What is Levaquin?
Levaquin (Levofloxacin), a fluoroquinolone, is a synthetic broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is used to attack life-threatening bacterial infections, or bacterial infections which have refused to respond to other classes of antibiotics. Levaquin is licensed to Ortho-McNeil (Johnson and Johnson) by Daiichi Sankyo (Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) for marketing in the United States and Canada.
Levaquin was first patented in 1987, and was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration on December 20, 1996. It is licensed for a limited number of uses; however, its side effects have caused many physicians to refrain from prescribing the drug due to its risks. The particular side effects that levaquin has been shown to cause include injury to the musculoskeletal system, and tendon ruptures, fatal hypoglycemia, kidney damage, and myasthenia crisis.
Levaquin's Mechanism for Efficacy
Like most broad-spectrum antibiotics, levaquin is designed to hinder cell division in both gram-positive, and gram-negative, bacteria by inhibiting DNA replication. Levaquin does this through specifically targeting an enzyme complex, DNA gyrase (a type II topoisomerase and topoisomerase iv) that is essential in DNA replication; and, therefore, hinders bacterial cell division.
Levaquin Has Been Linked To Severe Injuries and Deaths
Levaquin has been linked to significant injuries including rupture of skeletal muscles and the sequella associated with muscle rupture, such as hemorrhage.
Levaquin is contraindicated for patient with liver disease, and epilepsy or other seizure disorders. It has been found to cause severe adverse reactions in infants exposed to it through breast-feeding, as well as being shown to cause spontaneous abortions and/or birth defects in children born to women who were administered Levaquin during pregnancy.
Moreover, levaquin is extremely contraindicated for use by adolescent or young children due to the significant risk of musculoskeletal disorders such as arthralgia, arthritis, tendonopathy, and gait abnormality. Simply put, Lvaquin, has been shown to cause significant and permanent damages to the musculoskeletal system of those who have taken it.
Side Effects of Levaquin
Side effects of Levaquin include, but are not limited to:
- Irreversible peripheral neuropathy;
- Spontaneous tendon rupture;
- Tendonitis;
- Toxic epiderman necrolysis (TEN);
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome;
- Erythema multiforme;
- Severe central nervous system disorders (CNS) including:
- Seizures;
- Severe central nervous system disorders (CNS) including:
- Clostribium difficile associated disease (CDAD: Pseudomembranous colitis);
- Photosensitivity/phototoxicity reactions;
- Fatal hypoglycemia;
- Kidney damage;
- Rhabdomyolysis (muscle wasting);
- Anaphylactoid reaction (allergic reaction);
- Myasthenia crisis;
- Pancreatitis;
- Loss of vision;
- Double vision;
- Impaired color vision;
- Exanthema;
- Abdominal pain;
- Malaise;
- Drug fever;
- Dysaesthesia;
- Eosinophilia;
- Pseudotumor cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension [IIH]: increased intercranial pressure); and,
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Younger and elderly patients are at increased risk for developing significant, permanent, and sometimes life-threatening reactions to Levaquin administration.
Legal Help for Levaquin Victims
If you, a family member or a friend have suffered a serious illness, injury, or medical condition due to Levaquin, please contact a Levaquin Injury Lawyer at the Finz firm today at (855) TOP-FIRM to speak with an experienced Levaquin litigation attorney now or fill out a Free Levaquin Case Evaluation form.
