What CIPRO, LEVAQUIN & AVELOX Is Used For?
The popular antibiotics Levaquin (levofloxacin), Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin) are in a class of drugs called “fluoroquinolones”. These antibiotics are commonly used for a variety of community and hospital acquired infections.
HOW CIPRO, LEVAQUIN & AVELOX WORKS?
CIPRO, LEVAQUIN & AVELOX
Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Levaquin (levofloxacin) are antibiotics that belong to a class of drugs called fluoroquinolones. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. Both Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Levaquin (levofloxacin) are antibiotics used for treating bacterial infections. Both drugs work by stopping multiplication of bacteria by preventing the reproduction and repair of their genetic material (DNA).
Read More
- Cipro and Levaquin are used to treat infections of the lungs, airways, skin, bones, and joints caused by susceptible bacteria. Both drugs are also used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by certain bacteria, for example:
- E. coli
- Infectious diarrhea caused by E. coli, Campylobacter jejuni, and Shigella bacteria
- Inhalational anthrax exposure with fever and low white blood cell counts
- Intra-abdominal infections (peritonitis)
- Prostatitis (infection of the prostate)
- Other bacterial infections that are treated with Cipro include typhoid fever, cervical and urethral gonorrhea due to Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and acute uncomplicated cystitis.
- Levaquin used also to treat bacterial infections of the sinuses and ears (sinusitis, ear infections), and obstetric infections, including mastitis(infection of the breast).
SYMPTOMS & SIDE EFFECTS OF CIPRO, LEVAQUIN & AVELOX
Some people who take these medicines may develop disabling and potentially permanent side effects of the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system. These can occur in someone all at the same time.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises against using fluoroquinolone antibiotics for the treatment of three common infections: acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, and urinary tract infections (UTI) without complications. The agency made this decision because the chances of serious side effects outweigh the benefits for most people.
Latest CIPRO, LEVAQUIN & AVELOX News & Recalls
In recent years case reports have linked Levaquin, Cipro, and Avelox with peripheral neuropathy, or serious nerve damage. As a result of the large number of cases of peripheral neuropathy in patients using Avelox, Cipro, and Levaquin being reported to the FDA, it issued this warning in August 2013: “FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA requires label changes to warn of risk for possibly permanent nerve damage from antibacterial fluoroquinolone drugs taken by mouth or by injection”.
Further, the FDA ordered the the manufacturers of these fluoroquinolone antibiotics — Avelox: Bayer / Schering Plough / Merck; Cipro: Bayer; Levaquin: Janssen — to increase their warnings about this adverse drug event on their respective product’s labels. For example, this language was added to the Levaquin drug label (accessed 8/22/2014) in September 2013:
Read More
5.8 Peripheral Neuropathy
Cases of sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy affecting small and/or large axons resulting in paresthesias, hypoesthesias, dysesthesias and weakness have been reported in patients receiving fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN®. Symptoms may occur soon after initiation of LEVAQUIN® and may be irreversible. LEVAQUIN® should be discontinued immediately if the patient experiences symptoms of neuropathy including pain, burning, tingling, numbness, and/or weakness or other alterations of sensation including light touch, pain, temperature, position sense, and vibratory sensation [see Adverse Reactions (6), Patient Counseling Information (17.3)].
Now, the first large epidemiologic study seems to have confirmed that Avelox, Cipro, and Levaquin are linked with peripheral neuropathy. On August 22, 2014 the article, “Oral fluoroquinolone use and risk of peripheral neuropathy”, reporting about that study was published online before print by the medical journal Neurology.
Lawsuits & Settlements
Product Liability MDL Lawsuit Case Now Forming Ten Bellwether Trials – March 2017: Drug manufacturers face civil liability claims by plaintiffs who complained in the Minnesota District Court. The plaintiffs allege that drugs of the fluoroquinolone class, in particular Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox and its generic version, are at the origin of peripheral neuropathy. The judge in charge of the case decided to hear ten pending cases in order to help resolve more than 735 trials in federal court in the form of a multi-party dispute over fluoroquinolones (case 2642).
$74 Million Bayer Cipro Settlement Resolves Major Class Action Suit – January 2014: A judge of the Superior Court of California finally approved the settlement of a class action. The case alleged that Bayer, Inc. had conspired with other pharmaceutical companies to prevent the cost of generic antibiotics from competing with branded pharmaceuticals. They denied any crime that violated or violated federal and provincial laws and regulations. Even in this case, the company accepted a $ 74 million settlement to pay compensatory damages to all the plaintiffs involved in the class action lawsuit.
Read More
Using Cipro Might Be Linked to Stevens-Johnson Syndrome – June 2016: Patients who have been prescribed Cipro (ciprofloxacin) may be the first indicators of a life-threatening reaction to the medication. Cipro rash has been associated with several medications, including fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked drug companies to include information on black box warning labels to stop using Cipro and other fluoroquinolone-based drugs at the first sign. of an eruption. The body reacts causing itching, fever and inflammation of the pharynx. Over time, the rash may form blisters and detach from the outer layers of the skin. In some cases, Stevens-Johnson syndrome can exacerbate and progress to a life-threatening TEN (toxic epidermal necrolysis) condition.
Legal Assistance
If proper warnings had been provided about the link between Cipro, Avelox, Levaquin and nerve damage, users may have been able to avoid the painful and debilitating effects of peripheral neuropathy by switching to another antibiotic after first signs or symptoms of pain and discomfort.
All Cipro peripheral neuropathy lawsuits are reviewed by attorneys under a contingency fee agreement, which means that you are never out-of-pocket any expenses to pursue a case. Attorney fees and reimbursement for expenses are only paid out of any Cipro settlement or other recovery obtained in the case, meaning you pay nothing unless you win.
HOW TO FILE A CLAIM
Do you want to learn if you have a case? The lawsuits are being filed on behalf of those patients who suffered:
- Pain
- Burning
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Change in sensation to light touch, pain, or temperature
- Change in sense of body position
- Loss of reflexes
- Paresthesia
- Muscle wasting
- Paralysis
The suit claims that the drug makers failed to properly warn patients and doctors of the most severe side effects of these drugs, causing additional injuries.
Lawyers expect that thousands of patients will ultimately come forward with injuries to file claims. As is often the case with drug injury lawsuits, cases may eventually be consolidated in a central federal court for expedited handling.
A lawyer can speak with you today to determine if your case qualifies, and it costs nothing to investigate or file your claim unless you receive compensation.
Do you have a case?
-
CONTACT US
Address
4900 Fournace Place
Bellaire, TX 77401 -
FOLLOW US
