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Fen Phen FAQs   What is Fen-phen?  The group of drugs collectively referred to as "fen-phen" are combinations of Pondimin (fenfluramine) and Redux (dexfenfluramine) and phentermine. Pondimin and Redux have been associated with heart valve damage, pulmonary and cardiovascular damage and neuropsychological damage.
What kinds of physical injuries can result from the use of Fen-phen? Generally, three types of injuries can occur: heart valve damage ("valvulopathy"), primary pulmonary hypertension, and endocardial fibrosis. What is heart valve damage? Heart valve damage ( "valvulopathy") is the most common injury from the use of fen-phen. Valvulopathy occurs when the heart-valves (typically the aortic and mitral valves) do not open and close properly, causing regurgitation of blood. If the valves are seriously impaired, secondary pulmonary hypertension may result. What is primary pulmonary hypertension?Primary pulmonary hypertension ("PPH") is a rare and often fatal condition. PPH results when there is a narrowing or obliteration of the small and medium pulmonary arteries. Symptoms include increased and extreme shortness of breath and tiredness. If you experience these symptoms, do not assume they are due to being overweight. Rather, you should see your doctor.
How long would someone have to take fen-phen for damage to occur? There is no fixed time frame that indicates when damage will occur. What types of medical tests determine if I have damaged my heart by using fen-phen? Heart valve damage can be detected by a Doppler "echocardiogram" (also known as an "echo"). An echo is an ultrasound of the heart, a noninvasive and painless procedure. Your primary care physician can refer you to a cardiologist who will schedule the test. Please note, an EKG is not adequate to determine valve damage. PPH is diagnosed through a series of tests. First, a pulmonary function test is used to establish that there is hypertension. Then, a series of tests are given to rule out other potential causes for the hypertension. If no cause for the hypertension is found, the hypertension will be classified as "primary"- hence "primary pulmonary hypertension. PPH is a very serious condition. These tests sound complicated and costly. Are they covered by insurance? The heart valve and PPH tests can be expensive, but they are usually covered by insurance. Be sure to go through the proper referral process with your primary care physician and tell your doctor you are concerned about fen-phen usage. If you do not have insurance, you may want to seek out federal, town, or hospital based assistance. If I do have damage to my heart, is it treatable? Valve injuries are treatable through a range of methods depending on the severity of injury. For a slight valve impairment, your doctor may advise you to get yearly echocardiograms. As a preventative measure, your doctor may also advise you to take prophylactic antibiotics before any invasive medical procedures, including dental examinations. For more severe cases, valve repair or valve replacement surgery may be necessary. In all cases, you should consult a doctor.PPH may be treated with oxygen supply, heart-lung transplantation, or drugs specially developed for PPH. The drug therapies are relatively new, and not all individuals are able to tolerate them. PPH may be treated with oxygen supply, heart-lung transplantation, or drugs specially developed for PPH. The drug therapies are relatively new, and not all individuals are able to tolerate them. If I took fen-phen and am now injured, what are my legal options? It is likely that you have a viable claim against the manufacturer of fen-phen. It may also be the case that your prescribing physician or diet center could also be liable under medical malpractice law. This is true even if you voluntarily took the drugs or asked to have them prescribed for you. Your willingness does not relieve manufacturers and doctors from their duties to make safe products or to warn of known dangers. If you do have a claim, you must act promptly in pursuing your claim. The reason for this is that claims can be barred by statutes of limitation. A statute of limitation is the time in which you must bring your claim or forever be barred from doing so. Each state has its own statute, so the time in which you can bring a case in Texas may be different than the time in which you can bring a case in North Dakota. If you have questions regarding Fen-Phen, please fill out this form. Choose the state where you live to locate a Fen Phen lawyer near you. |
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