Serious brain inflammation symptoms and other Zinbryta side effects have been linked to the drug, including complications such as encephalitis, Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS), and liver failure.

In fact, due to reports of  brain inflammation symptoms associated with the medication, Biogen and Abbvie, Zinbryta’s drugmakers, announced a voluntary recall of the medication on March 2, 2018. Zinbryta has since been removed from market shelves.

Zinbryta has been reported to cause serious brain inflammation symptoms and brain disorders including meningoencephalitis and encephalitis. There have been reports of 12 patients who have been diagnosed with encephalitis because of Zinbryta.

Other side effects that have also been linked to Zinbryta have included serious skin reactions, such as Stevens Johnson Syndrome, and liver failure. If you or a loved one have suffered and/or developed brain inflammation symptoms or other Zinbryta side effects, you may be eligible to join in a class action lawsuit investigation or file a Zinbryta brain inflammation symptoms lawsuit.

Overview: Zinbryta Side Effects

Zinbryta (daclizumab) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 27, 2016. It is mainly prescribed to treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

In the two years since its approval, a black-box warning was added to Zinbryta’s drug label advising patients of risks for immune-mediated disorders and serious liver injuries. Physicians were also advised to recommend and prescribe Zinbryta only if a patient failed to respond well to two or more alternate MS medications.

There is a restricted distribution program for Zinbryta due to its severe adverse side effects and complications. However, since the drug’s approval, there have been complaints and allegations against the manufacturers alleging that  the companies failed to properly warn the public of these side effects.

Some of the more serious side effects of Zinbryta have included:

• Serious skin reactions, including erythema multiforme, which is the early form of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS). If SJS is left untreated it may lead to even more adverse side effects and complications such as Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) –  a skin disorder that mirrors severe skin burns and that can be life-threatening.
• Liver injury and liver failure
• Encephalitis, including other severe immune reactions

FDA and Voluntary Recalls

Since the drug’s approval, the FDA has been aware of the “complex safety profile of Zinbryta.” According to the FDA’s announcement of the company’s voluntary recall, the goal is “to help ensure a well-organized withdrawal from the market in the United States, and to ensure that healthcare professionals have the information they need to carefully transition their patients using Zinbryta to another treatment.”

Advisements are made that no actions have been taken by the FDA to recall the drug off market shelves. The call for removal of Zinbryta was completely voluntary and announced by the drug’s manufacturers, Biogen and Abbvie.

The FDA, however, have said that they are and will continue to be in close communication with Biogen and Abbvie.

Overview: Encephalitis and Brain Inflammation Symptoms

One adverse side effect and complication associated with Zinbryta is the development of encephalitis the inflammation of brain tissue. Although more commonly developed through a viral or bacterial infection, it can also be triggered by medications. Symptoms for encephalitis are flu-like and may last for two to three weeks. They may, however, get increasingly worse. Signs of encephalitis may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Muscle pain or weakness
• Coordination problems
• Disorientation or mental confusion
• Nausea or vomiting
• Delirium or hallucination
• Irritability
• Light sensitivity
• Headache
• Stiff neck
• Seizures

Due to these and other risks from the drug, the FDA announcement did add that “no new patients will start taking Zinbryta or participate in clinical studies.”