A Levaquin lawsuit has been filed against Johnson & Johnson Inc. and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. by a New Jersey resident who alleges she suffered nerve damage because of her use of their quinolone antibiotic, Levaquin.

Plaintiff Sheila E. filed this Levaquin lawsuit in December 2014, alleging she developed peripheral neuropathy, a severe type of nerve damage that can be directly linked to her ingestion of Janssen’s antibiotic. She claims, “Levaquin is defective, dangerous to human health, unfit and unsuitable to be marketed and sold in commerce, and lacked proper warnings and directions as to the dangers associated with its use,” according to her Levaquin lawsuit.

Sheila further alleges that J&J, Janssen, and the other subsidiaries associated with the designing, manufacturing, distributing, and selling of Levaquin “failed to appropriately and adequately inform and warn Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s prescribing physicians of the serious and dangerous risks associated with the use of Levaquin concerning peripheral neuropathy, as well as other severe and personal injuries, which are permanent and/or long-lasting in nature, cause significant physical pain and mental anguish, diminished enjoyment of life, and the need for medical treatment, monitoring and/or medications.”

The plaintiff brings several allegations against Levaquin’s manufacturers, including strict liability, failure to warn, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraud, negligent representation, and fraudulent concealment. Sheila is seeking relief from Janssen and Johnson & Johnson in the form of general and special damages, medical expenses, refund of Levaquin purchases, compensatory damages, consequential damages, punitive damages, payment of attorneys and court fees, and other relief deemed fit by the court.

The Levaquin Peripheral Neuropathy Lawsuit is Case No. 3:14-cv-05669-EDL, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.

Quinolone Peripheral Neuropathy

Quinolones (also known as fluoroquinolones) are a group of antibiotics that are widely prescribed to treat urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, bronchitis, and a whole host of other internal bodily infections. The quinolone drug group includes popular antibiotics like Levaquin, Avelox, and Cipro (also known as Ciprofloxin). While quinolones can be helpful in treating a wide range of bacterial infections, these drugs have been known to cause severe and even permanent peripheral neuropathy.

In general, quinolone peripheral neuropathy begins rapidly, and patients begin presenting symptoms just a few days after taking the quinolone drug.

Some quinolone peripheral neuropathy symptoms include:

• Tingling or numbness in the extremities starting in the hands and feet and spreading to the arms and legs
• Burning pain
• Sharp, jabbing pain or electric-like pain
• Extreme touch sensitivity
• Skin, hair or nail changes
• Lack of coordination
• Muscle weakness
• Paralysis
• Heat intolerance
• Bowel, bladder of digestive problems
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

Many individuals who have allegedly suffered from severe nerve damage after taking Levaquin or another fluoroquinolone antibiotic have filed Levaquin quinolone peripheral neuropathy lawsuits or joined a quinolone peripheral neuropathy class action lawsuit.