California LEVAQUIN® Lawyers

LEVAQUIN® is Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. brand name for levofloxacin. LEVAQUIN® is used to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria. High incidence of tendon rupture motivaed the FDA to require its highest label warning on LEVAQUIN®. "Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, Achilles tendon, or other tendons that required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability have been reported in patients receiving quinolones, including levofloxacin."

• Liver damage (hepatotoxicity): Liver damage (hepatotoxicity) can happen in people who take LEVAQUIN®. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have unexplained symptoms such as:
  

  
  nausea or vomiting
  stomach pain
  fever
  weakness
  abdominal pain or tenderness
  itching
  unusual tiredness
  loss of appetite
  light colored bowel movements
  dark colored urine or yellowing of skin or the whites of eyes

• Central Nervous System Effects. Seizures have been reported in people who take fluoroquinolone antibiotics including LEVAQUIN®. Tell your healthcare provider if you have a history of seizures.

  
  seizures
  hallucinations
  restlessness
  tremors
  feel anxious or nervous
  confusion
  depression
  trouble sleeping/insomnia
  nightmares
  lightheadedness
  paranoia
  suicidal thoughts or acts

• Serious allergic reactions:

  
  hives
  trouble breathing or swallowing
  swelling of the lips, tongue, face
  throat tightness, hoarseness
  rapid heartbeat
  faintness
  Skin rash

• Intestine infection (Pseudomembranous colitis)
• Changes in sensation/nerve damage (Peripheral Neuropathy)

  
  pain
  burning
  tingling
  numbness
  weakness

• Serious heart rhythm changes (QT prolongation and torsades de pointes)
• LEVAQUIN® may cause a rare heart problem known as prolongation of the QT interval. This condition can cause an abnormal heartbeat and can be very dangerous.
• People who take LEVAQUIN® and other fluoroquinolone medicines with oral anti-diabetes medicines or with insulin can get low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for how often to check your blood sugar. If you have diabetes and you get low blood sugar while taking LEVAQUIN®, stop taking LEVAQUIN® and call your healthcare provider right away. Your antibiotic medicine may need to be changed.
• Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity) See “What should I avoid while taking LEVAQUIN®?”
• Joint Problems Increased chance of problems with joints and tissues around joints in children.
• Low blood pressure
• False-positive urine screening results for opiates

LEVAQUIN® References

• Annals of Pharmacotherapy 41 (11): 1859–66. Fluoroquinolone Risk Assessment. Alterations in blood glucose, QTc interval prolongation, seizures, phototoxicity, tendinopathy, CDAD.
  
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution--Sunday, January 04, 2009. Antibiotics’ dangers not widely known
  
• Foot Ankle Int. 1996 Aug;17(8):496-8. Partial Achilles tendon ruptures associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics: case.
  
• Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2008 Feb;133(6):241-4.Fluoroquinolone-induced Achilles tendon rupture
  
• Rev Med Chil. 2002 Nov;130(11):1277-81.Achilles tendinitis associated to levofloxacin: report of 4 cases
  

Press Release-July 8, 2008--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified manufacturers of fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs that a Boxed Warning in the product labeling concerning the increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture is necessary. Through its new authority under the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (FDAAA), the agency also determined that it is necessary for manufacturers of the drugs to provide a Medication Guide to patients about possible side effects. Read More

If you have experienced tendinitis, tendon rupture, Central Nervous System Effects or any of the above-mentioned side effects (partial list of the label warnings: Liver damage (hepatotoxicity), nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, fever, weakness, abdominal pain or tenderness, itching, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, light colored bowel movements, dark colored urine or yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes, central nervous system effects, seizures, hallucinations, restlessness, tremors , confusion, depression, trouble sleeping, nightmares, suicidal thoughts, serious allergic reactions, trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the lips, tongue, face, throat tightness, hoarseness, rapid heartbeat, faintness, yellowing of the skin or eyes., Pseudomembranous colitis), Peripheral Neuropathy, hypokalemia, hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, photosensitivity) while taking LEVAQUIN® or were otherwise hurt by taking LEVAQUIN®, you are entitled to compensation. If you or a family member have taken LEVAQUIN® and developed problems, you should seek a free consultation regarding your legal rights. Our LEVAQUIN® lawyers have the experience and resources necessary to obtain compensation from pharmaceutical companies.

Lawsuits have been filed over LEVAQUIN®. If you have experienced complications, you can act now. We can help you get the compensation you deserve.

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