Elmiron Lawsuit

Elmiron is an FDA-approved prescription drug often used to treat painful bladder conditions. However, the drug has been linked to an increased risk of serious vision loss and other eye conditions, leading to multiple lawsuits being filed against the drug manufacturer. In 2022, the New Jersey Supreme Court approved a multi-county litigation (MCL) for all the Elmiron lawsuits in the state.

If you or a loved one were prescribed Elmiron and later diagnosed with vision loss or other eye issues, call the law offices of Lynch Law Firm, PC today. Our knowledgeable class action lawyers are ready to determine your eligibility to seek compensation for medical costs and other damages. Your initial case review is free, and there is no legal obligation to hire our firm, even if we validate your claim.

Our firm’s partners James Lynch and Arthur Lynch are Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum members.

Free consultation with no upfront fees. Call (800) 518-0508 .

Who May Qualify for an Elmiron Lawsuit?

Our firm is scheduling free case reviews with patients who were previously prescribed Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium). If you took this drug for two years or longer and have suffered from vision problems, you may qualify. However, your vision issues must have begun while still taking Elmiron, or within a year of stopping the medication.

For instance, if you stopped taking Elmiron in Spring of 2011, and were later diagnosed with an eye condition in early 2012, you may be eligible.

There are several other questions you may be asked in your free case review. Your answers will help us to learn more about your experience with Elmiron, including how it has caused you harm. It is important to respond to these questions honestly, accurately and with as much detail as possible.

  • Why did your doctor prescribe Elmiron?
  • Did you take only the recommended dose?
  • How long did you continue taking Elmiron?
  • Are you currently still taking this drug?
  • If no longer taking Elmiron, when did you stop taking it?
  • Have you experienced any vision problems since taking Elmiron?
  • If so, can you describe the symptoms you have had?
  • Have you been diagnosed with any eye diseases, such as maculopathy?
  • Has this drug affected your eyesight, and if so, how badly has your eyesight changed?
  • How has your reduced eyesight affected your daily life?
  • Has your doctor recommended medical treatment for your vision problems?
  • Have any medical treatments helped to restore your vision loss?
  • What did your doctor tell you about treatment to restore your vision?
  • Have you been told if your vision issues will get better, or is your vision loss permanent?

How Can I Benefit from Hiring an Attorney?

Filing a lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company is a long and difficult process. Often these companies intimidate plaintiffs by hiring teams of expensive lawyers to defend them. Even if we find you have a valid case, your lawyer will have a challenging legal fight. In a legal situation against corporate lawyers with deep pockets, pursuing a claim on your own is not likely to get you too far.

How We May Be Able to Help

In addition to having decades of experience and a history of proven results, our qualified lawyers are ready to fully handle your case by:

  • Investigating your damages, including how Elmiron has harmed you and affected your daily life
  • Examining your medical records, doctors’ notes and other evidence that provides details about your diagnosis
  • Researching other victims who have sustained vision loss and other damages while using Elmiron
  • Discussing the details of your diagnosed injuries and symptoms with your treating physician
  • Consulting with specialists and examining other research about Elmiron and its side effects
  • Negotiating with the other side to seek maximum compensation for your damages
  • Preparing to represent you in a court trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation

Victims often get significantly more compensation when represented by a lawyer than if they go it alone. Often this is because the attorneys for the other side know that victims are unsure about the true value of their claim. Our experienced attorneys know how to properly calculate the value of your claim.

What Compensation May Be Available for Victims?

There is no guarantee that victims will receive any compensation or that lawsuits will be successful. Additionally, any amount of compensation each victim receives will vary, based on the extent of that person’s damages. That said, if you have a valid claim, you may be awarded compensation for the following damages:

  • All related medical costs, including any surgeries or diagnostic testing
  • Loss of income, as well as the loss of your future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering due to the physical and mental impact of your vision loss
  • Loss of enjoyment of life from suffering serious and permanent vision damage

What Medical Condition is Elmiron Used to Treat?

Elmiron is currently the only prescription medication available for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic and painful bladder condition.

