The antibiotic drug Levaquin (levofloxacin) is prescribed to treat bacterial infections, pneumonia, and skin infections.

Levaquin was created by the drug company Janssen Pharmaceuticals (part of Johnson & Johnson) and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1996.

Levofloxacin has been available as a generic drug since 2011. Every year, more than 6 million people are prescribed oral Levaquin, and over 1 million are given intravenous (IV) Levaquin in a hospital setting.

However, a recent medical study seems to have confirmed that Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones are linked with peripheral neuropathy.

On Aug. 22, an article published in the medical journal American Academy of Neurology titled “Oral fluoroquinolone use and risk of peripheral neuropathy” reported that the risk of peripheral neuropathy is significantly elevated with the use of oral fluoroquinolones.

The Levaquin peripheral neuropathy study was led by Dr. Mahyar Etminan, a drug safety researcher at the University of British Columbia.

This study, which involved 1 million men, showed that users of Levaquin are approximately two times more likely to develop peripheral neuropathy than non-users. This increased risk of developing peripheral neuropathy was similar in brand name fluoroquinolone antibiotics, as well.

Authors of this latest study wrote in their conclusion that “current users, especially new users of FQs, are at a higher risk of developing PN (peripheral neuropathy). Despite the increase in the use of FQs, clinicians should weigh the benefits against the risk of adverse events when prescribing these drugs to their patients.”

What is Peripheral Neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage) occurs when nerves between the brain and body are damaged, causing a condition called paresthesia in the arms and legs.

There are over 100 different types of peripheral neuropathy, depending on which nerves are involved. Many people suffer from general numbness, muscle weakness, and problems with coordination, which can cause problems with walking, fastening buttons, or balancing.

Some types of peripheral neuropathy can cause severe, chronic pain that is extremely difficult to treat. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

• Pain
• Burning
• Tingling
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Change in sensation to light touch, pain, or temperature
• Change in sense of body position
• Loss of reflexes
• Paresthesia
• Muscle wasting
• Paralysis

Levaquin Peripheral Neuropathy Lawsuits

The FDA recently issued a warning that fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Levaquin, taken by mouth or injection, carry a risk for permanent peripheral neuropathy.

This warning, along with the published study, has many Levaquin consumers making a connection between their nerve problems and Levaquin, which has prompted thousands of Levaquin peripheral neuropathy complaints.

If you have taken the antibiotic Levaquin and have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, a form of nerve damage, you may qualify for legal compensation.