Dozens In Texas Lost Eyesight Due To Drug From Compounding Pharmacy

Sixty-eight patients claim to have suffered damage to their vision after visits to two Texas surgery centers. Of the 68 patients, 60 of them have filed lawsuits claiming that a drug which was made by a compounding pharmacy led to their lost vision.

Compounded drugs are prescription drugs that are tailored to meet individual prescription needs. Many medical facilities like hospitals and clinics use compounded drugs. However, there is a big difference between compounded drugs and other prescription drugs. Compounded drugs have not been approved by the FDA, and they are not fully tested and deemed safe.

The lawsuit blames a compounding pharmacy that made eye solution, which was injected into patients’ eyes, for the vision loss. The FDA did an investigation and raised questions about the solution’s formula and process used to make the drug. Investigators found that the solution contained formaldehyde and acetone, which may have been toxic to the patients’ eyes. The pharmacy owner denies there was any problem with the solution, stating that they were tested before they were shipped.

Patients are raising questions about why 68 people lost their vision from the drug before it was pulled. However, with compounding drugs, there are no clear systems in place to catch any problems. The FDA does not test to see if compounded drugs are safe unless patients or health care professionals report issues with the drugs. It took months from when patients were injected with the drug and suffered issues to the time Texas regulators were notified.

The use of compounded drugs is on the rise. Many drugs are in short supply right now, and compounding pharmacies can sometimes fill the gap where needed. In the past few years, Congress gave more oversight of compounding pharmacies to the states. Currently, Texas has about 10 percent of the compounding pharmacies in the U.S. and only 20 state regulators.

If you believe that you have been harmed by a prescription drug manufactured by a compounding pharmacy in Houston, you should speak with an attorney.