Levaquin®

For decades, antibiotics have been used to treat infections. Penicillin was first discovered in 1928 by Scottish scientist, Alexander Fleming; since that time, numerous antibiotics have been manufactured by drug companies such as Pfizer, Johnson &  Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, Merck, Wyeth, and Eli Lilly (just to name a few).

 

Levaquin® is an antibiotic manufactured by Ortho-McNeil and Johnson & Johnson and is in the family of antibiotics known as “fluoroquinolones.” The generic name for Levaquin® is levofloxacin; Levaquin® is prescribed to treat infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and some infections of the skin.

 

Since bacterial strains are forever-evolving, drug manufacturers must continually manufacture drugs to fight these bacteria; however, some bacteria are antibiotic resistant. Levaquin®, because it is a fluoroquinolone, is often prescribed to treat bacterial infections that have been resistant to other antibiotics. Because it is such a powerful drug, there are side effects. One very serious side effect of Levaquin® is tendon damage.

 

On July 7, 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that Levaquin® and similar drugs such as Cipro, Avelox, and Factive, carry a black box warning about the risk of tendonitis; a black box warning indicates that medical studies have found the drug carries a significant risk of serious adverse effects and is the strongest warning the FDA can require.

 

Levaquin and Infections of the Respiratory Tract

 

There are numerous types of respiratory tract infections (RTI) caused by both viruses and bacteria. While viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, bacterial infections are typically responsive to Levaquin®. Some of the most common bacterial infections include:

• Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the sinuses, which are the hollow areas situated above the mouth and around the nose. If left untreated, sinusitis may lead to bacterial infection of the brain.
• Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchial tubes, the airways that lead from the mouth and nose into the lungs.
• Pneumonia is the infection of the small air sacs where air transfer takes place with the bloodstream. These air sacs become inflamed restricting the vital air exchange that must occur.

 

Once a physician determines that an infection is bacterial and not viral, Levaquin® may be prescribed. In fact, Levaquin® is one of the most commonly prescribed fluoroquinolones on the market and generates billions of dollars of revenue for Johnson and Johnson & Ortho-McNeil each year. In 2007, Levaquin® accounted for almost 6.5 % of their total revenue.

 

Levaquin® Complications

 

As with many drugs, however, there are certain risks associated with its use. People who show hypersensitivity to fluoroquinolone type antibiotics should not be prescribed Levaquin®. Some of the specific tendon-related side effects of this drug include damage to the:

• Achilles tendon (most common tendon affected)
• Rotator cuff
• Thumb
• Hand
• Biceps

 

People taking corticosteroid drugs, or who have heart, lung, or kidney diseases should avoid Levaquin® treatment. To date, the FDA’s Adverse Events Reporting System’s database has over 250 reports of tendonitis, over 260 reports of tendon ruptures, and over 270 reports of other tendon disorders. According to the database, approximately 61% of the tendon ruptures resulted from the use of Levaquin®. Cipro, another antibiotic in the fluoroquinolone family, accounted for only 23% of the reported tendon problems.

 

Levaquin® Litigation

 

Pharmaceutical companies have an obligation to ensure that the products they create are as safe and effective as possible. This includes providing adequate warnings and instructions so that you and your doctor can make informed decisions about whether or not a drug is right for you.  While Levaquin® has not yet been recalled, its dangers are real and very serious. The FDA has taken the most aggressive action it can by adding the black box warning; the final step in this process would be for the FDA to require a recall or the manufacturers to initiate a recall of the drug.

 

The pharmaceutical injury litigators at Schlichter, Bogard & Denton have several years of experience helping people injured by dangerous drugs, and we represent clients in all 50 states. If you or someone you love has been injured by Levaquin®, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Please schedule a no-cost, confidential Levaquin® lawsuit consultation today.