Levaquin Lawsuit
September 19th, 2008 • Filed Under: Featured, Lawsuits • 14 Comments
The antibiotic Levaquin has been associated with side effects that could increase risk of tendon ruptures and permanent damage of the tendon.
STATUS OF LEVAQUIN LITIGATION: All federal Levaquin lawsuits have been consolidated in an MDL before Judge John R. Tunheim in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Early indications suggest that the first cases could be trial ready by January 2010.
Throughout the country, Levaquin lawyers are continuing to review and investigate potential lawsuits for users of the antibiotic who have suffered a tendon rupture.
>>REVIEW A LAWSUIT WITH A LEVAQUIN LAWYER<<
MANUFACTURER: Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
OVERVIEW: Levaquin (levofloxacin) is an antibiotic that is part of a group of drugs known as fluoroquinolones. It is prescribed to prevent infection by stopping the reproduction of bacteria.
Approved by the FDA in December 2006, Levaquin has become one of the more commonly prescribed antibiotics. In 2005, annual sales exceeded $2.3 billion.
LEVAQUIN TENDON RUPTURE SIDE EFFECTS: The use of Levaquin has been associated with an increased risk of tendon ruptures, tendon damage and tendonitis, which has left many users permanently disabled after taking the drug.
The risk of tendon ruptures has been associated with all fluroquinolone antibiotics, but the risk appears to be greater with Levaquin. According to reports received by the FDA, Levaquin tendon ruptures accounted for 61% of all fluoroquinolone-associated ruptures between November 1997 and December 2005. However, the drug only accounted for about 45% of all prescriptions written for fluoroquinolones during that time.
A tendon rupture is a very painful injury that often requires surgery to repair the tendon damage. Symptoms associated with a Levaquin induced tendon rupture could include swelling, inflammation or pain.
The most frequently ruptured tendon with Levaquin is the Achilles tendon, in the heel. However, reports have also indicate Levaquin side effects could cause tendon ruptures of the shoulder, biceps, hand and thumb.
The risk of Levaquin tendon rupture side effects is said to be higher among those who are 60 years of age or older
LEVAQUIN BLACK BOX WARNING: In July 2008, the FDA announced that the makers of all fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including Levaquin, will add more prominent language about he risk of tendon damage to a “black box” on the label. In addition, the manufacturers will provide a medication guide which better informs users about the potential side effects of the drugs, and that they should consult with a doctor at the first sign of tendon pain.
In August 2006, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen filed a petition with the FDA requesting that these stronger warnings be provided, but the drug makers and FDA failed to take steps at that time to warn users. In January 2008, a Levaquin lawsuit was filed against the FDA alleging that their petition had been ignored.
LEVAQUIN LAWSUIT ALLEGATIONS: Lawsuits filed on behalf of Levaquin users who have suffered tendon ruptures or tendon damage allege that Johnson & Johnson failed to provide adequate warnings about the potentially debilitating side effects of their antibiotic. The claims indicate that if consumers and the medical community had been properly informed of the Levaquin tendon side effects, actual ruptures may have been prevented.
Pingback by FDA Requires Black Box Warning for Tendon Ruptures on Cipro, Levaquin and Several Other Antibiotics : AboutLawsuits.com on 23 September 2008:
[...] the risk of tendon ruptures among users of Cipro, Levaquin and the other fluoroquinolone antibiotics could apply to any patients, the FDA did indicate that the [...]
Pingback by First MDL Levaquin Tendon Rupture Lawsuits Could be “Trial-Ready” by Jan 2010 : AboutLawsuits.com on 23 September 2008:
[...] held earlier this month before U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim, who is overseeing the federal Levaquin litigation consolidated in Minnesota. At that time, lawyers for Johnson & Johnson and lawyers for [...]
Comment by karen on 6 October 2008:
i too have had tendon damage to the tendon in my foot planter fasitis. my elbows are in a great deal of pain. my hands feel like they have arthritis now my legs are very week and i was so tired and ached all over.
Comment by janet on 15 October 2008:
i have tendon pain and have taken levaquin twice.
