As Levaquin Lawsuit Filings Grow, FDA Updates Boxed Warning for Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics, Bernstein Liebhard LLP Reports

May 16, 2016 - The serious side effects associated with Levaquin and similar antibiotics have prompted the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to require labeling changes for all systemic medications included in the fluoroquinolone class. In a Drug Safety Communication dated May 12th, the agency announced that those modifications would include an updated boxed warning stating that the risks associated with fluoroquinolones generally outweigh the benefits for patients with sinusitis, bronchitis and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options.

The FDA action follows a review which found that medications like Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox are associated with a number of serious risks, including side effects involving the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and central nervous system. These complications are potentially permanent and can occur together.

"Our Firm is investigating a number of legal claims on behalf of individuals who allegedly developed peripheral neuropathy, a debilitating nerve disorder, due to their use of Levaquin or other fluoroquinolones. We are pleased that the FDA has taken step to raise awareness of this serious public health issue," says Sandy A. Liebhard LLP, a partner at Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is offering free, no-obligation legal reviews to patients who were diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy that could be associated with the use of Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox.

Fluoroquinolone Peripheral Neuropathy Litigation
Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox and other fluoroquinolones are commonly-used antibiotics indicated to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including staph, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, E. coli and salmonella. According to The Wall Street Journal, more than 36 million fluoroquinolone prescriptions were written in 2014. However, the risks potentially associated with these medications have caused concern for some time.

Court records indicate that at least 385 peripheral neuropathy lawsuit are now pending against the manufacturers of Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox in a federal multidistrict litigation underway in the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota. Plaintiffs claim that the drug companies have been aware of the relationship between fluoroquinolones and peripheral neuropathy for years, yet failed to provide doctors and patients with adequate warnings regarding this risk. While the possibility of peripheral neuropathy was first noted on the drugs' labeling in 2004, the FDA ordered their manufacturers to strengthen the labels in 2013 to better reflect the rapid onset of peripheral neuropathy symptoms as well as the potential for permanence. (In Re: Fluoroquinolone Products Liability Litigation – MDL No. 2642)

Patients who were diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy or permanent nerve damage following treatment with Levaquin, Cipro or Avelox may be entitled to file a lawsuit of their own. To learn more, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP's website. Free, no-obligation legal consultations can also be obtained by calling 800-511-5092.

About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993. As a national law firm, Bernstein Liebhard LLP possesses all of the legal and financial resources required to successfully challenge billion dollar pharmaceutical and medical device companies. As a result, our attorneys and legal staff have been able to recover more than $3.5 billion on behalf of our clients. Bernstein Liebhard LLP is honored to once again be named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List," recognizing the top plaintiffs firms in the country. This year's nomination marks the thirteenth year the firm has been named to this prestigious annual list.

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Sandy A. Liebhard, Esq.
Bernstein Liebhard LLP
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