Contact A Lawyer
Near You

Contact us today for a complimentary consultation with a qualified attorney near you.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Lawsuit

A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension lawsuit may be filed by a person who has suffered a PPH or related heart valve injury caused by the defective diet drug Fen Phen. A Primary Pulmonary Hypertension lawsuit can be filed on behalf of a Fen Phen injury victim in order to seek compensation for their devastating losses. Thousands of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension lawsuit cases have been filed since the discovery of PPH side effects from use of Fen Phen medications.

Fen Phen is the chemical combination of fenfluramine and phentermine, popularly sold under the brand named Pondimin and Redux. These drugs were widely prescribed in hospitals and weight loss centers throughout the nation between the 1970s and the late 1990s. Pondimin and Redux, both made by Wyeth (a subsidiary of American Home Products), were pulled off the shelves on September 15, 1997 due to the serious risks of using these drugs.

An estimated six to seven million Americans had taken these Fen Phen weight loss drugs before these drugs were recalled. The recall was prompted by the results of a Mayo Clinic study and several case studies received by the FDA. The Mayo study revealed that nearly thirty percent of the subjects who had developed Primary Pulmonary Hypertension were currently taking or had taken Fen Phen in the past. Twenty four cases of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension were discovered in Fen Phen users in this study alone. After the publication of these results, the FDA received another 75 reports of Fen Phen users who developed Primary Pulmonary Hypertension or a related valvular condition.

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is a rare lung and valvular disorder that occurs when the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels (from the normal 14mm Hg at rest to 25mm Hg at rest) from a typically unknown cause. This can lead to complications resulting in heart failure and death. The average life expectancy for someone diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension is less than three years.

Not all PPH suffers present outward signs of their condition right away. When a patient does experience symptoms, they can include: excessive fatigue, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting spells, swelling in the legs and ankles, a bluish color of the skin and lips, chest pain, a racing pulse, and the feeling of heart palpitations. Diagnosing PPH can be difficult as its symptoms are often confused with those of other heart and lung conditions. There are several medical tests that can help to determine if a patient is suffering from PPH.

After the Fen Phen recall, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension lawsuit cases flooded courtrooms across the nation. Thousands of people have suffered Fen Phen injuries, and still less than one-third have been rightly compensated for their losses.

If you would like to learn more about your legal rights and options in a Primary Pulmonary Hypertension lawsuit, please contact us to speak with a qualified and experienced attorney who can evaluate your case to determine how best to protect and maximize your legal interests.

Contact a Fenphen Recall Lawyer

More Fenphen Resources

Pulmonary Hypertension Resource - News, Information and Resources regarding Primary Pulmonary Hypertension and other forms of Severe Pulmonary Hypertension.

Pulmonary Hypertension Association - Features association background, disease and treatment information, news, research, and message boards.