FLOLAN - THE MIRACLE DRUG FOR
PRIMARY PULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PPH)
Flolan or epoprostenol
is a form of a naturally occurring molecule in our bodies called prostaglandin.
Doctors use
prostaglandin to treat patients with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH),a severe
lung disease in which blood pressure in the pulmonary artery rises above
normal levels for no apparent reason. PPH involves both the heart and lungs,
but unless it's caused by another disease, it appears to start in the lungs.
The blood vessels that supply the lungs constrict and make the walls thicken
and unable to carry as much blood. Like a garden hose with a kink in it,
pressure builds up and backs up. The heart works them harder, trying to force
blood through. Eventually it can't keep up and there is less blood circulating
through the lungs to pick up oxygen. Patients become tired, dizzy, and short
of breath. Swollen ankles and legs, chest pain, and heart palpitations are
also common symptoms. Without treatment, PH is usually fatal within three
years of diagnosis. In the United States about 300 new cases of PH are
diagnosed each year. The greatest numbers are in women between the ages of
21 and 40. In about 6 percent to 10 percent of cases, PH is genetic. Diet
suppressants, cocaine, HIV and pregnancy are thought to trigger constriction
or narrowing in the pulmonary artery that can lead to PH. Flolan
clinical trials were held at 13 medical
centers in the United States.
Flolan is administered intravenously directly into
the bloodstream through a surgically implanted catheter by a portable,
battery-operated pump. The pump is worn attached to a belt around the waist or
carried in a small shoulder pack. Since the drug lasts only 3-5 minutes it
must constantly be infused: it is slowly and continuously pumped into the body
through the permanent catheter placed in a vein in the neck or chest. The pump
is filled daily with the mixed Flolan solution.
FLOLAN TREATMENT
Flolan is a lifetime therapy which requires
uninterrupted infusion because of its short 3 to 5 minute effect. The drug is
very expensive, at around $100,000 or more per year and is used only after a
positive diagnosis of PPH has been made. Because of the complexity of
administering Flolan, patients use special health care services to learn about
administering the treatment. Companies that distribute Flolan offer home health
care services including infusion and nursing. The problem with Flolan is it has
a short half-life of only a few minutes, so it cannot be given in the form of a
pill. It's injected intravenously 24 hours a day through a catheter in the
chest.
FLOLAN PUMP
Flolan is administered using a small, light
weight ambulatory infusion pump. The CADD-One Flolan pump and its related
design, the CADD-Legacy pump, provide allow patients to walk and move freely
during infusions so that normal daily life and travel can continue relatively
uninterrupted.. Both pumps use disposable 9 volt or AA alkaline batteries and
the pump consumes many batteries. While using Flolan, the patient must maintain
two working Flolan pumps at all times because they need to be alternated every
24 hours to ensure the safety of the patient. Typically the flolan pump is
replaced every 6 months throughout the therapy for testing and maintenance
A walkman-sized Flolan pump and medication
cassette is worn on the body or carried over the shoulder. The medicine must be
mixed daily and constantly kept cold. Side effects include jaw pain, leg pain,
nausea, lightheadedness, joint pain, depression, and a high risk of infection.
Patients must have a back-up pump on hand and an emergency supply of oxygen.
Even a brief interruption of medication can cause a rapid reappearance of
symptoms and possibly even death.There is no set dose, the dose that is used is
based on the amount of relief it provides the patient of their PPH symptoms and
the patient's ability to handle Flolan side effects. The dose will increase
during a patient's therapy in order to remain effective; no maximum dose has
been demonstrated. The drug requires special handling including a constant
controlled temperature and protection from light.Flolan therapy has been
credited with raising the life expectancy of patients with PPH by 3 to 5 years
or more.
FLOLAN SIDE EFFECTS
Some side effects of Flolan Treatments may
include jaw pain, headache, flushing, hypotension, nausea, flushing, diarrhea,
and vomiting.Long-term side effects may include leg and foot pain, and skin
rash.Interruption of Flolan can be life-threatening, even a brief interruption
can result in a sudden reoccurrence of symptoms.In some cases this type of
continuous infusion may create serious complications (e.g., catheter-related
infection / sepsis, catheter-related thrombosis / thromboembolism, pump failure
or syncope) related to the use of an implanted central vein catheter.
PPH-
LAWSUITS - LEGAL OPTIONS FOR PPH VICTIMS
 If
you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (PPH),
then you may have a right to file a individual legal action against the
manufacturers of the diet pills or other products that caused your PPH. Due to
the nature of this serious and devastating disease process, PPH patients are
urged to contact an attorney immediately after he or she has been informed of
their Primary Pulmonary Hypertension diagnosis. Many important legal issues need
to be addressed early after a PPH diagnosis, that can affect the outcome of
the PPH litigation. Call us for a Free Confidential Consultation. Talk with a
Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer about your legal rights of a PPH
claim against the diet drug industry and others. No Fees or Expenses Charged
unless we make a Recovery for You.
Call
Us Toll Free at 1-800-883-9858 or 1-800-468-4878 or E-mail
us your questions on Free
Case Evaluation Form.
|
Legal Assistance
for PPH & Diet Drug Victims since 1997
