Class Action Over Pfizer’s Depo-Provera
December 22, 2005
Another headache for Pfizer:
Canadian women looking for a trouble-free way to prevent pregnancy may be making themselves susceptible to osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become fragile and more likely to fracture.
A $700-million class action lawsuit has been filed against the makers of Depo-Provera, a birth control injection prescribed to more than 600,000 Canadians last year. The lawsuit alleges that women who have taken the contraceptive have developed osteoporosis.
Depo-Provera is made by international drug conglomerate Pfizer, also responsible for popular prescription drugs Viagra, Zoloft and Celebrex. Users are given an injection every three months and have a less than one per cent chance of getting pregnant while on the medication, according to the drug maker’s website.
Tracey Bourque, 33, recently found out she has the bone density of a 55-year-old woman. Bourque and her doctor wonder if it is linked to her use of Depo-Provera.
Depo-Provera was tested in the 1980s and approved in Canada in 1997. Two million prescriptions for the drug have been written in Canada in the past four years.
One year ago, Pfizer warned Canadian and American officials the drug could lead to bone density loss. The United States issues a warning shortly afterwards saying the drug should not be used as a long-term contraceptive. Health Canada issued similar statements in November, 2004, and June and July this year.
“The data indicate that women who use Depo-Provera may lose significant (bone mineral density),” states the July Health Canada warning. “The data also indicate that bone loss is greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible.”
[…]
According to lawyer Glyn Hotz, Bourque isn’t the only concerned person. He told CTV that he has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of a group of woman who also worry about a link between Depo-Provera and bone deterioration.
“We’ve seen people who have had multiple fractures, required knee replacements,” he said Monday. “We’ve got somebody who is in her twenties who is on the borderline for having a hip replacement.”
For the rest, click here.
I need to find out if there is a class action lawsuit for depo provera birth control
aka poision which caused severe bone degenration in my back, bone loss
I need to find out if there is a lawsuit against depo for not being able to conceive a child!!!
Hello good afternoon I’m not to sure who to ask but I was wondering about
class action lawsuits against the depo provera contraceptive side affects.
I have no idea who I
would contact about my side affects or to find out if they are enough to
join a class action lawsuit if there are any I could join or how I would go
about doing that? I was on depo provera from when I was 14 to 18 I am 23
now when I got off it took me 3 years to conceive I have had a pain in my
lower left pelvic area, after having my daughter Jan 10 2005 my DR.
prescribed me depo provera sept.2 2005 wile on it I was very emotional,
feeling of anxiety,feeling of panic attacks, my hair was thinning,a feeling
of overwelmness I would cry for no reason I would have mild head
aces,feeling of no energy and a depressed feeling. my last shot was do on
June 30 2006 I did not get it since then I have had still had all they same
as written above I have 2 sunken in indents in the muscle in my right butt
cheek you can visibly see them plain as day looks like it eat my muscle I
now get a numb feeling were the marks are and all down my leg. I went 5 to 6
months with no period at all then to very irregular ones, the past 3 month I
have been getting 2 to 3 periods a month the first month was just spotting
with a little bit of blood lasting 10 days then it would stop for a couple
days then the same thing again . the same thing happened the next month but
a little more blood this month I have had 3 full periods first started
(normal to heavy bleeding)the first period this month started Jan 30 2007 to
Feb..08 2007 the 2nd one started Feb.. 13 2007 to Feb. 21 2007 and the 3rd
started on Feb. 27 2007 to march 03 2007, I have also been having white
nipple discharge this all has been very frustrating and upsetting. any
advice you could give me would be so appreciated thank you for your time and
thank you for any advice you might be able to give me.Have a great day
I also have had many horrible side effects from depo. I was on and off the depo for about 12 years. I was only told recently to take calcium pills, but never given the truth about the depo. I am 33 years old and have been diagnosed with osteoporosis in my left hip and osteopenia in my right hip and spinal cord. I also had my gall bladder removed 3 weeks ago. I am waiting on test results to see if I am in early menopause. I have not had a period in almost a year and even after taking provera to bring on my period- NOTHING! I am an emotional wreck since coming off of the shot. I am crying for no reason, suffer from anxiety, mild depression, crying spells and restless nights of sleep.
