After giving a warning in April 2013 for the anti-seizure medication Potiga, the FDA has since decided to raise the warning level to “black box,” which is the strongest warning the FDA can give a medication. Medications with black box warnings carry a significant risk of serious or even life-threatening adverse effects.
Potiga is an anti-seizure drug used by adult patients with epilepsy who have partial-onset seizures. The previous warning involved skin discoloration of the hands, toes and lips. Now, the FDA is warning patients and doctors about a risk of severe pigment changes in the eyes that can lead to blindness.
As a result of these risks, the FDA is recommending that doctors prescribe Potiga only as a last resort, when other safer drugs have been used and failed. And if the benefits of using Potiga outweigh the risk of the side effects, the FDA recommends patients have exams with an eye specialist before starting the drug and then every six months during treatment. If pigment or vision changes are detected during treatment, the FDA recommends that patients be taken off Potiga.
If you have taken the drug Potiga and noticed changes to your vision, you should speak with a qualified dangerous drug attorney. Call us today at 816-842-7100 to speak with a lawyer. Or you can click here to email us and schedule your free consultation.