Levaquin® (Levofloxacin)
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Levaquin®® (levofloxacin) has been linked to several very severe side effects, some of which have resulted in permanent damage and disability. The side effects often occur in patients who are healthy and young, with symptoms that are acute (that is, with a sudden and severe onset).
Generic Levofloxacin — Brand Name Levaquin®®
The Levaquin® drug is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. Its generic name is levofloxacin. A "bactericidal" agent, levofloxacin kills many types of bacteria that cause infections The FDA-approved uses of levofloxacin are as an antibiotic treatment for conditions including:
- acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis
- acute bacterial sinusitis
- acute pyelonephritis (kidney inflammation)
- chronic bacterial prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)
- inhalational anthrax (post-exposure)
- nosocomial pneumonia (that is, pneumonia that originates in a healthcare setting such as a hospital)
- community-acquired pneumonia
- skin and skin-structure infections
- urinary tract infections
Levofloxacin is available world-wide, marketed under a variety of brand names. It's been around since the late 1980s, and was approved by the FDA in 1996 to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. Levaquin®® is a brand name owned by the pharmaceutical giant Ortho-McNeil-Janssen. Several lawsuits have been initiated against Ortho-McNeil-Janssen based on severe adverse reactions to Levaquin®®.
In fact, in early 2008 the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen filed a Levaquin® lawsuit in federal court in an effort to bring about stricter warnings on Levaquin®® and similar levofloxacin products regarding the severe side effects linked to these drugs.
Adverse Reactions to Levaquin®® (Levofloxacin)
The acute side effects associated with Levaquin® include:
- seizures
- hallucinations
- tendon damage
Crippling Tendon Damage Linked to Levaquin®® (Levofloxacin)
Tendon damage alone has been reported in hundreds of patients in the U.S. in the 15 years since Levaquin® was introduced here. In fact, Levaquin® treatment accounts for approximately 60 percent of the tendon-damage cases reported to the FDA. Over 650 cases of tendonitis, tendon ruptures, and other tendon damage linked to Levaquin® or other levofloxacin formulations have been documented by MedWatch, the FDA's safety information and adverse event reporting center.
Learn More about the Dangers of Levaquin®® (Levofloxacin)
It's tragic to incur such severe side effects from a drug meant to simply treat an infection. If you have experienced a serious adverse reaction to Levaquin®®/levofloxacin, consult our Levaquin® attorney to discuss your legal rights. Your physical and emotional losses may be eligible for a settlement or award as compensation.
