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The popular contraceptive drug Depo-Provera has been linked to an increased risk of brain tumors. Numerous patients are suing the drugmaker Pfizer for failing to warn of these risks.
Our Depo Provera lawyers are investigating cases where people used Depo-Provera birth control shots and were diagnosed with meningioma, brain cysts or brain tumors. We have helped clients recover over $80 billion in civil lawsuits, ranging from drug injuries, medical devices, product liability, and other forms of personal injury from corporate negligence.
If you or a loved one has been impacted, our law firm can help you understand your right to pursue legal action for justice. Call (800) 277-1193 or complete a short Free Evaluation Form.
Our Depo lawsuit lawyers think it’s important to keep you informed of the latest news related to Depo-Provera shots and related lawsuits.
Women who have used Dep Provera for birth control should keep in mind that the symptoms of a meningioma can be mistakenly attributed to other causes. Actor Craig Russell, known for his role as Marc Antony in Netflix’s African Queens: Cleopatra, was diagnosed with a low-grade meningioma in February 2023 after experiencing alarming symptoms, including intense headaches, shooting skull pain, “whooshing” sounds, forgetfulness, and clumsiness. Initially dismissed as anxiety or dehydration, a visit to his doctor revealed he was losing sight in his left eye. A subsequent CT scan confirmed the tumor, which had been growing for 15 years. Russell underwent a six-and-a-half-hour surgery to remove it and, despite ongoing migraines and brain fog, marvels at his recovery and restored eyesight.
The final week of November, a motion was filed with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate more than 20 lawsuits against the manufacturers of Depo-Provera in the Northern District of California, citing California and Massachusetts laws that allow claims against Pfizer even for unauthorized generic use. The filing references 22 cases across multiple states, with the majority in California, including six in the Northern District.
On November 26, 2024, Levin Papantonio filed a Depo Provera lawsuit on behalf of a California woman who was diagnosed with an intracranial meningioma, which was confirmed as a Grade 1 tumor following a craniotomy (Read the filed Complaint here).
Two lawsuits filed earlier in November further highlight the alleged risks associated with prolonged use of Depo-Provera, a contraceptive drug linked to intracranial meningiomas.
Both cases underscore the growing momentum toward a potential multidistrict litigation (MDL), with the Central District of California emerging as a likely venue for consolidation.
A Hamilton County, Indiana, family filed a lawsuit against Pfizer and Pharmacia & Upjohn in October 2024, alleging that the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera caused life-altering injuries, including a brain tumor. This is the second case in the new litigation linking the drug to meningiomas.
The plaintiff began using Depo-Provera in 1995 and continued until 2018, unaware of the drug’s potential risks. Symptoms began in 2008, with a severe fall resulting in a fractured vertebra and other injuries attributed to dizziness caused by Depo-Provera. Over time, the plaintiff’s health worsened, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, incontinence, confusion, and depression, which eventually forced the plaintiff to leave their job.
In 2017, the plaintiff was diagnosed with a large meningioma and underwent invasive brain surgery. Despite this, the plaintiff continued using Depo-Provera due to a lack of adequate warnings. Within six months of surgery, the tumor regrew aggressively, requiring 36 rounds of radiation in 2018.
The lawsuit alleges that Pfizer and Upjohn knew or should have known about studies linking Depo-Provera’s progestin to meningiomas but failed to warn consumers. The plaintiffs seek compensation for extensive physical, emotional, and financial damages resulting from the defendants’ negligence.
In July 2024, a nurse filed a lawsuit alleging that her use of Depo-Provera contraceptive injections, along with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and IVF treatments containing progesterone, caused her to develop a meningioma.
The plaintiff experienced severe headaches and confusion, including difficulty understanding speech, which led her to believe people were speaking different languages. Medical tests revealed a brain tumor, and she underwent surgery in May 2024. While recovering, she continues to suffer from memory issues.
The lawsuit highlights the risks of prolonged exposure to progesterone-based treatments and seeks accountability for the health impacts linked to these products.
Pfizer, the manufacturer of Depo-Provera, has issued a public statement in response to a recent BMJ study linking the contraceptive shot to meningioma brain tumors. The company acknowledged the potential risks associated with long-term use of progestogens and announced that it is working with regulatory agencies to update product labels and patient information leaflets to include warnings about these risks.
A new study suggests a potential link between the contraceptive injection Depo-Provera and an increased risk of brain tumors in some women. According to research published in the BMJ, women who used Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate) for over a year had a 5.6-fold higher risk of developing intracranial meningioma, a type of brain tumor, compared to those who did not use the drug. Additionally, two medications used for menopause relief were also flagged as possibly contributing to a heightened risk. (U.S. News and World Report)
You could qualify for a Depo-Provera lawsuit if you meet the following criteria:
Our drug injury lawyers will investigate your case and determine your right to take legal action against the Depo-Provera maker, Pfizer.
Depo-Provera, also known as Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), is a hormonal contraceptive injection with a history dating back to the 1950s.
The active ingredient, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), was originally developed in the 1950s as a treatment for uterine cancer. It was first introduced for medical use in the United States in 1959. However, in 1972, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied approval of Depo-Provera as a contraceptive due to safety concerns. Despite this, the drug was widely promoted and distributed in many countries, particularly in the Global South, particularly in Africa and Asia, as part of population control programs.
It wasn’t until 1992 that Depo-Provera was approved for contraceptive use in the U.S. Today, it is widely used not only as a birth control method but also for treating conditions such as endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, and certain types of cancer.
