The human liver is responsible for digesting food and removing toxic substances from the body. Without it, the body quickly breaks down, making it an essential organ. Liver disease is a very threatening diagnosis, to be avoided at all costs. The causes of liver disease are many. However, quinolones (antibiotics) such as Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox allegedly cause a drastic increase in the chance of liver failure in users. Thousands of product liability lawsuits are being filed against the drug manufactures involved with quinolone liver disease.

About Liver Disease

Liver disease symptoms (according to the Mayo Clinic) include jaundice (yellowish skin and eyes), abdominal pain and swelling, swelling in the legs and ankles, itchy skin, dark urine color, chronic fatigue, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, tendency to bruise easily, and pale, bloods, or tar-colored stool. When liver disease is left untreated, it could lead to liver failure, a life-threatening condition.

There are many causes of liver disease. Viruses (such as hepatitis) can limit liver function. Immune diseases, genetics, and cancer can also increase the risk of liver disease. Chronic alcohol abuse is another potential liver disease cause. However, quinolone medications also can cause liver damage and eventual liver failure in users. Antibiotic induced liver failure is more avoidable than most other causes, yet many drug makers do not include this risk on drug labels. Quinolone lawsuits against these drug makers seek compensation for consumers allegedly misled by inaccurate or insufficient warning labels.

Quinolone Liver Damage

Many very strong quinolines (or fluoroquinolones) are prescribed for very common infections: sinus infections, ear infections, etc. However, there are 2,500 quinolone related deaths documented between 1997 and 2010, with 45,000 negative side effects also documented. The FDA claims that only 10% of adverse drug reactions are documented, meaning that these numbers could very easily increase.

Other side effects of taking quinolone antibiotics include Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), two severe diseases that cause the skin to have severe blisters and shed the infected skin.

In 2012, a Canadian Medical Association Journal study showed that Avelox and Levaquin users had an increased chance of liver disease. In their nine-year study in Ontario Hospitals, 144 patients were diagnosed with liver disease within 30 days of starting the quinolone antibiotic, and over 60% of those affected died of liver failure.

Despite the serious risks of taking quinolone antibiotics such as Cipro, Avelox, Levaquin, and others, they are still being prescribed in allegedly inappropriate circumstances. They are being used for ailments like earaches instead of solely serious conditions like pneumonia.

Aside from serious liver disease, SJS, and TEN, other quinolone side effects include hallucinations, kidney failure, hearing problems, depression, and painful rashes. These quinolone side effects may present themselves immediately or after the medication is not being used.

Many quinolone drugs have been discontinued due to these unjustified risks. Over 2,000 quinolone lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of drugs, including Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox, and others. Using these medications has been shown to increase the chance of liver disease or liver failure in users. A class action lawsuit investigation is underway.

Many people who have experienced one or many of these negative quinolone  side effects are taking legal action. Quinolone lawsuit plaintiffs have been awarded millions in some circumstances. See if you qualify by filling out the form on this page now.