Were You Injured After Taking This HIV Drug? Get Help from a Truvada® Lawyer.
If you took Truvada and suffered harm, you may be able to get compensation through a Truvada side effects lawsuit. Some users of Truvada have experienced damaging side effects that include kidney disease and bone injuries. What is Truvada? It is a drug that is used to treat symptoms of HIV and AIDS. It’s also used as a “pre-exposure prophylaxis” by uninfected people who are at high risk of getting the virus. Since the drug’s release in the early 2000s, it has been linked to serious and potentially life-threatening injuries.
To arrange a free consultation with an experienced Truvada lawyer, call the accident and injury law firm of Terry Bryant at (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000.
Long-Term Side Effects from Taking Truvada
Have any of these problems? Speak to a Truvada attorney today.
Severe health problems that Truvada has been linked to include kidney failure and osteoporosis. Here is a full breakdown of Truvada’s possible side effects.
Kidney Injuries
- Acute or chronic kidney disease
- Acute or chronic kidney failure
- Severe renal deficiency
- Fatal renal insufficiency
- Fanconi syndrome (a disorder of the kidney tubes)
Bone Injuries
- Avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply)
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteopenia (bone loss)
- Osteoporosis
- Osteomalacia (bone softening leading to fractures)
- Degenerative disc disease
- Lowered bone mineral density
If you’ve suffered these injuries or other side effects and have taken Truvada for HIV or AIDS, or as a preventative from catching the virus, you may be able to file a Truvada side effects lawsuit. Through a lawsuit, you could get compensation to help you pay the costs of your injuries. Additionally, consulting with a personal injury lawyer can provide you with valuable legal advice and assistance in pursuing your claim.
How Do I Get Compensation for Truvada Injuries?
If you’ve been injured after taking Truvada, you could get compensation for your injuries. Compensation in drug injury cases is based on the losses, or damages, you’ve experienced due to this bad medication.
Our Houston Truvada Attorney Pursues Damages in Drug Injury Claims
Here are some of the potential damages that may be claimed in drug injury lawsuits:
- Payment for medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital costs, surgeries, and other needed healthcare treatments
- Reimbursement for lost income when you can’t work because of your serious injuries is crucial.( If you find yourself in this situation, it’s advisable to seek the expertise of a work injury lawyer who can help you navigate the legal aspects and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.)
- Pain and suffering for the physical pain and emotional trauma that the dangerous Truvada side effects have caused you
- Punitive damages if gross negligence is proven.
Every case is different. A skilled Houston Truvada lawyer from the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant can explain what your case could be worth based on your individual circumstances.
What is the Process in Filing a Legal Claim?
In a legal claim, your Truvada lawyer can help you by investigating all the evidence in your case to understand your injuries. Your attorney will review your medical records and gather other information. They may identify and bring in experts in the medical and pharmaceutical professions, including a medical malpractice lawyer, to testify on your behalf. They’ll pursue compensation from the drug company that makes Truvada that will fairly pay you for all the damages you’ve suffered. If your injuries occurred in the workplace, a worker compensation lawyer can also assist in ensuring you receive the appropriate benefits and support for your situation.
Call the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant at (713) 973-8888 for a free case evaluation.
Who Makes Truvada?
Gilead Sciences, Inc., an American biopharmaceutical company headquartered in the San Francisco area, makes Truvada. The version of Truvada that has been named in lawsuits for causing injuries was formatted with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate or TDF. This multibillion-dollar company also makes additional drugs to treat HIV, AIDS, hepatitis, and the flu. Some of Gilead’s other TDF drugs used to treat HIV have also been linked to dangerous kidney, bone, and other damaging side effects.
Other Gilead TDF Drugs That May Cause Injuries
In addition to Truvada, Gilead has developed and distributed other TDF drugs for treating HIV. These drugs can also cause side effects and injuries like those from Truvada. They include:
- Viread
- Atripla
- Complera
- Stribild.
If you believe you were hurt by any of these drugs, contact our law office so we can review your case. Call us at (713) 973-8888 for a free case evaluation.
What Is the History of Truvada?
Truvada was developed by Gilead as a “wonder drug” to treat HIV, which was considered a possible death sentence at the time of the drug’s release. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2001. By itself, the active ingredient of tenofovir that is used in the Truvada medication is toxic to the kidneys. But as a pro-drug formulation, the drug could be effective while limiting damaging effects to the kidneys. Truvada TDF is a pro-drug formulation.
What is the Truvada Side Effects Lawsuit About?
