Have you or someone you loved suffered from serious Levaquin side effects like aortic aneurysm or dissection? Have you required aortic dissection surgery? You may be able to file a lawsuit and receive compensation.

Basics of Levaquin

Levaquin (levofloxacin) is a popular fluoroquinolone drug, a kind of antibiotic used to treat common bacterial infections. Other fluoroquinolones include Avelox, Cipro, Noroxin, Factive, and Floxin. While Levaquin and similar medications have become increasingly popular in recent years, they have unfortunately been linked with serious—and potentially fatal—complications.

Unfortunately, recent research suggests that patients taking Levaquin and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics are 2 to 3 times more likely to suffer from aortic damage like aortic dissection or aneurysm. These side effects can be life-threatening, as the aorta is the main artery responsible for carrying blood out of the heart.

Levaquin Side Effects

Major damage to the aorta can be attributed to two main problems; aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection (or tear). Essentially, an aortic aneurysm is a serious and painful complication in which the aorta bulges as the artery’s walls weaken. This often causes chest pain, and has the added risk of a potential rupture.

An aortic dissection involves the layers of the aorta breaking down, dissecting the inner and middle layers. When the aorta tears, blood can move into the aortic wall, weakening the wall’s layers as it pushes between them, which can cause dangerous or even fatal rupturing or leaking problems. Patients who suffer from an aortic tear may experience restricted blood flow to major organs. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, paralysis, and kidney failure, among other serious complications. Both of these antibiotic side effects are quite serious and usually require aortic dissection surgery.

Aortic Dissection Surgery

In most cases, emergency aortic dissection surgery is necessary for these kinds of injuries in order to repair the blood vessel, preventing fatality. Aortic dissection surgery itself presents some serious risks, including death, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a formal advisory in May 2016 ordering for the boxed warnings of fluoroquinolones to be updated. In July 2016, the FDA further noted that the risk of aortic dissection posed by Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones may outweigh their benefits.

Filing a Levaquin Lawsuit

Unfortunately, patients may be unaware that Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones may lead to these serious aortic complications, placing them at risk. If you or someone you love has had to undergo aortic dissection surgery or suffered from other side effects after using Levaquin or another fluoroquinolone drug, you may be able to join the growing pile of litigation against fluoroquinolone manufacturers.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by Levaquin or another fluoroquinolone drug, including side effects like aortic dissection or aneurysm, you may be able to pursue litigation. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these serious complications, or bring a loved one back to life, it can help to compensate for the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.