Levaquin - Pushy Pushy
Johnson & Johnson, the makers of the high-grade antibiotic Levaquin, is under fire for allegedly conspiring to promote the drug to nursing home seniors. Specifically, a lawsuit has been filed that J & J conspired with the pharma consultant Omnicare in an effort to get seniors interested in the drug. According to consumer advocacy groups, this is a violation of federal Medicare laws.
The charges are incredibly serious. The lawsuit alleges that patients were charged very high prices for their medicines in general, and were switched without their consent to J & J products, which included Levaquin. At last time of check, it was illegal to change someone's medication without his or her informed consent.
Further allegations include the charge that J & J paid Omnicare directly to promote its drugs as “preferred” brands, or medicines considered very effective and desirable in treating elderly patients such as those in nursing homes, and the geriatric community in general.
Levaquin wasn't the only drug allegedly being promoted in this rather shady fashion, either. Other medicines promoted include Floxin, Risperdal, Ultram, Duragesic, Procrit and Aciphex. This list includes everything from fairly strong painkillers in the opioid category to proton pump inhibitors.
Of course, these accusations rest atop the still-troubling risk of prescribing Levaquin to anyone, for any reason. While very effective at combating particularly “dug in” infections that other medicines have trouble dealing with, Levaquin is increasingly under question for its powerful side effects. Severe tendon toxicity related to the drug has been shown to cause ruptures and painful injuries. The elderly are at acute risk for Levaquin tendon toxicity, which makes this situation even more unacceptable.
No court dates have yet been filed, and there is no word from J & J, Omnicare or their subsidiaries on the specifics of the case. The case was filed in Sacramento, California.
