Tendon Troubles Lead to Levaquin Lawsuits
Three patients who were prescribed Levaquin recently filed suit against the maker of the antibiotic in a New Jersey state court, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The lawsuits claim that Johnson & Johnson and its Ortho McNeil unit touted Levaquin as a safe treatment for bacterial infections even though the companies allegedly knew that it could cause severe tendon ruptures and tendonitis.
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.
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious complication after taking Levaquin, contact the attorneys of Carey & Danis. We can help. Carey & Danis is a national law firm that represents individuals injured by America’s largest corporations.