Patients with IC, a condition that affects more women than men, suffer from inflamed and irritated bladders. The internal wall of these patients’ bladders may also be scarred and damaged. Researchers do not yet understand how Elmiron works (it does not stop inflammation). However, they believe it creates a kind of barrier against certain irritants found in urine. In addition to helping protect the bladder from further irritation, Elmiron also works as a mild blood thinner.

The manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceutical, obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. Since the approval was sought under the Orphan Drug Act, it included special incentives to sponsors and other manufacturers that treat rare medical conditions.

Elmiron Linked to Maculopathy and Other Side Effects

There have been several studies conclusively linking Elmiron to permanent vision damage due to pigmentary maculopathy, a rare eye disease that only occurs in those taking Elmiron.

The symptoms associated with maculopathy include:

  • Dark spots in a patient’s vision
  • Blurry vision
  • Blindness
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Unfocused spots in the center range of vision
  • Difficulty reading
  • Problems seeing objects that are close by
  • Issues adjusting eyes in low or dark lighting

There is currently no cure for patients who suffer from maculopathy. The existing vision loss is permanent, and retinal damage could continue to worsen over time, even after stopping the medication.

Other commonly experienced side effects to Elmiron include:

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Bruising
  • Rash
  • Headaches
  • Hair loss
  • Bloody stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Abnormal liver functions

Current Studies Linking Elmiron to Vision Damage

Multiple research studies have proven that prolonged use of Elmiron is linked to vision damage. Despite these findings, Elmiron has only been placed on the FDA’s Watch List, but the drug has not been pulled off the market.

Recent studies linking Elmiron to vision damage include:

  • A study published in a scientific journal in September 2021 provided more strong evidence of the link between Elmiron and retinal damage. In this study, the median exposure was 547.5 grams for study participants taking Elmiron.
  • Kaiser Permanente (2020): Findings from this study revealed that toxicity from Elmiron increased with the amount of medication. Statistically, 11 percent of patients taking 500 to 1,000 grams showed toxicity compared to 42 percent of the patients taking a dosage of 1,500 grams or greater.
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology, AAO (2019)– This study, presented in 2019, also revealed links between Elmiron and the risks for eye damage. Patients in this study took Elmiron for six months or longer, and 25 percent of those patients had clear evidence of eye damage.

Have Elmiron Lawsuits Been Filed?

In addition to multi-county litigation (MCL) being approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in 2022, multidistrict litigation (MDL) was established in 2021 with more than 700 cases pending in New Jersey.

What the Elmiron Lawsuits Allege

The growing number of lawsuits against Elmiron manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals include allegations that it:

  • Knew about evidence linking Elmiron to vision impairment and blindness, but chose to ignore it
  • Took no action to provide sufficient warnings to consumers, despite the risk for permanent retinal damage
  • Continued to market Elmiron as a safe and effective treatment, despite growing evidence of consumers with injuries
  • Failed to notify the public about any of the known risks linking Elmiron to eye injuries
  • Chose to ignore various studies that conclusively linked Elmiron to permanent retinal damage and vision loss
  • Neglected to provide proper warnings for vision changes, retinal damage or other vision impairment on the drug label
  • Continued to market and sell Elmiron as a safe and effective treatment for interstitial cystitis

Contact Our Law Firm to Learn More About Filing an Elmiron Lawsuit

When physicians prescribe medications, consumers assume they are safe when used as recommended. Unfortunately, manufacturers often put profit over people by cutting corners and hiding problems.

At Lynch Law Firm, PC, our experienced attorneys believe in fighting to protect your rights. If you or a loved one suffered vision impairment after taking Elmiron, we encourage you to call for a free case review today. Our attorneys are prepared to discuss your situation and determine if you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages.

There is a small and defined window for taking legal action over a dangerous drug. If you believe you may have a case, we encourage you not to delay. You can call our office anytime, night or day, to schedule your free case review. If you have a case and choose to hire our firm, there are no upfront costs to pay. We only collect payment if we win your case.

Lynch Law Firm, PC. Experienced Lawyers. Proven Results. Call (800) 518-0508 .

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