Levaquin Peripheral Neuropathy Symptoms May Continue Long After Use of Antibiotic
The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are continuing to review peripheral neuropathy lawsuits for users of Levaquin and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as Avelox, Cipro and others.
Have You or a Loved One Suffered from Peripheral Neuropathy after Levaquin, Avelox or Cipro Use?
As a result of the manufacturers’ failure to adequately warn that peripheral neuropathy symptoms from the antibiotics may continue long after last use of the drug, financial compensation may be available for former users who continue to suffer from problems like:
- Numbness in Extremities
- Dizziness and Shortness of Breath
- Sensitivity to Heat and Cold
- Balance and Walking Problems
- Bladder and Bowel Control Problems
- Pain from Light Touches
While all fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been associated with a risk of long-term nerve damage, Levaquin has been the most widely used member of this class in recent years, often prescribed to prevent bacteria from rapidly reproducing an causing infection. However, in many cases, doctors may have prescribed a different antibiotic if they had been aware about the potential risk of long-term peripheral neuropathy symptoms from Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox.
Levaquin Peripheral Neuropathy Risks
By the time Levaquin (levofloxacin) was introduced by Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-McNeil subsisiary in 1996, information was known to the drug maker, or should have been known, about the potential risk of nerve damage. However, rather than providing clear and accurate warnings for consumers and the medical community, Johnson & Johnson aggressively promoted the medication while withholding accurate risk information and misleadingly indicating that the nerve damage was rare.
As a result of Johnson & Johnson’s apparent decision to place their desire for profits before patient safety, they were handsomely rewarded, with Levaquin quickly growing to generate $1.6 billion in annual revenue by 2007. This accounted for roughly 6.5% of the global pharmaceutical company’s total revenue before Levaquin became available as a generic, highlighting the incentive Johnson & Johnson had to withhold information about the Levaquin peripheral neuropathy problems.
In August 2013, the FDA finally required Johnson & Johnson and the makers of other fluoroquinolones to update warning labels for the popular antibiotics, advising patients and the medical community that peripheral neuropathy symptoms from Levaquin, Avelox, Cipro or other related drugs may cause users to experience problems for months or even years after last use.
The new warnings now indicate that users should contact their doctors if they experience signs of nerve damage, and doctors are advised to consider switching any such patients to a different class of antibiotics, to avoid the risk that they may be left with long-term peripheral neuropathy.
To review whether you, a friend or family member may be entitled to financial compensation through a Levaquin lawsuit, Avelox lawsuit or Cipro lawsuit, request a free consultation and case evaluation with the lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. All cases are pursued under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are no out-of-pocket expenses to hire our law firm and we receive no attorney fees or expenses unless a recovery is obtained.
2 Comments • Add Your Comments
David says:
My life and the lives of family will never be anything like we hoped. I have been living with this for 3 years .I have the best doctors in the world at mayo clinic Rochester mn. That have been by my side thru this , and now this is the way my life is going to be. My doctors and myself did not know the possible risks of using this drug with the drug mfg new all along that lives and families could be ruined but not concerned
Posted on February 8, 2015 at 8:43 pm
L.R. says:
I have had a sinusitis condition for over three years and have tried several antibiotics with the use of Flonase in addition. Nothing has touched this infection. A friend told me of her experience of sinusitis and her Dr. prescribed Levaquin and it worked. So when asked, my Dr. prescribed it for me never mentioning any side effects.. The pharmacist gave me a paper listing some side effects, but none mentioning nerve damage. I am on my 9th dose tonight of 500mg. of the 10 prescribed. So far I have only felt one tingling sensation in my right arm, which went away after a very short time, some insomnia, and a kind of lack of energy. My question is what dose and /or length of time would one have to use this drug in order to experience any side effects of this drug if any? In other words at what length and dosage would this drug have its side effects? I am 76 years old and in overall good health except for this lousy infection that is determined a bacteria problem.
Posted on February 18, 2015 at 8:12 pm