Last year researchers said that Elmiron, a drug used to treat a painful bladder syndrome, likely causes eye disease and vision loss in patients. Ophthalmologists have recently confirmed these findings. The award-winning team at Colson Hicks Eidson is helping those in Florida and across the US who have been affected by this dangerous drug. We will work to secure the compensation you deserve. Today, we want to talk about interstitial cystitis, the condition that Elmiron is used to treat.
What is interstitial cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis has been commonly referred to as “painful bladder syndrome.” This is a chronic condition that causes bladder pressure, bladder pain, and pelvic pain. The pain experienced by those suffering from interstitial cystitis ranges from mild discomfort to severe pain.
Normally, when a person’s bladder extends as it fills up, it signals your brain that it is time to urinate, communicating through the pelvic nerves. However, those suffering from interstitial cystitis receive mixed signals. They feel the need to urinate more often and with smaller volumes of urine than most people.
The symptoms of interstitial cystitis vary from person to person, but often include:
- Pain in the pelvis or between the vagina and anus in women
- Pain between the scrotum and anus in men
- Chronic pelvic pain
- A persistent need to urinate
- Frequent urination of small amounts (up to 60 times a day)
- Pain or discomfort while the bladder fills
- Pain during sexual intercourse
How bad is Elmiron for patients?
Elmiron is the only FDA approved prescription treatment for patients experiencing interstitial cystitis. In 2018, Dr. Nieraj Jain, a researcher at the Emory Eye Center at the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, alerted the public that taking Elmiron is linked to this eye disease. His research, which has now been supported by further findings, says that patients taking Elmiron can experience a retinal injury called maculopathy.
The symptoms of maculopathy vary in severity, but can include:
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty adapting to dim lighting
- Vision disturbances or distorted vision
- Blindness
- Trouble seeing things up close
- Eye pain
Are there other treatments for interstitial cystitis?
While Elmiron, the brand name for Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium, is the only FDA-approved prescription drug for interstitial cystitis, doctors can also treat this disease with:
- Physical therapy
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Antihistamines
- Nerve stimulation
- Bladder distention
- Surgery
- Dietary changes
Let us help if you have been harmed by Elmiron
If you or someone you love has been taking Elmiron and experienced vision loss or other eye disease symptoms, please seek legal assistance today. The team at Colson Hicks Eidson is ready to get to work. These cases can become incredibly complex, but that does not mean you should be left without compensation. We will work to hold Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the maker of Elmiron, accountable for their actions in failing to disclose the dangers of Elmiron. When you need an Elmiron vision loss attorney, you can contact us by clicking here or by calling us at 305-476-7442.
