The label of bladder pain drug Elmiron has gained a new warning: retinal pigmentary changes. Elmiron manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies has found that the drug puts patients at a greater risk of changes in the retina reported as pigmentary maculopathy. 

PR Newswire reports that lawsuits have been filed against Janssen regarding the damage done to plaintiffs’ eyes after they took the defendant’s product.

What Are Elmiron Health Risks?

Elmiron is a drug commonly prescribed for bladder pain, especially pain associated with interstitial cystitis. It might also be prescribed for patients with osteoarthritis. Unfortunately, the use of this drug is associated with certain side effects including hair loss, nausea, rash, dizziness, diarrhea, headache, dyspepsia, and abnormal liver function. These side effects are rare, affecting only a small number of those in Elmiron studies.

Janssen has acknowledged that the use of their drug is a risk factor for retinal issues. This is especially true for patients who take Elmiron for extended periods of time, but even those who take it for a short time may be at risk.

However, the risk of pigmentary maculopathy is a recent addition and isn’t currently included in the Food and Drug Administration’s Elmiron prescription information booklet available on the FDA’s site. PR Newswire reports that nearly a quarter of those who take Elmiron may experience retinal damage.

What Is Pigmentary Maculopathy?

Pigmentary maculopathy is a serious and irreversible eye condition that damages the retina. Specifically, this condition affects the central part of the retina known as the macula. This is the light-sensitive portion of the eye making it incredibly important for all sorts of basic activities, from reading to driving. The condition is associated with the development of excess capillaries that may leak fluid on the retina.

Pigmentary maculopathy is a type of macular degeneration, a type of eye issue accompanied by a gradual loss of vision. Those with these eye conditions may have trouble reading, difficulty adjusting to dim light, and may fully lose their ability to see.

Most people with pigmentary maculopathy won’t experience any pain accompanying their vision loss, so monitoring vision for any changes is important for anyone at risk of this condition.

Symptoms of Pigmentary Maculopathy

For those who take Elmiron or are at risk of pigmentary maculopathy for other reasons, there are some symptoms to watch out for. The first sign those with this condition might notice is a dark spot in the center of their vision.

The spot grows and expands over time, affecting the edges of a person’s vision last. Maculopathy may also result in blurry vision, hallucinations, loss of color sensitivity, and difficulty moving from one light level to another.

If you do experience any of these symptoms, it’s important that you speak with a doctor as soon as you can. As PR Newswire reports, the condition is irreversible and may continue to deteriorate even after the medication has been stopped. This means that catching the issue early is the most effective way to treat it.

Have Elmiron Pigmentary Maculopathy Lawsuits Been Filed?

PR Newswire reports that a product liability lawsuit has been filed against the makers of Elmiron regarding their alleged failure to warn patients of the risk of pigmentary maculopathy posed by the use of the drug. If you’ve developed a retinal eye condition following the use of Elmiron, you may be able to seek damages from the drug manufacturers.