Please note that the lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are no longer taking on new cases involving Permax. The content on this page is provided for informational purposes only.

Permax and the generic pergolide were removed from the market as a result of an increased risk of heart valve damage, which could require heart valve replacement surgery, or lead to heart failure or death.

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk previously investigated lawsuits for users of Permax who experienced any of the following injuries:

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

PERMAX (PERGOLIDE) RECALL

As a result of serious safety concerns associated with medication, the FDA announced a nationwide Permax recall in March 2007. Studies published in January 2007 show that the risk of problems with Permax (pergolide) significantly outweigh the benefits of the treatment.  There are several alternative medications available for Parkinson’s disease symptoms, and the FDA has indicated that the risk of heart valve damage is so severe that they have removed all forms of pergolide from the market.

Permax was first developed by Eli Lilly and Co. in 1989 and the rights to the drug were transferred to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International in 2005.  Pergolide is the generic version of the drug  which is manufactured by Par Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries.  All forms of pergolide have been linked to the heart valve problems.

>>INFORMATION: Pergolide side effects

While Permax and pergolide were previously widely used to treat Parkinson’s disease, at the time of the recall, they were only used by about 25,000 Americans.  In 2006, Permax had annual sales of approximately $2 million and the generics of pergolide  generated another $12 million in sales.

The drug is part of a class of drugs known as dopamine agonist.  Side effects of another drug in this class, Dostinex (cabergoline) has also been linked to the same heart valve damage.

>>INFORMATION: Dostinex side effect