Drug Injury

Parkinson’s Drug Permax®

The Parkinson’s disease drug Permax® (pergolide) has been recalled from the market by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after reports that the drug is linked to serious and potentially fatal heart valve damage in some users (1).

Permax, prior to its withdrawal, already carried a black box warning—the strongest possible warning a drug can carry—following reports in January 2007 that showed Permax use could lead to heart valve leaks. This condition causes a reverse flow of blood that can lead to breathing problems, fatigue, and heart palpitations. If this condition is not surgically fixed, it can lead to heart failure and sudden death (1).

The market withdrawal of Permax and its generic form pergolide was issued after a report in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated high rates of heart valve leakage—up  to 20%—in patients taking the drug (2).

Pergolide is marketed by Valeant Pharmaceuticals International under the tradename Permax and is sold and manufactured as the generic drug pergolide by Par and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.

Permax has been shown to cause similar problems to the diet drug combination fen-phen, which was recalled in the late ‘90s because it caused serious health problems in many people taking the drugs (1). Additionally, Permax is not any more effective than other, safer drugs in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (1).

About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a motor system disorder, meaning it  produces or alters movement in the body. Parkinson’s disease has four major symptoms:

1. Tremor or trembling in the hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face
2. Stiffness of the limbs and body
3. Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
4. Impaired balance and coordination

Parkinson’s disease is both chronic (lasts a long period of  time) and persistent (gets progressively worse). As muscle control deteriorates, patients may lose the ability to walk, talk, and complete other basic tasks.

The FDA advises patients currently taking Permax or its generic form pergolide to speak with their doctors and either switch to another drug or to gradually reduce the amount of pergolide used (2).

Free Consultation
If you or someone you care about has taken Permax or pergolide  and suffered from heart valve damage, our law firm wants to help you get the  money you deserve. We have attorneys standing by to speak with you, so please  call us immediately for a free and confidential evaluation of your case. We  want to help.

Permax® is a registered  trademark of Eli Lilly and Company and is used here only to identify the  product in question.

Sources:

1. “Parkinson’s drug pulled after reports of heart damage,” from The Associated Press. Published on 3/29/07 via www.USAToday.com. Accessed 3/30/07.

This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration, the New England Journal of Medicine, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Par, Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Reuters, The Associated Press, or USA Today.

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