Truvada is an antiretroviral prescription medicine. The drug can treat HIV infections as well as function as a prophylaxis treatment for preventing HIV infections in those with a high risk. The medication contains the controversial active ingredient tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). Several studies, including a research article in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), confirm that Truvada causes kidney damage in some patients.
If you or a loved one suffered from serious kidney damage or kidney failure due to the drug Truvada, you may want to consider working with a Truvada lawsuit lawyer as you could potentially recover compensation.
The Effects of Truvada on the Kidneys
According to the JASN, kidney toxicity of TDF has been well documented in several studies since 2001, the year Truvada came on the market. Some of the serious side effects of Truvada involving the kidneys can include:
Acute Kidney Failure
When the kidneys stop filtering waste products out of blood, acute kidney failure occurs. While acute kidney failure can develop suddenly and typically requires fast medical intervention, it is in many cases reversible with treatment. However, the condition can prove fatal if a patient does not receive immediate medical care.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is a silently progressing condition. Symptoms develop slowly, and since they are non-specific, an individual may not realize that they have chronic kidney disease unless the condition presents with more serious symptoms. Usually, only a laboratory test can confirm chronic kidney disease.
If kidney disease is left untreated, it can develop into kidney failure. Chronic kidney failure cannot be cured, and a patient with end-stage kidney disease will require a transplant organ or undergo frequent dialysis to stay alive.
Fanconi Syndrome
Those who take Truvada can potentially develop Fanconi syndrome, a condition affecting the kidney’s tubes. In an individual suffering from Fanconi syndrome, certain substances that are usually absorbed into the blood are released into the urine instead. Symptoms of Fanconi syndrome can include:
- Increased amounts of urine
- Bone pain and weakness
- Fractures
- Excessive thirst
- Muscle weakness
Fanconi syndrome can have a detrimental effect on the kidneys as well as on bone density of those suffering from the condition.
Seek Medical Advice
If you took Truvada for many years, you should consult with a doctor, especially if you have one or more of the following symptoms of kidney disease:
- Unexplained fluid retention
- Increased or decreased volume of urine
- Trouble breathing
- Extreme tiredness
- Irregular heartbeat
Your doctor can order diagnostic tests that can confirm or rule out kidney disease.
If you are still taking Truvada, your doctor may wish to perform periodic testing to ensure you do not develop any organ damage from the medication.
Other Significant Side Effects of Truvada
Truvada’s manufacturer, Gilead Sciences, is currently defending itself from various lawsuits alleging that the drug causes dangerous side effects. While many side effects can be mild, according to Stanford Health Care, the medication can cause some potentially devastating medical conditions, including:
- Osteoporosis
- Bone loss
- Liver disease
- Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS)
- Lactic acidosis
Some of the more serious side effects of Truvada can potentially cause death. If you suffered from any serious diseases or medical conditions as a result of taking the drug, a Truvada lawsuit lawyer may be able to help you get justice.
You Could Receive Compensation
There are now several studies proving that Truvada causes kidney damage. If you took Truvada and subsequently developed serious kidney disease, you could potentially file suit against the manufacturer and pursue compensation. The amount and terms of any settlement will depend on your injuries as well as other factors in your claim. However, generally, you could seek the following damages as well as others:
- Medical expenses including future medical bills
- Loss of income and future income loss
- Modifications to your home
- Health aide home visits
- Awards for pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Loss of life enjoyment
Proving a manufacturer’s negligence can be anything but easy. Pharmaceuticals typically pull out all the stops to defend themselves from bad drug claims. However, that does not mean that victims cannot get justice. If you can prove that your injury is linked to Truvada, and you have clear evidence for this as well as proof of your injuries and damages, you could have a good claim.
Once you have all the evidence and medical records you need, you should discuss your situation with our Truvada lawsuit lawyers. They will explain your legal alternatives to seek the damages you deserve and need. You can join the other plaintiffs currently suing the manufacturer and other responsible parties, but you need legal assistance from beginning to end, as such defective drug lawsuits are extremely complex.
Ben Crump Law, PLLC Is Here To Help
We want to help victims of corporate greed get the compensation they deserve. Gilead Sciences may have been negligent in several ways. The company may have developed a dangerous drug, Truvada, and failed to warn of potentially serious side effects such as kidney failure. The manufacturer now also stands accused of holding back a safer drug from entering the market to rake in more profits from Truvada.
When companies make decisions that are purely based on profitability and completely disregard the safety of the general public, we need to stand up against them. Ben Crump Law, PLLC is determined to do just that. We want to help ordinary people get the justice they deserve. Call us now for a free case review: (800) 983-6116.
