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Levaquin® is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, a member of a class of drugs that has been linked to severe tendon damage including rupture. The drug has numerous side effects, the most common of which include:
Because of the risk of tendon injury, Levaquin is not always prescribed as a first-resort treatment option. Hundreds of cases of tendon injury caused by fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and a significant portion of those are linked to Levaquin use.
As a synthetic fluoroquinolone antibiotic similar to Cipro®, Floxin® and Noroxin®, Levaquin (levofloxacin) is used to treat bacterial infections such as:
The FDA database shows hundreds of cases of tendon ruptures, tendonitis, and other tendon injuries and side effects linked to the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. More than 60 percent of the tendon ruptures reported to the agency are associated with Levaquin treatment. The cases cite tendon injuries in the:
The Achilles tendon, which attaches the calf and soleus muscles to the heel bone, is the tendon most often damaged by Levaquin use. The symptoms of a ruptured Achilles tendon include severe, sudden pain, bruising and/or swelling, and difficulty walking. If you are experiencing such symptoms and you have been or are currently being treated with Levaquin, you should contact your physician right away.
In addition to the risk of tendon injuries associated with Levaquin use, there is a wide spectrum of potential Levaquin side effects, ranging from bothersome to annoying to serious to life-threatening:
In fact, many individual cases of serious medical conditions have been traced to Levaquin use, such as:
Strangely enough, one of the most common long-term side effects of using Levaquin for one of its listed indications — a bacterial infection — is a recurrence of the same type of infection or of one or more different types of infections. This risk is particularly high when an individual uses Levaquin for a long time.
Levaquin's potential side effects are of special concern for elderly patients, whose immune systems and general medical condition may already be compromised. Any of the many side effects listed above can be more dangerous in an elderly person, necessitating hospitalization and medical treatment.
Severe side effects of an antibiotic can cause long-lasting physical problems and significant medical bills. If you've suffered losses due to a Levaquin side effect, contact a Levaquin attorney today to learn more about your legal options.
A class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones needs heightened warnings about the risk of tendon rupture and tendonitis, said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics include:
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