Fen-Phen, ReduxT and Pondimin®
There are potentially serious health risks associated with the use of the diet drugs dexfenfluramine (ReduxT), and fenfluramine (Pondimin®) and phentermine, more commonly referred to as Fen-Phen.
During the 1990s, doctors began to prescribe fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine and phentermine in combination, to increase the weight loss effect. Both fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine alter the serotonin levels in the brain to suppress feelings of hunger. While the drugs were individually approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the combination was not.
On July 8, 1997, the Mayo Clinic reported that heart valve dysfunction was found in 30% of Fen-Phen users that were tested in a Mayo Clinic study. This finding of such a serious risk led the FDA to withdraw dexfenfluramine (ReduxT) and fenfluramine (Pondimin®) from the market in September 1997. Although phentermine may also cause heart valve damage, it was not recalled by the FDA and is still on the market. In addition to heart valve damage, Fen-Phen causes primary pulmonary hypertension, a potentially fatal, progressive disease with no known cure.
Symptoms that can be associated with the use of Fen-Phen include shortness of breath, chest pain, swelling of feet, fainting and/or a new heart murmur. If you or a loved one has taken Fen-Phen and suffer from any of these symptoms, a doctor should be consulted immediately! Early detection and treatment can make a positive impact on the long-term prognosis of the disease.
The health problems associated with the use of Fen-Phen have resulted in individual and class action lawsuits. If you took Fen-Phen (Pondimin® and/or ReduxT), then you may have a claim against the companies that manufactured and sold the drugs. Lawsuits filed for such injuries allege, among other things, that some of the manufacturers and distributors of the drugs were aware of the health risks associated with the drugs and failed to adequately warn of such risks. Discovery conducted by lawyers at Lopez, Hodes, Milman & Skikos in the lawsuits has revealed that some of the drug manufacturers underreported the risk of primary pulmonary hypertension to physicians prescribing Fen-Phen.
Several members of Lopez, Hodes, Milman & Skikos actively participated in the work-up and discovery phases of the Fen-Phen litigation that resulted in a $4 billion global settlement against American Home Products, the manufacturer of Redux T and Pondimin ® . Partner John
was a member of the Plaintiffs' Management Committee and Chairperson of the Expert Witness Subcommittee that spearheaded the litigation
If you took Fen-Phen, Redux T, or Pondimin®, it is important to determine whether or not you have a valid claim as soon as possible because the statute of limitations (the date by which your claim must be submitted or a lawsuit filed) may expire and preclude you from any compensation whatsoever.
The deadline for registering with the class action lawsuit has passed. However, if you timely registered, do not have an attorney and would like assistance with your claim, we will be happy to speak with you. We continue to aggressively pursue claims for primary pulmonary hypertension.
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