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What ULORIC Is Used For?

Uloric (febuxostat) is a prescription medication for the treatment of gout, a painful type of arthritis that occurs when high levels of uric acid deposit needle-like crystals in the joints, causing inflammation. Uloric treats gout by reducing uric acid levels.

HOW ULORIC WORKS?

Uloric is a medication used to treat gout, which is a debilitating type of arthritis that occurs when uric acid builds up in the blood and causes inflammation in the joints. Uloric treats gout by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase, which reduces the amount of uric acid in the body. Uloric is manufactured by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese-based pharmaceutical company. When it was approved by the FDA in 2009, it was the first new gout drug in over 40 years.

SYMPTOMS & SIDE EFFECTS OF ULORIC

Prescription information (PDF) for Uloric was updated in January 2011 and November 2012 to include a growing list of side effects. According to Uloric’s Warnings and Precautions:

  • Nausea
  • Liver failure
  • Kidney damage
  • Rhabdomyolysis
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke
  • Rash
  • Immune system disorders
  • Allergic reaction (anaphylaxis, rash, Stevens Johnson Syndrome)
  • Psychiatric disorders (psychotic behavior, aggressive thoughts)
  • Kidney and urinary disorders
  • Bone marrow failure
  • Severe bleeding

 

 

Uloric and Liver Damage

Takeda Pharmaceuticals recommends that patients who use Uloric undergo regular blood tests to check for elevated levels of liver enzymes. In clinical trials, 4 to 6% of patients with Uloric had liver abnormalities and 2% had elevated liver enzymes at 3 times the upper limit of normal.

Symptoms of liver damage caused by Uloric:

  • Stomach or abdominal pain (upper-right side)
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Jaundice (yellow discoloration of whites of the eyes, skin)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Itching
  • Malaise (generally feeling unwell)
  • Confusion
  • Cognitive changes (personality, behavior)

 

 

Uloric and rhabdomyolysis

The FDA added rhabdomyolysis to Uloric’s list of side effects in January 2011. People with rhabdomyolysis suffer from kidney damage after the breakdown of their muscle fibers and the release of a protein called myoglobin in the blood.

Symptoms of ulcer rhabdomyolysis:

  • Urine is dark or cola-colored
  • Less urine production
  • Muscle pain, stiffness, or aching (myalgia)
  • Weakness or trouble moving limbs
  • Painful, swollen, bruised, or tender areas of teh body
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Fever
  • Loss of consciousness

Latest ULORIC News & Recalls

Takeda has been hit with a whistleblower lawsuit filed by Dr. Helen Ge, a former safety consultant. She alleges that the company withheld risk information regarding Uloric.

Dr. Helen Ge, a former safety consultant for Takeda issued a whistleblower lawsuit against the manufacturer. The claim made by Dr. Ge is that the company did not reveal available risk information about Uloric and its possible serious side effects – these include liver problems, kidney damage, and bone marrow failure. The claim also asserts that the company failed to inform the public that the drug could interact with other medications producing negative results.

The lawsuit also claims that the manufacturer made the cardiac side effects of Uloric less severe than reality by modifying and altering documents they sent to the FDA. Allegedly, the failure to provide this information resulted in the death of some patients taking the drug.

Additionally, the lawsuit contends that Takeda’s actions defrauded Medicare and Medicaid due to the fact that febuxostat costs 5 dollars per day, while allopurinol, an alternative treatment for gout, costs only 10 cents per day

Lawsuits & Settlements

In 2012, Takeda Pharmaceuticals was hit with two whistleblower lawsuits filed by Helen Ge, a former safety consultant who alleged that the company was not reporting severe side effects of Uloric and Actos (pioglitazone), including bladder cancer, bone marrow failure, and more. Takeda is now facing thousands of lawsuits from people who were injured by these severe side effects. These lawsuits are not centralized in a Uloric class action — instead, they are individual claims filed by people with severe injuries.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals is facing multiple whistleblower lawsuits filed by Helen Ge, a former safety consultant for Takeda who alleged that the company withheld information about dangerous side effects — including drug interactions, kidney problems, liver damage, bone marrow failure, and more. In addition, a growing number of patients have filed lawsuits after developing these side effects.

HOW TO FILE A CLAIM

Do you want to learn if you have a case? The lawsuits are being filed on behalf of those patients who suffered from:

  • Liver failure
  • Kidney damage
  • Rhabdomyolysis
  • Heart attack
  • Stroke

Lawyers expect that thousands of patients will ultimately come forward with injuries to file claims. As is often the case with drug injury lawsuits, cases may eventually be consolidated in a central federal court for expedited handling.

A lawyer can speak with you today to determine if your case qualifies, and it costs nothing to investigate or file your claim unless you receive compensation.

Do you have a case?

Speak with someone today who can help!