Depo-Provera Lawsuits: Take Action Over Meningioma Brain Tumors

Lawsuits are now being filed on behalf of women who allege Depo-Provera caused them to develop a type of brain tumor known as a meningioma and that the manufacturers should be held legally and financially responsible for the harm they’ve suffered.

It has been alleged that Pfizer and several other companies behind the drug knew (or should have known) for decades that the shot, which can be used as a contraceptive and to treat certain menstrual disorders (e.g., endometriosis), could cause patients to develop meningiomas but failed to warn the public and medical community about this brain tumor risk.

While Depo-Provera’s labels have been updated in other countries with regard to the meningioma risk, Pfizer continues to sell the shot in the U.S. without any brain tumor warning, despite admitting to The Guardian in March 2024 that it is aware of the connection between long-term use of progestogens and meningiomas.

Depo-Provera patients who were diagnosed with meningiomas are now looking to recover money from Pfizer for medical expenses, lost wages and more.  

It doesn’t cost anything to get in touch or to speak to someone about your rights. Plus, you’re under no obligation to take legal action after talking to someone.  

Why Are the Companies Behind Depo-Provera Being Sued?

Pfizer and other companies responsible for the sale and manufacture of Depo-Provera and its authorized generics are currently being sued over claims they knew (or had good reason to know) the shot could cause meningioma yet failed to warn patients or doctors about this risk.

Indeed, it’s been alleged that an association between progesterone and meningiomas has been known since at least 1983, nearly a decade before Depo-Provera was approved by the FDA for contraception, and that the companies have failed—and continue to fail—to properly investigate and disclose this side effect.  

Even with multiple labeling changes, with the latest coming in July 2024, there has been no mention or warning about the link between Depo-Provera and brain tumors—at least for U.S. patients, the suits say. In the U.K., the Depo-Provera package leaflet instructs patients to tell their doctor if they have any history of meningioma. Further, other countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have the following warning on the labeling/product information for Depo-Provera (medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA):

“Meningiomas have been reported following long term [sic] administration of progestins, including MPA. MPA should be discontinued if a meningioma is diagnosed. Caution is advised when recommending medroxyprogesterone to patients with a history of meningioma.”

The Depo-Provera shot lawsuits further claim the companies put the drug onto the market in a “defective and unreasonably dangerous condition,” continue to sell an “unreasonably unsafe” product, and were negligent in all aspects of the contraceptive’s design, labeling, manufacturing, marketing, testing and sale.

So, You Can Sue for a Depo Shot?

Yes. The companies behind Depo-Provera are currently being sued by patients who developed meningioma, a slow-growing brain tumor. A Depo-Provera lawsuit attorney can evaluate your specific situation to determine whether you qualify. To learn more about filing a lawsuit, fill out the form on this page.

Who’s Eligible to File a Depo Shot Lawsuit?

What’s Involved in Filing a Depo Shot Lawsuit for a Brain Tumor?

Once you’ve hired an attorney to handle your Depo-Provera lawsuit, he or she will draft what’s known as a complaint, a legal document that will outline your history of use, your meningioma diagnosis and treatment, how your brain tumor affected your life and why the makers of the birth control injection are responsible.

If your case isn't settled or dismissed, it will advance to a jury trial, though trials are becoming less common in civil litigation.

It’s possible that the lawsuits over Depo-Provera tumors are consolidated to a single court before a single judge in an effort to efficiently manage the litigation, ensure consistent rulings and save time and money for both sides. In this case, a group of lawyers will be named to oversee pre-trial proceedings and resolve the litigation. This may involve a select number of lawsuits moving forward as “bellwether trials,” a sort of “test run” to see if juries side more often with the patients or the defendants. If most of the bellwether trials go the way of the plaintiffs, the companies being sued might decide to reach a global settlement to avoid the risk and uncertainty of jury trials in the remaining lawsuits. If they win the bellwether trials, a settlement may not be established.

Depo-Provera Lawsuit Settlements: What Is My Case Worth?

Some law firms estimate that Depo-Provera brain tumor settlements could be worth anywhere from $150,000 to $500,000. If these lawsuits settle, awarded amounts will depend on a number of factors, including the severity of the meningioma, the extent of medical complications and the strength of the connection between Depo-Provera and the brain tumor (i.e., whether the patient had any risk factors for developing a meningioma such as advanced age or preexisting genetic conditions.) 

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost?

The lawyers working with ClassAction.org are currently handling Depo-Provera lawsuits on a contingency-fee basis. This means they will only get paid if they win your suit, in which case they will collect a percentage of your Depo-Provera settlement or jury award as payment.

Is There a Depo-Provera Class Action Lawsuit?

Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are not currently handling the Depo-Provera lawsuits as a class action. This is because they believe the harm allegedly caused by the contraceptive shot is significant enough to warrant individual Depo-Provera lawsuits.

In a class action lawsuit, consumers are typically seeking compensation for a relatively small loss (e.g., the cost of a drink that was misleadingly advertised). Such a case would only be financially viable on a class action or “group” basis; the suit would be seeking refunds for a $5 soda that millions of people purchased. It would be unlikely that any attorney would file this case on behalf of a single individual who bought the drink.

Cases in which a patient claims harm from a medical device, on the other hand, will typically seek thousands for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering, meaning it would be financially feasible for a lawyer to bring the case on behalf of a single person. Furthermore, because Depo-Provera meningioma patients have suffered varying levels of harm, different types of treatment, etc., attorneys working with ClassAction.org believe it would make more sense to handle these lawsuits on an individual basis rather than to file a Depo-Provera class action lawsuit.

Learn more about the difference between individual medical device lawsuits and class action lawsuits.

Have you or a family member been diagnosed with meningioma after receiving Depo-Provera injections? Learn more about filing a lawsuit and what you could be owed by filling out the form on this page. It costs nothing to get in touch or to speak to someone about your rights.

What Are Depo-Provera’s Side Effects and Risks?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Depo-Provera shot side effects can include irregular menstrual periods, acne, changes in appetite and weight gain. Headaches, nervousness, depression, osteoporosis, hair loss and excessive growth of body and facial hair are also among Depo-Provera’s risks.

Studies have also shown that long-term use of Depo-Provera may increase a user’s chance of developing a type of brain tumor known as meningioma.  

Can Depo-Provera Cause Meningioma Tumors?

Lawsuits allege that Depo-Provera can indeed cause meningiomas, with several scientific studies backing up these claims. In fact, the suits say that the link between progesterone and meningioma has been “knowable for decades.” (The active ingredient in Depo-Provera is medroxyprogesterone acetate or MPA, a synthetic form of the natural hormone progesterone.)

In 1983, scientists found a high number of progesterone receptors in meningioma cells, which shattered popular belief that the brain tumors, like breast cancer cells, would show a preference for estrogen receptors. This study indicated that progesterone may influence how often these tumors occur, how they behave and how quickly they grow.

In 1989, researchers also discovered a link between progesterone-inhibiting agents and the growth rate of meningiomas, finding that exposure to mifepristone, an antiprogesterone agent, could reduce cell growth significantly.

Research conducted since the 1980s has further supported a relationship between progesterone and meningioma, with a study published in 2023 finding a direct link specifically between Depo-Provera and this type of brain tumor. The authors performed a retrospective review of 25 meningioma patients who had a history of long-term Depo-Provera use. Ten of the patients were told to stop use of the birth control, with five showing “clear evidence of tumor shrinkage.”

Most recently, French researchers published a study in 2024 analyzing the risk of intracranial meningiomas with the use of certain progestogens, a group of drugs that produce effects similar to the body’s natural progesterone. The study analyzed more than 18,000 meningioma patients and found that prolonged use of three progestogens, including medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera), was associated with “an excess risk of intracranial meningioma.” Some Depo-Provera lawsuits claim the authors found, specifically, that chronic use of Depo-Provera resulted in a 555% increased risk of developing the brain tumor.

What Is a Meningioma Tumor?

Meningiomas are a type of tumor that forms in the meninges, which are the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Most meningiomas grow slowly and may not cause symptoms for years. In fact, small meningiomas may only be discovered accidentally during routine imaging exams. 

According to Johns Hopkins, around 78 to 81 percent of meningiomas are benign (noncancerous),  approximately 15 to 20 percent are atypical (i.e., neither malignant nor benign), and one to four percent are cancerous. 

Treatment for Depo-Provera meningiomas includes a “wait and see” approach that involves regular scans, surgery to remove the tumor and radiation therapy.

Is Depo-Provera Linked to a Cancer Risk?

It’s important to note that only a very small percentage of meningiomas are cancer, with approximately 80 percent estimated to be benign. It has been suggested, however, that women using Depo-Provera may have a slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer. 

Has There Been a Depo-Provera Recall in 2024?

No. There has not been a Depo-Provera recall as of 2024.

Why Does Depo-Provera Have a Black Box Warning?

Depo-Provera currently has a black box warning—but not for any potential brain tumor risk. Currently, the Depo-Provera black box warning cautions that women who use the contraceptive injection may experience significant and possibly irreversible bone loss.    

Take Action for a Depo-Provera Brain Tumor

It doesn’t cost anything to get in touch—and you’re under no obligation to file a lawsuit after speaking with someone. Plus, attorneys working with ClassAction.org are handling Depo-Provera brain tumor lawsuits on a contingency-fee basis, meaning if they don’t win, you don’t pay.

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