Patients who take the prescription drug Elmiron to treat chronic bladder pain caused by interstitial cystitis may face an increased risk of maculopathy, a severe eye disorder that can lead to retinal deterioration, vision loss and blindness. If you have experienced vision problems after taking Elmiron to treat interstitial cystitis, you may be suffering from retinal maculopathy or pigmentary maculopathy. Contact an experienced Elmiron injury attorney as soon as possible to find out if you are eligible to file an Elmiron lawsuit against the makers of the drug.
Many patients taking Elmiron have been misdiagnosed with macular degeneration, a common, painless eye disease affecting the retina that is characterized by significant vision loss. However, while macular degeneration is usually associated with advanced age, patients taking Elmiron have been diagnosed with maculopathy as early as age 23. The risk of suffering retinal maculopathy from Elmiron appears to increase with longer exposure to the medication and new research suggests that retinal deterioration allegedly caused by Elmiron treatment may persist long after the bladder medication is discontinued. In a case study published in 2019, researchers from Harvard reported that a 69-year-old woman experienced retinal deterioration that continued for six years after she stopped using Elmiron due to maculopathy.
With new, emerging research linking Elmiron to a unique form of progressive eye disease, many patients who have suffered retinal deterioration while taking Elmiron and those who have been misdiagnosed with macular degeneration are now pursuing Elmiron lawsuits against the manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The growing Elmiron litigation involves claims that long-term exposure to the bladder medication causes retinal maculopathy and other serious eye damage possibly leading to permanent vision loss or blindness.
“If you have suffered vision related side effects after taking Elmiron, you are not alone. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries by filing an Elmiron lawsuit today. We offer a Free Case Evaluation and would be honored to speak to you.”
Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is a pharmaceutical drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996 to treat a specific bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis belongs to a group of diseases known generally as “painful bladder syndrome” and it can cause symptoms ranging from bladder pain or pressure and pelvic pain to a frequent urge to urinate. There is no cure for interstitial cystitis and the condition can have a long-lasting impact on patients’ quality of life. Medications like Elmiron are often prescribed to manage the symptoms of interstitial cystitis. And while little is known about how exactly Elmiron works to relieve the symptoms of interstitial cystitis, the drug is believed to restore the protective lining of the bladder (epithelium). This, in turn, may help protect the bladder wall from toxic substances in urine that can irritate it.
If you have suffered retinal maculopathy or another serious side effect after taking Elmiron, you may be entitled to Elmiron compensation for:
What many patients don’t realize is that taking Elmiron may increase their risk of other, life-changing medical conditions, such as retinal maculopathy, pigmentary maculopathy or macular retinopathy. Maculopathy is a general term used to describe any pathological condition affecting the macula, which is the functional center of the retina, the light, sensitive tissue that lines the inside of the eye. The macula is essential for everyday, accurate vision and is the part of the retina we use to see details, read and recognize a familiar face. Damage to the macula can cause serious eye disorders and may also lead to permanent blindness. From 1997 to 2019, the FDA received 100 reports of eye disorders occurring in patients taking Elmiron. Eight of the eye disorders were considered serious and 22 of the reports cited some form of maculopathy.
The form of maculopathy that has been linked to Elmiron treatment is identified as “pigmentary maculopathy of unknown etiology,” or a macular injury with no known cause. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that there is a known cause: Elmiron. In 2018, doctors from the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta, Georgia reported six cases between 2015 and 2017 where female patients between the ages of 38 and 68 experienced a new eye disease with no apparent cause. The disease was classified as retinal maculopathy, meaning the pigment cells within the retina changed color, which can result in significant vision problems. After an exhaustive review of their medical history, the doctors found that all six patients were taking Elmiron for interstitial cystitis. In 2019, the Emory Eye Center’s report was updated to include four additional patients who had taken Elmiron and experienced macular disease.
