Recently, Colson Hicks Eidson filed a lawsuit on behalf of a plaintiff who sustained severe eye damage after taking the prescription medication Elmiron. This medication, also known as pentosan polysulfate sodium, is used to treat interstitial cystitis (painful bladder syndrome). However, several studies over the last few years have found that those who take Elmiron over longer periods of time have a higher risk of developing pigmentary maculopathy, a degenerative eye disease.
If you are taking Elmiron, should you be able to count on your doctor to alert you to any problems that could occur with your eye health? Is it your responsibility to alert your doctor to the risks of taking Elmiron?
Do doctors always know about defective medications?
The reality is that doctors may not always know about the potential harmful side effects of the medications that they prescribe. This may be especially true if there have been recent discoveries that have not been widely publicized. In theory, we would like our doctors to be continuously up-to-date on which medications are facing recalls, but the reality is that this may not be the case.
Using current examples, the general public and doctors alike are probably aware of recalls of Zantac and other generic versions of ranitidine. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked all manufacturers of these medications to remove these heartburn products from the marketplace because they potentially contain high levels of a cancer-causing carcinogen.
However, news about the harmful effects of Elmiron has not become mainstream, as of this writing. While we may see Zantac on the nightly news, you probably have not heard about Elmiron on your TV. This does not make Elmiron any less dangerous for consumers. In fact, until the public is sufficiently aware of the damages of Elmiron, it is also likely that the doctors are not aware.
If you are taking Elmiron to treat your interstitial cystitis, you may need to be the one to tell your doctor about the potential dangers of the medication. You should present your doctors with evidence that Elmiron can cause pigmentary maculopathy. If you are taking Elmiron, whether you have experienced vision problems or not, you need to:
- Contact your doctor and express your concerns.
- Ask your doctors to look into the newly discovered risks of taking the medication.
- Ensure your doctor gets back to you quickly.
- Ask to have a vision test conducted to check for any eye damage you may have incurred.
- Discuss alternative treatment plans for your interstitial cystitis.
- Discontinue taking Elmiron if you have sustained eye damage.
Our Elmiron attorneys are ready to help
If you or somebody you care about is currently taking, or have previously taken, the prescription drug Elmiron, you should speak to a doctor as soon as possible. If you have sustained irreversible eye damage that was caused by Elmiron, the team at Colson Hicks Eidson is here to help. Our nationally recognized product liability lawyers will investigate your case and work to determine whether you are entitled to any compensation for your claim. We are ready to serve clients in Florida or throughout the United States. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7442.
