Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH)
Primary Pulmonary Hypertension also known as PPH is a rare but serious condition that affects the lungs as a result of increased blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. This artery is responsible for bringing oxygen-free blood from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs. When the blood reaches the lungs it receives oxygen and then proceeds into the left ventricle, which in turn, through the aorta, pumps the blood to the rest of the body. The increased blood pressure level puts undue stress and strain on the right ventricle making it hard to maintain an even flow of blood through the lungs.
There are an estimated 500 to 1,000 new cases of PPH every year with the majority of cases being women from age 20 to 40. PPH is a progressive disease that if left untreated usually results in death. And even with treatment, the survival rate is only around three years. One of the leading causes of PPH is the use of appetite suppressants or diet pills. The use of the drug Pondimin has been linked to PPH. Pondimin is actually called fenfluramine and is half of the well known diet combo Fen-Phen. The other half of the diet pill, phentermine, has been an FDA approved drug since 1959, while Pondimin wasn't approved until 1973.
Each drug was approved based on its own usage and was not seen as a single diet pill by the FDA. There are no restrictions as to what combination of drugs a doctor can prescribe. Pondimin is also part of the makeup of another appetite suppresent Redux. In 1997, after a staggering number of patients who had used Fen-Phen and Redux to lose weight began displaying heart problems and PPH, the FDA took Pondimin and Redux off the market. Phentermine remains available and is still prescribed for weight loss.
Pondimin was manufactured by the A.H. Robins Company, which was a division of American Home Products and Redux was a product of the Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. Thousands of individuals began filing suit against American Home Products and in 2000 they settled a major class action suit against them for $12 billion. Participants in the case that suffered from the effects of Pondimin were entitled to receive from $5,000 to $1.5 million each. Wyeth is involved in more than 300 lawsuits due to the effects of Pondimin. In April 2004 the family of a woman who died of PPH as a result of taking Pondimin was awarded $1 billion.
If you, someone in your family or anyone you know used the drug Pondimin either as Fen-Phen or Redux, you should contact the attorneys here at Napoli Bern Ripka Law Firm. You may be eligible for compensation through any number of class action suits against the makers of these drugs.
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