Investigations

Because Levaquin weakens tendons, physical stress can cause Levaquin patients’ tendons to rupture, requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation.

Related Topics: Levaquin Levaquin Side Effects Levaquin Lawyers Dangerous Product Alert: Antibiotic Levaquin Linked To Tendon Rupture Other Levaquin News: FDA Recommends Black Box Warning for Levaquin and Cipro

Tendons subjected to heavy stress, such as the Achilles' tendon, shoulder rotator cuff, and tendons supporting the knee and attached to the quadriceps, are most at risk of tendon ruptures. Levaquin patients with the highest risk of tendon ruptures include:

• runners
• weight-lifters
• and any athletes or workers who put a lot of pressure and strain on their joints

Levaquin Tendon Rupture Signs & Symptoms

Tendon ruptures typically occur near the end of 7 or 14 day courses of Levaquin treatment, but tendon ruptures may also occur after Levaquin treatment has been completed. Symptoms of an Achilles tendon rupture, which is the most common type of tendon rupture caused by Levaquin, may include:

• swelling and severe pain toward the heel
• inability to walk normally
• inability to walk without pain
• inability to place the entire foot downward
• inability to raise toes on the injured leg

FDA Levaquin Tendon Rupture Warning

In January 2008, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen filed a lawsuit against the FDA in an attempt to compel the agency to order Levaquin’s maker to include a warning on the Levaquin label regarding the risk of tendon ruptures and other tendon injuries.

Finally, in July 2008, the FDA issued a health alert notifying the manufacturers of certain antibiotics, including Levaquin’s maker, of the need to add a boxed warning to the prescribing information about the increased risk of developing tendonitis and tendon rupture in patients taking fluoroquinolones.

Besides Levaquin, the following antibiotics must now carry a black box warning regarding tendon rupture:

• Penetrex (Enoxacin, made by Aventis)
• Tequin (Gatifloxacin, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb)
• Cipro (Ciprofloxacin, made by Bayer)
• Maxaquin (Lomefloxacin, made by Unimed)
• Avelox (Moxifloxacin, made by Bayer)
• Noroxin (Norfloxacin, made by Merck)
• Floxin (Ofloxacin, made by Daiichi-Sankyo)

Levaquin & Tendon Rupture Lawyers

If you or a loved one took Levaquin and experienced a serious side effect, such as a tendon rupture, contact us today as you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.