ST. LOUIS, MO, December 24, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- One of the most widely used pharmaceutical products on the market to day is the powerful antibiotic Levaquin. It is ranked 19th in overall sales, generating approximately $1.8 billion in revenues per year. Made by Ortho-McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson, Levaquin accounted for 6.5% of the overall sales for the company in 2007.
Some
drugs are dangerous and may affect the body in unexpected ways. While Levaquin is approved by the FDA, and proven to kill even the toughest bacterial infections like pneumonia and skin infections, it also comes with some serious side effects that the doctor and patient must consider prior to use.
Several reports of adverse events to the FDA MedWatch reporting site led the FDA to require a "black-box" label to Levaquin, the highest warning available. Legal action against the makers of Levaquin will help ensure that those who suffer injury receive adequate compensation for damages that occur.
Types of Injury
The most important and deadly reactions to Levaquin or any other antibiotic are allergic reactions. If left untreated, a severe allergic reaction can lead to emergency treatment and even death. A patient undergoing treatment for the first time should be closely monitored for 30 minutes to ensure there is no reaction. Signs of antibiotic allergies include:
-- Redness and swelling
-- Hives
-- Shortness of breath
-- Seizures
-- Sudden headaches
Antibiotics are broken into several classes; an allergy in one class does not necessarily mean that the patient is allergic to all antibiotics.
An unexpected, but well-proven side effect of Levaquin is ruptured tendons. Patients who are 60 years and older, and are taking corticosteroids are especially susceptible to spontaneous tendon rupture, resulting in additional medical expense and treatment, usually including surgery, to correct.
Types of Compensation
Pharmaceutical companies are primarily concerned with profits and a few side effects typically will not get in their way, especially for a successfully marketed product like Levaquin. Patients who suffer additional personal injury or wrongful death can file suit against the manufacture to collect compensation. Damages from a successful Levaquin suit may include:
-- Lost wages
-- Disability
-- Medical bills
-- Funeral expenses
-- Pain and suffering
-- Punitive damages
Legal Assistance
Manufacturers of dangerous drugs that lead to personal injury or wrongful death may be held liable for damages. In most pharmaceutical cases, the drug company is considered strictly liable, because of the inherent nature of the drugs. This means the plaintiff does not have to prove negligence in order to obtain Levaquin compensation.
A pharmaceutical litigation attorney can help sort out the specifics in filing a Levaquin lawsuit. Each state has its own statute of limitations on when someone can file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, so an attorney who knows the requirements for all 50 states.
If you have been harmed by a defective drug, please visit the website of defective drug attorneys
Schlichter, Bogard & Denton today to learn more; clients from all over the United States are welcome.
Website:
http://www.druginjuryinformation.com/---
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