Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) is a type of immune system disorder. When people are diagnosed with TED, they automatically begin wondering what type of treatments are available. This has led to physicians prescribing Tepezza, which is a prescription that treats this Disease.
Although Tepezza has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the trials showed positive effectiveness, other studies have been conducted which found links to hearing loss and tinnitus among people who have taken this medication.
In this article, Kwartler Manus will go over the details of TED and the Tepezza prescription as well as explain why you might need to file a lawsuit.
What Exactly Is Thyroid Eye Disease and How Does It Affect You?
A person may be diagnosed with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) if their immune system is not functioning correctly. One of the main symptoms reported with TED is inflammation and swelling that causes the tissues and muscles near the eyes to become puffy. People who are suffering from this disease may also experience dry eyes, eyesight issues, and possibly even loss of vision.
Other terms that have been used for TED are Graves’ Eye Disease, Graves’ Ophthalmopathy, and Graves’ Orbitopathy. However, these terms are outdated and no longer used to describe this condition.
When you have TED and your immune system is working to protect you from germs and illnesses, it may make a mistake and think that the tissue around your eyes is a foreign germ or object and start attacking it. Your immune system sends out antibodies to try to keep your muscles and tissues away from the eye. Researchers are still trying to find out why this happens, but it is currently unknown.
The following are some of the most common symptoms that individuals with TED experience:
- Red eyes
- Sensitivity to light
- Pain and pressure in the eyes
- Eye irritation
- Dry and watery eyes
Who Is Most Likely to Experience TED?
People who have thyroid issues are most likely to experience TED. For example, if a person has too much thyroid hormone or an underactive thyroid, they have a very high chance of experiencing TED. It is uncommon for individuals with normal thyroid levels to get this disease.
About the Tepezza Prescription
When individuals are diagnosed with TED, one of the first questions they have is about treatment options. This is understandable as they would like to manage their symptoms and protect their eyesight as much as possible.
Some doctors have prescribed Tepezza to treat TED. This medicine is known to manage the symptoms of this disease by blocking the antibodies that attack the tissues and muscles. It is an injection given by a physician every three weeks.
While 71-83 percent of patients who received the series of injections experienced positive benefits, some people had negative side effects as well as hearing loss.
Why Might You Need to File a Lawsuit?
According to the National Library of Medicine, about 10 percent of those who took Tepezza reported hearing loss symptoms. There was also a study conducted in early 2021 that found a 65 percent risk of hearing loss, and 26 of the participants reported using Tepezza at least four times.
TED is already an exhausting and stressful disease. Adding hearing issues to this can reduce the individual’s quality of life. The following are a few of the side effects people reported after taking Tepezza:
- Sound sensitivity
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Ears feeling clogged or plugged
- Muffled sounds
- Eustachian tube dysfunction
Even though several people reported these negative hearing side effects, Tepezza fails to list any hearing side effects on their warning labels. Therefore, they failed their consumers which has resulted in product liability cases.
If you have received at least one injection of Tepezza and have experienced hearing loss, tinnitus, or any other hearing loss complication, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. By doing so, your Philadelphia personal injury attorney will fight for your right to the compensation you deserve. Some of the losses that may be covered by compensation include:
- Medical treatment
- Loss of income
- Daily services and expenses
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Diminished quality of life
Contact Kwartler Manus LLC Today to File a Lawsuit
If you are suffering from hearing loss, tinnitus, or other medical condition caused by Tepezza, reach out to a Philadelphia personal injury attorney at Kwartler Manus today. You can fill out our contact form or call (267) 457-5570 for a free consultation. While you focus on recovery, we will look over your claim, determine if it is viable, and prepare a strong case against the defendant.