I have countless other medical problems and I believe a majority of them are caused by the depo provera. I not only want to pursue a class action lawsuit, but I want this off the market so that other women do not have to go through what we are! I will research until I find these answers and promise to post anything that I find. You are all in my prayers!
I am not sure what i need to do but i was 14 when i received the depo. It was december of 2001, then I received another shot in Feb. 2002. I started to get really sick i couldnt go to school for like 3 weeks. The dr realized they gave me an over dose. I received the next shot in may 2002 and every 3 months after that. I stop receiving the depo in october of 2004 and I have had lower back pain as of June of 2004. My back pain is so severe that some times I have pain all the way to my feet and i can’t move sometimes. Also, I have not had my periods since i have been off the depo. It has been almost 4 years and i cant concieve either. what can i do because before the depo everything was fine. please let me know something. Am i the only one?
I started taking the shot after having my second child in 1994. I’ve had certain medical issues throughout the years, yet until 4 years ago when I moved out of state and had to see a new doctor that did a thorough examine I started learning about the side effects. I have been diagnosed with cancer, cysts, pelvic congestive syndrom, osteoporosis, amoung ailments doctors have no answer for. I thought I was a hypocondriact. (sp?) This gives me a relief that I now know why all these things are happening to me. After everything I have read on the internet, I have been the longest person taking depo. I want my life back, I know I will never get it but suing will make the rest of it more comfortable because everyday is a struggle with the pain I am in!!!!
I took Depo from ages 14-17. I’m 28 years old now and have irregular cycles, back pain, feet and knee pain, depression, and serious headaches. I’ve been prescribed provera which made me violent when I’m a laid back easy going person, then progesterone pills which help me have a cycle still not normal, but without them I get nothing. Then I’ve taken several doses of clomid and haven’t been able to conceive. I’ve been trying to have a baby for 8 years now and nothing. I’ve puzzled my gyn. She is clueless about what’s going on with me. I’ve done every test possible. The stories I’ve been reading online have made me realize that all along it has been the effects of the shots. So I have entered in to the class action lawsuit. No money is going to help me conceive a child on my own, but if I do come into a settlement atleast now I can adopt or try surrogacy. Thank to all the stories of women with the same problems as me. God Bless!
I have been on the depo for 7 yrs and my doctor never told me about the depo problem until i had my shot last month and thats when they told me that it causes you to loose bone density and that I needed tohave a bone scan. Well i went and had a bone scan a wk after I had my depo, but I still have not received the results back. Two wks ago I had 2 teeth to completley fall out. i have never had teeth to fall out before for no reason. When i went to my dentist, he told me that the depo can make your teeth crumble due to the loss of calcium. Has anyone else had this problem, b/c i just paid over 5K to get my teeth fixed
I took depro provera in 94 after my second child, was never told of the risk of osteoporosis, then 3 years ago was diagnosed with it in my hips. I saw that there is a Canadian lawsuit for this reason, but can’t seem to find anything about a US one.
I have read about a Canadian Depo Provera class action suit against Pfizer Canada, Inc and Pfizer Inc. I’m an American who has suffered damages from depo-provera and am inquiring about any new information on, or new trials against producers of this drug in the United States. I was on depo for 5 years (2000-2005), from 19 to 24 years of age, before warnings had been put on box labels… I have suffered from bone fractures and hair loss and have not received any helpful health treatment or reconciliation. I also still have traces of depo in my system (3 years later): I do not have a regular menstrual cycle (including no menstrual cycle for 1 1/2 years after ending use); I continue to show loss of bone density and have had to change my active life-style (I have a rare fracture in my left ankle; also am facing chronic back/knee/joint pain); I continue to have hair loss and hair brittleness.
