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Broken Bones from Truvada Lawyers

Truvada is an antiretroviral drug manufactured by Gilead Sciences Inc. and used to treat patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Sadly, users have begun to file lawsuits against the company, claiming that the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings about serious side effects caused by the component “tenofovir disoproxil fumarate” (TDF), which is found in the drug.

One of the main side effects caused by Truvada is bone density loss from osteoporosis resulting in broken, brittle, and fractured bones. Alongside these bone-related health issues, Truvada can also lead to renal impairment and kidney failure.

These side effects were intentionally downplayed and allowed to continue by pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. — even though the company had a safer alternative to Truvada’s main active ingredient — in order to safeguard the drug’s market dominance and prolong its patent.

HIV patients who have been treated with Truvada or other HIV drugs may be able to sue Gilead Sciences Inc. and receive compensation for their bone density loss, osteoporosis, broken, brittle or fractured bones.

Our Truvada broken bones attorneys at Onder Law Firm can help victims determine whether their health problems are directly related to their Truvada treatment and provide quality legal counseling to hold the pharmaceutical company responsible.

About the HIV Drug Truvada

Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a popular HIV drug that was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012. It can help to improve the condition of individuals who already have HIV.

Users typically include partners of those who have HIV or individuals who are already HIV positive.

The two active components found in Truvada include emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). These ingredients work together to reduce the activity of the enzyme reverse transcriptase — which is an enzyme that the virus uses to create more infected cells. With the help of Truvada, this process of replication can be greatly reduced or even stopped completely.

However, since its approval, the drug has been linked to at least 6,000 bone breaks and thousands of instances of bone-related health complications, even as Gilead earned $11 billion in annual profits on the success of this medicine.

What Is Wrong With Truvada?

What makes this situation worse for victims of Truvada’s dangerous side effects is that Gilead has had a safer version of tenofovir called TAF, which is a more effective antiretroviral and does not pose the same risk for kidney problems and bone density loss.

Despite knowing that TAF had lower toxicity and could better treat HIV patients, Gilead chose not to pursue clinical research on TAF until after the company’s patent on Truvada was close to expiring. This was to protect the company’s revenue and profits while also keeping Truvada on the financially lucrative HIV drug market, where it had established market dominance.

This meant that while Gilead was protecting its business, HIV patients were unknowingly and unnecessarily taking a drug that would cause permanent side effects to their bones and kidneys.

On several occasions, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the company about Truvada’s side effects and its practice of downplaying the potential consequences and making false claims that the drug was safe. If the company had patients’ best interests in mind, it could have substituted a safer alternative that used smaller dosages of tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) instead of TDF, but the company chose business over public health.

Now, users of Truvada, individuals who are already facing precarious health conditions, have fallen victim to false marketing and corporate greed.

If you believe you are suffering from bone loss, demineralization, or osteoporosis as a direct result of taking, contact the Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 today for a FREE legal consultation.

Brittle & Broken Bones Due to Truvada

Bones are tough and durable but when they are damaged or weakened, this can cause permanent health problems that significantly reduce an individual’s quality of life and require expensive medical treatment. Bones are made primarily from collagen protein, calcium phosphate, and calcium carbonate which help strengthen bones and give them flexibility.

When bones get old, they are broken down in a process called resorption, while new bone is added in a process called formation.

However, bones can be broken down faster than they are created, and that is when bone loss begins to occur. There is no single factor that causes bone loss, but some of them can be controlled and some cannot.

The causes of bone loss can include:

  • The person’s age or gender
  • Level of physical activity
  • Type of diet
  • Whether the person drinks alcohol or smokes
  • Genetics and family medical history
  • Medical illness such as osteoporosis, arthritis, asthma, Crohn’s disease, and lupus
  • Low testosterone levels
  • Side effects from medications such as Truvada

Some of the common symptoms of demineralized bones, which can be an indicator that your bones are becoming susceptible to breaking include:

  • Discomfort in extremities
  • Decreased bone mineral density
  • Bone loss or osteopenia
  • Dental complications (e.g. tooth decay and loss)
  • Bone fractures

If you have experienced these or similar symptoms, it may be a direct result of your HIV treatment with Truvada. It is important to contact a medical professional as soon as possible to make sure your bone-related injury is treated.

