Missouri Levaquin Tendon Injury Attorneys

Levaquin

Levaquin, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, is an antibiotic used by many Americans. Despite Johnson & Johnson's claim that Levaquin is as safe as any other antibiotic, it has been linked to hundreds of cases of serious tendon injuries and tendon ruptures.

Levaquin was approved by the FDA in 1996 to treat bacterial infections of the urinary tract, lungs and skin. While all antibiotics in the same family as Levaquin have been linked to serious tendon ruptures, Levaquin is the one most commonly associated with this side effect – and there was no warning from Johnson & Johnson. By 2008, there were 262 reported cases of tendon ruptures, 259 cases of tendinitis, and 274 cases of other tendon disorders associated with drugs in the same family as Levaquin. Shockingly, over 61 percent of the tendon ruptures were tied to Levaquin. According to the FDA, pain, swelling, inflammation, and tears of tendons including the Achilles, shoulder and hand, may occur in patients taking Levaquin.

Finally, in 2008, FDA ordered Johnson & Johnson to place a Black Box warning on its label regarding its link to tendon damage, especially ruptures of the Achilles tendon. Tendon injuries caused by Levaquin are more likely to occur in people who are over 60 years of age, taking steroids (corticosteroids), or who have undergone a kidney, heart, or lung transplant. Tendon rupture can occur during or after completion of a course of Levaquin, although cases occurring up to several months after antibiotic completion have been reported.

Symptoms of a tendon rupture include:

  • a snap or pop in a tendon area
  • bruising right after an injury in a tendon area
  • the inability to move the affected area or bear weight
  • pain, swelling, or inflammation in a tendon area

The Missouri pharmaceutical law firm, Page Law, firmly believes in holding drug manufacturers responsible for injuries sustained due to negligent and reckless actions on their part. If you have suffered serious tendon injuries or tendon rupture during, or following a course of Levaquin antibiotics, contact an experienced Missouri Levaquin attorney at Page Law for a free, confidential, consultation.