Multiple studies have suggested that long-term Elmiron use, which is prescribed to treat interstitial cystitis, can cause maculopathy — an eye disorder that can lead to blindness. A major side effect is the risk of vision loss. This eye damage worsens with time, often before symptoms begin.
Elmiron is the brand name for Pentosan, which is sodium pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS). It is prescribed to treat a condition known as interstitial cystitis, better known as painful bladder syndrome or bladder pain syndrome. There is no generic on the market for the drug. It is made by Janssen Pharmaceuticals.Patients often take Elmiron continuously for years or decades.
While it has been on the market since 1995, there is no warning in the label of any visual changes or side effect conditions. However, in 2018, multiple studies were published that document an irreversible visual condition linked to long-term use of the drug.
Several medical studies have found that long term Elmiron use has been linked to maculopathy. This side effect is an eye disorder that can lead to blindness. Maculopathy is a condition that affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for delivering highly sensitive, accurate vision. The retinal condition, maculopathy is characterized by a progressive loss of central vision, usually bilateral, that greatly impairs vision functions. The form of macular degeneration attributed to taking Elmiron is called “pigmentary maculopathy of unknown etiology.”Maculopathy or macular degeneration is painless. Medication users may not even notice any vision problem, because the healthy eye compensates.
The initial symptoms of pigmentary maculopathy typically include:
- Image distortion (metamorphopsis), where objects appear deformed and/or smaller.
- When the affected part is the macula (fovea) central portion, a central spot appear, where patients cannot see.
As a result, these symptoms could lead to:
- Loss of vision.
- Difficulty reading.
- Difficulty adapting to dim lighting.
- Vision disturbances or distorted vision.
- Trouble seeing things up close.
- Eye pain.
In 2018, researchers at the Emory Eye Center at the Emory School of Medicine in Atlanta alerted the public that taking Elmiron is linked to the retinal condition, maculopathy. Pentosan polysulfate sodium can cause severe vision problems and side effects, including interstitial cytitis, and even blindness.
If you were a long-term user of Elmiron, pentosan polysulfate sodium, and developed maculopathy, you may be able to sue the drug maker Janssen Pharmaceuticials. Researchers at Emory University investigated the early clinical trials of the prescription from back in the 1990’s. They found that almost 2,500 patients who took the drug for up to four years had serious side effects vision problems.
Despite this information, the pharmaceutical company did not place any warnings on the label. Nor did it provide this information to physicians.
The current criteria for filing an Elmiron lawsuit requires:
- Elmiron patients need to have used the prescription medication for at least two years.
- Vision changes and side effects need to begin while on Elmiron needs to take place within one year of stopping.
The criteria is based upon the medical studies linking the drug to eye disease, including interstitial cytitis and maculopathy. However, there may be exceptions to this criteria for filing Elmiron lawsuits. There may be other eye damage claims available for you to pursue. If you or someone close to took the prescription medication Elmiron for two years or more, and have suffered any significant eye disease, including maculopathy, please contact Phoenix Arizona Mass Tort Attorney Steve Leshner for a free consultation.