Long-term Elmiron users face increased eye damage and vision loss risk, new study confirms
A recent study has provided more evidence linking the interstitial cystitis drug Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) to an increased risk of vision problems. The new study, published in the scientific journal Retina, found that the link between Elmiron and eye damage was higher for patients who had used the medication for an extended period.
The researchers who conducted the study sent a questionnaire to hundreds of patients with interstitial cystitis located in several countries. Among other questions, the researchers asked the patients for information about their use of Elmiron and whether they had developed any vision problems after they started taking the drug.
Researchers found that patients who had the highest levels of exposure to Elmiron — meaning that they either took the drug over an extended period or were prescribed high doses of the drug — were the most likely to report that they had experienced vision problems. The higher-dose Elmiron users were more likely to report that they were experiencing problems reading small print or that they had been diagnosed with the eye diseases macular degeneration or pigmentary maculopathy.
The findings of the Retina researchers are only the latest results linking Elmiron to an increased risk of eye damage. Between 2018 and 2020, researchers at the Emory Eye Center, Kaiser Permanente, the Harvest Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, and other institutions published studies which found that patients who used Elmiron were more likely to develop vision problems.
Lawsuits Filed on Behalf of Elmiron Users with Eye Damage
Concerns about the link between Elmiron and vision loss have prompted numerous patients who used the drug to file lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the makers of the interstitial cystitis drug. The lawsuits have alleged that the two drugmakers knew about the dangers of Elmiron for patients’ vision, but failed to properly warn doctors or consumers about these risks.
The first Elmiron lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen was filed in May 2020 by a woman who developed retinal damage after using the drug. The two drug companies are currently facing at least 80 lawsuits in state and federal courts across the U.S. from patients who developed vision problems after being prescribed the interstitial cystitis drug.
In some cases, lawsuits filed by patients with eye damage after taking Elmiron have linked the drug to a condition known as pigmentary maculopathy. Although this condition is the most common cause of age-related vision loss in the United States, patients who were treated with Elmiron have developed a unique form of this disease that has only been observed among Elmiron users.
As more and more evidence mounts regarding the link between Elmiron and vision problems, legal experts have predicted that additional lawsuits against J&J and Janssen will be filed over the coming year. Some experts have forecast that hundreds of lawsuits involving Elmiron will eventually be filed against the two drugmakers in 2021.
Elmiron Users With Eye Damage May Qualify to File a Lawsuit
If you or a loved one were prescribed Elmiron for interstitial cystitis and were diagnosed with vision loss — including pigmentary maculopathy, retinal damage, blindness, or other eye conditions — you may qualify to file a lawsuit and receive compensation for your injuries.
To receive a free legal consultation about your case and to find out whether you may qualify to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Elmiron, contact the lawyers at Hissey, Mulderig & Friend by calling toll-free at 1-866-806-8117. You can also contact our law firm by filling out our free case evaluation form located on the right side of this page.
After we receive your information, one of our staff members will contact you to help you schedule your free consultation with one of our lawyers.