March 29, 2007—The FDA announced Permax would be withdrawn from the market over concerns of serious heart valve damage.

Patients taking Permax should immediately contact their physicians to discuss alternative treatments. The FDA warns that patients should not stop taking the medication before speaking with their doctor, as abruptly stopping Permax can be dangerous.

The recall comes after two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that Permax patients were at increased risk of regurgitation (backflow of blood) of the mitral, tricuspid, and aortic valves of the heart.

January 3, 2007—Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that Parkinson's patients taking Permax or Dostinex are at significant risk of developing heart valve problems.

One study found that one-fourth of Parkinson's patients taking Permax or Dostinex had moderate to severe heart valve problems. The second study found that users of these drugs were between five to seven times more likely to have leaky heart valves than those patients taking other Parkinson's drugs.

Martin & Jones has compiled important information on Permax and Dostinex, including the latest developments on warnings related to the two drugs. If you or a loved one has suffered heart damage following use of Permax or Dostinex, we encourage you to contact us.

Prior to its recall in March 2007, Permax carried a black box warning, the strongest required by the FDA. The warning addressed the increased risk of heart valve problems in patients.

Permax originally was made by Eli Lilly, but rights to the manufacture and distribution of the drug were transferred to Valeant Pharmaceuticals.

Dostinex does not include a black box warning and lists heart valve problems as only a "precaution." Dostinex was developed by Pfizer.

Dr. Bryan Roth of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine called the risk of heart valve disease "extraordinarily high" and recommended against prescribing the drugs. Dr. Michael Okun, the medical director of the National Parkinson Foundation, observed that there are safer, equally effective drugs available to Parkinson's patients.

These serious side effects associated with Permax and Dostinex are the same problems that led to the withdrawal of the drug combination Fen-Phen.

Martin & Jones has been successfully representing injured men, women and children since 1982. We are proud to represent people from all walks of life, and the law firm has the experience and resources to aggressively do so, regardless of the size and resources of the offending company.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by Permax or Dostinex, you may be entitled to compensation. You should immediately contact lawyers experienced in handling lawsuits involving dangerous pharmaceuticals.

For more information about Permax and Dostinex, please complete our online contact form.