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Springfieldian says antibiotic Tequin caused diabetes

Aug 8, 2007 | Ryan Slight | News-Leader

Patrick Bills felt increasingly weak while working on houses in summer 2005, which was unusual for the healthy Springfieldian.

"I suspected I had diabetes, but when I looked up the risk factors, I kept blowing it off thinking it might be the heat," the 39-year-old man said Thursday.

Bills claims he later developed severe hypoglycemia and was hospitalized after taking the antibiotic drug Tequin. He sued drug distributor Bristol-Myers Squibb and Schering Corporation this week, alleging the drug caused his diabetes.

Seattle-based law firm Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, which represents Bills, submitted the petition for the suit Tuesday in a federal court in New York City.

The lawsuit accused the defendants of promoting the drug without adequate warning of serious side effects and injury risk.

Phoenix attorney Robert Carey of HBSS said the firm may bring many more cases against BMS. Hundreds of people have contacted the firm claiming Tequin caused their diabetes, he said.

"We were taken aback by the number of people who called us," Carey said.

Tony Plohoros, BMS spokesman, said Thursday that the company is aware of the petition.

However, it is Bristol-Myers' policy not to comment on ongoing litigation, he said.

According to the petition, the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter reported there were 28 serious reports of "abnormal glucose metabolism," 19 hospital stays and two deaths associated with Tequin. That was from a review of Health Canada's database from February 2001 to February 2003, the petition said.

Although BMS revised Tequin labeling in February 2006 to strengthen risk-factor warnings, it did not provide a timely warning to those who recently purchased or were prescribed Tequin, the petition alleged.

In May 2006, "BMS quietly announced to its shareholders that it would no longer manufacture Tequin for economic reasons," the petition said.

Bills said he was first given Tequin by a physician in March 2005 for a skin infection. He had not exhibited any symptoms related to diabetes before, he said.

In the following months, Bills recalled becoming increasingly hungry and thirsty, and continually having to urinate. His weight dropped from 170 pounds to 145.

Bills, who is married and has two young daughters, said he had to leave work because of energy loss.

His eyesight worsened until he ended up in intensive care. Medical personnel discovered his blood-sugar level was a very high 697, Bills said.

After getting diagnosed with diabetes in January 2006, Bills said he went through different diabetic treatments and was put on insulin.

Bills is now able to work, but must take time off as he adjusts to various medications, he said.

"I had always scoffed at ads that said, 'If you've been exposed to this or that, call this law firm,' like ambulance chasers," Bills said.

But after researching the drug on his own, the Springfield man chose to pursue a lawsuit.

Bills said he hoped his case would make drug company officials reconsider if they promoted a product in the future with potential risks.