Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate or DMPA, and also known as “the shot") was repeatedly denied approval by the FDA in the 1970s and 1980s, until it was finally approved in 1992. Since then, reports have suggested that the drug leads to reduced bone density and can cause significant side effects when women attempt to stop using it. Originally manufactured by Upjohn, Depo-Provera is now produced by Pfizer. Depo-Provera is a contraceptive injection that contains the hormone progestin. Depo-Provera is given as an injection every three months. Depo-Provera typically suppresses ovulation, keeping your ovaries from releasing an egg.
Recent studies have also linked the drug to brain tumors, specifically an increased the risk of intracranial meningioma. As reported in the British Medical Journal (the BMJ), this risk was increased 5.6-fold if used for longer than a year.
This French study showed a link between the Depo shot and meningiomas, a tumor that arises from the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can include headaches, vision changes, seizures, memory loss, and dizziness. The link between Depo-Provera and brain tumors is a serious concern that warrants further investigation.
While the research is still ongoing, the evidence suggests that long-term use of progestin-based contraceptives may increase the risk of developing meningiomas. More studies are forthcoming, and with the sheer volume of women who have taken this drug over the past five decades, a large number of lawsuits are expected in the future. Our firm is focused on representing Hoosier women in these lawsuits against Pfizer and other relevant entities in state cases in Indiana.
Because Pfizer has a duty to conduct sufficient research into new products to discover potentially serious side effects and then properly warn consumers about those risks, the company may hold civil liability for harm sustained by people who developed brain tumors after taking Depo-Provera. In order to qualify for a lawsuit, though, prospective plaintiffs must be able to establish that they were diagnosed by a qualified medical professional with a brain tumor and/or meningioma, and that they took Depo-Provera, depo-SubQ Provera, or any authorized generic version of either drug at least twice before their diagnosis.
The length of time a particular person took Depo-Provera, the date of their diagnosis, and the extent of harm they have already sustained because of their condition can also be major factors in the viability of a possible civil claim. Our team can discuss legal options on a case-by-case, person-by-person basis during a private initial free consultation.
If you have suffered a brain tumor after taking this medication, you may be entitled to filing a Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit, and Ciobanu Law can help you determine your legal options.
