Levaquin Side Effects Lawsuit News: Tendon Ruptures

Beware of drug's side effects

 

-Patriot-News

12/07/2009 - Fluoroquinolones, also known as quinolones, are prescribed to people millions of times each year. They are used to treat many types of bacterial infections: respiratory, urinary tract and sinus, to name a few.

Like all medications, this class of antibiotics has side effects. What differentiates it from others is that quinolones can cause severe and permanent disability. Even from taking just a few pills.

More than four years ago, I was prescribed a handful of quinolone pills for an unconfirmed infection and my life has been dramatically altered. The tremendous financial loss pales in comparison with the physical and neurological suffering that I have endured.

I was young, healthy and active and had earned my masters degree. Prior to taking a quinolone I was the type of person who didn't even take an aspirin. Now I require multiple pain medications in order to be somewhat functional.

About half of all of the quinolone antibiotics that were once on the market have now been removed. Examples include Tequin, Omniflox, Trovan and Raxar.

In July 2008, the Food and Drug Administration mandated that all quinolone antibiotics carry a black box warning --- the most severe warning a drug can have --- for tendon rupture and tendonitis.

This occurred after Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, sued the FDA demanding quinolones carry such a warning. On behalf of quinolone victims in Illinois, the Illinois attorney general also petitioned the FDA for a black box warning.

There is much being said about quinolones. Some of the many Web sites that provide information concerning the potential devastating adverse reactions include: Antibiotics.org, Fqvictims.org, Fqresearch.org, Fqhelp.com and Favc.info.

A recently released documentary is available on quinolone antibiotics. The film can be viewed on YouTube under "Certain adverse events."Another documentary on a quinolone derivative drug has been released at Takenasdirected.com.

Over the years, prime-time media such as Oprah Winfrey and NBC "Dateline News" have done shows about the problems faced by those who took quinolones.

The fine print of the package insert for quinolone antibiotics mentions that they can cause irreversible neurological conditions and prolonged disability of tendons.

The American public has the right to know how dangerous quinolones can be.

Recently, I filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the FDA for adverse event information concerning two widely prescribed quinolone antibiotics. From January 2007 through December 2008, there were 82,865 adverse reactions reported to the FDA, 19,199 safety reports filed and 1,370 reported deaths.

These FDA records show that many people have developed serious long-term disabilities from just a few quinolone pills.

But this must be put into the context that only a small percentage of adverse reactions are reported to the FDA. In 2008, Reader's Digest reported, "The FDA doesn't have the time or money to make sense of the information it does receive." The FDA shouldn't have to be sued in order for it to live up to its mission statement.

I sent a large packet of quinolone documentation to each member of the board of directors of one of the manufacturers asking that they help the people who they have injured. Research is badly needed to help victims try to regain their lost health. Sadly, I never heard back from any of them. In today's world, it seems like it is almost always profits over people.

There are many quinolone victims across the country who are advocates for this cause. Fqvictims.org founder and Pennsylvania resident Bob Grozier has taken hundreds of calls over the last few years on his toll-free quinolone help number. Grozier, a former highly paid computer programmer, has been disabled for more than seven years from being prescribed quinolone antibiotics.

Being an advocate for the quinolone toxicity cause gives me a sense of purpose in life. Despite a barrage of citizen complaints, letters and phone calls, most physicians and patients are not being properly educated about the potential life-altering neurological and physical effects from these commonly prescribed antibiotics.

Quinolone victims desperately need medical research, media exposure and congressional support for increased safety warnings.

I write this article in the hope of raising awareness and preventing others from suffering a similar fate to what I have gone through.

If you or a loved one have experienced serious side effects or injury as a result of Fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as tendonitis, torn ligament, or ruptured tendons, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact one of our Fluoroquinolone lawyers today for more information regarding your legal rights. For more information about a potential Fluoroquinolone lawsuit, or Fluoroquinolone side effects, fill out our free case evaluation form or call the toll-free number listed below.