Chautauqua County Elmiron Injury

Jed Dietrich, Esq. and His Battle-Tested Team of Attorneys at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Unwaveringly Demand Maximum Settlements for Victims Who Have Suffered Loss of Vision Caused by Elmiron in Dunkirk, New York; Fredonia, New York; Jamestown, New York, Throughout Chautauqua County and Beyond.

Elmiron was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996. The drug manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, wholly-owned by Johnson & Johnson, is the only oral prescription medication approved specifically for interstitial cystitis (IC). The American Urological Association estimates that 1 to 4 million men and 3 to 8 million women are burdened with interstitial cystitis, also known as bladder pain syndrome (BPS). The condition affects the urinary tract causing chronic pelvic pain, persistent need to urinate, and discomfort as the bladder fills. Elmiron belongs to a class of anticoagulant drugs called low molecular weight heparins. The drug is thought to work by coating the surface of the bladder. The synthetic glycosaminoglycans (GAG) layer helps protect the bladder wall from irritating substances in urine and bacteria.

Since being placed on the market, millions of patients throughout the country have been prescribed Elmiron. However, scientists and researchers have determined that long-term use of the drug can result in a degenerative eye disorder, pigmentary maculopathy. Ophthalmologists found that approximately 25% of patients who had been prescribed Elmiron showed obvious signs of eye damage. Additionally, the longer patients took Elmiron, the higher risk they had of suffering from vision loss. Although Janssen Pharmaceuticals was notified about the connection between its medication and eye damage, the company failed to warn doctors or patients for many years. Janssen’s negligence caused countless patients to be subjected to the risks of eye injury and blindness. Those who took Elmiron for at least 6 months and developed eye damage or vision impairment may be entitled to monetary compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

If you, or someone you know, has suffered pigmentary maculopathy caused by Elmiron, it is time to let the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. help. Please contact our elite Chautauqua County, New York attorneys now by calling (716) 839-3939 or completing the online consultation form. Jed Dietrich, Esq. would be pleased to provide you with a complimentary and confidential consultation and case assessment. Jed Dietrich, Esq. has over 2 decades of experience representing victims of defective pharmaceutical products, such as Elmiron. Our seasoned attorneys are here to hold Janssen accountable for its irresponsible indifference to your health and wellbeing. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s battle-tested team vow to take necessary legal actions to investigate your eye impairment, establish liability, and safeguard your right to compensation. We are avidly dedicated to obtaining the best possible result for your degenerative eye disorder and all other damages in Dunkirk, New York, throughout Chautauqua County, and beyond. Jed Dietrich, Esq.’s aggressive litigation tactics have compelled insurance companies and careless drug manufacturers to pay at least $1,000,000.00 or more at least 44 times to compensate his clients.

As early as 2015, eye doctors at Emory Eye Center realized that several of their patients being treated for pigmentary maculopathy had all been prescribed Elmiron. The doctors determined that the active ingredient in Elmiron was toxic to users’ retinal tissues. Before this discovery was made public, ophthalmologists mistakenly diagnosed Elmiron users with age-related macular degeneration. Despite various studies published by the Journal of Ophthalmology and Review of Ophthalmology, showing a strong connection between chronic exposure to Elmiron and pigmentary maculopathy, Janssen Pharmaceuticals recklessly neglected to warn consumers.

Finally, in June of 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved several changes to Elmiron’s warning label. The updated label, added roughly 24 years after the drug was initially approved, states, “Pigment changes in the retina of the eye (also referred to as pigmentary maculopathy in medical journal articles) have been reported with long-term use of Elmiron. While the cause of the pigmentary changes is unclear, continued long-term dosing with Elmiron may be a risk factor. The consequences of these pigmentary changes in the retina are not fully understood. Visual symptoms that have been reported include difficulty reading, slow adjustment to low or reduced light environments, and blurred vision.” The new label is the first time that a written warning related to the potential risks of developing retinal maculopathy and vision loss from the usage of Elmiron has been provided to doctors and patients.

Contact your eye doctor immediately if you have noticed any changes in your vision after taking Elmiron. Regular eye examinations for retinal changes are highly suggested for early detection of maculopathy. Generally, to be eligible for a lawsuit against Janssen, you should have taken Elmiron for at least 6 months and been diagnosed with retina damage. Our compassionate team recommends seeing an ophthalmologist if you are undergoing any of the following symptoms:

1. Trouble reading;
2. Difficulty focusing;
3. Blurred vision;
4. Perceiving colors less vividly;
5. Changes in eye color pigment;
6. Loss of night vision;
7. Vision loss;
8. Slow adjustment to low light conditions;
9. Paracentral scotoma; or
10. Metamorphopsia.

Millions of individuals suffering from interstitial cystitis depended on Elmiron to relieve their bladder pain. Unfortunately, long-term exposure to the medication could result in irreversible vision loss. Too concerned with higher profits, Janssen chose not to warn patients about the potential eye damage. There is no excuse for failing to sufficiently warn patients about the dangers of Elmiron. Now that you have been diagnosed with pigmentary maculopathy and want to take legal action. Million-dollar judgments often urge pharmaceutical companies to take a greater interest in consumers’ health.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. is here to help you. Our best of the best law firm built its outstanding reputation by litigating for victims of some of the most powerful corporations. Jed Dietrich, Esq. possesses both the expertise and verified results to hold Janssen accountable. Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. more than $175,000,000.00 in verdicts and settlements to resolve his clients’ injury claims. Our battle-tested attorneys would welcome the chance to evaluate your injuries and determine whether you have a viable case. Your initial consultation and case assessment are free of charge. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of highly experienced and top rated Chautauqua County, New York Elmiron vision loss lawyers will ensure that you are in a position to receive the highest possible compensation. Please call us today; our seasoned team is available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week at (716) 839-3939.

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 Chautauqua County, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!