Elmiron is a prescription drug manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson) for the purposes of treating interstitial cystitis (“IC”). When someone is diagnosed with IC, they have issues with their bladder, including chronic pain and discomfort, as well as the need to urinate frequently. Public data indicates that close to 12 million people in the United States suffer from IC. However, it turns out that taking Elmiron could potentially cause significant, permanent damage to your vision. Thousands of people have reported suffering maculopathy and other eye problems after taking Elmiron. Lawsuits seeking financial restitution on behalf of the injured have already begun.
If you or a loved one took Elmiron and were subsequently diagnosed with maculopathy or another vision issue, you may be able to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. Contact Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free, confidential case review.
Vision Loss Linked to Elmiron
In 2018, doctors from the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia identified a disturbing problem with patients taking Elmiron – serious damage to the macula region of the patient’s eyes, including pigmentary maculopathy. This led the Emory Eye Center to publish a preliminary report suggesting Elmiron could potentially damage retinal tissue in the human eye.
Subsequently, a team of ophthalmologists in Northern California examined thousands of patient records and identified a similar link between the use of Elmiron and eye damage. The troubling results were then presented at an annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology in October 2019.
Researchers estimate that close to 25 percent of patients who have taken Elmiron displayed signs of maculopathy or significant eye damage. Many victims already reported partial vision loss or even total blindness. When these victims were examined, doctors discovered a clear link between the eye damage and drug toxicity related to the use of Elmiron.
Elmiron and Maculopathy
Prolonged use of Elmiron has been linked to the development of maculopathy, also known as macular retinopathy. If you do not know, maculopathy is a broad term describing any disease or pathologic condition affecting the macula (i.e. the central region of the retina in the eye). The type of maculopathy directly associated with Elmiron is called pigmentary maculopathy. However, macular damage from Elmiron can easily be misdiagnosed as age-related macular degeneration. Maculopathy can result in impairment or even loss of vision.
Filing an Elmiron Injury Lawsuit
If you or a loved one suffered vision loss or eye damage after taking Elmiron, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the drug’s manufacturer to pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. There already appears to be sufficient evidence linking Elmiron to retinal damage that would warrant the filing of a product liability lawsuit. Hundreds and possibly thousands of Elmiron lawsuits are expected to be filed against the drug manufacturer.
What Financial Restitution Can Be Pursued in an Elmiron Eye Damage Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one took Elmiron and suffered maculopathy or other serious eye damage, you could be eligible to pursue the following forms of financial restitution:
- Past and future medical expenses to treat your injuries.
- Past and future pain and suffering that results from your injuries, both from a physical and mental standpoint.
- Lost income
- Other economic losses suffered due to your injuries.
- Punitive damages, depending on the facts of your particular case
Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp is Accepting New Elmiron Eye Damage Cases
Our law firm possesses extensive experience representing clients nationwide who have been seriously harmed by toxic substances or dangerous drugs. Our firm is comprised of seasoned trial lawyers who are active in national personal injury law seminars and networking.
For example, we routinely coordinate and partner with other top injury lawyers and firms to take on big corporations and drug companies in these types of cases. There is often power in the number of clients harmed by toxic or dangerous drugs. We are selective in which cases we will handle also. However, based on the information we have gathered, our law firm is actively reviewing potential Elmiron product liability claims. If you or a loved one meet the following criteria, contact our office to schedule a free, confidential case review:
- You were prescribed and took Elmiron on a daily basis for six months or longer; and
- After taking Elmiron, you suffered vision problems and were diagnosed with any of the following conditions:
- Maculopathy / macular retinopathy
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Retinal dystrophy
- Other retinal conditions