Depo-Provera Lawsuit

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Depo-Provera Can Cause Brain and Spinal Tumors

Pope McGlamry is investigating cases where women developed brain and spinal tumors/lesions, also known as meningiomas, after using Pfizer's Depo-Provera or depo-subQ provera104. If you received Depo-Provera or depo-subQ provera 104 injections and subsequently were diagnosed with a meningioma tumor, contact our experienced attorneys today for a free case evaluation. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, we serve clients nationwide and can help you navigate your legal options to get you the justice, and financial compensation, that you deserve.

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What is Depo-Provera?

Depo-Provera (also known as “DMPA”) is a brand name for a contraceptive injection that contains the hormone medroxyprogesterone acetate, an injectable containing the hormone progestin. Progestin is a synthetic version of the naturally-occuring hormone progesterone and is primarily used to prevent pregnancy. Aside from contraception, Depo-Provera has also been used for other medical conditions, such as:

Endometriosis: To manage symptoms like pain and abnormal bleeding.
Abnormal bleeding: To regulate menstrual cycles.
Certain hormone-related cancers: To control hormone-driven tumors.

Depo-Provera shots are administered intramuscurlarly (deep tissue in the upper arm or buttock) via a 150 milligram injection every three months to suppress ovulation.

What is Depo-SubQ Provera 104?

Depo-subQ provera 104 also contains medroxyprogesterone acetate. A depo-subQ provera 104 injection is a lower dosage than Depo-Provera, as it is 104 milligrams rather than 150 milligrams.

Depo-subQ provera 104 is administered subcutaneously, meaning into the tissue beneath the skin instead of a muscle or vein, in the thigh or abdomen.

How Long Has Depo-Provera Been Available in the U.S.?

Depo-Provera was initially introduced in 1960 as an intramuscular injection for treating endometrial and renal cancer. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected Depo-Provera for use as a contraceptive several times before it was finally approved for contraceptive use in 1992. The generic version of Depo-Provera became available in 2002. Between one and two million women in the U.S use Depo-Provera each year.

What is a Meningioma?

A meningioma is a type of brain tumor that forms in the meninges, the layers of tissue that cover the brain and spinal cord. These tumors are typically benign (non-cancerous). They are typically slow-growing but can cause problems if they press on the brain, nerves and vessels. As a result, treatment for meningiomas often requires surgery (craniotomy) and/or radiation treatment.

The incidence rate of meningiomas in the United States is about 9.5 per 100,000 people. Meningiomas are considered rare before the age of 35, and the incidence of meningiomas increases with age.

What Symptoms Are Associated With Meningioma?

Common meningioma symptoms can include:

Headaches
Seizures
Vision problems
Hearing loss
Memory or cognitive issues
Weakness or numbness in the limbs
Personality or mood changes

How Are Meningiomas Diagnosed and Treated?

Meningiomas are usually diagnosed through imaging tests, such as MRI or CT scans, which can reveal the location and size of the tumor. If needed, a biopsy may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment options depend on factors like the size, location and whether the tumor is causing symptoms. The main options include:

Surgery: If the tumor is accessible and causing significant issues, it may be surgically removed—typically through a craniotomy (opening the flap of the skull to remove the tumor). There are also minimally-invasive surgeries like Endoscopic Endonasal Approaches (accessing the tumor at the base of the skull through the nose) or Neuroendoscopic surgery (accessing the tumor through a small hole in the skull).
Radiation Therapy: In cases where surgery isn’t feasible or the tumor is in a sensitive hard to reach area, radiation therapy (including gamma-knife radiation) can be used.
Observation: For small, asymptomatic meningiomas, doctors may choose to monitor the tumor over time with regular imaging.

The prognosis for people with meningiomas is often good, especially when the tumor is removed successfully.

Are Meningiomas Cancerous?

Most meningiomas are not cancerous. The vast majority are benign, meaning they are non-cancerous and do not spread to other parts of the body. A small percentage of meningiomas can be malignant (cancerous), but these are much less common.

What are the Post-Operative Risks of Removing Meningiomas?

The specific risks depend on the tumor’s location, the patient’s overall health and the complexity of the surgery. However, general risks associated with the removal of meningiomas can include:

Infection
Bleeding
Seizures
Neurological damages (due to the close proximity to the cortical area and other neurovascular structures)
Impaired memory
Impaired speech
Coordination or balance issues
Vision issues
Swelling
Recurrence of the tumor
Pain
Anxiety, depression or other changes in mood

The Link Between Progestin and Tumors

A recent French study, published in March 2024 in the British Medical Journal, examined the risk of meningioma associated with progestogen use. The study found that users of Depo-Provera (MPA) had the highest increased risk of developing intracranial meningiomas. Additionally, the study found that using Depo-Provera for over a year increased the risk of tumors by 5.6 times.

This same risk was not found with the most commonly used oral and intravaginal hormonal medications. Furthermore, MPA use is much lower in France as compared to the United States, where MPA injections are commonly used by young, lower-income and Black women.

Pfizer Failed to Warn of Meningioma Risk

These lawsuits are based on patients not being warned that Depo-Provera and depo-subQ provera 104 could increase their risk of developing a meningioma tumor. These tumors can vary in size, growing over time. They may be either benign or, in a smaller number of cases, cancerous. Even when meningiomas are benign, they are dangerous because they intrude on brain tissue and structures as they grow. In November 2004, Pfizer and the FDA agreed that the drug should carry a "black box warning," one of the strongest warnings issued to consumers. This warning was limited to prolonged use potentially resulting in significant loss of bone density, such as osteoporosis, and does not warn against the risk of brain and spinal tumors.

Receive Your Free Case Evaluation

If you or a loved one have used Depo-Provera or depo-subQ provera 104 for at least one year and were later diagnosed with a meningioma, brain tumor or spinal tumor, Pope McGlamry is available to help. Call our Atlanta office or submit your free case evaluation.

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N. Kirkland Pope

(404) 523-7706

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Courtney L. Mohammadi

(404) 523-7706

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Caroline G. McGlamry

(404) 523-7706

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