Patients to sue over epilepsy drug

Noticed problems: Andrew and Louise Chapman

A Plymouth man has claimed an anti-epilepsy drug has damaged his eyesight.

He is one of 30 people around the country who want compensation after being prescribed the drug Sabril.

A solicitor's firm in the city has now been granted legal aid on behalf of the group.

The manufacturer of the drug, which is also known as Vigabatrin, is now warning patients they will need regular eye tests.

Sabril is also known as Vigabatrin

Andrew Chapman said he started to notice problems with his vision eight years ago.

He had been prescribed Sabril in January 1990 to help with epilepsy, but said he has been left with tunnel vision which has changed his life and that of his family.

Andrew Chapman said: "When I was in town, I was getting like dark clouds on the side. I thought there was something wrong but I didn't know what it was.

"My wife noticed at home I was stumbling over things. Like if there were children's toys on the floor, I wasn't seeing them."

His wife, Louise Chapman, said: "Over the last eight years, I'd say it's put a real strain on our marriage. Not only the small accidents that Andy has, but day-to-day living is quite hard."

Tim Roper of Wolferstans Solicitors is representing 30 people across the country who say they have similar problems to Mr Chapman and is seeking millions of pounds in compensation on their behalf.

He said: "Amongst the claimants, they could expect to receive anywhere between £30,000 to £50,000, or up to £500,000, depending on the extent on their visual loss."

Defending lawsuits

A recent medical study carried out by the Walton Centre for Neurology in Liverpool involving more than 500 people who have taken the drug found more than 40% had suffered problems with their sight.

The manufacturer of Sabril, Aventis Pharma, is warning patients they will need regular eye tests.

The company issued a statement, saying it intends to defend any lawsuit against the product.

But it added: "In cooperation with the European Commission, the company modified the summary of product characteristics regarding warnings to potential development of field disorders and the need for systematic visual field disorder screening of patients upon starting Vigabatrin and at regular intervals thereafter."