Have you suffered from Truvada's side effects?

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Portland Truvada Attorneys

Truvada is a popular antiretroviral drug developed by Gilead Sciences, Inc., to help individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) manage their condition. First approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2004, the drug has gone on to make Gilead Sciences billions of dollars.

Unfortunately, things aren’t always as they seem, especially when it comes to Truvada.

Recently, users of Truvada have begun to file lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer, alleging that Gilead Sciences failed to provide sufficient warnings about the side effects caused by the component tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), which is found in the medication.

The two major side effects caused by Truvada are bone density loss and kidney failure. Furthermore, it is believed that the two are intrinsically intertwined, as damaged kidneys are not able to properly filter important bone-building vitamins and nutrients back into the user, thus causing further bone loss.

But users do NOT have to stay silent about the damages they have suffered. You have rights and you do deserve justice for the pain Gilead Sciences has caused you.

If you have suffered bone-related or kidney damages as the result of prolonged use of Truvada, know that you have legal options. Our Truvada lawsuit attorneys in Portland are dedicated to helping victims of Gilead’s negligence secure the justice and financial recovery they need to start on the road to healing.

Contact Onder Law Firm right now at (314) 310-7924 for your FREE, no-obligation case evaluation.

The Basics of Truvada

Truvada is composed of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) which reduce the activity of an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase, which helps in the replication process of HIV. By stopping the functions of this particular enzyme, Truvada essentially stops the growth of HIV in the individual.

The two active components which make Truvada effective are emtricitabine (FTC) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

But this is where the trouble begins.

The cause for concern comes from the TDF component found in Truvada. This NRTI has a low absorption rate, and as a result, Truvada has high quantities of it in order to suppress the virus. However, this comes at a price.

TDF has been linked to serious health issues including meaningful loss of bone mineral density (bone demineralization) and kidney damages. Unfortunately, users of Truvada are not always aware that they are suffering from any of these side effects until they experience an unexpected bone fracture or kidney-related illness. When left untreated, these conditions can turn into osteoporosis and complete kidney failure.

Why Gilead Sciences, Inc., is Facing Lawsuits

What makes this situation even more infuriating for those who have suffered damages is that Gilead Sciences allegedly knew well in advance of these issues and yet failed to adequately inform consumers.

Additionally, plaintiffs filing lawsuits against Gilead have also claimed that the company was already developing a safer alternative to TDF – a component known as tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). However, in an effort to stave off competitors, and to maintain a dominance on the market, Gilead shelved the TAF-based drug until close to when their patent on TDF expired.

The motive behind this action was simply to secure as many sales as they could. Gilead finally released their TAF-based drug, announcing it as a “new and improved” version of Truvada, even though the company had this particular product available for years.

Sadly, rather than care for their clients, Gilead provided individuals, who are already in a precarious state of health, defective drugs.

In other words, they placed profit before people.

And you deserve more than to be taken advantage of. Trust the experienced and determined Portland Truvada lawsuit attorneys of Onder Law Firm to deliver the results that you need. Our defective drug attorneys will not stop until you have the justice and financial recovery that is owed to you.

About Bone Mineral Density Loss Due to Truvada Use

Bones break down in a process known as resorption, while new bone is added in a process known as formation. While these are natural processes that every individual undergoes, Truvada – and specifically the TDF component in Truvada – exacerbates the process of resorption. When bone loss exceeds bone formation, then individuals can begin to suffer painful symptoms as a result.

While catching osteoporosis in its initial stages can be a challenge, there are certain signs that users of Truvada should be aware of in order to limit the damages caused to them. If you have noticed or are noticing any of the following symptoms, it is in your best interest to seek out medical care immediately:

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

When bone loss reaches a critical level, users of Truvada may begin to suffer from serious bone-related health issues including:

  • Pain in the extremities (arms and legs)
  • Dental complications such as tooth decay and loss
  • Bone breaks/fractures
  • The development of osteopenia
  • The development of osteoporosis

You took Truvada in an effort to preserve your health, not hurt it. Do NOT allow Gilead Sciences to take advantage of you. Contact Onder Law Firm today at (314) 310-7924 to fight back, and to fight back hard.

