The combination of the diet drugs Redux (dexfenfluramine), Pondimin (fenfluramine), and phentermine, also known as "fen phen", have been linked to severe, life-threatening heart and lung disease. Despite early questions about their safety, the manufacturer of the diet drugs, American Health Products (AHP, now a subsidiary of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals) aggressively marketed the drugs.

At the time the diet drug was approved in the US there were already 130 known cases in Europe of the rare and potentially life threatening disease, primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) linked to the diet drug combination. Despite these reports, the drug manufacturer fought against any requirement for a "black box" warning on their products. In a company memorandum, the drug manufacturer expressed concern that a "black box" warning" would reduce sales of their diet drugs by 50%. Unaware of the potential dangers of the drugs, more than 6 million people used the diet drug cocktail.

The manufacturer withdrew the drugs Redux and Pondimin from the market in September 1997 after the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) received reports showing that nearly 30% of tested fen phen users showed some type of heart valve damage. Heart valve damage problems linked to fen phen include serious heart murmur and leaking heart valves, thickening of the heart valves which prevent the valves from closing properly or completely, and heart valve regurgitation, which is a plague-type build-up on the heart valve interfering with proper heart function.

The FDA also received reports showing a significant number of fen phen users had also developed the potentially life-threatening disease Primary Pulmonary Hypertension or PPH. The reports of heart valve damage and PPH prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to recommend that fen phen users get tested for heart or lung disease. The FDA continues to receive reports of heart valve damage and PPH among fen phen users. To date, the FDA has received reports of 123 deaths related to fen phen use.

The serious health problems attributed to fen phen led to numerous individual and class action lawsuits filed against the manufacturer. Numerous fen phen cases were consolidated and transferred into one federal class action, In re Diet Drugs Product Liability Litigation. The case was litigated for nearly two years, until the manufacturer agreed to a global settlement of claims. The manufacturer established a $4 billion fund for the medical screening and compensation for fen phen users suffering heart damage. The company also agreed to set aside $14.6 billion to settle claims and litigation expenses. Under the terms of the settlement various deadlines in which to file claims were established. The final deadline to participate in the settlement was July, 2003. The settlement only covers claims involving heart valve damage. The settlement and deadlines do not apply to individuals who have been diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension or PPH. Fen users with PPH may file claims individually.

Because, primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is difficult to diagnose and the symptoms may not appear for many years after taking the drugs, additional cases involving fen phen use and PPH are expected to continue over the next several years. In April 2004, a Texas state court awarded $1 billion to the family of a woman who died from PPH - the first jury verdict in a a fen phen/PPH case.

(return to top)

Primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) is an extremely rare, life-threatening disease for which there is no cure. Over 100,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare blood vessel disorder of the lung in which the pressure in the pulmonary artery (the blood vessel that leads from the heart to the lungs) rises above normal levels, which may become life-threatening. PPH may lead to progressive heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest.

The symptoms of primary pulmonary hypertension include:

• difficulty breathing or shortness of breath,
• fatigue,
• fainting,
• lightheadedness,
• color change in hands (usually a change from red to white when exposed to cold)
• swelling of the hands and feet,
• an increase in the pulmonic second heart sound ( typically revealed only during a physical examination),
• enlargement of the main pulmonary artery ( typically revealed by chest x-ray)

Because many of the symptoms often appear in overweight people, PPH is sometimes overlooked and goes undiagnosed. Symptoms of PPH can take years to manifest themselves in a patient. Some medical experts state that symptoms of PPH may not become apparent until 10 or more years after the patient has stopped taking the diet drugs.

If you experience any symptoms or side effects you should immediately consult a qualified physician.

If you have or a loved one have been diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) after using fen phen, please contact us by using our ONLINE FORM.

(return to top)

Our law firm represents individual and class action plaintiffs in large product liability and consumer protection cases. Our law firm has been involved in significant and complex cases, including Silicon Gel Breast Implant Litigation, Norplant Birth Control Device Litigation, diabetes drug Rezulin Litigation, Sulzer Hip Implant Device Litigation, and Fen Phen and Diet Drug Litigation. For nearly a decade, our firm has been involved in legal proceedings concerning fen phen, representing persons with heart valve damage and primary pulmonary hypertension. Our law firm has been involved in successfully resolving significant PPH related legal claims by consumers using the diet drugs known as fen phen. Our law firm continues to investigate claims by fen phen users diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH).

If you or a family member have been diagnosed with PPH following the use of diet drugs, please do not delay in contacting our office for a no obligation review of your legal claim by calling us at 1-800-448-5800 or sending a form.

For more information about us you may visit our firm website.

(return to top)

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with PPH, please complete our FORM or CALL 1-800-448-5800

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with PPH, please complete our FORM or CALL 1-800-448-5800