Pigmentary Maculopathy and Elmiron

Alarming research has revealed a connection between the popular bladder medication, Elmiron, and a newly discovered eye disease called pigmentary maculopathy. Does Elmiron cause pigmentary maculopathy?

What is Pigmentary Maculopathy?

Pigmentary maculopathy is a newly discovered eye disease. It was first discovered by researchers at Emory Eye Center. This maculopathy is an eye disorder that affects the macula, which is the central part of the retina. Pigmentary maculopathy can cause blindness.

Notably, researchers have determined that pigmentary maculopathy “can be mistaken for other well-known macular disorders, such as pattern dystrophy and age-related macular degeneration.”

However, research has connected the bladder medication Elmiron to pigmentary maculopathy.

In a recent study presented to the American Academy of Ophthalmologists (AAO), researchers found that Elmiron may cause pigmentary maculopathy, among other serious eye injuries, including retinopathy and blindness.

Symptoms of Pigmentary Maculopathy include:

• Vision loss
• Dark spots in the field of vision
• Difficulty adapting to dark environments
• Distorted lines in the field of vision
• Muted colors
• Eye color changes

What is Elmiron?

Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium or “PPS”) is a popular bladder medication and currently the only prescription drug approved by the FDA for treating a relatively uncommon condition called interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is a condition resulting in bladder pain and discomfort.

Recent research has revealed alarming connections between Elmiron and serious eye damage. In a study presented in 2020, researchers found that roughly one-quarter of patients taking Elmiron exhibited evidence of serious eye damage, including pigmentary maculopathy, retinal maculopathy, and partial and full blindness.

The 2019 study by Kaiser Permanente found that 25 percent of patients who had taken Elmiron for a minimum of 5 years showed signs of serious eye damage. The study found that eye damage increased with the dosage of Elmiron.

Does Elmiron cause pigmentary maculopathy?

Research has found that many patients taking Elmiron exhibited symptoms of pigmentary maculopathy. Women who had been taking Elmiron at 200-400 mg daily doses for a median of 15.5 years were most affected by potentially Elmiron-caused pigmentary maculopathy.

At 7 years, Elmiron patients studied by researchers at Emory Eye Center had significantly increased odds of developing pigmentary maculopathy.

The study concluded:

“We describe a novel and possibly avoidable maculopathy associated with chronic exposure to PPS [Elmiron].”

–Emory Eye Center researchers, 2019 study

A 2019 Harvard report published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science also found “a new layer of concern by demonstrating progressive maculopathy continuing for up to 6 years after the cessation of [Elmiron].”

Based on this evidence of pigmentary maculopathy potentially caused by Elmiron, in October 2019, Health Canada issued a warning:

“In the post-market setting, pigmentary maculopathy has been reported with chronic use of Elmiron. Visual symptoms included difficulty reading and prolonged dark adaption.”

-Health Canada (Canadian Health Service)

The warning encouraged patients taking Elmiron to have regular ophthalmic examinations to check for evidence of pigmentary maculopathy and other serious eye damage. According to the report, if pigmentary maculopathy is discovered, patients should consider discontinuing use of Elmiron.

Have you taken Elmiron and been diagnosed with maculopathy or other eye damage?

If you’ve taken Elmiron for interstitial cystitis and suffered from pigmentary maculopathy, retinal maculopathy, blindness, or other serious eye damage, you may qualify for significant financial compensation.

For a FREE consultation with an experienced Elmiron lawsuit lawyer, please call 1-800-525-7111 or complete the fast and easy form below.

There is no obligation and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and you receive financial compensation.

Call 1-800-525-7111 today and let the experienced Elmiron lawyers at Riddle & Brantley review your case. Our team has recovered millions of dollars for victims of negligence and we would love to help however we can (see disclaimer below).

The Riddle & Brantley dangerous drugs team is led by attorney Gene Riddle, who has been recognized for excellence in the practice of law. He is a member of Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Super Lawyers. In 2014 he was awarded the Litigator Award and he maintains a prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell (see disclaimer below).

To speak with an experienced Elmiron lawsuit attorney about your potential claim for compensation, please call 1-800-525-7111.

There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless you receive financial compensation.

Please call 1-800-525-7111 and let’s review your case.

Justice Counts for victims of dangerous drugs. If Elmiron caused your pigmentary maculopathy or other eye damage or eye disease, you deserve justice and you may be entitled to significant financial compensation.

You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help, and we’d love to help you get justice for your injuries if we can.

*** Disclaimer: The results mentioned are intended to illustrate the type of cases handled by the firm. These results do not guarantee a similar outcome, and they should not be construed to constitute a promise or guarantee of a particular result in any particular case. Every case is different, and the outcome of any case depends upon a variety of factors unique to that case.

*** Disclaimer: An attorney must meet certain requirements to join these organizations or receive these awards. For more information on Membership Criteria for Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Super Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, and the Litigator Award, please visit our Membership Criteria page. These awards and memberships should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of a similar result. Each case is different and must be evaluated separately.