Permax Lawsuit & News Blog

Link between Permax and Leaky Heart Valve Problems

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:11:30 -0400

Health Canada (similar to the U.S. version of the FDA) is informing Canadians that Permax has been withdrawn from the U.S. market because of concerns with cardiac valvulopathy, a condition involving inflammation or stiffening of the heart valves.

Permax (a brand name of the drug pergolide) has been marketed in Canada since 1991 for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The risk of heart valve problems has been known for awhile and is listed in the current labelling.

Two new studies regarding the risk of heart valve problems associated with Permax were published in January 2007. Health Canada is in the process of reviewing these studies and other information to determine further action regarding Permax.

Results of a Permax review will be communicated to the Canadian public and healthcare providers as soon as it is available.

See: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=67251&nfid=rssfeeds

Permax: FDA Recalls Parkinson's Drug that Causes Heart Valve Damage

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:15:16 -0400

Isn't it bad enough to have to deal with Parkinson's disease and then have a life threatening side effect on top of one medical hardship?

About 12,200 to 25,000 currently taking Permax for Parkinson's disease will have to find a new prescription drug. Permax (generic pergolide) causes heart valve damage.

Pergolide came on the market in 1988. Label warnings were added in 2002 after some reports of heart valve problems were received.

In 2006, a boxed warning regarding the risk of serious heart valve damage was added to the Permax labeling. Withdrawal was requested after two recent studies, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicated high rates of valve leakage - up to 20 percent - in patients taking Permax.

See: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-03-29-pergolide_N.htm?csp=34

Permax: FDA Public Health Advisory (Pergolide)

Mon, 9 Apr 2007 15:16:45 -0400

FDA Permax: Companies that manufacture and distribute pergolide have agreed to withdraw this drug from the market due to the potential for heart valve damage. Two new studies demonstrate that patients with Parkinson's disease who were treated with pergolide had an increased chance of serious damage to their heart valves when compared to patients who did not receive the drug.

In 2006, a boxed warning regarding the risk of serious heart valve damage was added to the pergolide labeling. In light of this additional safety information and the availability of alternative treatments for Parkinson's disease that do not have comparable safety problems, the companies that manufacture and sell pergolide have stopped shipping pergolide for distribution and will, in cooperation with FDA, work to remove from the market both the name brand Permax (pergolide) and the generic versions of pergolide.

The effect of this voluntary withdrawal on supplies of pergolide currently in pharmacies will not be immediate. This delay will allow time for healthcare professionals and patients to discuss appropriate treatment options and to change treatments.

Patients Taking Permax 37 Times More Likely to Develop Heart Problems

Sun, 8 Apr 2007 15:18:14 -0400

The odds are not in your favor when a patient who is taking Permax to cope with Parkinson's disease is likely to develop critical heart valve damage problems as well. Permax is the culprit as generic Parkinson's drugs do not present life threatening side effects.

Suspicions that Permax may cause heart valve damage were raised only after the drug had been on the market for some 13 years so who knows how many thousands of people have been affected by Permax injuries. Do you need an experienced Permax lawyer to determine if you have a Permax lawsuit?