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ELMIRON LAWSUIT FOR VISION LOSS AND EYE DAMAGE

Houston Elmiron Eye Lawyer

elmiron lawsuit

Hundreds of people are suing Janssen Pharmaceuticals after taking Elmiron and experiencing vision problems that could lead to blindness, including maculopathy. According to an Elmiron lawsuit, the manufacturer did not advise doctors and patients about the risks of the drug, including Elmiron eye damage.

Elmiron has been called a critically defective medicine. The company stands accused of suppressing adverse event information from the public, the medical community, and the Food & Drug Administration.

Injured individuals are filing these lawsuits to seek financial recompense for medical expenditures, pain and suffering, lost wages, diminished quality of life, and future care.

If you’ve suffered Elmiron eye damage or vision loss, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Contact our Houston pharmaceutical injuries attorneys at Reich & Binstock to go over your Elmiron lawsuit options. Call our office at 713-622-7271 to schedule your free consultation.

Elmiron Lawsuit Update 2023

elmiron lawsuits

As of right now, Reich & Binstock is reviewing Elmiron vision loss lawsuits for those who were prescribed Elmiron and suffered the following injuries:

  • Temporary vision loss or permanent vision loss
  • Pigmentary maculopathy
  • Vision problems, such as blurred vision, vision damage, or distorted vision
  • Toxic maculopathy
  • Retinal damage
  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Retinal dystrophy
  • Other retinal damage

As of October 2023, 1,920 claims were consolidated into an Elmiron class action lawsuit. They are still pending, but many attorneys expect settlements for the pending Elmiron lawsuits to begin in 2023. We may even see a global settlement.

No Elmiron lawsuits have reached trial yet, but we expect to see some movement in the coming months. If you believe you qualify for an Elmiron vision loss lawsuit, contact the drug injury lawyers at Reich & Binstock right away.

What Is Elmiron?

elmiron eye damage

The drug pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) is marketed under the brand name Elmiron. Pentosan polysulfate helps prevent blood clots. The majority of the medications in this category are used to thin the blood. However, the prescription drug Elmiron is used to treat interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder syndrome.

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder condition that causes chronic pain, discomfort, and frequent urination. IC affects approximately 12 million people in the United States. By preventing irritation and swelling of the bladder walls, Elmiron aids in the treatment of IC symptoms. The medicine is believed to create a synthetic mucus layer that protects the bladder from discomfort.

Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. developed and produced Elmiron. The manufacturer is a corporate subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Elmiron received FDA approval in 1996 and became the main treatment option for IC sufferers. The drug is also prescribed to treat bladder pain stemming from UTIs.

Elmiron Side Effects

Not all side effects of Elmiron qualify for the Elmiron class action lawsuit. Some common Elmiron side effects that have not resulted in lawsuits include the following.

  • Hair loss
  • Bloody stools and bruising
  • Weight gain
  • Swelling
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea and upset stomach
  • Rashes
  • Dizziness
  • Abnormal liver function

More serious side effects of Elmiron include the following.

  • Rectal bleeding
  • Coughing up blood
  • Lightheadedness
  • Bleeding gums or nosebleeds
  • Bloody stools or urine
  • Vision problems

Was Elmiron Recalled?

Despite the ongoing Elmiron eye damage litigation, the drug Elmiron has not been recalled. Even with Elmiron victims linking their age-related macular degeneration, eye disease, retinal disease, and other eye injuries to Elmiron use, the drug is still on the market. With no Elmiron recall active, this dangerously defective drug is still on the market.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time that dangerous drugs have been allowed to remain on the market. In fact, Elmiron has been available to treat interstitial cystitis since 1996. Janssen Pharmaceuticals didn’t even warn Elmiron patients of the potential eye injury, pigmentary maculopathy, and macular degeneration associated with the drug until June 2020.

Although the FDA has not issued a recall warning for the prescription medication, it still recognizes that the drug may cause potentially permanent vision damage.

What Is Interstitial Cystitis(IC)/Bladder Pain Syndrome?

houston elmiron eye lawyer

Interstitial cystitis (IC) or bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is an ongoing bladder health problem. The bladder area experiences pain and pressure. Often, without infection or any other obvious causes, lower urinary tract symptoms occur for more than 6 weeks as well.

The bladder and kidneys are the organs in our bodies producing, storing, and passing urine. This is all part of the body’s urinary system. Our kidneys make urine, and the bladder stores it. Muscles in the lower part of your abdomen hold the bladder in place.

Some patients’ symptoms come and go, while others experience constant pain. The symptoms also range for each patient, from mild to severe.

During sex, women with IC/BPS may have pain. Often accompanying IC/BPS are irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other pain conditions.

Elmiron Maculopathy

elmiron maculopathy

Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is a prescription medicine used to treat chronic bladder pain and inflammation, and other diseases in millions of Americans. However, it was reported in 2018 that long-term use of the drug could result in Elmiron eye damage and blindness. This is due to a rare type of retinal injury.

One study confirmed that prolonged Elmiron use could cause maculopathy, a serious eye condition. As many as 1/4 of Elmiron users can potentially go blind.

