Dostinex Lawsuits: Heart Valve Damage

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk are no longer investigating Dostinex Lawsuits.  
This page is provided for informational purposes only.

Dostinex side effects have been associated with heart valve problems, which could require heart valve replacement surgery, lead to heart failure or death.

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously investigated Dostinex lawsuits on behalf of individuals who received the medication and experienced any of the following problems:

• Valvular heart disease
• Heart valve damage
• Leaky heart valves
• Death

DOSTINEX SIDE EFFECTS

Dostinex (also known as the generic cabergoline) is manufactured by Pfizer, Inc.  In 2005, the drug was prescribed to approximately 87,000 Americans and generated sales of around $88 million.  It is part of a class of drugs known as dopamine agonists, which are often used for management of Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Although Dostinex is prescribed for Parkinson’s disease in Europe, in the United States, it is only approved for treatment of a hormone condition and blood disorder known as hyperprolactinemia.

Dostinex side effects could lead to heart valve damage, which is the same injury that previously led to the withdraw of the popular diet drug “fen-phen”.  Dostinex increases the risk of valvular heart disease which impairs the heart’s function by causing the heart valve to fail to seal properly.  This could allow blood to flow backwards at the mitral, tricuspid and aortic valves of the heart.  This backflow of blood, known as valve regurgitation, causes additional work for the heart and could result in serious injury or death

Another dopamine agonist drug which has been linked to the same side effects is Permax (generic pergolide).  In March 2007, the FDA announced a Permax recall as a result of safety concerns associated with the drug.  However, the FDA indicated that they are not issuing a Dostinex recall since the medication is not supposed to be given for treatment of Parkinson’s disease, and is usually prescribed at much lower doses.

>>INFORMATION: Permax side effects

DOSTINEX PROBLEMS

Studies published in January 2007 demonstrate the risk of problems with Dostinex (cabergoline) when given for treatment of Parkinson’s disease.  One study in the UK found that nearly 20% of those taking cabergoline suffered damage to the heart valve, which is five to seven times higher than the rate of those who did not take the drug.  A smaller study in Italy found that nearly 29% (or more than one out of every four) treated with cabergoline experienced heart valve damage.

Symptoms of heart valve problems include:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Heart palpitations.

DOSTINEX LAWSUITS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer reviewing potential Dostinex lawsuits nationwide for users who experienced heart valve damage, heart failure or death.