An Avelox peripheral neuropathy lawsuit was filed on Nov. 19 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The Avelox lawsuit accuses Bayer Healthcare and Merck of failing to adequately warn about peripheral neuropathy, which allegedly developed as a result of the plaintiff taking Avelox.

According to the Avelox lawsuit, plaintiff Stephanie H. was prescribed Avelox in April 2013. She was given the antibiotic for a 10 day treatment period. However, after four days, she claims she experienced pain and weakness in her body. Her doctors took her off of Avelox. However, this did not stop the symptoms.

Avelox Peripheral Neuropathy

In the Avelox peripheral neuropathy lawsuit, Stephanie says that the pain actually progressed instead of getting better and caused her legs to cramp on day five. Later, she allegedly experienced weakness in her wrists and ankles, tingling and vibrating in her limbs, and trouble doing tasks such as walking, standing, and sleeping.

These are all symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves that carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The symptoms usually begin in the hands and/or feet and progress up the limbs. Other symptoms include numbness, sensitivity to touch and temperature in the limbs, and pain in the arms and/or legs. Paralysis or bowel, bladder, or digestive problems may also develop.

Fluoroquinolone Warning Labels

Avelox, and other antibiotics belonging to a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, has been known to cause peripheral neuropathy in users. In August 2013, just months after Stephanie experienced Avelox peripheral neuropathy symptoms, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning concerning fluoroquinolone peripheral neuropathy. The FDA required stronger warnings and more information to be added to the drug information.

Previous warnings on drugs like Avelox suggested that developing Avelox peripheral neuropathy was rare and that if it was developed, the symptoms would cease when the patient stopped using the medication.

However, recent studies have suggested that peripheral neuropathy is more common in fluoroquinolones than originally supposed. A study published in August 2014 found that these drugs could as much as double the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy.

Avelox Lawsuits

Many individuals like Stephanie have filed Avelox lawsuits or other fluoroquinolone lawsuits against drug manufacturers. The peripheral neuropathy lawsuits allege the drug manufacturers were aware or should have been aware of the risks associated with their drug and neglected to make adequate warnings in order to increase their yearly profits. The plaintiff claimed that Bayer and Merck should have or did know about Avelox side effects as early as 2001 when a study was published.

Stephanie noted in the Avelox peripheral neuropathy lawsuit, “the study noted in particular the presence of severe and/or persistent nerve problems. Over one-half of the patients surveyed said their symptoms lasted for more than a year.”

This Avelox peripheral neuropathy lawsuit includes claims for failure to warn, negligence, breach of express and implied warranty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and several additional grievances.

Other fluoroquinolones involved in peripheral neuropathy lawsuits include Levaquin, Cipro, Noroxin, Floxin, and Factive. A peripheral neuropathy class action lawsuit investigation is currently underway.