Permax | Parkinson's Disease
Manufactured
by Eli Lilly and distributed by Valeant Pharmaceuticals,
Permax (generic name: Pergolide) is a dopamine receptor
used to treat Parkinson's disease. On March 29th, 2007,
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested
that the drug be completely withdrawn from the market
due to its connection with heart valve problems. The
FDA published the following statement:
"Two recent New England Journal of Medicine
studies confirm previous findings associating pergolide
with increased chance of regurgitation (backflow of
blood) of the mitral, tricuspid, and aortic valves
of the heart. Valve regurgitation is a condition in
which valves don't close tightly, allowing blood
to flow backward across the valve. Symptoms include
shortness of breath, fatigue and heart palpitations."
The primary concern for the Permax withdrawal was
permanent heart valve damage. This serious condition
can cause leakage, backflow of blood and heart failure;
it is only treatable through surgery. Studies suggest
that 25% of patients who've used Permax have
had heart valve problems. Another study found that
Permax patients were between five and seven times more
likely to experience leaky heart valves than patients
on other Parkinson's drugs.
The most serious signs of possible heart valve damage
caused by Permax are:
• Fatigue
• Heart Palpitations
• Shortness Of Breath
The most common side effects associated with Permax
use are:
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Hallucinations
• Indigestion
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Runny noses
• Sleepiness
• Spasms
If you or someone you care about has taken Permax and
is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above, please
fill out our Case Review Contact Form to the right on
this page to find out what your case is worth. To find
out more about other cases we handle, select another
case type on your left.
