Because Symptoms Of PPH Injury May Take Years To Develop You Need An Expert In Defective Drugs
Lawsuits began after September 15, 1997, when American Home Products Corporation issued a recall of Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine), which together make up the once-popular diet drug, from the market due to a formal request from the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA’s recall came after clinical trials at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that using the drug combination resulted in a 23-fold increase of pulmonary hypertension (PPH), and showed 24 cases of its leading to a rare valvular heart disease. Because it was administered to over 18 million people in 1996 alone, finding a Fen Phen lawyer became prevalent during the late 90s. The 1997 recall resulted in over 11,000 cases being filed against the company. In the majority of lawsuits, monetary damages were sought in connection with irreversible pulmonary hypertension, valvular heart disease, and other adverse conditions. The class action settlement resulting from lawsuits cost the company $4.83 billion, the largest product settlement of any kind to date. An FDA reviewer stated that American Home Products (now known as Wyeth) was aware of the danger of taking the medication and failed to report those concerns. In January 2005, Wyeth announced that it would increase litigation costs for a fourth time to a total of $21.1 billion. Over the years, PPH lawsuits have proven to be controversial as the company was accused of covering up side effects in order to keep the drug on the market. Although the FDA never approved the drug, doctors wrote millions of prescriptions every year before it was removed from the market. However, as patients suffering from symptoms of the illnesses were not included in the national class action settlement, they must file suit separately to make legal claims. Even though it has been a decade since the recall, attorneys are still reviewing cases, as the disease is capable of lying dormant for up to two decades. Therefore, experts expect claims to continue over the next several years, and the class of plaintiffs is only growing. In April 2004, a Texas court awarded $1 billion to the family of a woman who died from the disorder.
Medical experts have testified that there is a potential latency period of 10 to 20 years from the last dosage until the onset of symptoms. Therefore, many people who took the drug over a decade ago are just beginning to experience adverse effects, resulting in an increased demand for experienced law firms. Cardiologists have urged former users of the drug to see their doctors in order to be screened for valvular heart disease or primary pulmonary hypertension, as both diseases can prove fatal. Treatment for PPH can prove costly due to the chronic nature of the disease. Wyeth has said that as many as 70,000 lawsuits have been filed against them so far. Symptoms of this serious condition include: The chronic nature of the illnesses associated with this medication often leads to high medical bills and time lost from work. It can also become difficult to perform simple tasks such as climbing stairs. If you would like to know more about your rights or the company’s liability regarding an injury, speak to a qualified attorney today.
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