The lawsuits over Truvada accuse Gilead Sciences of developing another tenofovir pro-drug formulation with less serious side effects that was more effective in treating HIV, but keeping it off the market until they maximized their profits from TDF. That formulation is called tenofovir alafenamide fumarate or TAF. TAF was developed as a backup to TDF.
However, instead of releasing TAF when the company knew that it was a better, safer drug, legal claims allege that Gilead continued distributing the more harmful TDF until the patent on it expired. Once they were close to the patent expiration date and generic TDF drugs entering the market became a risk, Gilead released TAF in 2016 as a safer and more effective HIV medication, even though they had developed it years earlier. For injured users of Truvada and other TDF medications, the damage was already done. They had been exposed to the drug’s harmful effects for years, even though there was a better and less harmful drug formulation available.
Lawsuits also allege that:
- Gilead didn’t warn users about the dangerous side effects of TDF even though it knew about them through its own testing and research.
- The company knowingly and actively misrepresented the drug’s effectiveness and risks.
When drug companies put their bottom lines over people’s health, they must be held accountable. If you were injured by Truvada or another TDF drug, contact us today to arrange a free consultation by dialing 713-973-8888.
Common Questions about Truvada
Reach Out to Our Truvada Lawyer with Additional Concerns
Following are some of the common concerns we’ve seen from Truvada users. If you have questions not addressed here about injuries from this drug and the process of bringing a legal claim, don’t hesitate to reach out to our law firm to speak with one of our skilled and compassionate Houston Truvada lawyers.
Truvada can cause extensive bone loss. It can start with osteopenia, the early stage of bone loss, and lead to osteoporosis. People with osteoporosis have a higher chance of bone fractures. Osteomalacia, which is a weakening of the bones and another potential side effect of Truvada, can also lead to fractures.
Truvada can be very bad for the kidneys. It can cause chronic kidney disease that leads to kidney failure, which is also called end-stage renal disease. Once your kidneys fail, you must have regular dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to stay alive.
Truvada can cause liver problems. According to the manufacturer’s own literature, “your liver may become large and tender, and you may develop fat in your liver.”
Lactic acidosis is when too much lactic acid builds up in your blood. It is a medical emergency, and you should get help right away. Symptoms of lactic acidosis appear very quickly and are severe. They include stomach pain, diarrhea, fast and shallow breathing, decreased appetite, general discomfort, muscle pain or cramping, and unusual tiredness or weakness.
Some of the other side effects from using Truvada can include immune system changes, body fat changes, nausea, headache, dizziness, sleep problems, depression, rash, and abnormal dreams.
The first lawsuit against Truvada and Gilead was filed in 2016 by the AIDS Health Foundation. This initial lawsuit has since led to many others.
If you’ve used Truvada regularly and are experiencing any problems, you may have a Truvada side effects lawsuit. A Houston Truvada lawyer from the accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant can examine all the circumstances of your case and advise you. You could get compensation in a drug injury lawsuit. If you’ve taken other Gilead TDF drugs and believe you were injured, we want to speak with you because you may have a claim against the manufacturer.
Have Any Truvada Cases Settled? What Are the Truvada Lawsuit Settlement Amounts?
There haven’t been any settlements yet in Truvada lawsuits (*as of April 2021). When cases do settle or compensation is awarded in the courts, the Truvada lawsuit settlement amounts will depend on the unique circumstances of each case. When you meet with our law firm, our Truvada attorney can review all the facts involved in your situation and give you an estimated value range for your case.
Should I Join a Class Action or File an Individual Suit?
There is a multi-district litigation lawsuit in California. Our Truvada attorney can advise you about filling options in your case based upon your individual circumstances.
Don’t Delay in Learning about a Truvada Side Effects Lawsuit
There is a statute of limitations for filing drug injury cases. It can vary depending upon what state you live in. Generally, In Texas, the time limit for filing is two years from the date you discovered your injuries.
However, there are many exceptions to these time limits. You should always speak directly to a Truvada attorney to learn what the deadlines are in your unique case.
Get Legal Help Today for Your Truvada Injuries
Nobody should suffer serious injuries when they trustingly take drugs that are supposed to help, not harm. If you were hurt after taking Truvada or another TDF drug, contact our drug injury lawyers at 713-973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 to learn if you may be able to get compensation for your injuries. We provide free consultations.
Attorney Terry Bryant
Terry Bryant is Board Certified in personal injury trial law, which means his extensive knowledge of the law has been recognized by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, setting him apart from many other injury attorneys. The 22 years he spent as a Municipal Judge, Spring Valley Village, TX also provides him keen insight into the Texas court system. That experience also helps shape his perspective on personal injury cases and how they might resolve. This unique insight benefits his clients. [ Attorney Bio ]
