A new lawsuit has been filed over Levaquin nerve damage a Pennsylvania resident says he received after taking the popular antibiotic.

While the risk of torn tendons from Levaquin has been known for some time, new research indicates that a possible form of Levaquin nerve damage, medically known as peripheral neuropathy, could be a severe and sometimes irreversible side effect.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that develops when the peripheral nervous system sustains damage. When the brain and spinal cord transmit signals to the rest of the body, these signals are sent via the peripheral nervous system, the map of nerves throughout the body.

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals and belongs to a relatively new class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones.

Levaquin is often prescribed to treat bacterial infections of the skin, sinuses, kidneys, bladder or prostate. It has also been used to treat bacterial bronchitis and pneumonia.

Pennsylvania Man’s Levaquin Nerve Damage

Plaintiff Richard W. was prescribed Levaquin in July 2006 and took it as directed. Soon after, he experienced symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. The symptoms, which worsened over time, included pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness and changes in sensation.

Although such Levaquin nerve damage can be severe and debilitating, Levaquin packaging lists peripheral neuropathy at the bottom of a long list of rare adverse reactions.

History of Levaquin Nerve Damage

When Levaquin came on the market in the 1980s, it was introduced as a last-resort antibiotic because it could treat both gram positive and gram negative bacterial infections that had shown resistance to traditional antibiotic treatment.

In an internal document quoted in the Levaquin nerve damage lawsuit, Johnson and Johnson decided in 2000 to expand the marketing strategy for Levaquin. More money was to be made if Levaquin were positioned as a product to fight common infections such as bronchitis and sinusitis.

Their new marketing message to reach more patients was released in August 2001.

At that time, Johnson and Johnson already knew of the possibility of Levaquin nerve damage.

By the mid-1990s, Johnson and Johnson knew the most common central nervous system adverse events were “dizziness, paraesthesia and headache.”

Paraesthesia is the medical term for the burning or prickling sensation that occurs in the hands, arms, legs or feet.

In 2003, Janssen researchers were asked to evaluate the “neuropathy question.” A look at the frequency of adverse events showed 246 reported headaches, 377 reports of insomnia, 421 reports of dizziness and 489 reports of nausea. During the same period, there were 421 reports of burning sensations, numbness and weakness.

Another review of adverse reports in 2006 revealed very similar results.

The lawsuit contends that Johnson and Johnson tried to conceal from doctors the fact that there was such a frequent reported occurrence of peripheral neuropathy. The fear was that if physicians knew of the risks, they would perhaps be more hesitant to prescribe Levaquin for the routine infections that were targeted in the new marketing strategy.

Over the years, Levaquin has been mareted as having an “excellent safety” profile, playing up relatively mild side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, insomnia and dizziness.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy such as burning sensations, numbness and weakness were downplayed or omitted entirely.

In 2006, a review of 263 reported cases of Levaquin nerve damage led to the conclusion that onset of symptoms “appeared to be rapid in some cases” and that “there was evidence of longer-term sequelae” according to a report by the senior director of Janssen’s risk management team.

The evidence shows that the incidence of Levaquin nerve damage was not as “rare” as the drug maker made it appear.

Levaquin Nerve Damage Lawsuit

If you or someone you know has suffered Levaquin nerve damage, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit to help cover losses from pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills and more.

The Levaquin Nerve Damage Lawsuit is Case No. 16-4084 in the United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania.