Yet Another Generic Levaquin Reaches the Market
Another generic version of Levaquin has hit the market, and this one is being made by Sagent Pharmaceuticals, which is a specialty pharmaceutical company that places a specific emphasis on injectable products. The company now is selling an injectable form of levofloxacin that is in 5 percent dextrose.
The drug is what is known as a fluoroquinolone antibacterial, and has hit the market in three ready-to-use premix bag strengths. This particular levofloxacin injection is what is known as the generic form of the popular, yet controversial, antibacterial drug Levaquin. This injection is meant to be used on adults that are at least 18 years old and suffering from infections that are caused by bacterias including “nosocomial and community-acquired pneumonia, sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, skin and skin structure infections, prostatitis, urinary tract infection, pyelonephritis.”
Jeffrey Yordon, founder, chairman and CEO of Sagent Pharma, has said that just like with other products in its portfolio of anti-infective drugs, the generic Levaquin injection is used because it works on many different bacterial infections. He also says that aside from its premixed version of levofloxacin injection, the company is including in the drug’s label information that is going to help reduce the number of medication errors.
Brand name Levaquin makers have been subjected to thousands of lawsuits amid claims of tendon ruptures associated with the drug. While only two cases have reached trial, it is expected that more will go to trial later this year. There have even been some warnings against giving people who are older than 60 the drug for fear that they are more susceptible to the tendon ruptures. This new generic injection of Levaquin may feel like a dream come true to the drug makers, but patients are still advised to beware of tendon problems when they begin taking it. Symptoms of tendon ruptures include hearing a snap or pop, severe pain in the area, bruising fast, general weakness, not being able to move the appendage properly and not being able to bear weight.
