Pharmaceutical Drug Injury: Fen-Phen

THE SIMPLE FACTS^TM...Even after the recall of the diet drug Fen-Phen, Fen-Phen may still cause certain injuries such as Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) or Primary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) or Idiopathic Primary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH) (hereinafter “PPH or PAH”).

Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) or Primary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) or Idiopathic Primary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH) (hereinafter “PPH", "IPAH" or "PAH”) is an increase in blood pressure in the lung vasculature which comprises the pulmonary artery, pulmonary vein or pulmonary capillaries. In addition, fen phen has been linked to heart valve damage.

It is a rare lung disorder in which the blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels for no apparent reason. PPH or PAH can be one of five different types:

1. arterial;
2. venous;
3. hypoxic;
   
4. thromboembolic; or
   
5. miscellaneous.

Symptoms may develop very gradually and may take on the following forms:

• shortness of breath;
  
• fatigue;
  
• cough;
  
• angina pectoris;
  
• fainting; or
  
• syncope.

Unfortunately, an estimated 500 to 1,000 new cases of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) or Primary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) are diagnosed each year, and many doctors and experts believe that Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH) or Primary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is linked to the diet drug Fen-Phen.

Fortunately, the diet drug Fen-phen was recalled and taken off the market in 1997 (under an FDA recall request), but it appears that many patients are still being diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) or primary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Some of the treatment options may include medication, including:

• Calcium channel blockers, or CCBs;
  
• Bosentan, known under the brand name Tracleer;
  
• Epoprostenol, known under the brand name Flolan;
  
• Treprostinil, known under the brand name Remodulin;
  
• Iloprost, known under the brand name Ventavis; or
  
• Sildenafil citrate, known under the brand name Revatio

Some of the treatment options may include a surgical procedure, including:

• Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (blood clots removed from lungs); or
  
• Lung transplant

Quite frankly, the simple facts^TM about the diet drug Fen-Phen and the possible injuries - Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH), Primary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) or heart valve problems - that may be caused by using the diet drug Fen-Phen are unacceptable.

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