Antibiotic Levaquin Linked to Serious Side Effects
Levaquin, a powerful antibiotic used to treat lung, sinus, skin and urinary tract infections, has been linked to serious side effects, including increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture.
Made by Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Levaquin (known generically as levofloxacin) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat bacterial infections in many different parts of the body. The drug can be administered in the form of a pill, as an injection or in an intravenous drip.
On July 8, 2008, the FDA issued an alert requiring Ortho to add a black-box warning to Levaquin’s label. The warning advises patients that Levaquin increases their risk of tendinitis—inflammation or irritation of a tendon, one of the thick fibrous cords that connect muscle to bone. Some patients who have taken Levaquin have reported the rupture of tendons in the shoulder, hand and heel.
The risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture is increased in patients older than 60; in kidney, heart, and lung transplant recipients; and in patients given Levaquin in conjunction with steroid therapy.
Anyone who has been given Levaquin and experiences pain, swelling or inflammation in the area of a tendon should stop taking the drug and contact his or her physician. Patients who experience a snapping or popping sensation in the area of a tendon, note bruising right after an injury in the area of a tendon, or are unable to move or bear weight after taking the drug should also contact a doctor immediately. Patients may experience tendinitis or tendon rupture while taking Levaquin or long after drug therapy has ended.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious complication after taking Levaquin, contact Carey & Danis. We can help. Carey & Danis is a national law firm that represents personal injury victims and their families.
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