Levaquin is a prescription antibiotic manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and is usually prescribed in cases where infections do not respond to other medicines. It is an extremely potent antibiotic which was initially used for extremely serious bacterial infections. More recently it has been prescribed by doctors
for common bacterial infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
There is a flip side to this wonder drug though. It can rupture your tendon and permanently damage it. It can also cause permanent nerve damage. That is not all. According to a report of the Journal of American Medical Association, users of Levaquin are at a much higher risk than others of retinal detachment. This is because the fluoquinolones class of antibiotics is said to adversely affect all connective tissues in the body. Other possible side effects include abdominal tenderness, cramping or severe pain, confusion, hallucinations or psychosis, diarrhea with blood, high fever, swelling and inflammation of the skin, trembling or seizures, uncontrollable vomiting, easy bruising or bleeding and severe pain in legs and other muscles.
There might be specific cases of tendinitis that may cause a lot of pain including rotator cuff tendinitis, Tennis elbow, Golfer’s elbow, patellar tendinitis, achilles tendinitis and adductor’s tendinitis. Rotator cuff tendinitis immobilizes the shoulder. Tennis elbow causes pain on the forearm near the elbow especially when you try and grip something. Golfer's elbow causes pain on the inner elbow. Patellar tendinitis causes extreme pain in your knees. Achilles tendinitis causes severe pain above the heel. Adductor tendinitis causes extreme discomfort and pain in your groin.
In 2008 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had directed all antibiotic manufacturers making fluoroquinolones to enhance their warning of tendon rupture and damage, but Johnson & Johnson failed to do so, leading to numerous lawsuits by users afflicted with tendon rupture and damage. The company denies the charge of failure to warn, which is the cornerstone of the case against it.
Levaquin lawsuits pertaining to tendon damage have evolved into major mass torts litigation in the US. As many as 1900 product liability lawsuits before US Federal Courts have been consolidated in a multi-district litigation (MDL) lawsuit in US District Court of the District of Minnesota, while 1500 lawsuits in New Jersey have been grouped together in the New Jersey State Court. Out of these 845 cases were settled by Johnson and Johnson in October 2012 and settlement talks have been ongoing throughout November 2012. Johnson & Johnson’s attempts to defend the drug in a court of law yielded mixed results, having won three of the four cases. The first case that went to trial ended in an award of 1.8 million dollars in 2010, opening the floodgates for similar litigation.
The retinal damage lawsuits are still in their early days. Early symptoms of the retinal detachment damage are said to be sudden flashes of light, floaters visible in vision, heaviness in the eyes, dense shadow progressing from the peripheral to central vision and in more advanced cases central vision loss.
Q:I was prescribed levaquin for severe flu last year. Since then I have experienced discomfort and weird bruising around my tendon area. When I googled the symptoms, I found out that levaquin could have caused it. Would it be possible for me to join one of the class action lawsuits against levaquin?
A:Levaquin is a very serious broad spectrum anti-biotic which is prescribed for extremely persistent and severe infections. The FDA warns that it can cause tendinitis as well as damage to other connective tissue such as retina. There are approximately 3400 cases, including several class action lawsuits against Levaquin manufacturer Ortho-McNeil. You should be able to join one of these lawsuits but you need to act fast because settlements on several of these have already begun.
Q:Can you tell me about lawsuits against Levaquin and if the manufacturer can be held accountable for the drug effects?
A:The use of drug has been reported to be linked with tendon damage and ruptures. Lawsuits against Levaquin have been filed on the basis that the manufacturing company did not warn about the potential risks. The doctor giving the medicine would therefore not be accountable. To bring a lawsuit against the company you can consult a pharmaceutical litigation attorney.
Q:What is a Levaquin class action lawsuit?
A:Levaquin is manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, which is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. This antibiotic is prescribed in cases of severe infection, but lately doctors have been prescribing it for common bacterial infections like pneumonia and bronchitis as well. This of course should not have been done, since one of the side effects of this drug is that it can rupture a patient's tendon, damaging it for good. Apart form this, the drug causes permanent nerve damage. In fact the Journal of American Medical Association, recently published a report that states that patients using Levaquin are at a higher risk of retinal detachment than those not using it. Other reported side effects include abdominal tenderness, cramping or severe pain, confusion, hallucinations or psychosis, diarrhea with blood, high fever, swelling and inflammation of the skin, trembling or seizures, uncontrollable vomiting, easy bruising or bleeding and severe pain in legs and other muscles.
