Levaquin Peripheral Neuropathy Suit

Levaquin Lawsuit Filed Against Johnson & Johnson Over Nerve Damage Injuries

As more information comes to light about the risk of Levaquin nerve damage injuries, patients across the country are pursuing peripheral neuropathy claims against Johnson & Johnson.

Levaquin maker Johnson & Johnson faces a new product liability lawsuit filed on behalf of a Maryland woman, who alleges that side effects of the antibiotic drug caused her to suffer peripheral neuropathy, a severe and often permanent form of nerve damage. The complaint was filed by Karyn Grossman in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, and names Johnson & Johnson, its Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals subsidiary, and the drug distributor, McKesson Corp. as defendants. If you believe you have been harmed by side effects of Levaquin, or another fluoroquinolone antibiotic like Cipro or Avelox, our consumer advocates at the Consumer Justice Foundation can help put you in touch with a reputable drug injury lawyer today.

FDA Warning Regarding Levaquin Risks

The Levaquin nerve damage suit brought against Johnson & Johnson comes one year after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required the makers of the entire class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, like Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox, to add new warning labels regarding the risk of peripheral neuropathy side effects. The FDA issued the drug safety communication in August 2013, and warned consumers and the medical community that peripheral neuropathy may arise at any time during treatment with Levaquin and similar antibiotic drugs, and may continue for months or even years after use of the medications is discontinued.

Symptoms of Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition characterized by damage to the nerves that connect the brain and the rest of the body, resulting in symptoms like pain, tingling, burning, weakness, numbness, impaired movement, and a change of sensation to light tough and temperature. According to allegations raised in Grossman’s lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson ignored information about the potential connection between Levaquin and peripheral neuropathy for years, failing to adequately warn consumers and medical professionals about the risk of long-lasting and potentially irreversible nerve damage associated with the antibiotic medication.

Levaquin Nerve Damage May Be Irreversible

“The warning label for Levaquin during the period from September 2004 through August 2013 misled Plaintiff and her treating physician by incorrectly advising patients and physicians that peripheral neuropathy associated with Levaquin use was “rare” and in any case could be avoided by discontinuing the drug upon the onset of certain symptoms,” Grossman’s complaint states. “The truth, however, is that the onset of irreversible peripheral neuropathy is often rapid and discontinuation of the drug will not ensure that the peripheral neuropathy is reversible.”

An Experienced Levaquin Lawyer Can Help

Although drug makers have claimed that nerve damage from Levaquin and similar fluoroquinolone medications is rare, a growing body of research suggests otherwise. In fact, according to a study published in the journal Neurology in August 2014, patients taking drugs from the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics actually have double the risk of suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Despite of these risks, fluoroquinolones remain some of the most widely used antibiotic drugs in the world, with 23.1 million patients receiving a prescription for an oral fluoroquinolone drug like Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox in 2011. If you took Levaquin in the past, and you have since been diagnosed with nerve damage, contact a knowledgeable Levaquin attorney to discuss your legal options.