If you or a loved one suffered a stroke, heart attack, or another medical complication while using Uloric to treat gout, you might be eligible for a lawsuit against the drug company. Mass Tort Alliance is ready to answer your call and discuss how we can help you pursue compensation for the suffering you endured. You deserve to seek justice, and an experienced and qualified lawyer can be your advocate during your time of need.
Uloric is a medication used in gout treatment, but patients face an increased risk of illness when they take it. Common problems associated with this drug have been heart attack, irregular heartbeat, and other serious side effects. Patients around the country have been filing lawsuits against the manufacturer for the injuries and medical conditions they’ve suffered due to this defective medication.
You have a chance to recover the financial award you need to compensate for your medical expenses and other losses resulting from your use of this dangerous drug. Do not hesitate to contact Mass Tort Alliance now to discuss your legal options.
The FDA released a statement about the potential risks people face while taking Uloric (febuxostat). Since 2017, they’ve been performing studies and reviewing reports to discover a link between adverse side effects and the popular gout drug.
Their statement noted that Uloric poses an increased risk of heart-related death, more significant than similar medications on the market. They also discovered an increased risk of death due to other medical problems associated with the drug.
In a one-year study of 1,000 patients using Uloric to treat their condition, fifteen people died from heart-related issues. Twenty-six people died from other causes during the one-year period.
Due to these findings, the FDA informed Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the drug manufacturer, that they should include a black boxed warning on all Uloric and febuxostat products. They also required the company to update their medication guides so doctors and patients know these risks.
Febuxostat is the generic name for Uloric. The FDA initially approved it for use in patients with a form of arthritis called gout in 2009. Doctors prescribe this medication to help regulate uric blood levels and manage symptoms. As febuxostat travels through the body, it prevents naturally occurring purines from turning into uric acid.
Takeda Pharmaceutical is a large pharmaceutical company that manufactures and sells medications to treat various conditions, such as inflammation, cancers, gastroenterological diseases, neurological disorders, and metabolic disorders. As of 2012, the company was earning more than $16.2 billion in revenue every year.
Gout is a form of arthritis that develops when uric acid increases in the body. This can lead to flare-ups causing swelling, redness, and pain in the joints. Arthritis is a broad category of diseases that include anything associated with joint disease or joint pain. There are more than 100 types of arthritis a person could have. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 54 million Americans have arthritis. That’s 23% of all adults in the United States.
Common symptoms you could suffer from when diagnosed with arthritis are:
Arthritis typically causes flare-ups, which are symptoms that come and go randomly. Chronic pain caused by the condition can prevent someone from performing routine tasks, such as driving. It can also be painful or difficult to walk and sit.
Gout flare-ups happen when uric acid crystals build up in the affected joints. If the body cannot handle uric acid and how it crystallizes the compounds contained in the acid, flare-ups can occur. These attacks often happen in the fingers, toes, knees, ankles, and wrists.
The most common symptoms of gout are:
Blood tests help detect creatinine and uric acid in a person’s blood. Although testing someone’s blood isn’t enough to diagnose gout, the results could show high uric acid levels despite the person never showing any symptoms. Conversely, a patient might exhibit various symptoms of gout but show low levels of uric acid.
Ultrasounds and x-rays can provide images of the joints. These tests are necessary to rule out other possible causes of a person’s symptoms. Diagnostic testing can also indicate if there are urate crystals in the joint. A deposit of crystalline uric acid is called tophus. Tophus is associated with gout.
A needle inserted into the affected joint draws out fluid to identify signs of present urate crystals.
Once the doctor diagnoses gout, they might prescribe or recommend a medication to treat pain and reduce swelling. Common medications include:
Oral drugs or an injection in the affected joint to prevent and reduce swelling
Motrin IB, ibuprofen, and Aleve can relieve joint pain and decrease any swelling
Celebrex and Indocin are common medications prescribed by doctors
Lessens or prevents the build-up of uric acid crystals and diminishes swelling
Some individuals suffer from gout attacks and may need medications that lower uric acid levels in the blood to prevent future episodes. Since Uloric is dangerous and has been linked to various health problems, patients wonder if there’s an alternative medication they can take to treat gout. There are other drugs that can remove excess uric acid from the body, so chronic attacks don’t occur.
Common medications helpful in preventing a build-up of and removing uric acid from the blood are:
Based on lawsuits already filed and various studies performed by researchers and the FDA, common adverse reactions experienced by patients on a Uloric regimen are:
If you’re using Uloric to treat gout and notice any of these symptoms, you should speak to your doctor immediately and discuss switching to a different drug. If you continue taking this medication, you could be at an increased risk of:
Even though there have been studies showing a link between Uloric and cardiovascular issues, there hasn’t been a recall issued, nor has it been withdrawn from the market yet. Patients might not know about the dangers they’re facing when starting a regimen. Additionally, many doctors are still unaware of the adverse effects that can result from taking the drug.
According to data, there were 1,135,281 prescriptions written for febuxostat in the United States in 2018. After a slight dip under 1,000,000 prescriptions in 2015, the prescription rate steadily increased over the following three years. As of 2018, the average total cost of the drug was $458.58, with an average out-of-pocket cost of $60.75 per prescription.
According to labels included with Uloric, at least 1% of patients experienced adverse side effects, such as nausea, rash, abnormal liver function, and arthralgia. In a clinical trial, the percentage of participants experiencing each symptom while taking 40 milligrams of the drug every day were as follows:
| Adverse Reactions | Uloric | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Liver function abnormalities | 6.6% | 0.7% |
| Nausea | 1.1% | 0.7% |
| Rash | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Arthralgia | 1.1% | 0% |
Cardiovascular thromboembolic events, such as non-fatal myocardial infarctions, non-fatal strokes, and cardiovascular deaths, occurred in 0.74 per 100 patients.
Many cases are still in the beginning stages of litigation, and there haven’t been any notable settlements or favorable jury verdicts reached in Uloric lawsuits yet. The amount of compensation you receive will depend on the circumstances of your case. Your attorney can help you determine the monetary value of your total losses.
Mass Tort Alliance is ready to take your call and discuss your legal options. We understand how overwhelming this time in your life has been. Let us provide the comprehensive services you need to get the justice you deserve.
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If you took Uloric for gout and developed a severe heart condition or adverse symptoms, contact Mass Tort Alliance right now to learn about how we can help you. You might be entitled to compensation for your losses. Call today, and we can discuss the available options for filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer.