Patients and doctors across the country are alarmed over new antibiotic side effects fluoroquinolones like Levaquin may be linked to.

Recent research has suggested that patients taking Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones are two to three times more likely to suffer aortic aneurysm or other forms of aortic damage.

Now, aortic aneurysm may be added to the long list of Levaquin side effects. As Levaquin is the second most popular fluoroquinolone, the impact of this is wide-reaching.

Approved in 1996, Levaquin is popularly prescribed to treat respiratory and urinary tract infections. There are over 20 million prescriptions for fluoroquinolones written per year.

While each fluoroquinolone comes with the risk of potential antibiotic side effects, aortic aneurysm and dissection are some of the most recent injuries to be added to the list of potential side effects.

Overview of Levaquin Side Effects: Aortic Aneurysm

Aortic aneurysm is the building of the aorta, the main vein of the body in which the walls weaken and are at risk of bursting. Not to be confused with aortic dissection, which is an actual tear in the aortic wall, both injuries are considered potential antibiotic side effects linked to fluoroquinolones.

New and old studies have linked Levaquin side effects to aortic aneurysm, with one of the most recent released in the October 2015 issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

Researchers had analyzed 1,477 fluoroquinolone patients who suffered aortic aneurysm, out of approximately 150,000 patients.

The study lasted from January 2000 and December 2011. Findings indicated patients who were past users of these antibiotics were at least at 50% higher risk.

However patients who were currently taking fluoroquinolones were 2.4 times more likely to suffer aortic aneurysm.

Around the same time in November 2015, the British Medical Journal had published another study observing fluoroquinolone antibiotic side effects.

The study analyzed 18,000 patients who suffered aortic aneurysm out of 650,000 adult Canadian patients who were prescribed fluoroquinolones between 1997 to 2012.

As a result of these findings, patients are being warned against aortic aneurysm as a potential addition to Levaquin side effects.

Previously in 2008, the FDA added a black box warning to all fluoroquinolone drug labels warning against tendon ruptures. Scientists believe that fluoroquinolones may weaken collagen, which could cause aortic aneurysm.

Overall scientists are calling for additional research on this correlation, and are warning patients against this and other Levaquin side effects.

Even though aortic aneurysms can be potentially fatal, it is not currently listed on the warning label listing Levaquin side effects.

Patients who were allegedly injured by Levaquin side effects may be eligible to seek legal action against the manufacturing company.

Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer to determine if they have a fluoroquinolone aortic aneurysm lawsuit.