Complications of Elmiron’s vision: who is affected?
Have you suffered from blurred vision or macular degeneration after taking the prescription medication Elmiron? If so, you may be eligible for a criminal investigation.
Elmiron is an oral medication prescribed to treat interstitial cystitis, a painful bladder disorder also called “painful bladder syndrome”. It is a semi-synthetic drug derived from xylan, a substance found in beech bark.
From Side effects of Elmiron are eyesight problemsincluding a serious condition called pigmentary maculopathyalso called macular degeneration, which is a condition that initially causes loss of central vision and can eventually lead to blindness.
Reports of a link between retinal problems and Elmiron surfaced in 2018.
Are you eligible?
Studies suggest a link between Elmiron and vision problems. Further research is underway to learn more about the link between the drug and vision loss. If you experienced vision loss after taking the drug Elmiron, you may be eligible to participate in an Elmiron trial investigation.
Qualifying diagnoses after one (1) year of Elmiron use include:
- pigmentary macular degeneration
- Pigmentary maculopathy
- pigmentary maculitis
- Retinal maculopathy
- Dry macular degeneration
- Retinal pigment epithelium
Qualifying symptoms after two (2) years of Elmiron use include:
- Blurred vision
- Loss of central vision
- Poor adaptation of light to dark
- Black spots
- Straight lines appear curved
- Less vivid colors
- Difficulty reading
Fill out the form on this page for more information.
Loss of vision, suspected Elmiron link in 2018
Reports of the potential link between retinal problems and Elmiron surfaced in 2018, when Dr. Nieraj Jain of the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta found changes in “the central area of the retina that provides clear, sharp central vision”, in six people who took the drug for 15 years. None had a family or medical history to explain the abnormalities.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology established links between retinal problems and chronic use of Elmiron in 2018.
Post-marketing data available on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System Public Dashboard for “Elmiron” and “pentosan polysulfate sodium” (active ingredient of Elmiron) from 1997 to June 30, 2020, revealed 2,570 adverse event reports, according to Drug monitoring.
Researchers do not know why vision side effects may develop from Elmiron. A theory is that the drug can generate a toxic metabolite that affects the eyes, Forbes reported. The news agency cited a study by Kaiser Permanente which found that around 25% of their patients with long-term exposure to the drug had clear evidence of retinal damage.
Symptoms of Elmiron Eye Damage
Symptoms of Elmiron-related vision loss can vary. They understand:
- Paracentral scotoma or areas of vision loss in the field of vision
- Difficulty adjusting to dim lighting or darkness
- Difficulty reading
- Problems seeing nearby objects
- Dimming of vision
Patients taking Elmiron are encouraged to have routine eye exams as a precaution if they choose to continue taking the drug. However, many patients who have been taking this drug for years may have experienced vision loss without knowing it.
Elmiron eye damage lawsuits
In May 2020, a A New York woman has filed a complaint against Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals alleging that she suffers from maculopathy, blurred vision and blurred vision as a result of taking Elmiron from approximately 2003 to 2020.
Plaintiff Becky W. claims she received no warning about the serious risks of retinal damage, macular degeneration, or loss of vision posed by her ingestion of Elmiron. Court documents say Janssen failed to investigate risks to a patient’s vision, even though a doctor’s use study conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s reportedly noted side effects side effects such as optic neuritis and retinal hemorrhage (bleeding).
A man from Massachusetts filed a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after he allegedly suffered severe eye damage after taking the drug from 2004 to 2019. As a result, he claims to suffer subcellular damage to his eyes, putting him at “significantly increased risk of contracting Elmiron Maculopathy and need[ing] medical and ophthalmological follow-up for the early detection of this disease.
In Canada, two women recently filed a complaint against Janssen claiming that they suffered from unexpected eye problems, which affected daily routines such as reading, climbing stairs and driving. Both women say their symptoms started with simple symptoms such as floaters or line distortions. Now both women are said to be suffering from serious vision problems. One of the women works as an archaeologist and says her poor vision makes it difficult to work in the dark.
Investigation of Elmiron’s vision loss trial
If you experienced vision loss after taking the drug Elmiron for bladder problems, you may be eligible to participate in an Elmiron trial investigation.
Fill out the form on this page for more information.
