Is There an Elmiron Recall?
Although there have been multiple studies linking Elmiron use to maculopathy and vision problems, there hasn’t been an Elmiron recall. Approved by the FDA in 1996, Elmiron was created to treat interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder condition. There are no Elmiron alternatives or generic versions, which might explain the FDA’s hesitancy to issue a recall.
The majority of patients who suffer from Elmiron vision loss don’t experience retinal damage until they’ve used the drug for 14 years. However, some patients have been diagnosed with vision problems in as little as three. Since the FDA has failed to protect consumers by issuing an Elmiron recall, firms like Pendleton Law have stepped up to fight for victims of the drug.
FDA Approved of an Elmiron Product Label Warning Instead of a Recall
In 2020, Elmiron’s manufacturer added a label to the drug’s packaging, warning consumers about the risk of pigmentary maculopathy. While an Elmiron recall should have been issued shortly after the drug was linked to maculopathy, its product label warning has likely saved many from losing their eyesight.
What the warning label doesn’t include is the fact that vision problems can develop even after patients stop taking Elmiron. That means, patients who have used Elmiron in the past should schedule regular appointments with their eye doctor, and familiarize themselves with the signs of retinal damage.
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Signs of Eye Damage Caused by Elmrion
While issuing an Elmiron recall would have been the best course of action, the drug’s warning label has spread a lot of awareness about the risks associated with Elmiron. If you are one of the many individuals who take Elmiron and have recently learned about its potential to cause vision loss, you’ll want to look out for the following signs of Elmiron-induced eye damage:
- Poor night vision
- Difficulty reading
- Eye pain
- Blurry vision
- Halo vision
- Scotoma or blind spot in vision
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Lack of Elmiron Recall Will Only Cause More Victims to Take Legal Action
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above after taking Elmiron, you’re not alone. The FDA’s failure to issue an Elmiron recall has affected thousands of Americans who just wanted some relief from their bladder pain. To get the compensation you deserve, we recommend you seek legal counsel with an Elmiron Lawsuit Lawyer as soon as possible.
A lawyer can assist you in filing an individual lawsuit against Elmiron’s manufacturer, or help you join the ongoing multidistrict litigation effort. Multidistrict litigation, or MDL for short, is a way of grouping multiple lawsuits together that makes legal proceedings more efficient. A lawyer will help you determine whether an MDL or individual suit is your best path forward.
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Damages You Can Recover From an Elmiron Lawsuit
Until Elmiron is recalled, more and more people will continue to seek compensation for vision loss. If you’ve been straddled with debt as a result of an Elmiron injury, an attorney can help you get the damages you need to pay it off. Depending on the details of your case, you may be eligible to receive both economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages can cover monetary losses like bills from your eye doctor. Here are some of the economic damages you might receive from your Elmiron suit or MDL:
- Medical bills
- Assistive devices
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
Non-economic damages can be requested to cover losses that are harder to assign a value to. They can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental distress
- Diminished quality of life
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Elmiron Hasn’t Been Recalled but the FDA Is Open to Applications for Alternative Drugs
In lieu of issuing an Elmiron recall, the FDA has announced that they are now taking applications for Elmiron alternatives. The release of a drug that treats interstitial cystitis pain without causing retinal damage could change the lives of thousands of Americans.
While no alternatives have been approved as of yet, the FDA’s announcement will likely motivate the pharmaceutical industry to get started on developing an alternative to Elmiron. Until a better drug is released, patients taking Elmiron will have to continue monitoring their eyesight and going in for regular ophthalmologist checkups.
Current Alternatives to Elmiron
Although no Elmiron alternatives have been brought to the market yet, there are a number of alternative pain treatments that patients suffering from interstitial cystitis may benefit from. If you want relief from bladder pain but don’t want to roll the dice by taking Elmiron, ask your doctor if these alternative treatments are right for you:
- Physical therapy. Physical therapy can help you relax your bladder muscles and reduce pain caused by your condition.
- OTC pain medication. Although they won’t be as effective as Elmiron, OTC pain relievers like Ibuprofen can offer some relief from bladder pain.
- Bowel and bladder training. Bladder and bowel training can help you regulate your body functions in a way that mitigates pain from interstitial cystitis.
Don’t Wait to File an Elmiron Lawsuit
If you need compensation to cover your Elmiron vision loss expenses, don’t wait to speak to an attorney. Delaying legal action will only make it harder for you to get the payment you need to pay your bills. That’s because there’s a statute of limitations for filing product liability lawsuits in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Depending on your case, you may have as little as two years to file a suit. An experienced attorney will be able to determine your filing deadline, build your case, and make sure it’s submitted before it’s too late.
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The FDA’s failure to issue an Elmiron recall is inexcusable, but at least patients have been made aware of Elmiron’s side effects via the warning label. Until an Elmiron recall is announced and an alternative medication is approved, patients suffering from interstitial cystitis will have to stay vigilant for maculopathy symptoms.
For those who have already sustained vision loss from Elmiron, the only path forward is to file a product liability suit or join an MDL. If you need compensation for your Elmiron injury, an attorney from Pendleton Law can help you secure it. Contact us to get started on your lawsuit. We’ll schedule a free case review to learn more about your diagnosis and related losses.
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