Depo-Provera Lawsuit [Jan. 2025 Update]

Article Highlights

• Depo-Provera is an injectable birth control medication administered every three months.
• Recent studies link long-term Depo-Provera use to an increased risk of meningiomas (brain tumors).
• The risk is greatest for those who used injectable medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) for more than one year.
• While meningiomas are typically benign, they can cause serious health complications, often requiring surgery.
• If you’ve developed a meningioma while using Depo-Provera, you may have legal options available. Roberts & Roberts, with over 40 years of experience in personal injury law, can help.

Table of Contents

• Depo-Provera Lawsuit News & Updates
• What Is Depo-Provera and How Does It Work?
• The Hidden Dangers: Meningioma Risk
  • What Are Meningiomas?
  • The Scientific Evidence
• Understanding Your Legal Rights in Texas
  • Why Legal Action Matters
  • Why Choose Roberts & Roberts for Your Depo-Provera Case?
• The Black Box Warning: What You Should Know
• Treatment Options for Meningiomas
  • Surgical Intervention
  • Alternative Treatments
• Preventive Measures and Alternatives
• Taking Action: What to Do If You’re Affected
  • When to Contact an Attorney
• The Importance of Informed Consent
• Looking Forward: Future Implications
• Contact Roberts & Roberts for Legal Support in Texas

Depo-Provera Lawsuit News & Updates

Here’s a detailed summary of the recent history of injury lawsuits for Depo-Provera relating to brain tumors, presented in reverse chronological order:

March 2024

A study is published in the BMJ that found that prolonged use of certain high-dose progestogen-only contraceptives, including medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), is associated with an increased risk of intracranial meningioma. The study found that the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate for one year or more is associated with a 5.6-fold increase in risk.

November 2023

On November 1, 2023, a lawsuit was filed in California after the plaintiff was diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma in 2023. The plaintiff had been using Depo-Provera since age 16 until September 2023. Her case involves additional treatments, including five rounds of stereotactic radiosurgery, due to residual tumor growth after initial surgery.

October 2023

• On October 16, 2023, a married couple filed a Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuit in Indiana. The wife received Depo-Provera injections from 1995 to 2018, with a brief six-month break. She underwent surgery to remove a meningioma in July 2017 and received 36 rounds of radiation treatments.
• On October 2, 2023, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiff used Depo-Provera for about 17 years and was diagnosed with a Grade 1 and Grade 2 Sylvian fissure meningioma brain tumor at age 37 in June 2022. Her lawsuit alleges inadequate warning, insufficient testing, flawed design, misrepresentation, fraud, and breach of warranty.

Throughout 2023

• Lawyers across the country are investigating potential cases from individuals diagnosed with meningioma after using Depo-Provera or Depo-SubQ Provera birth control shots.
• As of December 2023, it was known that at least 28 Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits had been filed in eight different U.S. District Courts.
• In December 2023, a motion was filed for Depo-Provera lawsuits to be consolidated into multidistrict litigation in California. The decision on this motion is pending.
• As the litigation progresses, more women are expected to come forward with claims, potentially expanding the scope of the lawsuits.

What Is Depo-Provera and How Does It Work?

Depo-Provera represents a significant advancement in contraceptive options, offering women a convenient alternative to daily birth control pills. This injectable medication contains medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone, which prevents pregnancy through multiple mechanisms:

• Stopping ovulation
• Thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg
• Changing the uterine lining to prevent implantation

The medication comes in two forms:

1. Traditional Depo-Provera: A 150 mg intramuscular injection
2. Depo-SubQ Provera 104: A 104 mg subcutaneous injection

The Hidden Dangers: Meningioma Risk

What Are Meningiomas?

Meningiomas are tumors that develop in the meninges, the protective membrane layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord. While typically benign (non-cancerous), these tumors can cause serious health complications due to their location and potential impact on crucial neurological functions.

Common symptoms of meningiomas include:

• Persistent headaches
• Changes in vision
• Seizures
• Memory problems
• Weakness in limbs
• Balance issues
• Hearing loss

The Scientific Evidence

Recent scientific studies have provided compelling evidence linking Depo-Provera use to meningioma development. The Griffin study, a landmark investigation published in the British Medical Journal, revealed several crucial findings:

• Users of injectable MPA had a 5.6-fold increased risk of developing meningiomas compared to non-users who never used hormonal contraception.
• The risk was greatest for those who had used injectable MPA for more than one year.
• The injectable form showed significantly higher risks compared to oral alternatives.

Citation: Griffin, et al. “Injectable progestin-only contraceptives and Intracranial Meningioma Risk: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.” BMJ, 2024.

Understanding Your Legal Rights in Texas

Why Legal Action Matters

Filing a legal claim serves multiple purposes:

1. Securing compensation for your medical expenses and suffering.
2. Holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for inadequate warnings.
3. Preventing similar harm to other patients through improved safety measures.

Why Choose Roberts & Roberts for Your Depo-Provera Case?

At Roberts & Roberts, with over 40 years of experience in personal injury law in Tyler, Texas, we have seen the devastating impact that pharmaceutical injuries can have on our clients. Our East Texas law firm has a proven track record of successfully representing clients in complex medical cases, including those involving dangerous drugs like Depo-Provera. We are committed to providing personalized legal representation tailored to each client’s unique needs and have recovered millions for our clients.

The Black Box Warning: What You Should Know

The FDA requires Depo-Provera to carry a black box warning regarding bone density loss, limiting recommended use to two years. However, this warning fails to address the meningioma risk, despite evidence recognized in other countries. We are continuing to monitor if and how other countries are updating their warnings to include meningioma risk.

Treatment Options for Meningiomas

Surgical Intervention

• Craniotomy for brain tumors
• Spinal surgery for spinal meningiomas
• Potential complications and recovery periods

Alternative Treatments

• Radiation therapy
• Regular monitoring for slow-growing tumors
• Medication to manage symptoms

Preventive Measures and Alternatives

For women concerned about these risks, several alternative birth control methods exist:

• Non-hormonal IUDs
• Barrier methods
• Low-dose oral contraceptives
• Natural family planning methods

Taking Action: What to Do If You’re Affected

If you’ve used Depo-Provera and experienced symptoms consistent with meningioma, consider these steps:

1. Seek immediate medical evaluation.
2. Document your medical history and Depo-Provera usage.
3. Maintain records of all medical treatments and expenses.
4. Consult with experienced legal representation.

When to Contact an Attorney

• Used Depo-Provera for an extended period.
• Developed a meningioma during or after use.
• Weren’t adequately warned about these risks.
• Face significant medical expenses due to tumor treatment.

The Importance of Informed Consent

Healthcare providers have a duty to inform patients about medication risks. The apparent failure to adequately warn about meningioma risks raises serious concerns about informed consent in Depo-Provera prescriptions.

Looking Forward: Future Implications

The growing evidence linking Depo-Provera to meningiomas may lead to:

• Updated warning labels
• Changed prescribing practices
• Enhanced monitoring requirements
• Additional safety studies

Contact Roberts & Roberts for Legal Support in Texas

If you or a loved one has developed a meningioma while using Depo-Provera, the experienced legal team at Roberts & Roberts is here to help. Our Tyler, Texas-based personal injury attorneys have over 40 years of experience, and we understand the complexities of pharmaceutical injury cases. We can:

• Evaluate your case at no cost
• Gather necessary medical evidence
• Handle communications with insurance companies
• Fight for maximum compensation
• Guide you through the legal process