Any advise would be very much appreciated!
I too have suffered from the use of Depo. After a divorce, then remarriage, my new husband and I were faced with birth control issues. At the time, we didn’t want to do anything permanent as we hadn’t quite ruled out having a child of our own together. After discussing options with my doctor, Depo seemed to be a good idea. I was never told of the potential risks of osteoporosis. I was on the shot from approximately 1999 to 2006. I had no idea it was causing damage to my bones. I only discovered this when having my annual exam in 2006. My doctor suddenly took me off the shot and sent me for a bone density scan. I was called back into her office a few weeks later to find out that I had osteopenia in my lumbar spine and left hip. I was an emotional reck! I couldn’t believe at 42 the condition I was in. My friends and family were shocked as well. They believed since I lived a healthy lifestyle including running, bicycling, and lifting weights, that my bones would be fine. My doctor told me to take calcium pills and hopefully time would self-correct my condition. I suffered pain in my left hip as well as my right ankle while on the shot and still sometimes to date. My menstrual cycle has been very frequent and intense since I’ve been off the shot (not like before). I am having a repeat bone density test on Monday to see if my condition has improved. As far as Misty’s dental issues, I too have suffered an increase in dental problems.
I took the Depo for a total of 8 years, and now at the young age of 28, I have osteopenia. Something else the “black box” warning doesn`t tell you is that calcium loss from this injection doesn`t just hurt your bones it also affects your teeth. After this warning came out, I had to have about $6,000 of dental work done. Thanks Depo-Provera!!!!
My beautiful daughter took Depo Provera at the age of 17. If I had of known she was going to get this “injection of poison” I would have convinced her to take something else for birth control. At the time we were in a life or death struggle with our 15 yr old son..who had been ill since he was eleven. This drug has caused my daughter (who is now 27) to gain a tremendous amount of weight and the weight came on very quickly! I knew it was nothing to do with her eating habits or excercise level. She also started to lose hair on the top of her head and developed excess hair on her arms and a bit on her face. She is lucky if she gets one period a year and she ONLY HAD ONE INJECTION of this TOXIC DRUG! Nobody has done anything and my daughter seems to have just accepted this. Now she is married and wanting a baby.. she’s been told she would have to tale birth control to “force” a period to happen and then take fertility drugs in order to conceive. There is no guarantee. I am so angry! the doctors and the pharmaceutical industry work together hand and hand. They PROTECT EACH OTHER. NO DOCTOR WILL COME RIGHT OUT AND HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY….YES!! THIS DRUG IS RESPONSIBLE . i KNOW IT IS….i KNEW IT THEN AND I KNOW IT NOW!!! My daughter was always healthy and grew up in a health conscious home. She now has to deal with the “stigma” of being overweight. The cruel hurtful comments that ignorant people make. I feel like screaming out ..”educate yourself!!! not everyone who is heavy is heavy because they are lazy or eat too much!! She is a sweet girl who didn’t deserve this. I want someone to be responsible for ruining her health. She recieved this injection at a walk in clinic. Was told “take this it’s great! One injection and no worried about getting pregnant for 3 whole monthes!! What young girl wouldn’t jump at the chance? an older person would probably research the drug side effects first…but not a 17 yr old. I want to file a suit . I f anyone has suggestions or can help me please contact me. Shannon (my daughter) was a healthy( normal weight )attractive girl before this drug ruined her.
Thank you
Marie A. Reynen
is there a lawsuit against depo for not being able to have a child?
I was only on mine for about 1 to 2 years after I had my child they gave it to me and with my experiences first it started off with having my period for 6 months straight no days off, then it went to loosing my hair in the shower and I mean alot, then it went to having numbness in my arm and very bad chest pains felt like I was going to have a heart attack, I was in the hospital 2 or 3 times for that and then later on my periods was coming every two weeks and then sometimes they would last 2 or 3 weeks straight but then start again 2 weeks after I was off my period no matter how many weeks they lasted, and now my daughter is 4 and its been about 1 1/2 to 2 years since ive been off of it this month, and I still can not have anymore kids and we have been trying and trying forever it seems like, this shot has really messed up my life and I tell everyone that I know not to take this shot.
