The American government originally approved Permax (pergolide) in 1989. This dangerous drug was, in past, applied to patients who suffered from acute Parkinsons Disease and RLS or Relentless Leg Syndrome. However, later it was found by the researchers that this medication was not much qualitative and it could be fatal in some cases. There are a number of negative points of this medication. The major defect in this drug is that it has close proximity with the damage of the valve. Patients complained about the symptoms of valve leakage or damage due to the intake of this medication.
Eli Lilly finally withdrew this drug from drug stores after getting grievances and protest from the consumer forum. If anyone or his family members are affected by serious physical injury and damage owing to the wrong usage of this drug, he must contact the attorneys to take the legal action against the drug manufacturer. The compensation will include both financial and punitive damages. That means the claimant should be reimbursed fund for paying off the medical bills, hospital cost and other incidental expenditure. Under the punitive damage, he or she can file lawsuit at the court for recovery of fund due to the violation of agreement/contract and misconduct. On the other hand, FDA started various campaigns and public discussions to make aware of the dangerous side effects of this medication.
Through public awareness programs, FDA informed people of the risky attack of cardiac valvulopathy in which the artrial, mitral plus tricuspid cardiac valves are severely bruised and injured. This type of damage will create a leakage in the valves. This type of Black Box warning compelled the company to put an end to the production of the medication for sale. There are also other side effects of this medication such as the fibrotic related diseases such as retroperitoneal fibrosis, peuritis including pleural effusion. All these physical complications can appear in the body if the proper care is not taken by the doctor. Myriad patients have fallen victim to valvulopathy-valve damage due to the regular intake of this drug. They have proceeded to the court for getting justice. The court is very strict in this regard. However, the laws vary state-wise. There is also time limit to file the case. Therefore it is urgent to hire a qualified attorney to fight the case. The Statute of Limitation is minimum one year and maximum two years for filing lawsuit. A competent pharmaceutical attorney will register the case on behalf of the plaintiff and will assist the claimant to get back compensation.
Dr. Raul Espinosa, a cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic and one of
the authors of the report, says that further investigation into other
heart valve surgeries is underway to determine if the condition
stemming from pergolide is under-recognized by doctors. This
investgation came about after the initial report indicating three
cases in which women in their 60's or 70's who were taking
Permax developed severe, unexplained valvular heart disease.
None of the patients--a 72-year-old, 74-year-old and 61-year-old--
had used other drugs associated with heart valve problems.
The patients had symptoms such as fluid retention in the legs,
breathing difficulties and heart murmurs that can be indicative of
heart valve problems. The heart valves keep blood from flowing
backwards in the organ, and are essential to the normal flow of
blood. Two of the patients underwent surgery to replace the
defective valves. Once the valves were removed, and examined,
large surface lesions were identified on the valves.
The drug's makers say that Permax has had a safe record since
coming on the market, but that they would consider adding the
information when they update the labeling on the Permax package.
Dr. Abraham Lieberman, the medical director of the National
Parkinson Foundation in Miami, was one of the doctors who
studied pergolide in the 1980's, when it was being developed.
"There is evidence of pulmonary fibrosis that is associated with
pergolide," he says, "but there's a 14-year history of people taking
Permax, and why hasn't this showed up sooner?"
Pergolide shares characteristics with a number of other drugs that
have been associated with valvular heart disease. These drugs,
including Fen-Phen, which is taken for weight loss, are all
associated with a heightened stimulation of serotonin receptors
which cause the valve damage.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder
resulting from the degeneration of neurons in a region of the brain
that controls movement. The degeneration creates a shortage of
the brain-signaling chemical known as dopamine, causing the
involuntary movements that characterize the disease. In the United
States, at least 1.5 million people are believed to be affected by
Parkinson's disease according to the National Parkinson
Foundation Inc. (NPF), and about 50,000 new cases are reported
annually, according to the National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke.
