HIV medications containing tenofovir (TDF) have been linked to bone loss, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and life-threatening kidney problems, including kidney failure.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting HIV medication induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with a severe side effect of tenofovir for HIV, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
HIV Medications
Gilead manufactures several anti-HIV medications that contain tenofovir or TDF, which is a type of drug called a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI). It works by preventing the HIV virus from replicating. These medications help support the immune system and prevent transmission of HIV.
What is the problem?
Patients claim that Gilead, the drug-maker behind tenofovir HIV medications, is failing to adequately warn patients about severe side effects. They also claim the drug-maker could have released a safer drug, but withheld it to maximize profits.
Gilead had two versions of the drug. One version, called tenofovir (TDF), was known to cause bone issues, kidney failure, and death. Gilead released TDF first and held onto the safer version until when the unsafe version went off-patent.
List of Tenofovir HIV Medications
The HIV medications linked to bone and kidney side effects are manufactured by Gilead, and include the active ingredient tenofovir:
HIV Drug Injury Lawsuits
In July 2018, a lawsuit was filed by a 26 year-old man who developed bone fractures and osteopenia after taking Truvada (tenofovir). He alleges that Gilead should have warned that tenofovir poses a serious risk of causing bone problems.
The problem is that tenofovir has low bioavailability, which means it is not absorbed by the body very well. Tenofovir needs to be “ingested at high doses in order to provide the promised antiviral effect.” The excess tenofovir is absorbed into the patient’s bones and kidneys, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims that despite these known risks, Gilead is failing to warn about bone side effects by only recommending that doctors “consider monitoring” bone mineral density in patients with a history of pathologic fracture or risk-factors for osteopenia.
HIV Medication Side Effects
- Bone loss
- Decreased bone mineral density
- Bone necrosis (bone death)
- Bone fracture
- Osteopenia
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney toxicity
- Chronic kidney disease
- Kidney damage
- Kidney failure
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
- Low phosphorus (hypophosphatemia)
Do I have an HIV Medication Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting HIV medication induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with a severe side effect of tenofovir for HIV, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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