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Fen-Phen

"Fen-Phen," the popular name for the combination of the drugs fenfluramine (Pondimin) and phentermine, has been on the market in the United States for several decades. Doctors prescribed the drug combination to help control obesity. The combination is said to act as an appetite suppressant, yet the effectiveness of the medication has been debated. The FDA approved fenfluramine in 1973 and phentermine in 1959. The FDA has never expressly approved the combination of the two drugs; however, doctors are permitted to prescribe drugs in any combination that they see fit. In 1997 the fenfluramine component of the fen-phen combination was removed from the market after the FDA discovered that the American Home Products Corporation drug was responsible for an alarmingly high occurrence of heart valve defects and a deadly condition known as primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). To date, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against American Home Products by individuals injured by fen-phen.

During the summer of 2000, American Home Products agreed to settle the major class action lawsuit pending against the company for approximately $12 billion. Individuals harmed by fen-phen will receive between $5,000 and $1.5 million each, depending on the severity of their fen-phen related injuries. The company expects thousands of claimants to come forward over the next several months.

Fen-phen Recent News: URGENT NOTICE: In many instances, if you have not filed a complaint you may lose your rights to bring a claim or receive compensation for any valvular heart damage that you sustained from Fen-Phen diet drugs.

While there are some exceptions available to class members who timely requested a free echocardiogram under the Screening Program, to fully protect your rights you should immediately contact an attorney to determine if there are any important file dates which are approaching. For this reason, you should act immediately.

If you have taken any of these drug products, it may be important to visit your doctor. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney who can help you protect your legal rights and ensure that you receive your fair share of the settlement. Please keep in mind that there may be time limits within which you must file your claim.

 

 

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