Fen-phen was a drug used to combat obesity that contains fenfluramine and phentermine. The drug came under close scrutiny after reports that its use was linked to the development of heart valve disease and pulmonary hypertension. The Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) requested the withdrawal of fen-phen from the market in September of 1997.

The fen-phen cases became a mass tort crisis with more than 50,000 product liability lawsuits filed by victims. It is estimated that the total liability of these cases may be as high as $14 billion. Victims of fen-phen are likely to have a shortened or limited lifespan due to the serious conditions that can develop after the drug’s use.

If you or someone you care about has taken fen-phen, it is important for you to understand your legal rights. Do not hesitate to discuss your case with an experienced attorney who can help you determine the appropriate legal action to take against those responsible for your suffering.

Treatment for Side Effects of Fen-Phen

Before it was taken off the market in 1997, Fen-phen had become one of the most popular weight loss drugs ever produced. Unfortunately it had the unwanted side effect of causing valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension, and thus the Food and Drug Administration determined it was a threat to the health and welfare of the consuming public.

Pulmonary hypertension is an extremely dangerous and potentially fatal condition characterized by increased blood pressure in the pulmonary artery or lung circulatory system. According to estimates collected by doctors during the course of treatment, almost 30% of people that took fen-phen had abnormal echocardiograms even though they presented no symptoms. Furthermore, the Mayo Clinic announced that there were 24 cases of a rare valvular disease in people that took the weight loss drug.

Doctors were initially baffled when they tried to treat the conditions fen-phen caused because symptoms can take years to develop. Through intense study and research, doctors eventually discovered a number of drugs that could help people counteract the potentially fatal effects of this dangerous pharmaceutical. Some of these drugs include:

• Tracleer (Bosentan)
• Eproprostnol
• Treprostenol
• Flolan
• Remodulin

These drugs treat the effects of fen-phen by reducing, blocking, or eliminating the chemicals that can cause the constriction of blood vessels. When blood vessels constrict and tighten it increases the pressure of the blood that flows through them, and this pressure can be dangerous to delicate circulatory systems such as the lungs.

Fen-phen is one of the most controversial drugs in recent history, and has created a tort crisis for the American legal system. Some experts believe that the total liability for fen-phen will reach almost $14 billion.

If you or someone you know has been affected by fen-phen, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering. Let our dedicated and experienced defective drug attorneys help you improve your life and get you the restitution you deserve. Contact us today.

The Law Firm of Steigerwalt & Associates is here to help victims of PPH throughout the country.

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PPH News:

The former owners of an Overland Park weight-loss clinic admitted Friday that they had illegally imported about 22 pounds of fenfluramine, a component of the diet drug treatment known as "fen-phen," U.S. Attorney Todd Graves said.
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