Numerous clinical studies and reports from patients indicate that Uloric might increase patients’ chances of heart-related death. The drug’s manufacturer, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, has been accused of failing to properly inform patients about this risk.

Many patients say that they might not have chosen to take Uloric if they knew about the high risk of heart-related death and that the company should be held accountable for the negative and unfortunate consequences experienced by consumers who did not have the right informational materials.

Taking a medication for gout is a common outcome for a patient visiting their doctor after being diagnosed with this issue. However, a patient who is not aware of the risk of heart-related death might be putting themselves at risk. Those patients who already suffered serious side effects, including a hospital stay for heart problems, might have legal claims against the maker of the drug.

Some patients or family members of those who dealt with heart problems after taking Uloric may be in a position to take legal action alleging that the patients should have been told about these side effects in advance.

The gout drug Uloric now has a warning issued by the FDA associated with an increase in heart-related death for those patients who participated in a study. The study identified that the risk of death from all causes as well as heart-related death was higher for patients taking Uloric than they were for patients taking allopurinol, a different gout medication.

Other Uloric side effects reported in this study including non-deadly strokes, non-deadly heart attacks and cardiac ischemia. Multiple studies have found a connection between Uloric and life-threatening side effects.

A clinical trial was released by the maker of Uloric, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, indicating that when compared with the gout medication allopurinol, users of Uloric face a higher risk of heart-related death. More than 6,000 gout patients were included in that study who were taking allopurinol or Uloric.

Originally approved in 2009 by the FDA, initial clinical trials for Uloric showed a higher risk of strokes, heart attacks and heart related deaths, all of which were included on the drug’s warning label. Takeda was then required to carry out an additional study following the drug’s release to identify the specifics behind heart-related death and other significant side effects.

Gout medications like allopurinol and Uloric serve an important function for those patients who have been diagnosed with gout. Gout refers to a buildup of uric acid causing arthritis, which leads to swelling, redness and severe pain in the patient’s joints. Allopurinol and Uloric operate by reducing the uric acid levels in the blood.

However, a former safety consultant initiated a whistleblower lawsuit in 2012 based in part on the awareness of serious side effects including the chances of heart-related death.

That whistleblower alleged that the drug maker had purposely hidden critical information about the negative and dangerous side effects that could have threatened patients’ lives. If you or someone you love has already faced heart-related death after taking the gout medication Uloric, you may qualify to participate in an Uloric lawsuit investigation.