Comment by john on 20 October 2008:
have taken levequin since 2003 for sinus infections .
I now suffer from panic attacks…have ringing in my ears,
almost constant pain i my feet and heel area..leg pain at night
and my neck and face seem swollen. also had cataracts at 58..
I have not seen a doctor yet thinking the above was just getting older sydrome…but read an article on levequin and wow was convienced that it was the culprit of my symptoms..
Comment by Teyuna on 21 October 2008:
In March of 2008, I was hospitalized and put on levequin, by May 2008 I felt like I could die from the pain in my thumb swelling in my wrists. I let this pain go untreated for about 2 months before I starting getting treatment; however, I have been seeing a doctocr about this unbarable pain for about 4 months now and still there is no change with my pain or swelling it seems to be getting worse. I have had a MRI and an X-ray done only swelling showed up but not in the area that hurts. I am very much frustrated because I never ever get releif from this pain. My doctor has prescribed motrin 800 as well as vicodon 750 and even when I take them together the pain is still relatively strong, sometimes I can get a small amount of relief if I take 2 motrins but at the same time I know thats not safe not to mention my prescription stresses the take with food which reduces my daily intake because I dont have a desire to eat. Im suffering from a lost of appetite Im not able to do every day things without my wrist feeling like its popped out of place, I drop things, its like I have no strength in my right wrist sometimes I cant even move my thumb and the pain is worst in the morning, I can no longer pick up my son who is only one and now Im just awnry as hell because of this unexplained every day pain that the doctor cant prove I have. Also, my doctor now tells me I have dangerously high chelesterol…I asked if it could be depositing into my wrist he said its possible but rare. Im 31 and feel as though Im 90.
Comment by GLORIA on 2 November 2008:
I WAS GIVEN LEVIQUIN, A FEW TIMES FOR INFECTION. I NOTICED THAT AT 36 I WAS STEADILY FEELING LIKE I WAS ABOUT 90. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SEVERE MIGRAINE, WHICH I TAKE MEDS FOR. SEVERE NAUSEA, HEADACHES, SWEATING, MUSCLE TWICHING, SEVERE PAIN IN FEET AND HANDS. BURNING PAIN. THESE PAINS ADDED UP TO MY MIGRAINE, OR LUPUS WICH I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH AS WELL. NOW I SUFFER MIGRAINE PAIN EVERYDAY, NAUSEA EVERYDAY, MUSCLE TWICHING, AND PAIN IN FEET AND HANDS. AGAIN ADDED UP TO LUPUS AND MIGRAINE. BUT IT’S MRE THEN THAT AND I KNOW IT. I HAVE 4 KIDS, AND THEY NEED THEIR MOM, WHICH THANKS TO THIS DRUG I FULLY BELIEVE A LOT HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THEM. WHY WOULD THIS DRUG BE LEGAL, WHEN IT CLEARLY IS TAKING PEOPLE FROM BEING JUST SICK, TO HORRILBLY SICK, AND FAR WORSE, THEN WHAT ORIGINALLY TREATED FOR.
Comment by mrs. johnson on 14 November 2008:
after being given levaquin for a respitory infection i began having shoulder and wrist, thumb pain i felt like i had arthritis in my hands i also felt pain in my elbow i went from taking motrin to vicodin, dicoflenac none of them takes a all the pain away but they do take the edge off
Comment by jennifer on 23 November 2008:
Took Avelox and walking became so difficult that I am now in a walking cast. Had MRI - micro tear of the posterior tibialis tendon. Pharmacist told me today, Avelox is in the same class of antibiotics as others that are connected to tendon problems. No warning from my doctor. I am 46. I have lost the ability to do my usual work because of this.
Comment by cindi on 26 November 2008:
I AM A 49 YEAR OLD FEMALE WITH R A, I WAS GIVEN SAMPLES OF LEVAQUIN BY A PHYSICIAN FOR MY R.A. I HAD A SEVERE REACTION THAT WAS VERY SCARRY AND PAINFUL. WITHIN 24 HOURS I WAS VERY SWOLLEN IN THE FACE, TONGUE AND
HAD SEVERE HIVES ON MY BACK ,BUTTOCKS AND DOWN MY LEGS. MY BOY FRIEND TOOK PICTURES BECAUSE THE SWELLING WAS SO UNBELEIVEABLE.
