Fluoroquinolones (FLQ) Lawsuit
Most prescribed antibiotics linked to severe side effects
FLQ lawsuits are being filed across the country. If you suffered from nerve damage or aortic aneurysm after taking Levaquin, Avelox, or Cipro, contact Relion Group immediately!
Do not stop using these drugs without first consulting with your physician.
FDA announced a required label change for several fluoroquinolone drugs
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FLQ) have the unique ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, entering the brain and damaging the central nervous system.
Many of these drugs have already been removed from the market due to their toxicity, and those that remain are riddled with black box warnings required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In 2003, after numerous reports of patients developing symptoms of nerve damage and long-lasting peripheral neuropathy, the FDA began investigating the association between FLQ drugs and peripheral neuropathy. It has since been proven that FLQ antibiotics carry a significant risk of causing nerve damage in the hands, feet, arms or legs.
In 2013, the FDA released a Safety Communication warning with required label changes for several fluoroquinolone drugs including Cipro, Avelox, Factive, Levaquin and Noroxin to warn of an increased risk for permanent nerve damage from antibacterial fluoroquinolone drugs taken by mouth or by injection. The FDA stated that current fluoroquinolone warnings were not clear enough.
FDA Safety Alerts
In May 2016, the FDA announced a required label change for fluoroquinolones after an internal safety review found the drug class to be associated with “disabling and potentially permanent, serious side effects that can occur together when used by tablet, capsules, or injection.
"[ 05-12-2016 ] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising that the serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for patients with acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options. For patients with these conditions, fluoroquinolones should be reserved for those who do not have alternative treatment "
Patients were warned to contact their healthcare provider immediately with symptoms such as “tendon, joint and muscle pain, a pins and needles tingling or pricking sensation, confusion, and hallucinations.” Healthcare providers were warned to stop systemic FLQ treatments immediately in cases where a patient reports such symptoms and recommended that they “switch to a non-fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug to complete the patient’s treatment course.”
According to plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed in the District of Columbia, pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Levaquin, hid details about the drug’s adverse side effects.
Lawsuits are alleging that the drug manufacturer failed to warn consumers and the medical community about the potential side effect of permanent peripheral neuropathy.
What are Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics?
Fluoroquinolones are antibiotics that are commonly used as antibacterial drugs to treat a variety of illnesses such as respiratory and urinary tract infections. These medications include the brand names Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Factive (gemifloxacin), Levaquin (levofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), Noroxin (norfloxacin), and Floxin (ofloxacin). Fluoroquinolones are among the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in the United States.
When your doctor gives you a prescription for a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, which could be Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox or a generic version, make sure that your condition warrants the risks that come with taking these drugs.
Fluoroquinolones (FLQ) Antibiotics Lawsuit
The manufacturers of several fluoroquinolone antibiotic drugs are currently facing lawsuits alleging that they knew about a potential link between their medications and the severe side effects, but failed to adequately warn patients and doctors about these dangers.
Levaquin (and other FLQs) lawsuits demand compensation for injuries caused by these drugs. The plaintiffs are victims who took Levaquin and suffer from peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage), aortic aneurism, and/or aortic dissection. These lawsuits bring claims of product liability, negligence, and failure to warn against Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals (part of Johnson & Johnson).
Status of Levaquin Litigation
Levaquin lawsuits went through Multi-district litigation (MDL) for tendon injuries. Over the course of that litigation, evidence was discovered suggesting that Levaquin's drug maker knew as early as 1996 - and certainly by 2001, that this drug could cause peripheral neuropathy, yet they failed to do anything.
The warning label for Levaquin from September 2004 through August 2013 stated a very low risk of peripheral neuropathy. It said peripheral neuropathy after Levaquin use was rare and could be reversed by discontinuing the drug. But the truth is that these problems are not rare at all and peripheral neuropathy is not reversible even if the patient stops taking the drug.