After menopause, women are generally at a greater risk of bone loss, but after the age of 65 men are at greater risk as well. Although bone loss is natural over time, it is not inevitable and people can take precautions against bone loss. This can include lifestyle changes such as having a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein, and starchy foods, as well as food rich in calcium, including dairy products, leafy green vegetables, tinned oily fish and nuts.

Vitamin D is another important ingredient for improving bone health. Vitamin D can come directly through exposure to sunlight but can also be found in fortified dairy products, egg yolks, saltwater fish, and liver.

Another common way to reduce bone loss is to quit smoking, because tobacco smoke prevents the body from absorbing as much calcium from their diets. Reducing alcohol consumption can also help avoid bone loss.

Osteoporosis Caused by Truvada

Unfortunately, individuals affected by HIV already face an increased risk of diminished bone density. Bone loss occurs faster in people living with HIV than in those without it. Factors that can affect bone loss rates in those living with HIV include:

  • The virus itself
  • Medications such as Truvada
  • The use of additional medications such as steroids or antacids
  • Hormonal changes
  • Age
  • Family history
  • Poor diet and unhealthy habits
  • Physical inactivity

While it can be difficult to diagnose osteoporosis in its early stages, there are a number of signs that can begin to emerge over time, including:

  • Back pain
  • Fractured/collapsed vertebra
  • Loss of height over time
  • Changes in posture (stooped posture)
  • Bones begin to break easily

HIV patients may be unaware of the bone-related side effects of their medication, and as preventative measures are not taken, it leads to worse problems that continue unnoticed until it’s too late. This is why it is important to talk to your doctor if you have been taking Truvada. A bone mineral density test can be used to measure bone strength and help to uncover whether or not you are dealing with osteoporosis.

Failure to seek out medical care can lead to increased risk of bone fractures, especially along the spine, hip, and wrist.

You should not have to suffer from broken bones or osteoporosis as a result of taking Truvada. Contact the product liability attorneys of Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 to learn more about your legal options.

Determining Liability in a Product Liability Claim

There are thousands of HIV patients who have experienced bone loss due to Truvada. An experienced product liability attorney can help determine if the pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences Inc. is liable for the side effects or injury you have suffered.

There are generally three “types” of product liability claims:

  • Strict Liability – This refers to negligent actions taken by manufacturers, suppliers, or by the company itself in creating a defective product.
  • Negligence – When there is not adequate or reasonable care in the design, manufacturing, or marketing processes relating to the defective product.
  • Breach of Warranty – Focuses on the warranty of the defective product (written or implied) and how the defective product didn’t work as intended, causing injury.

An attorney that handles Truvada cases can help you build a legal case around how Gilead put their patients at risk, and how that ultimately led to your bone-related health issue.

The process of building a case can take time and requires adequate evidence and documentation to determine product liability. Depending on the specific factors of your case, our attorneys will fight to help you secure compensation for, but not limited to, the following damages:

  • Medical bills (past, present, and future)
  • Lost wages and future earnings
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Loss of consortium

The pharmaceutical company, Gilead Sciences Inc. has a responsibility to its patients and not just to its revenue and profits.

If you are suffering from bone-related health issues as a result of the HIV drug, Truvada, find comfort in knowing there is a dedicated team able to support you. When you choose Onder Law Firm:

  • No fee unless we win your case.
  • Over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements.
  • A history of fighting large corporations.
  • Nationally-recognized team of attorneys.
  • We advocate and fight for YOU.

Contact the Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm right now at (314) 310-7924.

Our team is ready to help you with your Truvada case Call (314) 310-7924

This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. Results include Co-lead counsel on Yaz MDL & co-liaison leadership role in Pradaxa MDL.

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