Comment by Kara on 11 December 2008:
This is painful for me to type. I had ankle surgery to fix a torn ligament and an ankle scope on Oct. 30, 2008. I was put on 500 mg of Levaquin to prevent infection. On Nov 4th, my entire body felt like it was beat up. I could barely get up off of the couch. I also developed severe pain and burning in my foot. I couldn’t support my weight on crutches due to pain in my arms & wrists. I took this dose for 10 days. On Nov 24th, I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I ended up being hospitalized for 10 days. I had severe swelling in my ankle and bruising up to & including my toes. The doc thought it was an infection so I was started on 2 types of IV antibiotics. Didn’t get any better. On Nov 26th, the doc tried to aspirate it and only dried blood came out. It was sent for a culture and came back negative. He asked me how my pain was and I told him the back of my ankle hurt really bad. He said “the MRI that was done on Nov 25th showed I developed tendinitis in the Achilles tendon. I asked him how that happened since I haven’t walked on that foot since my injury date of August 23rd. He said he wasn’t sure. I had 2 previous MRIs (Sept & Oct) which did not show tendinitis at all! On Dec. 1st I went back to the operating room so the doc could cut open the golfball size hematoma on the outside of my ankle. He got a lot of jelly-like blood from the back part of my ankle. He left the drain in overnight and then removed it. I was released on Dec 3rd with a script for 750 mg of Levaquin for 7 days (which I finished yesterday). The swelling is down about 25% and I have been out of the hospital for 8 days now. The pain in my body was so horrible today that I went to my family doctor. She did a thorough exam of my joints-which was complete agony!!!! She explained that she was going to run some tests to see what is wrong. She explained to me that she thinks this is a reaction to the Levaquin & she has had patients who have had ruptured tendons from this medication. She sent me for bloodwork and gave me a script for morphine (Avinza) to control the pain, which 750 mg of ES Vicodin and 800 mg of Ibuprofen didn’t make it any better. I feel helpless as my 9 year old has to do eveything for me because I simply cannot get up. I hope my doctor figures this out real soon! This is unreal to have to suffer like this. I will keep everyone on this page in my prayers! Good Luck to everyone!
Comment by sharon on 13 December 2008:
I was given Avelox 2 yrs ago for a sinus infection and needed to be rushed to the ER after having stroke like symptoms. My right arm wouldn’t move, my legs were weak, my eye sight wasn’t right and I had a difficult time taking. In the hospital they treated me for a severe reaction to this medicine and told me not to take any of the meds in this family. I had been on Levaquin prior to Avelox but I didn’t experience any of these symptoms then. I have had severe pain and weakness in my right shoulder,arm,elbow and hand for over a year. I was told it’s tendinitis and I go to PT. I never knew other people had similar problems being on this medicine.
Comment by alan on 29 December 2008:
I took levaquin back in may 2008 it wsaas 3 day script to be taken the day before the day of and the day after I was scheduled for a biopsy, that was the middle of may 2008, I did not start noticing the that I was getting numbing sensations like pins and needles in my hands (both of them) until a few weeks ago which usually starts in the thumbs I ddi not think anything of it until I saw part of a commercial on tv for this medication and looked it up.
Comment by Doug on 1 January 2009:
I was given leviguin at my doctors office as samples for a 10 day period, which I believe turned out to be 20 days due to the problem not being resolved. I will have look this issue up, as I recall , it was because of the bacteria MRSA.
While taking leviquin my shoulder began hurting. It got so bad , I could not lay on that side because of pain. The pain eventually went to above my elbow. I could not raise my arm and being right-handed, this became an issue. I told my doctor of this and the comment I got was “I never heard of this issue before”.
It took about a year before I could use my right arm that I would consider near normal use. To this day, it is not bad to where it used to be.