I took the depo shot from the age of 16-21 almost 22.. the years were 1997-2002.. i had the crazy hospitalizations of stomach area pains with no explanations , from the time i gave birth to the present i have not stopped LACTATING… my oldest and last kid as i had my tubes tied is almost 3.. ive been lactating 11 years.. i also had easy fractures to my foot , tailbone etc.. at a few of the reoccuring hospital visits they noted i had excessive calcium in my urine.. which upon research is a sign of possible bone loss. i do have it documented.. and after being on the shot 3 years i noticed my teeth feeling thin or fraile.. about 2 years ago they started to get very sensitive and finally started to break apart and the enamel was just peeling off in chunks.. after dentists and dentists.. there was nothing they could do so I HAD TO HAVE ALL MY TEETH REMOVED!!! because of my teeth showing signs of problems i demanded a bone density test because of the depo shots black box warning.. i didnt have any knowledge of osteoporosis until after i was OFF the shot.. and it was until almost 2-3 years later that they announced the warning.. so how would i have known that i should be tested for a disease that women in the 60s should be worrying about.. it was may 2008 that i had my bone scan and the results came back that I have the bones of a 70 year old women.. ive called lawyers all over the us and even emailed dozens with no responses or responses that they arent taking on clients.. wheres the help for us.. the women that had no warning.. how were we to know about sumthing that wasnt there when we used the shot.. where was or warning.. it may be 6 years after the shot but with the documents of excessive urine and all the hospital files isnt that enough proof that depo caused what is happening to me and the other women.. did anyone else test for caclium in the urine?? i even had a catscan and have a picture of built up calcium in my body.. What can we do to get back what we have lost.. i dont recomment the new osteoporosis drugs as the side effects are just as costly as the depo shot.. please do research before taking any of those pills ladies.. they are just as toxic!!!! they are doing as much harm to your bones .. !!! im 27 with 70 year old bones and no teeth .. wheres the justice for me ???? is there anyone out there that knows about a lawyer or any where we can sign up for a class action suit??? email me stikkibuns81@aol.com
I was on depo provera for 9 years, I got off of it to have another baby. It took my period 11 months to become regular again. I took an herbal pill to regulate my menstrual, it worked. Once my period was regular, I started tracking ovulation and was able to become pregnant. I was pregnant with twins, I had them at 29 weeks because my placenta was separating from the wall. I had 3 previous pregnancies without complications. I strongly feel the depo had something to do with my early delivery. I have been diagnosed with Osteopenia in the left hip and lower spinal. I filed a lawsuit in Florida, and lost because Florida doesn’t consider Ostopenia as a injury, only if something breaks!
If any of you need any information,please don’t hesitate to email.
Thanks,
I’m sorry my email is uclaucla39@aol.com
I also experienced frequent bacteria infections, migraine headaches, sharp pains near my ovaries,
If there is a class action lawsuit going on I would like to join.
I was given depo from the age of 14 to 21 when the doctors told me they had to stop because of certain side effects that was caused by depo.
I recived the Depo. shot July, 10th 2008 the day after i had my first born son, I have been bleeding since that day!!!!!! The same day i was sent home from the hospital, i had been home for about 30min when my father rushed me to the hospital because i couldn’t breath and started to feel dizzy. The doctor gave me a breathing treatment and sent me home. when it was time for my six week check up i call the hospital and told them i was still bleeding, they told me to make a another app. after the bleeding stopped. i made an app. in october to see a doc but the pain in my lower back and cramps got so bad i couldnt wait. i went to emergency, they told me i had PCOS and sent me back home. i went to my app. the next week, the doc apologized he said i did’t have PCOS they were wrong he told me it was because of the depo. shot he also said i would be bleeding for the next nine months he told me to take Ibuprofe 800mg every 6 hours for pain…hahah i wish it was that EASY!!!! he also tried to give me more birth control still having my bleeding problems, i told him i would never take any birth control again the pills make me sick the patch gave me blood clots never again condoms will just have to work. since i have had this shot i have severe anxiety, panic attacks, paranoia, ovarian cysts, back pain, cramps, neck pain, always tired, and never leave my house. PLEASE if there is a class action suit i would like to join. i wish you all the best this isnt easy!!!!!