It is reently discovered that fluoroquinolone antibiotics have many other possible adverse side effects: heart problems; hallucinations and/or confusion; Stevens Johnson syndrome; nausea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, low grade fever; hypoglycemia; kidney stones; easy bruising or bleeding; seizures; unusual thoughts or behavior; tremors; and sudden pain or swelling near joints.
The new Levaquin lawsuits are just getting started. Cases have been filed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey but there is no MDL as of yet.
If you or your family member took any of these FLQ antibiotics, and then experienced nerve damage or peripheral neuropathy, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses
- Pain and suffering resultsting from your injuries
- Wage loss or other losses experienced due to your injuries
- Punitive damages
Overuse of Fluoroquinolones
Researchers say fluoroquinolones are over-prescribed for minor issues like earaches and sinusitis. Dr. Mahyar Etminan, from the University of British Columbia, during his interview with The New York Times said that overusing these drugs is like “trying to kill a fly with an automatic weapon.”
Experienced personal injury attorneys in Relion Group's Legal Network are reviewing potential lawsuits for people who have been prescribed FLQ antibiotics and then suffered from severe side effects of these dangerous drugs.
If you have seen a doctor due to experiencing any of these symptoms after taking fluoroquinolone medications, please contact us immediately to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.
- Chest pain
- Paralysis of an arm or leg
- Appearance of having a stroke or heart attack
- Loss of pulse in affected arm or leg
- Flu-like symptoms
- Back pain
Flouroquinoles Risks
Fluoroquinolones linked to adverse side effects. The side effects can include tendon damage or rupture, permanent nerve damage in the extremities, liver toxicity, kidney failure, hearing or vision problems, or psychiatric side effects. Many of these symptoms can be irreversible.
Because of the dangerous health risks involved with fluoroquinolones, the FDA recommends that for some more common bacterial infections fluoroquinolones should only be used if no other options are viable.
Aortic Dissection (Tear)
Aortic dissection is a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). As the tear extends along the wall of the aorta, blood can flow in between the layers of the blood vessel wall (dissection). This can lead to aortic rupture or decreased blood flow (ischemia) to organs.
Aortic Aneurysms (Bulge)
An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of an artery. Normally, the walls of arteries are thick and muscular, allowing them to withstand a large amount of pressure. Occasionally, a weak area develops in the wall of an artery. This allows the pressure within the artery to push outwards, creating a bulge or ballooned area called an "aneurysm." Aneurysms can form in any blood vessel, but they occur most commonly in the aorta (aortic aneurysm).
Unlike dissection, aortic aneurysms sometimes have no symptoms. When the thoracic aneurysm ruptures, people may have difficulty breathing, experience severe chest and back pain or may lose consciousness. A ruptured aneurysm is an emergency situation and must be treated immediately. Surgery or an aortic stent may be prescribed.
Peripheral Neuropathy (Nerve Damage)
Painful peripheral neuropathy is a common neurological disorder characterized by numbness, weakness, tingling and pain, often starting in the hands or feet. Peripheral neuropathy describes damage to one or more of your peripheral nerves. The damage means that the messages that travel between your central and peripheral nervous system are disrupted.
The study “Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Fluoroquinolones” revealed the association between severe nerve damage conditions and Fluoroquinolones.
If you or your loved one took any of the FLQ antibiotics, and have experienced nerve damage, or aortic aneurism, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit today.
FLQ (FLUOROQUINOLONES) Lawsuit Eligibiity Check
Financial compensation may be available for people who have suffered from severe side effects after taking FLQ antibiotics.
If you or your loved one has suffered from aortic dissection, aortic aneurysm or nerve damage due to use of Levaquin, Avelox, or Cipro antibiotics, please contact us immediately to see if you are qualified.
The lawyers in our legal network have the required knowledge to review the facts of your situation to help determine if you are eligible to file a lawsuit against FLQ manufacturers and distributors. Attorneys within Relion Group Legal Network provide free consultations.
If your answers meet the requirements for a FLQ lawsuit, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation for your injuries upon resolution of your case.