Adipex Phentermine Lawsuit Guidelines

Originally developed in 1959, phentermine was a popular fat-burning and appetite suppressing drug. An anorectic medication, it is a stimulant closely related to the amphetamines that act by acting directly within the central nervous system. Originally used to treat overweight and obesity together with exercise and diet, Adipex-P and Fen-Phen were often together with other weight loss medications such as Redux and Pondimin. They are generally prescribed as short-term solutions to highly obese individuals who already are at increased health risk because of concurring conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes.

Phentermine dangers and recalls

Since it’s similar to amphetamines, Adipex increase blood pressure and heart rate leading to a life-threatening condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). Although the initial symptoms of this disorder usually manifest as an apparently harmless sensation of fainting and fatigue, the extremely high blood pressure spikes caused by this drug might have permanent or lethal consequences on the patients taking it. This condition will, in fact, slowly progress over time, causing other serious complications which may damage the heart valves, including mitral or aortic regurgitation.

Phentermine was originally marketed as a compound drug known as Fen-Phen, together with fenfluramine, a second substance which was found to be hazardous to human health. While the latter was recalled in 1997 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that it was responsible for several cases of PPH and heart valve diseases, phentermine kept being marketed as Adipex-P and Ionamin. Today, it is available as a prescription medication and it is classified as a controlled substance. However, many other medications often sold as over-the-counter drugs contain dangerous substances (including fenfluramine) which may interact with phentermine, causing the above-mentioned permanent side effects. These meds include Pondimin, Redux and MAO-inhibitors such as several common anti-depressants.

Litigations and settlements

Back in 1999, an East Texas jury awarded the first successful verdict to a woman who suffered from permanent heart damage after taking the weight loss drug Fen-Phen. The plaintiff received a $23 million settlement after her attorneys demonstrated that the distributor American Home Products had encouraged consumers to take phentermine in combination with Pondimin and Redux.

Many patients who took this anorectic substance, claim that the pharmaceutical company never warned them about the danger of potentially permanent side effects. Although no study directly linked phentermine with PPH or valvular diseases, many subjects who took it claim they suffered from heart murmurs, chest pain and high blood pressure, especially when it is associated with other substances. Since no label ever explained them to avoid doing that, they now allege that the manufacturer was negligent in warning the public about potential interaction and filed a lawsuit to seek compensation.

If you suffered the consequences of exposure to these dangerous substances, our team of product liability lawyers is here to assist you. Call us now and discuss your legal options for free.