Consult Attorneys at Moll Law Group
Many patients use hormonal birth control. One of these methods is Depo-Provera, an intramuscular injection of medroxyprogesterone acetate, a synthetic form of progesterone, into a buttock or arm. It impacts reproduction. The chances of getting pregnant are reduced through the alteration of the uterine lining and stop of ovulation. It’s more than 99% effective if it’s routinely given on schedule.
Depo-Provera has been connected to a patient’s increased risk of meningioma, which is a kind of brain tumor. In fact, studies have revealed that long-term use of Depo-Provera markedly ups the chances of developing these kinds of tumors. Specifically, the British Medical Journal has indicated a 5.6-fold increase in risk of intracranial tumors due to Depo-Provera—which can cause brain pressure that requires invasive surgery that carries severe health problems and complications. You may be especially vulnerable if you’ve used Depo-Provera for a lengthy time. The symptoms of meningioma you should look out for include hearing loss, seizures, vision problems, persistent headaches, and weakness. It’s noteworthy that other progestogens like levonorgestrel intrauterine systems and dydrogesterone don’t seem associated with an increased risk.
It is possible that Pfizer didn’t properly test Depo-Provera before putting it on the market and also didn’t adequately warn about the meningioma risk. Some women might have received appropriate warnings. Regulatory agencies may need to reevaluate Depo-Provera’s safety and change the warnings.
The failure to adequately warn of risks that arise due to usage of a dangerous drug is a marketing defect, one of three kinds of defects (the other two are manufacturing and design defects) that are actionable in a product liability lawsuit for damages. In many cases, it’s necessary to retain an expert to opine on whether the failure to warn was adequate, or whether a marketing defect exists that caused the harm that the plaintiff suffered as a result. If our lawyers are able to establish liability in your case, we may be able to recover both economic and noneconomic damages including medical bills, wage loss, out of pocket costs, replacement costs, pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and loss of consortium.
If you developed meningioma and believe it’s because of your use of Depo-Provera, you should talk to the seasoned Chicago-based dangerous drug lawyers of Moll Law Group to see whether you have a viable claim for relief. Please complete our online form or call us at 312.462.1700.