Levaquin Linked To Tendon Ruptures; Hundreds of Lawsuits Expected

Levaquin, the antibiotic drug made by Johnson & Johnson used to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections, has been linked to tendon ruptures. Legal experts expect that hundreds of lawsuits may be filed against several manufacturers of antibiotics that, like Levaquin, are fluoroquinolone antibiotics.

Levaquin lawsuits

According to news reports, approximately 40 lawsuits have already been filed against Johnson & Johnson after patients taking Levaquin, known as fluoroquinolone antibiotics, have had their tendons ruptured. Hundreds more are expected to be filed in the future against either Johnson & Johnson or other companies that manufacture similar drugs. In fact, legal experts predict that the number of lawsuits filed against manufacturers may reach 500.

Related fluoroquinolone lawsuits

Similar lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of drugs containing fluoroquinolone such as Bayer’s Cipro and Avelox, Oscient Pharmaceutical’s Factive, Merck & Company’s Noroxin and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical’s Floxin.

Most of the lawsuits already filed in state courts are concentrated in Mississippi, New York and New Jersey. However, the lawsuits already filed in federal court have been consolidated in a multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They generally allege that the drugs have caused tendonitis, tendon apathy, injuries related to the Achilles tendon and other tendon ruptures and manufacturers failed to warn consumers about these risks.

FDA issues Black Box Warning in 2008

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a black box warning, the highest warning possible, on all fluoroquinolone drugs in July 2008 about increased risks of tendonitis and tendon ruptures – especially for those patients who are over 60, those currently undergoing concomitant steroid therapy and recipients or kidney, heart and lung transplants. For additional information on the FDA’s black box warning, go to: https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm088619.pdf.

If you’ve been injured due to Levaquin or another fluoroquinolone drug, contact a harmful drug lawyer to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.