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    If you have been diagnosed with vision problems after regularly taking the medicine Elmiron® for bladder pain or osteoarthritis, you are not alone. You should seek trusted legal guidance about your legal options to seek compensation as soon as possible. You may be entitled to sue the drug manufacturer and demand compensation for the serious and possibly irreversible vision loss that you have suffered from taking Elmiron®.

    Consumers have a right to trust that the prescription drugs they take are safe and effective and to be warned of any side effects. When a dangerously defective drug causes harm, the manufacturer should be held accountable. In recent months, many people have filed lawsuits against the maker of Elmiron® since medical researchers reported the connection between the medication and loss of vision. The attorneys at Joye Law Firm are reviewing potential Elmiron® lawsuits in South Carolina.

    Our attorneys at Joye Law Firm are committed to standing up for South Carolinians who have been injured by Elmiron® or other unsafe drugs. We have been helping injured people in South Carolina hold pharmaceutical companies fully accountable for more than 50 years. We cannot guarantee any specific result from an Elmiron® vision loss lawsuit but our record of verdicts and settlements shows the energy and resources we put into each case and our depth of experience litigating complex product liability cases. Our law firm is gratified by the testimonials of former clients. It is a privilege to use our legal skills to help people who need a strong advocate.

    Please call us at 877-941-1019 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

    What is Elmiron?

    Elmiron® is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for relief of bladder pain and discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis, a chronic condition. Elmiron® has been on the market since the 1990s. It has recently been linked by multiple medical studies to serious retinal damage and vision loss among patients.

    Janssen Pharmaceuticals is the maker of Elmiron®, which contains the active ingredient pentosane polysulfate sodium.

    In December of 2020, a federal judicial panel transferred more than 100 Elmiron® lawsuits from throughout the U.S. to a federal court in New Jersey. The lawsuits will be handled as a multi-district litigation for more efficient handling of the pre-trial phases of the product liability cases.

    The lawsuits contain issues in common involving the propensity of Elmiron® to cause retinal damage to users, including loss of vision. Grouping the cases together during the early stages reduces the cost of investigating the development and marketing of the medication and preparing the litigation for trial. More Elmiron® lawsuits, perhaps hundreds more, are expected to be filed in the coming months, the court said in centralizing the cases.

    Side Effects

    In addition to changes in eyesight and vision loss, a number of side effects have been reported by patients taking Elmiron®, most notably bleeding complications. Elmiron® is a weak blood thinner, which may increase bleeding events.

    Other common side effects include:

    • Diarrhea, upset stomach
    • Nausea
    • Bleeding complications
    • Blood in stool
    • Abnormal liver function test results
    • Hair loss
    • Dizziness
    • Bruising

    Elmiron Vision Loss and Eye Problems

    Medical researchers at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta in 2018 documented eye injuries in six patients who had been taking Elmiron® for more than a decade. They had developed unusual changes in their macula, the part of the retina that provides central vision.  Some patients were diagnosed with permanent retinal damage to both eyes. Their research, entitled “Pigmentary Maculopathy Associated with Chronic Exposure to Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium,” appeared in the May 2018 Journal of Ophthalmology

    In a follow-up study, the American Academy of Ophthalmology reported that doctors at Kaiser Permanente had examined 91 patients who had been taking Elmiron® for at least 15 years and found clear evidence of drug toxicity in 22 of the patients.

    In 2020, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, added a new warning to the label of Elmiron®, noting that pigment changes in the retina of the eye had been identified among patients who were long-time users of the medication.

    Janssen said that the symptoms of vision changes included difficulty reading, slow adjustment to reduced lighting and blurred vision.

    Does Elmiron Cause Blindness?

    Gavel and pills spread out over dollar bills to signify the expense in drug injury lawsuits.Retinal maculopathy, a relatively rare eye condition, has been diagnosed at higher-than-average rates in patients taking Elmiron® and can lead to blindness.

    Any patient taking Elmiron® should have regular eye examinations for the early detection of changes to the retina.

    If pigmentary changes develop after starting the medication, the risks and benefits of using the medication should be re-evaluated, since the vision changes are irreversible.

    If you have been prescribed Elmiron®, do not stop taking the medication unless instructed by your doctor.

    FDA Response to Link Between Elmiron and Vision Loss

    In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration said it was evaluating the need for regulatory action regarding Elmiron® based on multiple reports of eye disorders it had received from health care providers.

    In June of 2020, the FDA announced the addition of a new warning on Elmiron®. The warning was about the association between the medication and potential irreversible changes in a patient’s vision.

    The warning states that the possible side effects of taking Elmiron® over time include retinal pigmentary changes, also known as pigmentary maculopathy, a progressive eye disease.

    While most of the changes were observed in patients who had taken Elmiron® for three years or longer, the FDA said that some vision side effects have also been seen from short-term use of the medication. The cumulative dose of the medication taken by patients appears to be a risk factor.

    Drug manufacturers have a legal responsibility to produce products that are safe and effective when used as directed. They are required to warn adequately of any known or foreseeable side effects of using the drug. Janssen should have warned of the potential damage to vision caused by Elmiron® much earlier.

    Many lawsuits have been filed against Janssen by consumers harmed by taking Elmiron®. Many more suits are expected. Bringing a lawsuit against a drug maker involves complex scientific and regulatory issues about the likelihood of Elmiron® to cause retinal damage, notably atypical or pigmentary maculopathy.

    By filing a lawsuit, you may seek compensation for your medical bills related to your vision loss, your related expenses, diminished enjoyment of life as a result of the injury and lost income if you have been unable to work.

    If you believe that you may have been harmed by Elmiron®, you should consult with an experienced law firm.

    Call Our Experienced Dangerous Drug Injury Attorneys

    Joye Law Firm has been in business for more than 50 years and has the commitment and resources to help investigate complex product liability cases. We are experienced at taking on large corporations and holding them accountable for the harm caused by their products, and we have frequently partnered with other leading law firms on these cases when appropriate.

    We can help review your medical diagnosis about vision damage and medical records regarding the use of Elmiron® and discuss your legal options.

    With these types of cases, you would not be expected to pay any upfront costs. You would only owe a legal fee if your attorneys obtain money for you through a negotiated settlement or a court award. Any legal fees would be paid by a portion of the compensation secured. Even if more than one law firm works on your case, you would only pay one legal fee.

    If you’re thinking about pursuing an Elmiron® lawsuit, the attorneys at Joye Law Firm are here to help you. If you have suffered vision loss after taking the medication, don’t suffer alone. We do not charge for an initial consultation with an attorney to understand your legal options. So, let us help you get peace of mind today.

    Call us at (888) 324-3100 for a no-obligation case review or contact us online.

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