According to ABC10 News, some researchers are concerned that Levaquin has more serious side effects than those mentioned on the drug’s label. Specifically, they are concerned about depression, hallucinations and mitochondrial toxicity, which indicate the drug could actually have an effect on a patient’s cells. Studies have reportedly been undertaken at UC San Diego and University of Rochester to look into some of the side effects that could be linked to Levaquin.Levaquin is an antibiotic in a class known as fluoroquinolones. Although they are lifesaving drugs, some experts believe they are overprescribed, putting many patients at risk for serious side effects. Further, in some cases, they are used for fairly minor infections that may not require a strong antibiotic, so the risks might outweigh the benefits. Levaquin currently carries a black box warning about the risk of tendon rupture.
The Southern Network on Adverse Reactions (SONAR) submitted a Citizen Petition (also found online at www.regulations.gov) to the FDA regarding Levaquin. In it, the organization requested a black box warning about the possible risk of mitochondrial toxicity, a label change to include the risk of “possible mitochondrial toxicity,” and the issuing of a “Dear Doctor” to inform physicians about the label changes.
READ MORE LEVAQUIN LEGAL NEWS
SONAR acknowledges that Levaquin may in some cases be the most appropriate medication, making some of the adverse events unavoidable. In other circumstances, however, if there had been Warnings, including a Black Box Warning, about the potential for Levaquin “Mitochondrial Toxicity,” some physicians may not have prescribed Levaquin for some patients.
Levaquin (known generically as levofloxin) is made by Johnson & Johnson.
A lawsuit has been filed against Johnson & Johnson alleging the company failed to warn about the risk of peripheral sensorimotor neuropathy. That lawsuit is Grossman v. Johnson & Johnson et al, Case No. 3:2014cv03557.
READER COMMENTS
David Hastings
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Margaret Gordon
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nancy a smith
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anonymous
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Doctors provide no warning whatsoever of the dangers of these drugs. I was given levaquin at the ER for lung infectiion and not one word of caution or warning instead told it was antibiotic for viral instead of bacterial infections. When I began experiencing side effects and tried to report to my doctor, I was accused of imaginary pain and drug seeking. I explained the numbing tingling pain that progress to sharp knife like stabbing in my hands and feet and right side of my lower back down my right leg. also accompanied by disorientation, confusion and dizziness; then red bumps like a rash then finally handfuls of hair started falling out. After reading the symptoms in serious adverse effects of this drug another ER visit and attempt to report these problems added to the difficulty accompanied by my disorientated state, resulted in ignoring and dismissing my concerns of complications being associated with the drug. That was 2 years ago and health, mental and physcial problems including heart problems have continued and increased while doctor visits where my association of these issues beginning after taking levaquin are dismissed.
My life is over. I can't do anything at 50 years old. I'm a prisoner to the pain from this drug & the incompetence of medical professionals who will not even acknowledge my declining health problems are all listed in the side effects and began shortly after taking this drug.
I wish i would have found the miracle infection fighting Colloidal Silver before my life was destroyed so I HOPE to get the word out of this LIFE SAVING Infection fighter and maybe save others from the death sentence handed out by doctors prescribing toxic deadly drugs like this and steroids that shut off your immune system. Just watching drug ads on tv an listening to the rapidly worded warnings of side effects from Cancer to DEATH, how can sane person even think of taking ANYTHING, advertised & wish all drugs were PUSHED in commercials where at least Side EFFECTS are required to be REVEALED.
Elijah
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Marian Brown
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Sherry Reiver
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Having said the above, yes black boxes are important but more important is getting the doctors to READ the black boxes and know the dangers of these drugs as their drug reps don't tell them and that is where doctors get their information from. Drug Reps!
Doctors also need to know that Levaquin is in the same class as Cipro and Avelox and Floxin but they don't seem to know this and give out one or the other if the patient mentions they are allergic to Levaquin or one of many others in the FQ group.
Also topicals such as ear and eye drops need to be included as these are just as dangerous and given out too frequently as well. Children are given the drops and that is a major problem because infants and toddlers can't articulate what is bothering them. Perhaps their learning abilities are being disrupted too. It is a known neuro toxin and affects the brain.
