Lawyers are investigating patient claims that pancreatitis may be among the side effects of Viberzi, a drug used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning that people who have had their gallbladder removed may be at risk for pancreatitis when taking Viberzi. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, a condition that can be serious and life-threatening.

Viberzi is used to treat irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea. The drug works by decreasing bowel contractions, thereby reducing diarrhea. However, the Viberzi medication may cause the sphincter of Oddi to spasm. The sphincter of Oddi is the valve controlling the flow of bile the pancreas, the gallbladder, and the small intestine.

When the sphincter of Oddi spasms, digestive enzymes originating in the pancreas can be activated before they reach the small intestine. This can cause those enzymes to begin breaking down the pancreas, as opposed to breaking down food in the small intestine, as is normal in the digestive process. This breakdown of the pancreas by the enzymes is characterized as pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.

According to some patient reports, in the cases of patients who do not have gallbladders, taking Viberzi can cause this event, endangering a patient’s health.

On March 15, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned the public that people with the following should not take Viberzi, because they have a risk of developing serious side effects of Viberzi including pancreatitis, or other serious complications from the Viberzi medication:

• chronic constipation
• consuming more than three alcoholic beverages per day
• digestive problems caused by the sphincter of Oddi muscle valve
• gallbladder obstruction
• history of cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal)
• intestinal obstruction
• liver disease
• pancreatic issues

According to the FDA warning about the side effects of Viberzi, some patients who had had their gallbladder removed had required hospitalization because of the side effects of Viberzi that they experienced.

Lawyers are now investigating the possibility of a Viberzi medication lawsuit. In some cases when a drug is found to cause patient injury, the company that manufactures the drug can be held accountable for patient injury, and legal action can help prevent companies from harming future patients.

If you had any of the following symptoms, and you had your gallbladder removed and took and or are taking the Viberzi medication, you may have a legal claim:

• abdominal pain
• back pain
• fast heart rate
• fever
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• sweating
• vomiting
• weight loss
• injury to heart, lungs, and kidneys

If you had your gallbladder removed and experienced side effects of Viberzi, you may qualify to join a free Viberzi lawsuit investigation.