Depo-Provera Injury Lawyers In New York State

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Recognized as a Super Lawyer and an American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, is Committed to Protecting the Rights of Women Injured By Depo-Provera and Other Defective Birth Control Medication. Depending on the Circumstances of Your Claim, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You File a Compelling Claim Against Pfizer, a Generic Drugmaker, or a Negligent Doctor, Negotiating a Fair Settlement to Obtain the Compensation You Need and the Peace of Mind That You Deserve.

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Depo-Provera is an injectable contractive that has been on the market for decades.

Although Depo-Provera is generally safe and effective, recent research suggests that prolonged use of this medication is closely associated with meningioma, a common type of tumor that most often forms in the membrane surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. Meningiomas are not always cancerous, but they can trigger serious side effects and are difficult to treat without surgery.

However, Pfizer, the company that makes Depo-Provera, failed to warn women that taking certain progestin-containing birth control medications could cause conditions such as meningioma and brain cancer.

You do not have to accept a life-altering diagnosis without support. Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect our clients from negligent companies in Buffalo and across New York State. A recognized U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firm, we know what it takes to ensure our clients obtain justice. Please message us online or call us at 716-839-3939 to speak to a Depo-Provera injury lawyer and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Depo-Provera and the Risk of Birth Control Injuries

Depo-Provera is a popular form of birth control.

Unlike many other contraceptive medications, Depo-Provera is injected rather than ingested. Most women who take Depo-Provera receive shots every three to four months. These shots release hormones that impact ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus and making it much more difficult for sperm to reach and fertilize eggs in the ovaries.

According to reports, Depo-Provera is slightly more effective than oral contraceptives.

However, physicians have found that the long-term use of Depo-Provera can trigger unpleasant symptoms and, in rare cases, potentially life-altering complications.

Depo-Provera: Common Risk Factors

Since Depo-Provera works by releasing a hormone called “progestin” into the body, women with certain conditions may face more significant risks while taking this medication. Doctors do not typically prescribe Depo-Provera to patients with a history of:

1. Unexplained vaginal bleeding;
2. Liver disease;
3. Breast cancer;
4. Lupus; and
5. Heart disease.

Depo-Provera: Common Side Effects

Almost every type of contraceptive medication is associated with a wide range of physical and psychological side effects. Depo-Provera, for instance, can sometimes cause:

1. Interrupted menstrual cycles;
2. Recurring headaches;
3. Nervousness;
4. Feelings of depression;
5. Weight gain;
6. Excessive hair growth or hair loss; and
7. Osteoporosis.

Although many of these symptoms may be unpleasant, they are not especially serious. However, recent research indicates that women who take Depo-Provera for longer timeframes are more likely to develop and be diagnosed with meningiomas than women who do not take Depo-Provera.

Depo-Provera: The Risk of Meningiomas

Medical researchers recently uncovered a worrying link between Depo-Provera and meningioma.

Meningiomas are a common type of tumor. They form in the membranes surrounding the brain and the spinal cord, which are, collectively, termed the “meninges.” Most meningiomas are not cancerous, but their location can cause complications including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Changes in vision;
2. Recurring headaches;
3. Hearing loss;
4. Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears;
5. Memory loss;
6. Loss of smell;
7. Seizures;
8. Weakness in the arms;
9. Weakness in the legs; and
10. Trouble speaking.

In 2024, scientists published an article in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMJ.

The article shared the results of a large study undertaken in France. In the study, researchers investigated the records of more than 108,000 women who had received intracranial surgeries for meningioma between January 2009 and December 2018. Of these women, about 18,000 were identified as the core “case group,” meaning that they had taken hormonal contraceptives such as Depo-Provera for at least five years before being diagnosed with, and treated for meningioma.

According to the study’s results, exposure to medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is the manmade, synthetic progestin used in medications like Depo-Provera, is associated with “an excess risk of meningioma.” This risk generally appears and increases after taking Depo-Provera for 12 months or longer.

Understanding Drugmaker Liability for Birth Control Injuries

Depo-Provera is manufactured by Pfizer.

Pfizer and companies that produce generic medroxyprogesterone acetate, are required by law to warn patients of the risks associated with their pharmaceutical products. Warnings can be written or communicated by patients’ prescribing physicians and pharmacists, but they must, at minimum, give women the chance to understand the many different ways in which these contraceptives could affect their bodies.

If and when pharmaceutical companies fail to warn patients of certain serious risks, they could be found liable for any resulting injuries.

The 3 Elements of a Product Liability Claim

Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer have a “duty to warn” consumers of the risks inherent to medications like Depo-Provera. However, in order to win a product liability lawsuit, you must be prepared to establish each of the following elements:

1. The manufacturer had a duty to warn you, the consumer, of potential side effects;
2. The manufacturer failed to provide a warning of possible side effects; and
3. The manufacturer’s failure to warn was the direct cause of your injuries.

Establishing any one of these elements could prove difficult, but an experienced product liability lawyer can help you obtain the evidence you need to construct a compelling case and begin rebuilding your life.

Establishing Liability After Being Injured by Depo-Provera

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping women across New York assert their rights after being injured by dangerous medications.

Depending on the circumstances of your claim, our experienced product liability lawyers could:

1. Use your medical records and groundbreaking research to prove that Depo-Provera was the cause of your injuries;
2. Assess your eligibility for different types of damages, including economic damages, noneconomic damages, and punitive damages;
3. Consult expert witnesses, including doctors and pharmaceutical professionals, to determine whether your injuries were most likely caused by medroxyprogesterone acetate;
4. Represent you in negotiations with Pfizer and its insurance company; and
5. Prepare to take your case to trial.

Since our founding in 2005, we have helped our clients across Upstate New York obtain more than $175 million in damages. We could help you, too, but you have to act fast. Although the Empire State does not currently limit compensation in most defective drug claims, it does enforce a strict statute of limitations. If you wait too long to contact an attorney, you could lose your right to compensation.

Do not take chances with your rights: contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today to speak to one of our New York State Depo-Provera injury lawyers and schedule your 100% free consultation as soon as possible.

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Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in New York State. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!

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