Illinois Levaquin Litigation Law Firm

Chicago Defective Pharmaceutical Attorneys

Levaquin, manufactured by Johnson and Johnson, is among the most widely used drugs of its kind. Used as a broad spectrum antibiotic to treat lung, sinus, skin and urinary tract infections, Levaquin has been known to cause tendon damage.  As an experienced Chicago consumer protection law firm, The Law Group, Ltd. is dedicated to protecting consumers from dangerous and defective products, including unsafe prescription drugs such as Levaquin.  If you or a loved one has suffered tendon damage or other medical problem as a result of taking Levaquin, contact the skilled unsafe drug attorneys at The Law Group, located in Chicago, Illinois, to schedule a free consultation to learn more about a possible Levaquin lawsuit.

Injuries Caused By Levaquin

Tendon ruptures have been reported while patients were taking Levaquin and, in some instances, months after they stopped taking the drug. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that “patients experiencing pain, swelling, inflammation of a tendon or tendon rupture should be advised to stop taking their fluoroquinolone medication and to contact their health care professional promptly about changing their antimicrobial therapy. Patients should also avoid exercise and using the affected area at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation.”

The most commonly affected areas include the shoulder, elbow, knee, hand and Achilles tendons. Instances of Achilles tendon rupture can have particularly devastating consequences, especially in persons over 60 years of age. In the event of a rupture, surgery is often not an option for the elderly and the leg is commonly immobilized for up to six months. Even with immobilization and physical therapy, the Achilles tendons in the elderly rarely fully recover.

Levaquin Litigation

In 2008, the FDA issued a box warning on all fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs, including Levaquin, specifically addressing occurrences of tendinitis and tendon rupture as a side effect of the class of drugs. A boxed warning is the most aggressive warning the FDA can require manufacturers to include on a drug’s packaging and it indicates that the existing warning labels do not adequately caution against the potential severity of side effects.

Since the FDA’s box warning, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Levaquin.  With more than a thousand tendon rupture cases having been reported since Levaquin was introduced to the market, it is expected that the number of cases will grow substantially as investigations continue.

As an experienced Chicago unsafe pharmaceutical law firm, The Law Group is dedicated to protecting consumers from dangerous and defective products, including unsafe prescription drugs such as Levaquin, Accutane, Ortho-Evra, Vioxx and Topomax.  If you or a loved one has suffered tendon damage or other medical problems as a result of taking Levaquin, contact the skilled unsafe drug attorneys at The Law Group, located in Chicago, Illinois, to schedule a free consultation to learn more about a possible Levaquin lawsuit.