Elmiron patients frequently do not associate their vision problems with the medicine. Prior to the discovery of the association between Elmiron and permanent vision loss, doctors blamed worsening vision on age-related macular diseases.

Elmiron drug toxicity causes hazardous poisons to build up in the eyes, especially around the macula and retina.

The following are some of the most common indicators of Elmiron drug toxicity:

  • Hazy vision
  • Low-light vision problems
  • Pain in the eyes
  • Blindness (complete or partial)
  • Difficulty reading

Elmiron and Blurred Vision

Recent studies have shown a link between long-term Elmiron use and an increased risk of developing pigmentary maculopathy. This condition is characterized by blurred vision, central vision loss, distorted vision, loss of depth perception, and loss of color vision. Patients who have suffered these injuries after taking Elmiron may qualify for Elmiron vision damage lawsuits.

Elmiron Lawsuits

The American Academy of Ophthalmology published a paper in 2018 describing six Emory Eye Center patients who developed pigmentary maculopathy of unknown cause after chronic exposure to Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) for interstitial cystitis.

One of the authors updated these results in 2019. A total of 11 Emory Eye Center study participants were diagnosed with the same visual symptoms. These included loss of low light vision, generalized dimming of vision, difficulties reading, and general near-vision impairment.

While indications show the prescription drug Elmiron can cause life-altering eye disease, the drug hasn’t been shown to be effective in treating interstitial cystitis.

The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation issued an order on December 15, 2020, to construct an Elmiron MDL for the federal claims. They predicted that there could be hundreds more lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

An MDL is a legal procedure that combines many federal cases into one. It is tried in a single court to make it easier to handle complicated cases. The Elmiron MDL order merged close to 130 existing lawsuits.

Anyone diagnosed with maculopathy or other eye disorders such as macular degeneration, pigmentary maculopathy, or blurred vision after taking the prescription drug Elmiron may be eligible for financial compensation from the drug manufacturer.

As patients learn of the negative side effects, the number of Elmiron lawsuits will likely go up.

How Many Elmiron Lawsuits Are There?

As of October 2023, 1,920 Elmiron lawsuits are currently pending in a federal MDL. Dozens of other Elmiron lawsuits are also pending in various state courts. In total, 1,968 cases have been filed against Elmiron manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

What Are the Elmiron Lawsuit Criteria?

elmiron lawsuit settlement amounts

Many Elmiron victims wonder if they are actually eligible to file an Elmiron eye damage lawsuit.

In order to file an Elmiron case, you must meet the following Elmiron lawsuit criteria:

  • You took Elmiron for at least two years.
  • You experienced vision changes and negative side effects between starting the drug and up to one year after stopping.

Medical studies tying the medication to macular diseases, such as interstitial cystitis and maculopathy, formed the basis for the criteria. There may be exceptions when you file your case, possibly making you eligible to claim for different types of eye injuries. Consult with experienced Elmiron lawyers to determine your eligibility for the Elmiron MDL.

How Long Will an Elmiron Settlement Take?

It is difficult to estimate how long the Elmiron lawsuit settlements will take to reach. Because these cases have been consolidated into an Elmiron multidistrict litigation case, it could take years to begin discussions of settlement.

If you believe you have an Elmiron pigmentary maculopathy lawsuit or another eye injury case, speak with the Elmiron lawyers at Reich & Binstock today. Our defective drug lawyers are here to evaluate your legal claims and determine your eligibility for the ongoing Elmiron lawsuits.

What Compensation Is Available In an Elmiron Lawsuit?

Our Houston personal injury lawyers seek the following compensation for Elmiron users who developed maculopathy or any other major eye disorder:

  • Medical expenses incurred in the past and future to treat your injuries
  • Both physical and mental pain and suffering from your injuries in the past and future
  • Any loss of wages
  • Other financial losses incurred
  • Punitive damages, if applicable

Elmiron Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

elmiron lawyer

It is still early in the development of the Elmiron lawsuit, and there are no vision loss settlements yet. Our attorneys can’t forecast the Elmiron lawsuit settlement amounts with certainty. However, Elmiron settlement amounts can be estimated by comparing them to similar cases with similar injuries.

Vision impairment, macular degeneration, and vision loss are the main injuries suffered by Elmiron lawsuit plaintiffs.

The settlement value of Elmiron litigation is based on vision loss or vision impairment injuries in other cases. Based on previous vision loss cases, our Elmiron attorneys predict that cases with total visual loss will have a high settlement value.

Elmiron lawsuit cases involving solely visual impairment will likely be grouped into levels based on the plaintiff’s amount of vision impairment. Permanent visual loss is the most extreme injury.

In order to prove your injury and losses, your attorney will gather evidence, such as medical records and medical bills associated with Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) use. They may even use doctors’ notes about when you began showing visual symptoms of your eye disease, eye injury, eye disorder, retinal damage, or other permanent vision loss.

Plaintiffs with the most severe vision damage go in tier 1. Those with less impairment go in tier 2.

There will probably be at least another two lower tiers of Elmiron lawsuit settlement amounts.

