Levaquin Tendon Rupture
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Levaquin Tendon Rupture
Levaquin is an antibiotic used to treat bronchitis, sinusitis, urinary tract infections and other respiratory bacterial afflictions such as pneumonia. The medication has been on the market for years; however in 2004 the FDA had received sufficient reports of side effects that the Agency mandated a change in the warning language printed and packaged with every prescription of the medication. That language gave notice of potential reactions to the Levaquin that involved neuropathy such as reactions to light, tingling, numbness or weakness, and several other specific side effects.
In addition, Levaquin is part of a class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones (or quinolones) which have long been associated with tendon toxicity; companion medications include Cipro, Floxin and Tequin. There have been unofficial warnings about this particular side effect and now, there have been a substantial number of reports that Levaquin leads to an increased risk of tendon ruptures, most frequently involving the Achilles tendon.
The FDA demanded additional changes to the warning language for Levaquin in 2008. This time the language addresses hepatoxicity - the possibility that Levaquin can have an adverse effect on the kidneys as well as the liver. Fatalities have been reported as a result of this impact.
Generally, the use of quinones has been associated with joint pain and stiffness for years. The same complaint has been heard about Cipro, but the frequency with which Levaquin users have suffered spontaneous tendon ruptures has led to multiple law suits against the company. There are currently over thirty lawsuits in federal court that have been joined together under one judge in Minnesota. The plaintiffs are maintaining that Johnson & Johnson has failed to provide adequate warning about the potential impact of Levaquin on joints in general and the tendons in particular.
The lawsuit(s) are still in the discovery phase and will take months to go through the trial process. There is no doubt that additional lawsuits will be filed as former Levaquin users learn that a ruptured tendon has been a continuing side effect problem with the drug for substantial numbers of otherwise healthy individuals.
Ruptured tendons resulting from Levaquin use has also not necessarily been confined to a single tendon. Many patients have suffered from lingering stiffness and pain in the shoulders and knees; some patients have had multiple operations for the reattachment of tendons.
