and pain that has been linked to interstitial cystitis (IC) also known as “painful bladder syndrome,” for which there is no known cure. Elmiron was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 and is the only FDA-approved oral medication used to remedy the symptoms associated with IC. While it is not a cure to IC it can provide patients a relief to their symptoms. It could take users 3-6 months of using Elmiron to notice any relief. Some patients have been using this drug for 15-20 years. The drug Elmiron is now being heavily scrutinized for causing serious eye damage to its users.

Lawsuits filed by victims who have been taking this drug state that the victims were not made aware of the connection between using this drug and severe eye damage.

If you or a loved one has taken Elmiron and has since suffered any vision damage or eye injuries, you could have a valid case against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

What are the Side Effects of Using Elmiron?

There have been a recent string of studies researching Elmiron and how it may affect patients who use it. Using Elmiron has now been associated with the following diseases:

• Retinal maculopathy
• Macular degeneration
• Pigmentary maculopathy

Other side effects that have been noted include:

• Trouble reading
• Blurred vision
• Warped vision
• Pain in the eye
• Trouble adjusting to dark lighting
• Vision disturbances
• Vision loss
• Sleep disorders
• Hair loss (alopecia)
• Diarrhea
• Headaches
• Bruising
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Skin rash

The FDA encourages anyone using prescription drugs and medical devices to report any unexpected or adverse side effects. You can report your findings online by completing a MedWatch Voluntary Reporting Form.

You may be entitled to financial compensation if you have developed vision problems after taking Elmiron. Call our Elmiron Lawsuit Attorneys at Whittel & Melton today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online to learn more about your legal options.

Will Elmiron Cause Users to go Blind?

Clinical researchers performing studies into the dangerous drug Elmiron have found a link between the use of the drug and macular degeneration, which is a condition that can lead to permanent vision loss over time.

In 2019 a study was conducted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology on 91 patients who had been using the drug Elmiron for more than 15 years to test for vision problems amongst users. Of the 91 patients studied, 22 patients were found to have retinal damage associated with macular degeneration.

In 2018, the American Academy of Ophthalmology published an article documenting the studies and treatment of 6 patients at Emory Eye Center from 2015-2017 who suffered pigmentary maculopathy after prolonged use of Elmiron for IC. In 2019 it was found that 10 more patients at Emory Eye Center had been diagnosed with this same issue. The patients involved in the study complained of dim vision, loss of vision in low light settings, trouble reading and overall near-vision difficulty.

Can Elmiron Users Switch to a Different Drug?

Currently, Elmiron is the only FDA-approved drug for the treatment of IC. Many doctors attempt to treat IC through a combination of other methods, such as changes to diet and using pain relievers like ibuprofen.

What Types of Compensation Can I Recover in an Elmiron Lawsuit?

If you or someone you care for has taken the drug Elmiron and has suffered any eye damage or some form of maculopathy, our Elmiron Lawsuit Attorneys at Whittel & Melton want to help you recover the following financial compensation for your suffering:

• Past, present, and future medical bills related to the treatment of your injuries.
• Past, present, and future pain and suffering related to your injuries, both physical and mental.
• Lost wages of any kind.
• All other economic losses associated with your injuries.
• Punitive damages, if appropriate. These are damages that seek to punish the defendant for their outrageous conduct and deter them from any future related incidents.

Recent Elmiron Lawsuits

A Nevada woman filed a complaint against Janssen Pharmaceuticals on May 4, 2020, stating that her use of Elmiron resulted in the retinal disease maculopathy. This woman started using Elmiron in 2012 and her lawsuit claims that she began suffering from vision loss after taking the drug for a total of 6 years.

Another woman in upstate New York filed a claim against Janssen Pharmaceuticals in May 2020 stating that she used the drug Elmiron daily for 17 years to help with IC. She was diagnosed with maculopathy and retinal damage in 2020.

A Florida woman filed a lawsuit in August 2020 against Janssen Pharmaceuticals for maculopathy in both eyes as a result of using Elmiron. Her lawsuit states that use of the drug Elmiron has resulted in blurred vision, trouble seeing in dim or dark lighting, difficulty reading, difficulty seeing colors, along with several other vision problems.

While lawsuits are starting to flood in involving Janssen Pharmaceuticals and their drug Elmiron, there have not been any settlements as of yet. These lawsuits can take years to resolve and involve teams of lawyers dedicated countless hours to figure out exactly what happened and how it could have been prevented.

The first step in the process of large group settlements is to combine these cases in federal court for discovery purposes, which is known as Multi-District Litigation (MDL). An MDL for Elmion was established in federal court in New Jersey in December 2020.

As of January 2021, more than 80 Elmiron lawsuits have been filed in total. We expect numerous other eye injury lawsuits stemming from Elmiron use to come about in the months ahead.

Contact Our Dangerous Drugs Lawyers at Whittel & Melton Today – 866-608-5529

Our Elmiron Lawsuit Attorneys at Whittel & Melton are currently accepting new Elmiron eye and vision damages cases. If you took Elmiron for a period of at least 6 months or longer and suffered any eye or vision problems related to maculopathy or macular retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinal dystrophy, or any other retinal conditions, we strongly urge you to call us at 866-608-5529 or contact us online for a free consultation. We can explain if you meet the criteria to qualify for an Elmiron lawsuit and how to proceed. You can also contact us online 24/7 to request a free case evaluation.