Elmiron
Lawsuits

Legal Help for Patients Suffering Vision Damage from Elmiron

Elmiron® (pentosan polysulfate sodium) is a prescription medication used to treat interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic bladder pain condition. For years, it was the only oral medication approved for interstitial cystitis relief. However, recent research has linked long-term Elmiron use to serious and sometimes permanent eye damage, including a condition known as pigmentary maculopathy.

Patients who developed vision problems after taking Elmiron are filing lawsuits against the manufacturer, alleging that the company failed to warn doctors and patients about these risks.

What Is Elmiron?

Elmiron was designed to protect the bladder wall and reduce inflammation in patients with interstitial cystitis. Many patients used the drug for years, unaware of emerging data showing that Elmiron can cause retinal toxicity — damage to the retina that affects vision.

Studies published in leading medical journals found a strong correlation between long-term Elmiron exposure and macular changes detectable through specialized eye exams.

Reported Elmiron Side Effects

Elmiron users have reported a range of visual symptoms, including:

• Blurry or distorted vision

• Difficulty reading or adjusting to dim lighting

• Dark spots or areas of vision loss

• Faded or muted colors

• Trouble seeing at night (nyctalopia)

• Diagnosis of pigmentary maculopathy or macular degeneration

In many cases, these eye injuries progress even after stopping the medication, making early diagnosis and legal action critical.

Why Patients Are Filing Elmiron Lawsuits

Elmiron lawsuits allege that the manufacturer — Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson — knew or should have known about the drug’s risks but failed to issue adequate warnings.

Plaintiffs claim the company:

• Did not update Elmiron’s label in time to warn of eye-damage risks

• Failed to recommend baseline and follow-up eye exams for long-term users

• Continued to market Elmiron as safe despite internal and published evidence of toxicity

As a result, countless patients sustained irreversible vision damage that could have been prevented.

Current Status of the Elmiron Litigation

Elmiron cases have been consolidated into Multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 2973) in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. This allows federal cases to move through coordinated pretrial proceedings, streamlining discovery and expert testimony.

While some bellwether cases have progressed, no global settlement has been announced yet. Many plaintiffs continue to file new claims as awareness spreads.