Q:If I am interested in filing a Levaquin lawsuit how do I select an attorney?
A:For a Levaquin lawsuit you can look for an attorney who has experience regarding pharmaceutical litigation cases. You can see how many such cases the lawyer has settled that dealt with dangerous drugs. Be sure to check what factors the lawyer will consider for settlements and how the case would be pursued.
Q:Can a lawyer give an estimate of Levaquin lawsuit settlement after evaluating the case?
A:A lawyer after evaluating the case can gauge the seriousness of the side effect and accordingly plan the compensation grounds on which Levaquin lawsuit settlement can be pursued. The amount awarded can vary from case to case, as every case is unique. A lawyer can provide you a rough estimate and expert advice in this regard.
Q:I have been a victim of the adverse side-effects of Levaquin and want to sue Johnson & Johnson. Have there been any Levaquin lawsuit settlements so that I can hope to be compensated also?
A:They say that when something is beneficial, it's just what the doctor ordered. However, in Levaquin's case, it seems that it was ordered by the grim reaper, what with it causing damage to tendons, the livers, kidneys, heart palpitations, nerve damage and vision loss to name a few. So far Johnson & Johnson has been hit with over 3,400 lawsuits charging its subsidiary Ortho- McNeil Pharmaceuticals with negligence about warnings for the associated risks, and has settled 845 of them.
Q:Why are consumers filing levaquin lawsuits?
A:The primary problem that is associated with the use of Levaquin is that it can allegedly induce ruptures in the Achilles tendon. In addition to this the drug is also linked to tendon ruptures in the hand, biceps and rotator cuff. These side effects have led many consumers to file lawsuits against the drug manufacturer.
Q:Tell me about the levaquin side affects?
A:Levaquin is an antibiotic manufactured by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. It was commonly prescribed for infections which were not responding to any other form of medication, which is why Levaquin rapidly become popular and was considered a miracle drug. But slowly, reports of Levaquin's side effects started coming in and among the most drastic side effects of Levaquin reported so far are: retinal detachment, abdominal tenderness, cramping or severe pain, confusion, hallucinations or psychosis, diarrhea with blood, high fever, swelling and inflammation of the skin, trembling or seizures, uncontrollable vomiting, easy bruising or bleeding and severe pain in legs.
Q:What is levaquin for?
A:Levaquin is an antibiotic that is used to treat all kinds of bacterial infections. Doctors usually prescribe this drug for treating infections of kidneys, bladder, skin, and sinuses. However, in recent years, levaquin has been linked to a number of severe side effects and birth defects. Many people have filed lawsuits against the manufacturer of levaquin.
Q:What legal action was taken in response to the side effects for levaquin?
A:As reports of the Levaquin side effects increased, more and more patients opted to sue Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson for hoodwinking the medical world and consumers into thinking Levaquin was perfectly safe for use. Since then almost 1900 product liability lawsuits have been filed in the US Federal Courts. So far Johnson & Johnson has paid more than 1.8 million dollars in settlement of a single case and more are expected.
Q:Will a levaquin class action suit cost me less?
A:If you are concerned about legal fees and costs that come with filing a lawsuit, a class action lawsuit is always recommended. A levaquin class action suit is filed by a number of people who have suffered the same damage from a common drug company. The legal fee is much less as compared to the costs associated with filing an individual lawsuit.
Q:Can you explain how Levaquin lawyers can help if I am a victim of Levaquin's side effects?
A:Levaquin lawyers can help you to recover over a million dollars in damages caused by Levaquin use. They can also analyze your case and determine whether you have a legitimate lawsuit. If you do, they can help in reaching a settlement that will generally cover medical bills, lost wages, suffering and pain. You can also sue Johnson and Johnson if you have a family member who died because of the drug's side effects.
Q:Who makes levaquin?
A:Levaquin is manufactured by a renowned pharmaceutical company, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen. This company is a part of Johnson and Johnson. Levaquin is basically used as an antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infections in the lungs, urinary tract, and sinus. Levaquin is available in the form of tablets or injections at drugstores throughout the nation.
Q:What are the dangers of levaquin?
A:Levaquin is an antibiotic that is used for a number of different bacterial infections. However, this drug has been linked to a number of major side effects that have been the cause of numerous lawsuits. Some of the adverse effects of this drug are: chest pain, dizziness, diarrhea, depression, hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, weakness, vision problems, headaches, insomnia, and bruising.