If you have suffered vision loss, eye damage, or blindness and have taken Elmiron® (pentosan polysulfate sodium) in the past, you may be among the many patients eligible to file a legal claim. Elmiron® has been scientifically linked to the development of eye damage — a side effect that was not disclosed to medical professionals and patients.
Attorneys at Peterson & Associates, P.C. are passionate about fighting for consumers harmed by negligent corporations and companies, especially when those companies have huge global influence and are putting people at risk around the world. We believe it is our duty to stand up to these corporations in the name of protecting public health. To date, we have won more than $500 million for our clients, providing them with compassionate legal counsel and fearless representation along the way.
Contact an Elmiron® eye damage attorney at Peterson & Associates, P.C. by filling out this form or call us at 816-888-8888. We accept cases on a contingency basis in Kansas City and throughout Missouri.
Elmiron®: Prescribed Use and Associated Risks
Since the 1990s, Elmiron® has been prescribed to patients to treat a chronic bladder condition called interstitial cystitis (IC). Elmiron® was believed to be completely safe and effective in curbing the persistent pain associated with IC by lining the bladder with a layer of mucus. Since doctors were not made aware of the risks of serious eye damage that the drug posed, they often prescribed it as the first route of treatment for IC patients.
The first medical professionals to uncover the harmful side effects of Elmiron® were ophthalmologists at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia when they were approached with six different patients all suffering from a rare eye condition between 2015 and 2017. These doctors were able to identify this condition as pigmentary maculopathy, a rare degenerative eye disorder leading to vision changes, including partial and complete vision loss. The common factor between these patients was that they had each taken Elmiron® to treat their IC.
Scientific Studies Support the Link Between Elmiron® and Pigmentary Maculopathy
After treating these six patients, Emory Eye Center doctors were compelled to release a preliminary report outlining the possibility of a link between Elmiron® and pigmentary maculopathy. Scientists conducted a 2018 study that supported this link; then in 2019, the American Academy of Ophthalmology followed suit. Physicians at the Emory Eye Center also conducted their own case study of 10 Elmiron® patients who suffered eye damage. To round out these studies, the American Academy of Ophthalmology conducted a follow-up study in 2020. Each and every one of these studies corroborated the initial claims of ophthalmologists at the Emory Eye Center — a link between Elmiron® and pigmentary maculopathy does exist.
Did Elmiron® Always Carry Harmful Side Effects?
Unfortunately, Elmiron® has always carried these negative side effects; the division of Johnson & Johnson responsible for the marketing of Elmiron®, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., simply failed to disclose this to the professional medical community. This egregious oversight has led many patients to be prescribed this harmful drug and is the very reason why Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has been hit with a wave of lawsuits.
I Suffered Eye Damage and/or Vision Loss. Do I Qualify for a Case?
If you suffered injuries because of your Elmiron® prescription, you might qualify for a case. However, it is advised to consult a lawyer to discuss any details of your injury and Elmiron® use. An attorney will be able to determine the weak and strong points of your case and help you move forward with legal proceedings.
Symptoms of pigmentary maculopathy arising from Elmiron® use include:
- Color change in retina
- Dark spots interrupting your field of vision
- Distorted vision
- Blurred vision
- Night blindness
- Trouble reading or adjusting to dim lighting
- Muted colors
- Farsightedness, or hyperopia
Why Work with Peterson & Associates, P.C.?
Peterson & Associates, P.C.’s attorneys are experienced in litigating cases concerning dangerous drugs. If a pharmaceutical corporation has misled you and your doctor, causing you preventable harm, we want to advocate for your rights. We are recognized by Martindale-Hubbell® and Super Lawyers® and have represented patients injured by Zantac, OxyElite Pro® weight loss pills, and more. Now, we are standing up to Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for the harm done to those injured by Elmiron®.
By law, pharmaceutical companies are required to disclose any harmful side effects their drugs carry in order to prevent harm to patients prescribed those drugs. When they fail in this regard, it is not only a legal failure but also an ethical failure. We will never condone such injustice. That is why you can trust our acclaimed attorneys at Peterson & Associates, P.C. to stand by your side throughout every step of the legal process.
Call 816-888-8888 to consult with a distinguished Kansas City Elmiron® eye damage lawyer.