Levaquin lawsuits are defective drug cases in which patients injured after taking the fluoroquinolone antibiotic medication known as Levaquin seek compensation for their medical bills, permanent disabilities, lost wages and pain and suffering. Generically referred to as levofloxacin, Levaquin is an oral or injectable antibiotic prescribed to treat various bacterial infections, including lung, skin, ear, eye and gastrointestinal infections.

In most cases, Levaquin is prescribed for less than 14 days, and each daily dose should be taken with an 8oz glass of water. Levaquin can be taken with or without food, however this drug should always be taken on an empty stomach. It's essential that patients only take Levaquin as directed in order to avoid the severe, potentially fatal side effects associated with this medication.

Levaquin Side Effects

Generally, Levaquin patients will develop minor, if any, side effects, such as headache, muscle pain and restlessness. However, in rare cases, serious Levaquin side effects may arise and can include:

• Fatal hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Heart problems, including arrhythmia and/or cardiotoxicity
• Muscle deterioration and neuromuscular diseases
• Nerve damage in the hands and/or feet
• Permanent damage to the liver, kidneys and/or pancreas
• Severe allergic reaction
• Severe anemia
• Severe central nervous system (CSN) disorders
• Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrosis (TEN), life-threatening skin conditions
• Tendon injuries, including spontaneous tendon rupture and tendinitis (While any tendon in the body can endure such injuries, those most likely to be affected include the Achilles tendon, as well as the tendons in the knees, shoulders, elbows and wrists.)
• Vision problems, including double vision, permanent loss of vision or permanent loss of color vision

Patients who are most likely to develop such life-threatening Levaquin side effects include those who:

• Are allergic to levofloxacin (or other fluoroquinolone antibiotics)
• Have a medical history of any of the above conditions
• Overdose on Levaquin
• Don't take Levaquin exactly as their doctor instructs them to

FDA Levaquin Warnings

Since its FDA approval in December 1996, an increasing number of patients have reported developing severe Levaquin side effects. After reviewing such reports and conducting its own research, in October 2008, the FDA mandated that PriCara (a division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen that makes Levaquin) include "black box" warnings on all Levaquin packaging and medication guides. These Levaquin warnings, the most serious level of FDA warnings preceding a full-blown recall, alerted patients to the possibility of severe tendon injuries when taking Levaquin.

All associated Levaquin materials were supposed to contain black box warnings as of January 2009. However, as late as July 2009, the public was reported that Levaquin materials failed to include black box warnings.

How to Start a Levaquin Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured after taking Levaquin, or your loved one has died as a result of Levaquin side effects, you may be entitled to recover compensation for damages via a lawsuit. To find out if you qualify to file a Levaquin lawsuit, or to find out more information about how to proceed, contact a Levaquin lawyer today.