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Last week, Texas resident Alana Bowman reached a cash settlement with the manufacturer of a once popular diet pill. Bowman, 57, claims she contracted primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH) as the result of taking Pondimin, a diet drug linked to Fen-Phen, for seven months in 1996 and 97.
Bowman''s lawsuit named both the drug''s manufacturer Wyeth (formerly American Home Products Corporation), and her physician, Dr. John Dang as co-defendants in the case.
Bowman and her attorneys said they were pleased with the outcome of the agreement, although the settlement''s details remain confidential.
"I feel a little tired, but I''m very glad it''s over," Bowman said. "I''m pleased with the settlement for my children''s sake, but it will never make up for a mother not being there."
Fen-Phen is most commonly linked to valvular heart disease and PPH. While most of the injuries and illnesses related to Fen-Phen use were settled in a class action suit, those who are suffering from PPH are entitled to file a personal injury suit and reach a separate settlement.
Bowman''s symptoms took several years to manifest. At first she suffered only minor problems such as dry mouth, but within three years, she had chronic shortness of breath and fatigue. She had been using Pondimin, also called fenfluamine, which is known as Fen-Phen when combined with phentermine. An effort to lose some weight for her stepdaughter''s wedding resulted in her current dependence upon an oxygen bag, as well as a catheter bag that supplies a constant flow of medication. Her treatment costs between $150,000 and $200,000 annually.
"I cried for a long time because I found out the disease is incurable," Bowman said. "The only real cure is a lung transplant." But even though the transplant is her only chance for survival, it will not give her the quality of life she enjoyed before the disease.
Individuals suffering from PPH that they believe is linked to their use of Fen-Phen should consult an attorney to determine whether or not they are owed compensation by the makers and distributors of the diet drug.
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