Patients Harmed by Fluroquinolone Antibiotics Push for Increased FDA Warnings
Antibiotics are one of the greatest achievements of modern medicine, allowing people to survive infections that in the past would have been fatal. However, not all antibiotics on the market today are safe and some can have lasting negative effects on unsuspecting patients. One class of such antibiotics is known as Fluroquinolones. These antibiotics are widely prescribed and sold under brand names such as Levaquin, Avelox, Cipro, and more. These drugs are used to treat a variety of bacterial illnesses, but some patients have experienced severe side effects. In 2004 and 2013, the FDA issued warnings linking Fluroquinolone antibiotics to nerve damage and neuropathy. Now, patients are calling for increased warnings.
What are Fluroquinolone Antibiotics?
Fluroquinolone antibiotics use fluoride as a main component. They are prescribed to over 23 million Americans a year. Cipro is among the most common of Fluroquinolones. These antibiotics treat a variety of urinary tract, skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal infections.
Fluroquinolones and Nerve Damage
Studies and patient experience both show that Fluroquinolones can cause nerve damage in some people. As relayed by one patient to ABC News, Fluroquinolones can cause immense pain, debilitating nerve pain, muscle weakness, sensory problems, organ damage, and permanent disability.
Patients harmed by Fluroquinolones will generally start to experience negative effects within one week, with some becoming debilitated within just days of starting the drug. Most patients who suffer nerve damage due to a Fluroquinolone antibiotic will continue to experience pain and other symptoms for at least three months. For many, symptoms continue even years after taking the drug.
FDA Warnings for Fluroquinolones and Nerve Damage
Warnings as to nerve damage were first included on Fluroquinolone antibiotics in 2004. The warnings were heightened in 2013 after the FDA received increasing reports concerning nerve damage among users. Now, patients and safety advocates are calling for the FDA to increase warnings as to the potentially debilitating side effects associated with these drugs. They want a black box warning label to accompany these drugs so that potential users can weigh the risks before taking them.
What to Do if You Have Been Injured by Fluroquinolone Antibiotics
If you have experienced nerve damage or any other injury due to taking Fluroquinolone antibiotics, consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Your attorney will assess your potential case and determine whether you may have a viable cause of action against the manufacturer of the drug that harmed you. If you can establish the drug was unreasonably dangerous or did not come with sufficient warnings, you should be entitled to compensation.
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If you have been injured due to prescription drug, contact the Georgia Dangerous Drug Attorneys at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law. Our firm assists injured consumers across Georgia and in the Southeast and we bring over 39 years of experience to your dangerous drug case, striving to provide you with the exceptional representation you need to obtain the best possible outcome. The sooner you act after your injury, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery. As such, it is important that you seek the assistance of a licensed lawyer as soon as possible. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source:
http://www.abc2news.com/news/in-focus/advocates-seek-proper-warning-for-levaquin
http://www.medicationsense.com/articles/may_aug_05/warning_antibiotics_052205.php