Tag Archives: consumer activist

The Dangers of Levaquin

19 Sep

What is Levaquin?

Levaquin (Levofloxacin) is a powerful antibiotic, which is part of a class of drugs known as Fluroquinolones.  This antibiotic is generally prescribed to reduce and eliminate serious bacterial infections that affect the lungs (pneumonia and bronchitis), sinuses (sinusitis), skin (abscess, cellulitis and wound infections), urinary tract (bladder, prostate and kidney infections) and many other common illnesses.  Levaquin has been on the market since 1996 and has been prescribed to millions of people. Due to the manufacturers’ failure to warn of hidden side effects associated with Levaquin over the past twelve years, there are now millions of people suffering from severe unexplained injuries across the nation.

The Levaquin Link

Although this dangerous medication has managed to stay on the market for over a decade, the manufacturers of Levaquin failed to warn individuals that the drug is directly linked to serious and devastating side effects.

Tendon rupture can occur during or after the completion of just one course of Levaquin, and it commonly causes injuries to tendons throughout the body.  The most common of these injuries occur in the foot, leg, arm, forearm, shoulder and neck. The manufacturers knew of these dangers but did nothing to warn patients.

Too Little, Too Late

Notwithstanding efforts by many consumer activist groups to get the manufacturers of Levaquin to warn of the serious tendon injuries associated with the medication side effects, the drug companies resisted changing the warning label. After failing to get the manufacturer to act on its own initiative, the groups petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to independently examine the side effects of Levaquin.

In 2008, the FDA did what the manufacturer refused to do itself: it required a “black box” warning to be placed on Levaquin.  This warning now clearly advises patients of the potential for severe tendon injuries.  The “black box” warning is the most serious alert that can be issued by the FDA without taking the drug completely off the market. Unfortunately, this action by the FDA has occurred too late for many patients who have already suffered devastating injuries.

Many patients have needlessly suffered horrible consequences by taking Levaquin without being informed of its risks. There are multiple safe and effective alternatives to Levaquin that doctors and patients could have chosen had they been aware that the risk of debilitating injury was so great.