What to Do if You Believe Elmiron Caused Your Vision Damage
Elmiron users nationwide are wondering where to turn for legal help amid distressing reports of a rare, potentially permanent eye disease that can lead to long-term vision loss or blindness. Already, there are nearly 2,000 Elmiron lawsuits pending in state and federal courts across the United States, each raising similar claims that the interstitial cystitis drug causes a novel eye disease called pigmentary maculopathy. The first Elmiron bellwether test cases are slotted for trial this year, and these cases will help parties gauge how juries are likely to react to evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout the litigation. If you or a loved one has experienced vision problems during or after treatment with Elmiron, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Contact Consumer Safety Watch right away if you believe Elmiron caused your vision damage.
1. Contact an experienced Elmiron injury attorney
Your first step after learning that you may have suffered vision damage from Elmiron should be to contact an experienced Elmiron injury attorney as quickly as possible. The Elmiron litigation is still relatively new, and product liability lawyers across the country are in the process of reviewing claims by former Elmiron users who say they have suffered Elmiron-related vision problems, like blurred vision, distorted vision, difficulty reading, difficulty adjusting to dim lighting, vision loss, and blindness. A qualified Elmiron injury lawyer can go over your case with you and determine whether you may be eligible for compensation. There may be a deadline to file an Elmiron claim, so don’t wait.
2. Make sure you understand your rights
As consumers, we have a right to receive accurate, up-to-date safety information about the medications we take to treat conditions like interstitial cystitis. Armed with this information, we can make an educated decision about which medications are safe to take and which aren’t. However, when drug manufacturers fail to conduct proper safety studies or disclose safety concerns about their medications, consumers are the ones who pay the price. Among other complaints, former Elmiron users claim that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals misrepresented the safety of Elmiron and downplayed its risks, which may include an increased risk of irreversible pigmentary maculopathy side effects.
3. Find out what your case might be worth
No attorney can guarantee the outcome of a product liability case. However, a seasoned product liability lawyer can assess the strengths and weaknesses of your Elmiron injury claim and determine how much your case might be worth. Remember that, despite similarities in alleged injuries, no two Elmiron cases are the same. That means the outcome of upcoming Elmiron cases – good or bad – won’t necessarily have any bearing on your case. Only with a reputable Elmiron injury attorney on your side can you get a clear picture of how your case may play out.
4. Collect as much information as possible
Elmiron is a prescription medication commonly used to treat a painful and incurable bladder condition called interstitial cystitis. In fact, Elmiron is the only oral medication FDA-approved to treat IC, and it has been prescribed to hundreds of thousands of patients over the years. Many Elmiron users stopped taking the drug after learning that it may be the cause of their eye damage. Unfortunately, reports indicate that vision loss related to Elmiron use may persist even after the medication is discontinued. If you are considering pursuing legal action against the makers of Elmiron, you can strengthen your claim by collecting as much information as possible about your Elmiron use and related injuries. This may include medical records, physical evidence, bills and invoices, insurance information, and any other documentation that supports your injury claim.
Contact Consumer Safety Watch for More Information
Elmiron has been on the market in the U.S. since 1996, but it wasn’t until June 2020 that the drug label was updated to include warnings about “Pigmentary changes in the retina, reported in the literature as pigmentary maculopathy.” Elmiron injury lawsuits claim that J&J and Janssen have known about the potential for Elmiron to cause permanent vision loss for decades, yet withheld this information from consumers and the medical community. If you have suffered retina damage that you believe to be related to the interstitial cystitis drug Elmiron, don’t wait to get the legal help you deserve. You may have grounds to file an Elmiron injury lawsuit against the drug manufacturer, which may help you recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, future care, and other damages.
