Woman Files Lawsuit Against the Makers of the Fluoroquinolone Avelox

Los Angeles, CABayer and Merck are facing a product liability lawsuit filed by a woman from Nebraska who alleges she developed peripheral neuropathy while on the popular antibiotic Avelox.

Avelox (moxifloxacin hydrochloride), is in a class of drugs known as fluoroquinolone which includes Cipro and Levaquin. While warnings provided with Avelox and other fluoroquinolones indicate a risk of peripheral neuropathy, the pharmaceutical companies that make these drugs have claimed this side effect is rare.

Peripheral neuropathy involves irreversible nerve damage which can impair sensation, movement and other areas of a person’s well being. Symptoms may include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness and sensitivity to light touches, temperature and motion in the arms and legs.

According to this new Avelox lawsuit, Geraldine Blackmon claims to have developed PN after she was prescribed a 15-day course of the drug, and has suffered significant pain and suffering and a diminished quality of life as a result.

According to the lawsuit: “In 2002 and 2003 Defendants were put on notice that numerous reports had been submitted to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System that identified fluorquinolone users who had developed disabling peripheral neuropathy that persisted long after the drug had been discontinued.” And: “Defendants’ failure to adequately warn physicians resulted in (1) patients receiving Avelox instead of another acceptable and adequate non-fluoroquinolone antibiotic, sufficient to treat the illness for which Plaintiff presented to the provider; (2) and physicians failing to warn and instruct consumers about the risk of long-term peripheral nervous system injuries associated with Avelox.”