Whether it’s acetaminophen when you have a headache or a life-saving medication like insulin, the majority of us rely on both prescription and over-the-counter medications to help us live our lives. Of course, we always know that side effects are a possibility with any medication, and it’s important to weigh the risks and benefits when deciding whether to use a medication or not. 

When you’re deciding if you want to start a new medication, it’s important to have a conversation with your healthcare provider about side effects, risks, and benefits. In addition to knowing what the side effects are, it can be really helpful to know why the side effects happen. 

Many people who have taken Tepezza for thyroid eye disease have experienced the unfortunate side effect of hearing loss and damage. A 2021 study published by the Endocrine Society found that up to 65% of people who take Tepezza might have symptoms relating to the ear. These symptoms could include eustachian tube dysfunction, hyperacusis, permanent hearing loss, partial hearing loss, autophony, and tinnitus. 

Below, learn what it is about Tepezza that causes hearing loss and why this has led to lawsuits against Tepezza’s manufacturer, Horizon Therapeutics USA Inc.

Why Does Tepezza Cause Hearing Loss? 

To understand more about why Tepezza causes hearing loss, let’s first take a look at the mechanism of action of the drug. Tepezza works by blocking insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R). This receptor is found all throughout the body, not just near the eyes. Insulin-like growth factor-1 helps to manage growth hormones in your body, and it plays a role in tissue and bone growth. 

When this receptor is blocked, inflammation behind the eye is reduced, which subsequently reduces eye bulging and other symptoms caused by thyroid eye disease. Blocking this receptor also helps to prevent muscle and tissue from remodeling and expanding behind the eye. The medication can also help reduce double vision. This is great news for the eyes, but it isn’t always such great news for the rest of the body. When the receptor is inhibited behind the eyes, it’s also inhibited everywhere else in the body. This can be a problem because IGF-1 plays an important role all throughout the body. 

While blocking IGF-1R is helpful for treating thyroid eye disease, it can be harmful to the ear. IGF-1 helps protect cells in the inner ear from hearing damage that results from noise, a restriction of blood flow, and medical toxicity. When this pathway is inhibited, the ear is much more susceptible to hearing loss or damage. This can lead to the hearing-related side effects that many people who have taken Tepezza have suffered from. 

Why Are There Tepezza Lawsuits? 

Virtually every medication has the potential to cause side effects, so why have people who have experienced hearing loss and damage after taking tepezza filed lawsuits? There are a variety of reasons people file lawsuits after experiencing side effects from a drug. These can range from the drug being manufactured incorrectly to a failure of the manufacturer to warn consumers about the potential dangers of the drug. In the case of Tepezza, the lawsuits claim that Horizon Therapeutics USA Inc. failed to adequately warn consumers of the hearing loss and damage side effects. 

When thinking about the risks and benefits of a drug, you need to know the full scope of the risks in order to make an informed decision. When Tepezza was first introduced, the manufacturer stated that about 10% of people might experience hearing-related side effects. In reality, that number was much higher, with the previously mentioned study finding that closer to 65% of people experience hearing-related side effects from Tepezza. If people knew that the chance of developing hearing loss or damage as a result of taking tepezza was much higher, they may not have chosen to take the medication. When conducting their risk-benefit analysis, they might have come to a different conclusion. 

If you or a loved one have experienced hearing loss or damage as a result of taking Tepezza, life can feel really scary. It’s hard to know what steps to take next for your health. Legally, you have options as well. You can join those who have filed lawsuits against Horizon Therapeutics USA Inc. for failing to adequately warn you about the risk of developing hearing-related symptoms. At Select Justice, we’re here to help you determine if you are qualified to file a lawsuit. Start a Free case evaluation to learn about your compensation eligibility