If you or a loved one has ever had a bacterial infection, a doctor may have told you to take the antibiotic drug Levaquin (Levofloxacin). In fact, in 2010, Levaquin was the most popular antibiotic in America. However, this drug may have left you with more than an infection. Unfortunately, many people who have taken Levaquin are now experiencing severe side effects, such as long-term or even permanent nerve damage.
At The Law Place, our law firm understands the severity of your situation. We believe that you should not have to suffer because money-hungry drug companies did not fairly warn of you of the risks involved in taking their drugs or attempt to make their medicines safer. We have a wealth of experience of fighting for the rights and justice of injured people, including those negatively affected by taking a drug promised to make them better. If you or a loved one you know may have suffered nerve damage from taking Levaquin, we would like to help.
Give us a call on 941-444-4444, and we can schedule a free case evaluation with our Sarasota personal injury lawyers to help you win the compensation which you may be entitled to.
The Law Place Lawyers Are Here to Help
The first thing you need to do if you or a loved one has been the victim of nerve damage as a side effect of taking Levaquin is to contact a reputable Sarasota nerve damage attorney. Here at The Law Place, we have dealt with cases like yours before. We are able to help you to navigate the complex laws and will give you all the information you need. We have a wealth of experience and resources to stand up against large pharmaceutical companies.
You should not have to suffer because you simply took the drugs prescribed to you by a doctor. Contact us today, as we are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have a Sarasota personal injury lawyer ready to help you.
What Kind of Nerve Damage Is Caused by Levaquin?
The antibiotic Levaquin (Levofloxacin) causes peripheral neuropathy, which essentially means that it seriously damages the vast network of nerves that send vital signals from your brain to your body. The side effects that Levaquin can have on the body include damage to both your sensory nerves and motor nerves. The consequences of such damage can be devastating.
Sensory nerves have a wide range of functions; some of them involve controlling your sense of touch and hearing. The side effects of the drug include sensory nerve damage. You may notice:
- Sudden pain or temperature.
- Severe touch sensitivity.
- Losses of sensation, such as not being capable of feeling temperature change or pain.
- Poor reflexes.
- Loss of coordination.
Motor nerves are the nerves that affect your arms and legs as you rely on these nerves to control your movements – everything from walking to using your arms to getting yourself dressed. When these vital motor nerves are damaged, you may notice:
- Muscle twitching.
- Muscle cramps.
- Weakness.
- Atrophy, or your muscles getting smaller in your arms and legs.
The peripheral neuropathy nerve damage, caused by Levaquin can leave you in an immense amount of pain; you could even be struggling to walk. You or a loved one may unfairly be suffering because of this drug; the peripheral neuropathy may occur within days of taking the drug and, unfortunately, can last for a year or longer. It could have even left you with permanent nerve damage.
Damage to your nerves is incredibly serious. It can ultimately have a massive impact on your quality of life and has the potential to lead to further mental health issues such as depression. You should not have to suffer because of drugs you have innocently taken to cure a minor illness. This is where The Law Place lawyers are here for you.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day.
Who Produces Levaquin and Are They Aware of Its Dangers?
Levaquin (Levofloxacin) is manufactured by a Johnson & Johnson company, Ortho-McNeill-Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The company is very much familiar with the drug’s dangers. Peripheral neuropathy was highlighted as a possible side effect of the drug in the early 2000s. Scholars have even reported on several cases of nerve damage, but manufacturers of fluoroquinolone drugs simply pushed the concerns aside as they believed they were rare occurrences.
In 2013, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that they were updating the labels for all fluoroquinolone drugs, including Levaquin, to incorporate the potential risk of developing peripheral neuropathy when taking these drugs. This was taken further in 2016 when the FDA issued a more severe warning and recommended that doctors should not prescribe these drugs for minor infections, which could be treated by a much safer drug. The FDA indicated that the potential risks and side effects, including peripheral neuropathy, outweighed any benefits which the drugs have.
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Who Is Liable for Your Nerve Damage?
When a company values profits more than your safety and sells a drug that has serious side effects, they can be held liable. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Levaquin and similar drugs such as Cipro and Avelox. They often claim that:
- The company was aware that the drug was not safe but failed to do enough to warn the public or doctors about the side effects.
- The company hid the dangers and consequently misled the public and doctors.
- The company continued to encourage the benefits of the drug as a worthwhile treatment for minor bacterial infections, despite knowing that it has the potential to cause peripheral neuropathy when they knew there were safer options.
If the manufacturer, in your case, Johnson & Johnson, is found liable for the nerve damage that you have suffered, you are entitled to compensation to recover all of your expenses. These costs may include your medical bills, lost money due to the inability to be employed, and reimbursement for your debilitating quality of life as a result of taking the drug.
Unfortunately, the money will not be able to undo the damage caused, but it is the only plausible way our legal system in Florida can help you build your life back up and hold these shameful companies to account.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Talk to a Levaquin Nerve Damage Lawyer
It may be a good idea to seek representation for your case in the form of a lawyer. You do not need to suffer alone; your care is a high priority of ours. You need an attorney that can provide immense knowledge, our lawyers are experienced in personal injury law and are the best to represent your case in Sarasota, Florida.
Call our lawyers at The Law Place on 941-444-4444 to schedule a free consultation for a free case evaluation.
