If you have taken Fen-Phen  and you have developed PPH you may be entitled to compensation.

On September 15, 1997, the Food and Drug Administration announced that it had asked manufacturers to voluntarily withdraw fenfluramine and its sister drug, dexfenfluramine, from the market. The action was based on findings that about 30 percent of patients taking the drug had abnormal echocadiograms – even though they had no symptoms. Fenfluramine is the “Fen” portion of the Fen-Phen weight-loss drug craze that swept the nation in the 1990s. Phentermine – the “Phen” in Fen-Phen – was not requested for withdrawal because no heart abnormalities were seen in patients who took phentermine by itself.

By the time of the September 1997 recall, about 6 million Americans and 77 million people worldwide had used one drug or the other. Although fenfluramine and dexfenfluramine are no longer marketed in the U.S., individuals that took Fen-Phen may just now be experiencing medical conditions associated with the drug, including a serious and potentially fatal, progressive disease call primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

There is no known cure for PPH, a lung condition where abnormally increased blood pressure occurs in the blood vessels in the lungs. Studies indicate that use of Fen-Phen increases one’s chance of developing PPH by as much as 30 percent. Studies have also demonstrated that PPH is rare, with a rate of approximately one to two cases of PPH per million people and, it also appears that those cases are have a family or genetic link.

Initial symptoms of PPH include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• New heart murmur
• Fatigue
• Fainting
• Lightheadedness

These symptoms are typical among overweight people, and often associated with being “out of shape,” which is why they can be overlooked, and lead to a delay of diagnosis and treatment. Progression of PPH may develop into:

• Bluish lips and skin
• Ankle and lower leg swelling
• Increased chest pain
• Death

The most common symptom of PPH is an increase in the pulmonic second heart sound, which can only be revealed during a physical examination. Also, the enlargement of the main pulmonary artery is common, but it is only revealed with a chest x-ray. If you or a loved one has experienced any of these symptoms, and have taken Fen-Phen in the past, you should seek medical attention right away. The FDA and the American Board of Cardiology recommend that individuals undergo an echocardiogram to detect for the possibility of medical problems.

For those with no symptoms, the FDA and the Department of Health Services recommend that everyone who took diet drugs for any length of time obtain a complete medical history and physical examination, with particular emphasis on the heart and lungs. Depending on that examination or other considerations, further testing or follow-up may be appropriate.

The median period of survival for patients with PPH is three years after diagnosis – longer for those patients who did not suffer heart failure, and for those diagnosed after age 40. The condition is treated with a number of drugs that work to cure or halt the progression of this disease, although they may only help to relieve certain symptoms. Some patients take vasodilators, which help to dilate the blood vessels in the lungs and help reduce the blood pressure in them. In addition, anticoagulants may be used to decrease the tendency of the blood to clot in the lungs. Although medication helps certain patients, patients with severe primary pulmonary hypertension may require and be candidates for a lung or heart-lung transplant.

Please consult your physician before discontinuing any medication.

The Fen-Phen lawyers at Brown & Crouppen have the record, knowledge and resources necessary. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with PPH that was caused by Fen-Phen, you should seek qualified legal help as soon as possible. Contact a Brown & Crouppen Fen-Phen/PPH lawyer at Toll Free: 866-991-4700 for your free legal consultation or save time with our online Contact Form.