Broad Class Of Fluoroquinolones Have Serious Side Effects
Levaquin is an antibiotic produced by the drug company Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is a division of Johnson & Johnson. Often prescribed for bacterial infections in the body, and frequently used to treat skin infections, it is also given for the treatment of internal disorders such as kidney, bladder, and prostate infections. Many Levaquin antibiotic patients also received the drug after being diagnosed with respiratory issues like bronchitis, pneumonia, or a sinus infection. Additionally, it is an effective first step for anyone that has come into contact with airborne anthrax. This medication belongs to a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, which includes others such as Ciproflaxin (Cipro), Levofloxacin, Ofloxacin (Floxin), and Norfloxacin (Noroxin). These antibiotics work by targeting and destroying the bacteria’s ability to replicate DNA. Without this ability, the bacteria cannot divide and eventually die off. Cipro side effects are almost identical to Levaquin. In fact, most patients of the fluoroquinolones report the same problems, which are usually mild, temporary, and typically include the following: • Diarrhea
• Restlessness, anxiousness, and depression
• Headache and dizziness
• Muscle pain
• Sleep problems from insomnia or nightmares
• Mild skin itching
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Rash
Most people taking the antibiotic treatments will either not experience the Noroxin side effects listed above, or will continue taking the antibiotic because the symptom is less severe than the ailment they are treating. However, it is very important to monitor your reactions. Consult your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following extreme Floxin side effects: • Diarrhea becomes bloody or watery
• Depressing thoughts lead to thoughts of suicide
• Headaches make it hard to complete work or enjoy leisure
• Muscle pain causes stumbling, or inability to work
• Sleeplessness leads to debilitating daytime drowsiness
• Skin itching becomes painful
• Fevers cause hallucinations
• Sore throat makes it hard to swallow
• Rashes start to burn painfully
Most doctors recommend that pregnant woman avoid fluoroquinolones. While there have been no studies showing that levofloxacin side effects, or those from any of the other drugs in the class, are harmful to babies, there have been no studies showing that regular use is safe, either. Some more extreme issues are associated more closely with unique Levaquin side effects. Very often, these debilitating ailments are quite painful, and have led to Levaquin lawsuits against the makers of the drug. Although Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. claims that they performed all required testing, victims allege that the packaging did not properly display the likelihood of Levaquin tendon pain , the major reported malady associated with the drug. Due to the prevalence of lawsuits and complaints against the drug manufacturer, the FDA has changed their requirements for Levaquin information on drug packaging. Each package must now feature a “black box,” a large, firmly worded warning to all patients that even a low Levaquin dosage has been known to cause some of the following problems: • Achilles tendon rupture
• Rotator cuff (shoulder) pain and tenderness
• Excruciating bicep, hand, or thumb pain
It is vital that you contact a physician immediately if you feel that you exhibiting any of these symptoms. Failure to do so quickly may result in a permanent tendon tear, a potentially life-long complication. If you are experiencing any of the ailments described above, and you have ever taken one of these antibiotics, contact a Levaquin law firm immediately. There are several personal and class action cases currently underway that may help you gain recompense.
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