Fluoroquinolones are one of the most frequently prescribed types of antibiotics in the United States today. Popular brands include Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox. Many users of these antibiotics suffer dangerous side effects and complications during and after use. These side effects may include — but are not limited to — disabling and potentially permanent nerve damage.
This nerve damage can cause you to suffer pain and be unable to work, among other impacts. In some cases, your condition may not improve even after discontinuing the use of these medications. If you took these antibiotics and suffered nerve issues, an antibiotic nerve damage lawsuit lawyer at Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. may be able to help you recover compensation for your injuries and financial losses.
Call our office today at 631-600-0000 to schedule your complimentary case evaluation.
What Type of Nerve Damage Can Antibiotics Cause?
Hundreds of people have filed complaints of nerve damage and other serious side effects after being prescribed fluoroquinolones. This may include permanent and disabling cases of peripheral neuropathy, even in those with few other risk factors. This type of nerve damage, which affects the hands, feet, arms, and legs, can make mobility and dexterity difficult.
Peripheral neuropathy results from damage to your peripheral nerves. This is most commonly due to diabetes, but can also result from a number of other illnesses, injuries, and, of course, as a side effect of some antibiotics. Many people find the weakness, numbness, and pain associated with this condition make it difficult, or almost impossible, to continue on with their usual activities.
Damage to your peripheral nervous system can also cause other issues, since these nerves send vital sensory information from your brain through the central nervous system and to the rest of your body. If you are taking a drug from this class of antibiotics and you experience any of the following signs and symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately:
- Tingling or burning in the extremities
- Unusual joint or soft tissue pain
- Weakness
- Numbness in the hands or feet
After your doctor stabilizes your health, make sure to give us a call and learn if you are eligible to take legal action against the manufacturers of this drug for any damages you suffered.
What Warnings Has the FDA Issued About Fluoroquinolones?
It is important to note that the drug manufacturers who market these antibiotics do not believe fluoroquinolones such as Cipro, Levaquin, and Avelox are to blame for the many complications the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and others have linked to them. Instead, they suggest age and other underlying health problems are the root cause of the dangers linked to these drugs.
This denial, however, has not stopped the FDA from issuing a number of warnings about these drugs over the years. In 2013, it added a warning to the drug packaging that peripheral neuropathy caused by this type of medication may be irreversible.
Currently, the FDA advises restricting fluoroquinolone antibiotic use to only very specific situations where other antibiotics might not work as effectively or be an appropriate treatment.
What Is the Status of These Antibiotic Nerve Damage Lawsuits?
The manufacturers of these drugs settled many of these cases out of court, but some victims who suffered nerve damage because of these medications continue to fight for a fair payout for their injuries.
The courts consolidated these remaining cases into multidistrict litigation, now under the jurisdiction of the United States District Court, District of Minnesota. Multidistrict litigation, known as MDL, allows those who suffered injuries to conduct pretrial discovery and other routine tasks as a group instead of requiring each one to invest large sums of money and time to collect evidence and prove their case.
As of September 2017, the MDL includes more than 265 cases against Bayer or Merck, including about 85 cases that include both companies as defendants. There are 180 cases pending against Bayer alone. The MDL is currently in the discovery phase, where each side collects and shares all relevant facts and evidence. The court is planning to conduct a number of bellwether trials during 2018 and 2019.
Until recently, there were also a number of related cases pending in a Pennsylvania state court. The court dismissed most of the cases; there are, as of October 2017, two remaining. The court has scheduled a trial in one of those two cases for June of 2018.
While the litigation linked to antibiotic nerve damage is already well in progress, there is no reason you cannot pursue compensation if you also suffered losses. We can help you understand your legal rights, explain your options for compensation, and help you navigate the process of recovering the money you deserve through settlement negotiations or litigation.
How Can I Discuss My Options with an Antibiotic Nerve Damage Lawsuit Lawyer?
Gacovino, Lake & Associates, P.C. can help you get the compensation you need to get your life back after suffering temporary or permanent nerve damage because of antibiotic use. While these antibiotics can help cure many infections, the benefits are not always worth the risk when there are other medications available.
If your doctor prescribed a fluoroquinolone when another antibiotic would have normally been the first-line treatment for your illness, or if they failed to adequately warn you of the risks of these drugs, we may also be able to file a medical malpractice claim on your behalf.
Call us today at 631-600-0000 to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our knowledgeable antibiotic nerve damage lawsuit lawyers.
