What You Need to Know About Pursuing a Claim
Elmiron is a prescription drug manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and used to treat the bladder pain or discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis. The FDA approved Elmiron in 1996, and the drug remains, to this day, the only prescription medication to treat interstitial cystitis. For more than two decades, tens of thousands of patients took Elmiron, having no idea that the drug could cause serious side effects. However, over 20 years later, doctors have discovered a link between Elmiron and vision loss.
If you have taken Elmiron and recently developed signs or symptoms of eye damage, reach out to a dedicated Elmiron lawyer for immediate assistance. Drug manufacturers make billions and billions of dollars by rushing products to market that, too often, later turn out not to be safe. Nothing you can do will turn back the clock to prevent your injuries. But by holding drug manufacturers accountable, you obtain compensation for your injuries and can help make sure that dangerous drugs are taken off the shelf, or at least equipped with a warning label, to prevent any further harm.
Elmiron Eye Damage
According to recent medical studies, about 25 percent of all patients taking Elmiron showed definite signs of eye damage. A few of the types of Elmiron-related eye problems include:
- Blurry vision
- Degenerative maculopathy
- Diminished night vision
- Halo vision
- Macular retinopathy
- Macular/pattern dystrophy
- Maculopathy
- Metamorphopsia
- Pigmentary maculopathy
- Retinal pigment epithelium atrophy
- Retinopathy
- Scotoma
- Vision impairment or loss, including unilateral or bilateral blindness
- Other vision problems
Regardless of the specific type of eye damage you experienced, you may be able to recover financial compensation through an Elmiron lawsuit. However, it is crucial to take prompt action, both for your health and your claim’s ultimate success.
What Should I Do if I think I Have an Elmiron Lawsuit?
Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Elmiron, may be liable for the Elmiron eye damage you suffered. If you believe that you have an Elmiron case, taking the following steps will ensure that you are protecting your physical health and preserving your rights to bring a product liability claim.
Get Medical Attention
The connection between Elmiron and eye damage is now clear. So, if you have taken Elmiron and are experiencing signs or symptoms of eye damage, the first step is to see a doctor.
The symptoms of Elmiron eye damage include difficulty reading, slow adjustment environments in low or reduced light, and blurred vision. Medical experts believe that the symptoms of Elmiron eye damage “could masquerade as other known retinal conditions, such as age-related macular degeneration or pattern dystrophy.” Thus, there is no way to know if Elmiron caused your vision loss unless you go to an ophthalmologist.
Even if you are not currently taking Elmiron, you should still see a doctor. According to the FDA, patients may experience vision loss or eye damage well after they stop taking the drug. In fact, recently, the FDA explained that “follow-up retinal examinations should be continued given that retinal and vision changes may progress even after cessation of treatment.”
If you are currently taking Elmiron, you will also want to discuss your treatment options with your urologist. Although Elmiron is the only FDA-approved medication for interstitial cystitis, there may be other non-drug treatment options to consider, such as nerve stimulation, physical therapy, bladder distention, and bladder instillation.
Document Your Side Effects
If you are experiencing vision loss after taking Elmiron, it is crucial that you report your symptoms to your ophthalmologist. Doing so not only creates an official record of your symptoms but also gives your doctor the opportunity to report your symptoms to the FDA.
Patients can also directly report their side effects through the MedWatch Online Voluntary Reporting Form, by calling the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing a downloadable form.
Gather Your Medical Information
Before you can pursue a claim against a drug manufacturer, it is important to be prepared. One of the first things you will want to do is obtain as many of your medical records as possible. These documents will make your first meeting with an Elmiron lawyer much more productive. A few of the questions that an attorney may ask you are:
- What are your symptoms?
- When did you first notice your vision problems? Have they gotten worse?
- Is there a personal or family history of similar eye problems?
- Have you undergone any treatment or surgery for your vision issues?
- Has your doctor recommended any course of treatment that you have not yet pursued?
- Has your doctor given you an opinion about whether your vision will likely get better, get worse, or stay the same?
While these questions may seem easy, it is a good idea to jot down your answers to make the most of your free consultation with an Elmiron lawyer.
Be Open With Your Lawyer
When discussing an Elmiron lawsuit with an attorney, sensitive topics will come up. Interstitial cystitis, the condition Elmiron is used to treat, is a bladder disease that can cause any of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the pelvis area (between the vagina and anus in women, or between the scrotum and anus in men);
- The need to frequently, and urgently, urinate;
- Discomfort while the bladder fills and after urinating; and
- Painful sexual intercourse.
For many people, discussing these topics can, at first, be awkward. However, Elmiron lawyers are professionals who regularly discuss these issues with their patients. The more open you are with your Elmiron lawyer, the more effective they can be in pursuing a claim for compensation.
Think About How Elmiron Affected Your Life
While the issue of damages will not immediately come up, it is important to think about how Elmiron has impacted your daily life. However, doing so can be difficult. Many of our clients don’t like to dwell on how drastically their injuries, including eye damage, have changed their lives for the worse. Yet, the severity of your symptoms and the ways they have affected your life will determine the extent of the damages that you may be able to recover.
Reach Out to an Elmiron Lawyer
When you are ready, the next step is to pick up the phone and schedule a free consultation with an experienced lawyer. An attorney can answer your questions and help you understand your options. Do not delay in calling, because an Elmiron eye damage lawsuit must be filed within a short period of time.