Florida Truvada PrEP Lawsuits
In 2004, a life-changing drug hit the market aimed at HIV-positive adults. The drug, known as Truvada PrEP with TDF (more commonly just, PrEP), was approved to help treat HIV-positive individuals in combination with other HIV medications. PrEP had also been approved to be prescribed to teens who have tested negative for HIV, to be used as a form of protection against acquiring HIV instead of for treating existing HIV. While the drug has been effective in protecting many people from contracting HIV, it has also caused harm to many others.
With the drug causing severe health problems, lawsuits are now being filed against Gilead Sciences Inc., the California based manufacturer of the drug. These lawsuits allege that Gilead did not inform the public of the severity of the potential side effects as well as manufacturing a defective drug.
What is Truvada?
Truvada first came around in the 1980s but was not easily accessible to patients because it could only be taken intravenously. Now available in pill form, According to the CDC, Truvada is a combination drug that stops HIV cells from multiplying in the body. It can be used to either treat people with HIV in combination with other HIV medications or prescribed alone to protect those that are HIV negative.
When someone who is HIV positive is taking a medication like this it is much harder to pass the virus on to others. Truvada is a type of drug known as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or NRTI. Nicknamed “nukes”, they were the first drugs available to treat HIV. If left untreated, HIV can lead to AIDS which leaves the body unable to fight off infection and will often lead to death. While there is still no cure for AIDS, the combination of these drugs can help people live a much longer life.
Designing a Defective Drug: Truvada PrEP
Most of the lawsuit claims against Gilead state that the company knew about the seriousness of the side effect and the damages they could cause.
Right after TDF was approved by the FDA in 2001, Gilead went on to try and create a safer version of the drug. They continued to allow the first one to be prescribed because of the years they had left on their patent.
In 2002 and 2003 the FDA reprimanded Gilead under the false claims that their drug was not harmful to the bone density or kidneys of those taking it.
Gilead, able to charge almost $2,000 a day for 30 days’ worth of medication, instead of releasing information on the far less toxic alternative drug they had been researching, waited until the patent on TDF was running out. Once it had run out the company began urging patients to make the switch to the much safer TAF-based drugs.
These TAF- based drugs include:
- Genvoya
- Odefsey
- Descovy
These lawsuits are to hold Gilead accountable for putting profit and business as top priority instead of the health and wellbeing of their patients.
Truvada PrEP with TDF Side Effect
While the drug can be very helpful in putting HIV symptoms at bay, there are many harmful side effects patients have been experiencing. Truvada with TDF has been known to cause severe kidney problems and even kidney failure.
Kidney disease may be hard to detect in the early stages. Some of the symptoms of kidney failure can include:
- Headaches
- Anemia
- Confusion
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Weakness
- Skin Color Changes
- Swelling and Puffiness
- Easy Bleeding and Bruising
- Diarrhea
Besides kidney failure, there are many other serious side effects that can come from taking Truvada. These can include:
- Fanconi Syndrome– when an impaired kidney tubule function affects the urines chemical makeup. This can lead to kidney damage or bone loss.
- Osteoporosis– when bones become brittle and fracture easily
- Osteomalacia– when bones break down quicker than they can re-form
- Lactic Acidosis– the accumulation of too much lactic acid in the bloodstream
Other side effects that are more common but not as serious are:
- Nausea
- Depression
- Difficulty Sleeping
- Abnormal Dreams
- Weight Loss
- Headaches
- Rash
- Abdominal Pain
Other TDF Drugs
Truvada is not the only TDF drug on the market. There are others that can cause the same serious side effects. Those are:
- Complera
- Atripla
- Stibild
- Viread
- Symfi Lo
- Genvoya
- Cimduo
Do you have a Truvada PrEP lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has taken Truvada and has suffered from one of these serious side effects, then you may be entitled to financial compensation:
- Osteoporosis
- Bone Density Loss
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- High Creatine Levels
- Abnormal Protein in Urine
- Fanconi Syndrome
- Renal kidney failure that required dialysis or hospitalization
Can I Get Compensation for Damages from PrEP?
If you have taken Truvada and have suffered from serious injury or illness, steep medical bills, as well as other damages, you may be qualified for a Truvada lawsuit.
By hiring a lawyer, you are able to maximize the compensation you could receive for your injuries and suffering. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA we would be more than happy to schedule a free consultation to assess the details of your situation. When it comes to a product liability lawsuit, seeking the help of a lawyer can make all the difference in presenting the information needed to properly tell your story and to obtain a settlement that you can be satisfied with.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA also handles defective medication cases involving Zantac, Opioids, Risperdal, Invega, and many more. Ensuring our clients will receive the compensation needed to cover their damages, and with the years of experience Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA possesses, you can be confident that you will be in good hands. You can reach our office by either calling (833) 606-DRUG [3784] or contacting us online.
Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA
800 North Belcher Road<
Clearwater, FL 33765
(833) 606-DRUG [3784]
