Bayer Healthcare and Merck & Co. are facing a product liability lawsuit filed on behalf of a Nebraska woman, who alleges that side effects of Avelox caused her to suffer severe peripheral neuropathy injuries. The Avelox lawsuit was filed by Geraldine Blackmon in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada on February 26, and alleges that she experienced the irreversible nerve damage after being prescribed a 15-day course of the popular antibiotic drug Avelox. If you believe you have been adversely affected by side effects of Avelox, such as permanent nerve damage, contact a knowledgeable Avelox attorney today to explore your possible compensation options.
Avelox (moxifloxacin) is a popular antibiotic drug commonly prescribed to treat different types of bacterial infections in the lungs, stomach, sinuses or skin. Although Avelox is among some of the most widely-used antibiotic drugs in the United States, serious concerns have been raised about the potential link between Avelox and side effects like peripheral neuropathy, a serious medical condition characterized by damage to the nerves and often accompanied by symptoms like pain, burning, numbness or tingling; impaired sensation and movement; and sensitivity to light touches, temperature and motion in the arms and legs.
Geraldine Blackmon’s product liability case joins a growing number of Avelox peripheral neuropathy lawsuits filed on behalf of patients across the country, who claim to have suffered irreversible nerve damage during or after taking the antibiotic medication. All of the complaints involve similar allegations that Bayer Healthcare and other manufacturing companies failed to warn consumers and medical professionals about the risk of permanent nerve damage associated with the class of antibiotic drugs called fluoroquinolones, which includes Avelox, Levaquin and others.
While warnings about permanent nerve damage from Avelox, Levaquin and similar antibiotic drugs have indicated that users may face a risk of peripheral neuropathy, for years the makers of these medications claimed that the nerve problems were rare, and typically subsided once use of the drug was stopped. However, numerous reports have been submitted to the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System indicating that fluoroquinolone users have experienced debilitating peripheral neuropathy complications that have persisted long after the medication has been discontinued. As a result of her peripheral neuropathy injuries from Avelox, Blackmon indicates that she experienced significant pain and suffering, which has diminished her overall quality of life.
In August 2013, the FDA required the manufacturers of fluoroquinolone antibiotic drugs to provide stronger warnings about the risk of peripheral neuropathy side effects associated with the medications, indicating that the nerve problems may last for months or years after the drug treatment is discontinued. If you took Avelox in the past, and you have since experienced symptoms of irreversible peripheral neuropathy, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help. We are committed to protecting the rights of consumers harmed by allegedly dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, and can help put you in touch with a reputable Avelox lawyer today.
