Milwaukee Elmiron Lawsuit Lawyer

Should I File an Elmiron Lawsuit?

Millions of patients, including many in Wisconsin, have been prescribed Elmiron since 1996, when it was approved by the FDA as a way to treat several chronic bladder conditions, such as interstitial cystitis (IC), known better as “painful bladder syndrome”, a bladder condition that affects a million Americans, mostly women. You may need to speak to a Milwaukee Elmiron Lawsuit Attorney to understand the implications of taking this drug and if you have a claim.

However, there is now a reason for those patients to worry because those taking this drug may cause them to suffer a severe eye condition that could leave them blind. This condition caused by Elmiron is a form of maculopathy, which is a term for a series of conditions resulting in the degeneration of the central part of the retina, called the macula. The first symptoms of maculopathy include blurred vision, dark spots, and difficulty focusing. As it progresses, other impairments appear, and it can lead to total blindness.

What Is the Issue With Elmiron?

The potential risks associated with Elmiron first became apparent back in 2015 when doctors at the Emory Eye Center in Atlanta first discovered six women with an eye condition they had never before seen. This heretofore unknown form of maculopathy didn’t seem to have a cause, so they continued to investigate. Their work uncovered the fact that all six women had been taking Elmiron for years. Additional studies in 2018 and 2019 further supported the link between Elmiron and this eye condition, although it is still unknown how Elmiron causes this condition.

Evidence of the link of Elmiron to serious vision problems has been mounting for more than five years now. Despite that, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson that manufacturers Elmiron, continues to fail to warn the public regarding the risks to patients. Because of that, millions of patients are currently taking a drug that may one day cost them their vision. Worse, an uncounted number of patients may have already suffered serious vision problems and have no idea why.

The most frequent symptoms of the specific form of Maculopathy that has been linked to Elmiron include the following:

  • Blurred vision, especially in the center of the person’s field of vision
  • Difficulty adjusting as lighting dims
  • Difficulty reading
  • Muted colors
  • A change in the retina’s color
  • Dark spots in the field of vision
  • Straight lines become curved or squiggly

Scientists have also found that eye damage gets worse the more Elmiron is taken by patients. Millions of patients who have relied on the drug for the treatment of bladder problems like interstitial cystitis (IC) were never warned of the risk of Elmiron vision loss or eye damage. Despite this knowledge, eye disease is still not listed as a possible side effect of Elmiron by the manufacturer. There’s no telling how many people have already suffered a serious eye injury due to their use of Elmiron, and hundreds of thousands of people are still putting themselves at risk.

While the patent on Elmiron expired in 2010, so far no generics have been developed, even though Janssen has continued to increase the price for this highly sought-after drug. Elmiron seems to be just the next in a long line of dangerous drugs and faulty medical devices manufactured and marketed by Johnson & Johnson, following Tylenol, Benadryl, Sudafed, Rolaids, Zyrtec, DePuy Hip Systems, Risperdal, Power morcellators, and both hernia and pelvic mesh. Despite having so many significant drug and device problems, the CEO of Johnson & Johnson is paid more than $20 million annually. With Elmiron generating more than $150 million in annual sales on behalf of Johnson & Johnson, that means patients are continuing to spend more than $600 every month to purchase this particular dangerous drug.

Johnson & Johnson faces serious questions from consumers and medical personnel in Wisconsin as to why the public has never been warned of the risk for eye damage from Elmiron. Many have claimed that Johnson & Johnson knew, or should have known, of the serious side effects of Elmiron, if for no other reason than so many people have suffered from Elmiron-linked vision loss have filed Elmiron eye damage lawsuits against the pharmaceutical giant.

Should I Stop Taking Elmiron?

Any patient in Wisconsin or elsewhere who is currently taking Elmiron should discuss the situation with their doctor, who should then examine their patient for any of the above symptoms, and they should consider any and all potential options. That said, no one should stop taking any medication without consulting the medical professional who prescribed it.

If you or a loved one have suffered a serious injury or other health problem as a result of using a dangerous drug like Elmiron, it’s possible that long-term, or even lifelong medical care may be necessary. Any such care can be remarkably expensive. If lifelong care is necessary, the cost may be unknowable, since medical costs are continually rising. If a loved one died using a dangerous drug, no amount of money can undo that wrong, but recovering enough money to pay for everything can make life a bit easier. We sincerely hope that every dangerous drug lawsuit we file will make the drug manufacturer take note of the pain their product has caused and force them to recall it from the market, or at least include the warnings necessary to allow doctors and patients to be aware of the problem and make an informed choice. Ultimately, however, we hope the lawsuit will incentivize manufacturers to make safer products in the first place.

At Welcenbach Law Offices, we often rely on the profit motive to make pharmaceutical manufacturers do the right thing. However, in far too many cases, manufacturers only react to the fear of lawsuits and large settlements and verdicts to become a better corporate citizen. It shouldn’t take that much work to get them to act like good corporate citizens, but it often does.

What Can I Recover in an Elmiron Lawsuit?

The fact of the matter is, every case is unique, so the outcome will depend on the circumstances. However, those who successfully file drug or medical device lawsuits can recover money for all or some of their damages, including the following:

  • Past, current, and future medical bills, including hospitalization, in-home care, and medications
  • Lost wages and lost income and earning capacity, as appropriate
  • Pain and suffering

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer?

It costs nothing upfront to hire our Milwaukee Elmiron lawsuit lawyer. In fact, the only people who ever pay us anything are those who win. Our firm operates on a contingency-fee-basis, which means we only get paid if we successfully resolve your case. Our fees come out of a favorable settlement or jury award, not out of your pocket.

Contact a Milwaukee Elmiron Lawsuit Lawyer Today

If you took Elmiron and have either been diagnosed with maculopathy, or you are experiencing problems with your sight, you should certainly consider taking legal action against the drug’s manufacturer. Filing an Elmiron lawsuit will allow you and other Wisconsin patients and consumers to recover the compensation everyone deserves, including for medical expenses, damages, pain & suffering, and even income or business losses related to eye damage caused by Elmiron. Such a lawsuit claim is the best way for anyone affected by Elmiron to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for placing its profits ahead of the health of its patients. Contact our law firm for more information or to get your claim started.