The drug was pulled form the shelves after reports about the drug’s possible side effects were published. The reports suggested that the drug could cause heart valve regurgitation. This is a condition where there is a backflow of blood because thw valves do not close properly, this can lead to breathing problems, fatigue, chest pains and heart palpitations. One of the studies stated that 23% of people on the drug developed heart valve problems.
Par Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries manufacture two generic versions of the drug known as pergolide.
The drug has been available since 1988 and already contained a black box warning. The agency said that Permax had no advantages over other Parkinson’s drugs and was not widely used.