my son was born 12-14-07. At the end ob february i got the shot for the 1st and only time. I started with migrane, a horrible wrist pain (both), spotting for 7 weeks. Since august restarted, and my period just came back in october. We wanted to have another baby that’s why I only got it once, blurry vision and maybe more things that I don’t know it there are related. Since everything been irregular I went to see the dr. and find out why I wasn’t getting my period… my surprise, I got multiples cyst in both of my ovaries and a fibroid… My option get histerectomia , get pregnant with the risk of misscarrieage or a premature baby or remove those things and get pregnant and get a histerectomia.
I’m breastfeeding and i read this can past to my child. This is my only one and I’m 34
I was on the depo shot for five years, in October of this year I had my latest bone scan done and found out that I have lost 17% of my bone denisity in one year, I have put over $6,000.00 in to getting my teeth fixed. And now have no job because the job I was working was very physical and was worried about getting really hurt. and leaving my daughter to figure out how to help me over the years I have been o several different bone pills and nothing is helping my teeth are so bad that i really have to watch what i eat or they break is there anyone out there willing to help with this please email me asap. thankyou.
mcveighbear@yahoo.com
I received the Depo Provera Shot on September 24, 2008 as it was supposed to help stop my heavy periods as a result of my fibroid tumors. My Gynecologist never advised me of the possible side effects. I was only advised that I would no longer have periods. It would stop me from being anemic and I would start feeling less tired. (I never was feeling tired). I had 2 heavy days of bleeding during my menstrual cycle and I took Iron pills for the anemia. I really did not need this injection. I am so stupid - I was thinking this would help with the heavy periods. Since October 4th I have not stopped spotting or bleeding. I am about to go Crazy. This is only after on inection. The Gynecologist then prescribed Birth control pills to see if this would help me stop Bleeding. It is now November and I am bleeding even worse as she think the thinning of the my uterine lining is causing my fibroids to bleed. She now has prescribed estrogen pills (Estradiol) to try and build my uterine lining back up so hopefully the bleeding will stop. If this does not work I may have to have surgery. I just want to SCREAM!!! I can not have sex - too much bleeding. ANYONE, PLEASE, PLEASE RESEARCH THE SIDE EFFECTS BEFORE TAKING THIS INJECTION. I would be due for my second shot in December. I will not be taking that shot. If anyone has any suggestions on how I can stop the bleeding. Please emai me!!!!!
My email address is: susieqld2@comcast.net
Hi. My name is Irina and I am suffering from depo-provera shot. I had my shot done in July, never been told about side effect. Since the shot I am bleeding. Have had visit my gynecologist, emergency room with pain, and all of them told me that is possible from depo-provera shot. I am very upset and frustrated with the situation. It is effecting my marriage life also. I am looking for someone who can help me situation. I had this shot for first time, I never will do it again. If I ever knew this will happened to me I will never do it. I wish my doctor was more open and consult me with possible side effect. Unfortunately they don’t care about their patients Please help me and others who is suffering with their pains and have to go through this every day. Thank you. Irina
I am trying to find out if I can join a class action suit against the depo shot. I was on the shot for about three years. I suffered head aches and depression. Now I am suffering from chronic back and knee pain. It seems to be getting worst. I have been trying to find an class action lawsuit in America, but I am only coming up with one in Canada. If you have any info, could you please let me know. My email is marcy2177@yahoo.com,
there is my email address: mysondavid1998@yahoo.com