About Kidney Damage Caused by Truvada Use

The excessive levels of TDF in Truvada can be very taxing to a user’s kidneys. Furthermore, kidney issues are a common occurrence in HIV positive individuals, thus the likelihood of suffering damage increases.

A study conducted by researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco found that the risk of kidney disease increased by 33 percent each year that an individual was exposed to TDF. This clinical research included more than 10,000 HIV positive patients.

Over time, the kidneys can no longer function at maximum capacity and thus begin having trouble filtering out toxins and waste from the user’s bloodstream. If not properly treated in a timely manner, the constant use of the drug can lead to serious kidney-related health issues including:

  • Acute kidney injury
  • Acute renal failure
  • Chronic kidney disease
  • Declining kidney function
  • Fanconi Syndrome
  • Total kidney failure

When kidney function falls below 25 percent, Truvada users can suffer from additional health complications such as an increased risk of a stroke or heart attack. Between 10 to 15 percent, an individual must go through dialysis.

In the last stages of kidney failure, a kidney transplant may be the only hope for survival.

HIV Statistics in Portland and the Surrounding Area

As per an April 2019 report released by the Oregon Health Authority, in the County of Multnomah, which is where Portland sits:

  • 1,552 males were living in Multnomah County with HIV at the end of April 2019.
  • There were 136 females with HIV living in Multnomah Count at the end of April 2019.
  • The largest at-risk group consisted of men who have sex with men. This demographic accounted for 2,574 cases of individuals who had HIV/AIDS and were living in the county.
  • Males who had sex with men and also injected drugs were the 2nd largest at-risk group with 375 individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Multnomah County at the end of April 2019.
  • Females were most likely to contract HIV/AID through heterosexual contact. 186 woman living with HIV/AIDS in 2019 in Multnomah County had contracted the virus through this transmission category.
  • The estimated rates for males living with HIV/AIDS in Multnomah County stood at 825.9 per 100,000 people.
  • The estimated rate for females living with HIV/AIDS in Multnomah County stood at 72.6 per 100,000 people.
  • The highest rate for ethnic groups was 758.2 cases per 100,000 people; this number represents HIV/AIDs cases among African Americans.
  • 2,580 Whites were living in Multnomah County with HIV/AIDS at the end of April 2019. Rates for Whites stood at 245 HIV cases per 100,000 people.
  • The age group with the highest number of cases and highest rate was the 50 to 59-year old demographic. There were 1,165 individuals in this age bracket living with HIV/AIDS and the rate for this population stood at 1,208 per 100,000 people.

Recovery is Just a Phone Call Away

When you suffer from using Truvada, you are suffering more than just physical pain. The high medical costs that come from not only taking Truvada, but which can also come as a result of being injured by Truvada, can lead to hefty financial debt. Taken altogether, the circumstances of your situation can be overbearing and take an emotional toll on you.

That’s why your dependable Portland Truvada lawsuit attorneys at Onder Law Firm fight hard to help you secure full and fair compensation for all the damages you have suffered. Together with a supporting team of medical and legal professionals, we will thoroughly investigate your claim to ensure you obtain what is lawfully yours.

Our attorneys will work diligently to win damages for but not limited to:

  • Medical costs (past and future)
  • Income losses (past and future)
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of consortium
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Wrongful death
  • Punitive damages

It is time that Gilead pays once and for all for the pay they have caused innocent victims. At Onder Law Firm, we are ready to put our reputation on the line for you.

If you or someone you love has suffered from adverse effects as a result of using Truvada, trust in our attorneys to provide outstanding legal counseling. Contact Onder Law Firm at (314) 310-7924 or online to set up your FREE legal consultation with Portland Truvada lawsuit attorneys who won’t quit until we win.

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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