Reliable studies have established a link between Elmiron use and loss of vision. Elmiron has been linked to maculopathy which can cause vision loss and can lead to blindness. Elmiron has been prescribed to millions of people worldwide since being placed on the market in 1996. It is the only FDA approved drug for treatment of painful bladder syndrome. We at The Yost Legal Group are representing individuals who were prescribed Elmiron and have suffered significant eye damage or blindness. If you suspect you have been harmed after taking Elmiron, contact the Elmiron lawyers at The Yost Legal Group today for a free initial consultation.
Click here for an update on the Elmiron Lawsuit by Forbes.
Elmiron Was Approved For Use To Treat Interstitial Cystitis Of The Bladder
Elmiron is a prescription medication approved by the Food & Drug Administration to treat Interstitial Cystitis or painful bladder syndrome. It is the only FDA approved medication for this condition. When the manufacturer became aware of the association between Elmiron and retinal damage to the eye, they decided not to warn doctors or their customers. Countless patients continued to take Elmiron and were placed at risk for permanent eye injury. Elmiron users are now getting tested for maculopathy.
Long-Term Elmiron Use Has Been Linked To Maculopathy
The first public report of the link between Elmiron and eye injury was a publication of 2018 case series. Retinal Maculopathy was first identified in the publication by doctors at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta. They reported that six female patients suddenly were diagnosed with pigmentary maculopathy after long-term use of Elmiron. In a follow-up study the following year, the Emory Eye Center physicians conducted a retrospective review of 219 patients, which confirmed the association between Elmiron use and vision loss.
Additional Research
Additional research confirms the link between Elmiron and Retinal Maculopathy, Pigmentary Retinal Maculopathy, and Macular Degeneration. Recently, Kaiser Permanente in California did an investigation of its patients who were long-term Elmiron users. They scanned their database and found people who had used Elmiron for 5 years or longer. The patients were invited to have eye exams. The result was that 1 out of 4 Elmiron users were diagnosed with Retinal Maculopathy.
What is Maculopathy?
Maculopathy (“Retinal Pigmentary Maculopathy”) describes a number of disorders to the central part of the retina, the macula. Retinal Maculopathy causes the pigment cells in the retina to change to a darker color. When problems in the macula begin, they must be treated promptly. If they are not addressed right away, long-term vision impairment can result. Even permanent vision loss can occur. Diagnosis of Pigmentary Retinal Maculopathy can be made by an appointment with your ophthalmologist. If you are a long-term user of Elmiron you should consider being tested for maculopathy as soon as possible.
What are the Side Effects of Elmiron Induced Retinal Maculopathy?
Long-term Elmiron users have reportedly experienced a series of vision-related symptoms. They include the following:
- Difficulty reading
- Difficulty adopting vision in low-light situations
- Permanent vision loss
- Vision irregularities
- Pain in the eye region
- Blindness
- Difficulty seeing close up
- Dark spots in the center of the vision field
When Did the Manufacturer Know About the Risks of Elmiron?
Janssen Pharmaceuticals is a division of Johnson & Johnson. They are the current manufacturer and marketer of Elmiron. Despite having had over 100 reports of vision problems over a 20-year period, Janssen Pharmaceuticals did not warn doctors who prescribed the drug or the patients who took Elmiron about the possible risk of vision impairment. Responsible drug manufacturers usually add warnings to their package insert once the receive far fewer reports of serious injury. They have a responsibility to make this information available so patients and their doctors can decide whether to use Elmiron based on the best information available. Despite complaints of these adverse events, Janssen Pharmaceuticals decided to withhold the information about the connection between Elmiron and Maculopathy.
If you have suffered from Interstitial Cystitis of the bladder and taken Elmiron for a long period of time, you should consult with an ophthalmologist for an eye exam. An ophthalmologist is a specialist who can diagnose Retinal Maculopathy, Pigmentary Retinal Maculopathy, and Macular Degeneration. An optometrist can test your vision, but they may not be able to see the degree of damage on the macula or identify retinal pigmentary changes. An ophthalmologist can quickly perform the necessary exam to definitively diagnose whether or not you have suffered harm from Elmiron use.
The Defective Drug Lawyers at the Yost Legal Group Are Here to Answer Questions and Help
The Elmiron lawyers at The Yost Legal Group are pursuing Elmiron Class Action cases nationwide for patients who have suffered vision damage. The defective drug lawyers at The Yost Legal Group have decades of experience in pursuing product liability claims against manufacturers of dangerous and defective drugs. If you or a loved one has questions about vision disturbances after use of Elmiron, please call us today for a free initial consultation. If we accept your case, we will do so on a no win/no fee or expense basis. You will pay no fee or expense unless you receive a recovery. We are here to help, please complete the form below, or call us at 1-800-YOSTLAW.
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