Medical professionals in the US and Canada have raised the alarm bells over Elmiron, a medication used to treat a painful bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. They have reported that long-term use of the medication could lead to permanent eye damage. Today, we want to discuss what, if anything, is being done about this from a regulatory perspective. At Colson Hicks Eidson, our nationally-recognized firm is taking cases of those injured due to taking Elmiron. We are dedicated to helping clients recover from pharmaceutical injuries and illnesses.
What We Know About Elmiron’s Continued Use
We have spoken about the dangers of Elmiron, the brand name of the drug called Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium. Last year, researchers discovered that there is a strong link between users taking this medication and a retinal injury called maculopathy that is irreversible. This issue, first discovered by Dr. Nieraj Jain, a researcher at the Emory Eye Center at the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, has since been confirmed by further studies by Kaiser Permanente medical professionals.
Some of the most common symptoms displayed by those suffering from this eye damage, as presented at the American Urology Association Annual Meeting in May of 2019, include:
- Difficulty reading
- Blindness
- Eye pain
- Difficulty adapting to dim lighting
- Vision disturbances or distorted vision
- Trouble seeing things up close
Doctors Are Still Recommending Elmiron
Elmiron is the only prescription drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in humans to treat interstitial cystitis. The regulators in the US have not offered any response to the findings concerning this medication. No recalls have been issued.
Overseas, Britain’s National Health Service has just approved Elmiron to be used for patients in the country. As many as 400,000 people suffer from this painful bladder syndrome in the UK. In their announcements, which have been made after US and Canadian medical professionals announced the likely dangers, the NHS makes no mention of the possibility of eye damage.
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Elmiron, has not acknowledged the studies and their discovery of adverse effects. Patients who have been taking Elmiron should speak to their doctors about getting an eye exam immediately to discover if any damage has already occurred.
We Will Work To Secure The Compensation You Deserve
If you or someone you love has taken Elmiron and suffered from eye damage, you need to seek legal assistance immediately. You may be entitled to compensation, and the award-winning team at Colson Hicks Eidson is ready to help. We will investigate your case and work to secure the compensation you need. This could include:
- Cost of your current and future medical bills
- Recovery of income lost if you are unable to work
- Mental anguish damages
- Loss of enjoyment of life damages
- Punitive damages against Janssen Pharmaceuticals
If you need an Elmiron attorney in Florida or nationwide, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7442.