Depo-Provera, made by Pfizer, is a commonly used form of birth control. It is given as an injection every three months and works by preventing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus, which makes it harder for sperm to reach the egg.
Depo-Provera has been available as a generic for 20 years.
Even though the patent has expired, there are currently 7 authorized generics that are licensed to companies like A-S Medication Solutions, Greenstone LLC, and Prasco Laboratories.
A recent study conducted by researchers at the National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety in France linked progestogen medications to an increased risk of brain tumors. The study was published in the March 2024 issue of the British Medical Journal (BMJ).
Specifically, researchers identified a correlation between the prolonged use of specific progestogen-based drugs and a heightened risk of developing meningiomas.
The study found that medroxyprogesterone acetate, a progestogen-based drug marketed under the brand name Depo-Provera® for contraception, increased the risk of meningioma by five times with long-term use.
The study’s lead researcher, a general practitioner and epidemiologist with French National Health Insurance in Saint-Denis, warned that: “the number of attributable meningiomas may be potentially high in countries where the use of medroxyprogesterone acetate for birth control is common,” noting that around 74 million women globally rely on this medication.
In response to the BMJ study, Depo-Provera’s manufacturer acknowledged the potential risks associated with long-term progestogen use. The company announced plans to update product labels and patient information leaflets in collaboration with regulatory agencies to better inform users, according to The Guardian.
The serious implications of the study’s findings have prompted numerous lawsuits against Pfizer, the drug’s manufacturer. The lawsuits allege the drug maker failed to adequately warn users and healthcare providers of the potential risks. Some lawsuits accuse Pfizer of failing to conduct sufficient testing before releasing Depo-Provera to the public.
If you or a loved one has been affected by Depo-Provera, our law firm is here to guide you through your legal rights and help you seek justice. Call (800) 277-1193 or fill out our simple Free Evaluation Form.
According to Mayo Clinic, a meningioma is a tumor that develops from the meninges. These are the membranes in the primary central nervous system (CNS), surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Meningioma is not classified as a type of brain tumor. However, the tumor can exert pressure on nearby brain tissue, nerves, and blood vessels. It is the most common type of tumor found in the head.
Typically, meningiomas grow slowly, sometimes over several years without causing symptoms. However, when they affect nearby structures, they can lead to significant disabilities.
Primary CNS tumors are classified based on tissue analysis conducted by a neuropathologist. Meningiomas are categorized into three grades (I, II, or III) according to their specific characteristics. According to the National Cancer Institute, each grade contains different subtypes:
People who develop meningiomas are often women and older individuals. However, these tumors can occur at any age.
Meningioma patients, including long-term survivors, frequently experience a range of chronic symptoms, including:
Other complications can occur after surgery, including:
Cognitive impairments often persist even after surgical tumor removal (Meskal et al., 2016; Roland et al., 2024). Additionally, post-surgical patients face an increased risk of stroke and tumor-related mortality (Alkemade et al., 2012).
Between November 2000 and June 2024, a total of 46 cases of meningioma have been reported to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) where medroxyprogesterone was listed as either the primary or secondary suspect drug. The reported events of meningioma included:
Several other brain and central nervous system tumors were also reported.
The first line of treatment for a malignant meningioma is surgery, if feasible. The aim is to obtain tissue for diagnosis and remove as much of the tumor as possible without causing further symptoms.
After surgery, most people with atypical or anaplastic meningiomas undergo additional treatments. These may include radiation, chemotherapy, or participation in clinical trials. Clinical trials often test new chemotherapy, targeted therapies, or immunotherapy drugs.
The patient’s healthcare team will consider several factors when deciding treatment:
In some cases, the tumor’s location may make it impossible to remove meningiomas through surgery. For these patients, doctors have looked into proton beam therapy as a possible treatment (Sato et al., 2021).
Three case reports have been published that explore a possible link between meningioma and medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy (Hensiek et al., 2000; Pozzati et al., 2007; Junpei et al., 2010).
In two of these cases, patients who were treated with 100mg oral medroxyprogesterone for kidney cancer and 500mg intramuscular medroxyprogesterone for lymphangioleiomyomatosis developed meningioma 4 and 6 years after starting treatment (Hensiek et al., 2000; Pozzati et al., 2007).
In one of these cases, the meningioma shrank on its own three months after the medroxyprogesterone treatment was stopped. Another report involved a patient with pituitary gigantism who died from increased pressure in the brain caused by a parasellar meningioma after starting medroxyprogesterone treatment, but no connection between the drug and the tumor was noted (Stock et al., 1975).
As with any product liability case, the amount that a victim might receive in a settlement or jury verdict depends on the nature and extend of their injuries.
Common types of recoverable damages for a drug injury case include:
Our drug injury lawyers will calculate your damages and work to get you the compensation you deserve.
Mike Papantonio & Farron Cousins discuss Depo-Provera birth control, which is used by over 70 million women each year and has been linked to an increase risk of developing potentially-fatal brain tumors.
“How Birth Control Causes Brain Tumors | Neurosurgeon Explains – Are You At Risk?”
If you used Depo-Provera birth control injections and suffered harm such as a brain tumor or meningioma, we understand how upsetting this must be for you.
Our lawyers stand ready to investigate the details of your case. If Depo-Provera caused your suffering, we will work tirelessly to recover damages on your behalf.
Contact us at (800) 277-1193 or complete a quick Free Evaluation Form.
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