Bayer and Johnson & Johnson are comparable examples. Xarelto is a medication that has a lot of negative side effects.

The most severely impacted people are estimated to have received between $75,000 and $300,000 as part of the settlement.

Elmiron Lawsuit Deadline

Although many individuals have signed off on settlement offers, many others are still awaiting trials. The Elmiron class action lawsuit is ongoing, and the attorneys at Reich & Binstock are still investigating these claims.

The state of Texas has a 2-year statute of limitations for product liability claims. This includes defective drug claims. Therefore, you should have at least two years from the date you discovered your injury to file a claim.

Although two years sounds like a long time, we strongly recommend filing a claim as soon as possible. The longer you wait to contact an attorney and file a claim, the more doubt will be cast on the validity of your claim.

Elmiron Lawsuit FAQs

elmiron mdl

Before pursuing a lawsuit related to Elmiron usage, we recommend checking the Elmiron statute of limitations for your state. In Texas, you have two years from the date of the discovery of your injury to file an Elmiron vision loss claim. If you fail to meet this deadline, you will be barred from pursuing compensation for current and future medical bills, lost wages, or any other losses you suffered.

The sooner you contact an Elmiron lawyer after you suffer vision damage, the better. Our Elmiron lawyers can use your Elmiron prescription and other medical records to help link your injuries with Elmiron use. Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience handling dangerous drug cases. We are well-versed in MDL litigation surrounding defective drugs, and we can offer you a free consultation about your case.

Taking Elmiron is supposed to help patients with bladder discomfort or pain that results from interstitial cystitis. It is a very weak blood thinner medication. In fact, Elmiron is currently the only FDA-approved drug used to treat pain in the bladder.

Qualified Elmiron lawyers are one of the most helpful assets while building your pigmentary maculopathy or eye injury case. Our Elmiron attorneys will guide you through the entire legal process of filing a claim, as well as completely handle the tough parts for you. While you focus on comfort and recovery, we focus on litigation and complex legal paperwork. We will also negotiate with the defense to achieve a fair settlement on your behalf.

If you are unsure of whether you’re suffering from maculopathy, we recommend seeing a doctor about your symptoms. Below, we list the most common symptoms of maculopathy, according to medical literature.

  • Distorted or blurry vision
  • Difficulty reading
  • Spotty vision
  • Lost color vision
  • Worsening depth perception
  • Worse night vision
  • Difficulty adjusting to dimmer lighting

Additionally, there are multiple types of maculopathy. These types are age-related macular degeneration, pigmentary maculopathy, macular pucker, hereditary maculopathy, and diabetic maculopathy.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, approximately 25% of patients who were significantly exposed to Elmiron experienced retinal damage. For some of those patients, vision loss and blindness happened as a result of Elmiron. In other words, the drug can lead to blindness or vision loss, but it is not the most common side effect.

If your use of Elmiron led to serious injuries to your retina or your vision, you might have a valid personal injury lawsuit. The drug manufacturer can be held liable for their failure to warn doctors and patients about the dangers of the common bladder medication.

When searching for the right lawyer to handle your case, we recommend choosing a firm that has extensive experience handling defective drug cases. Reich & Binstock is a nationally recognized pharmaceutical litigation firm. We are dedicated to holding Big Pharma accountable for its negligence, and we won’t rest until we get justice for you and your case.

According to one study, the average length of time to use Elmiron before experiencing negative symptoms was around 14.5 years. However, it is possible to see symptoms of macular disease as early as three years after starting the use of Elmiron. Speak with an Elmiron attorney to learn more about Elmiron claims and your eligibility. Call Reich & Binstock today to schedule a free case review with our lawyers.

Currently, there haven’t been any Elmiron settlements. However, the first trial is set to begin in January 2023. It may take a few years to see settlements or even settlement discussions regarding the Elmiron lawsuits.

Aside from the vision problems associated with Elmiron, the following are other side effects associated with the medicine.

  • Bloody stool
  • Bruising
  • Diarrhea
  • Dizziness
  • Abnormal liver function
  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Hair loss
  • Rashes
  • Upset stomach

Understandably, many people want to know if there are safer alternatives to Elmiron. Currently, there is no generic alternative for Elmiron in the United States. However, you can ask your doctor for options to relieve your IC pain, depending on your symptoms and medical history.

The positive effects of Elmiron begin to wear off gradually if you stop taking it. We recommend working with a doctor to stop the use of prescription medications, including Elmiron. Additionally, it’s important to note that you can still develop eye problems related to Elmiron use years after stopping the medication.

Contact an Experienced Elmiron Lawsuit Lawyer at Reich & Binstock Today

Contact your doctor and Houston Elmiron attorneys at Reich & Binstock if you’ve noticed any impaired vision after taking Elmiron. We can assist you in filing a claim and give you information on your right to compensation for pain and suffering. You may very well qualify for an Elmiron lawsuit.

Elmiron lawsuits are ongoing, so we recommend speaking with our law firm for more information about the multidistrict litigation. For a free consultation with our Elmiron lawsuit attorneys, please call our Elmiron lawyers at 713-622-7271 or fill out the form below.

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