Older people are given eye drops for cataracts. If they start complaining about aches and pains, doctors say it's their age and not the drops they put in their eyes.
Fluoroquinolones are terrible dangerous drugs.
Rather not say
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Debs Cassidy
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Only they are not really antibiotics, they are instead extremely dangerous synthetic neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, there is nothing therapeutic about this chemo unfortunately, & chemotherapy is EXACTLY what they may as well be, as they are Topoisomerase inhibitors, if you look this up you will find the other drugs with this mechanism of action are in fact Chemotherapy, Why oh WHY !, are we being prescribed an atomic bomb for a simple UTI , or even as in my case without ANY infection even being present ? It is unreal !. They can only EVER be justified for use as a last resort when all others have been tried , have failed & the only alternative left is your death!.
I have now lost 26 years of my life to this, & I have to explain to my severely disabled grandson why nanny cannot play with him, he just does not understand, & it breaks my heart…
I am now permanently damaged , both cognitively & physically, I feel like I am 90 years old, I am melting inside, my connective tissues disintegrating day by day.
The original Quinolones were deadly enough , but the fluoroquinolones come straight from the depths of hell, believe me
Unfortunately as is the case for far too many people, they can then drag you straight back down there with them , & then leave you there, in excruciating pain which truly is not of this world …... all too often for the rest of your life !!.
Annette Chase
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Barbara Halloran
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Avelox is given as a drug of last resort primarily for resistent lung infections and should never have been prescribed for a sucessfully treated bowel problem. About a week into the 17 day hospitalization, I went to Wal Mart and the pharmiscist gave me what she called their "gold list" from her computer. It is a about a five page document describing the adverse effects of Avelox.
In that list, it documents Bobby's symptoms. His immune system has been severly, adversly affected. He now must take Cellcept, 3000 mg. per day, which is the maximum dose and which is usually given to transplant patients to supress the immune system. It is a very serious drug and has many side effects.
This whole situation has been a nightmare which is far from being over.
Lance Kimbrell
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As a previous poster commented. I can not get legal representation because I, 1: Took the generic and 2: took it after the black box warnings were issued, so it was at my own risk is what I was told.
Jane Crosby
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Why? because pharmacists continue to fill prescriptions with out a word of caution. Doctors give this drug our like candy without telling people that it carries a black box warning. When patients come in with the very adverse effect in the product inserts, they are told it is not the drug and thrown into a receptacle of fibromyalgia, arthritis or depression. This system is broken.
We need more than more warnings. We need doctors to respect this drug as it was intended, a last resort treatment. We need doctors and pharmacists to read the warnings and side effects to the patient so they will both be aware of the dangers when they present themselves.
Above all, disclose to the patient that this drug works by disrupting the DNA/RNA replication of the bacteria, it does the same to the mitochondrial DNA of the host, you and me. A horrifying thought.
I might add that my own mitochondria was so damaged I was only producing 6% mitochondria energy at 4 years out. I took a total of two pills. Think about it and protect yourselves and loved ones.
Teri CiproVictim
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They are damaging and killing people all over the world; better yet, if they can't regulate it, then they should all be pulled from the market as it is evident, especially since 2011 that they are doing more harm then good.
Sadly, the Fluoroquinolones are given out like Candy since 2021 for such minor ailments as sinus infection, colds, urinary tract infects. Myself, i was given these worse then chemotheraputic drugs ... 10 pills for 10days for a suspected UTI infection and Stones, which i told my doctor that my upper middleinner burning pain was from Clindamycin (another dangerous drug). She laughed at me and said there are no anbiotics that do such harm. I refused further antibiotics for 7 months, them i gave in as the the burning pain that felt like my organis were on fire ... Sizzling, burning ceased to stop. Then my doctor prescribed me Cipro XL within 2 hrs my first adverse reaction, then that night, then that week, and new serious adverse reactions continued. And again my doctor laughed at me and said it is genetics, then some other storey. She refused me to recommend me to any doctor's nor do any xrays, MRI.
Hurt by Levaquin
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Shawn WLSON
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