Quinolone Lawyer - Fluoroquinolone Attorney

Fluoroquinolones are the largest subset of quinolones, a family of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics act against a wide range of disease-causing bacteria. Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, in fact, have been used to treat a variety of infections, including ones that occur in the respiratory tract, urinary tract, the abdomen, and the skin, including some that cause acute sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), ofloxacin (Floxin), norfloxacin (Noroxin), gemifloxacin (Factive), and moxifloxacin (Avelox).

Within a few years of the introduction of these relatively new synthetic antibiotics, however, reports of tendon injuries began to surface. The first commercially marketed fluoroquinolone antibiotic was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986. But the FDA has since then continued to receive numerous reports of tendon rupture and tendinitis through its Adverse Events Reporting System (AERS). This evidence, along with its recent evaluation of the medical literature, prompted the FDA to issue an alert in July 2008.

The FDA alert sought to strengthen warnings concerning the increased risk of tendon rupture and tendonitis associated with the use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. More specifically, the FDA impressed upon manufacturers the need for a Boxed Warning concerning the increased risk of tendon rupture and tendinitis, and for a Medication Guide about possible side effects to be provided to patients.

The alert also points out that the risk of developing fluoroquinolone-associated tendon rupture and tendinitis is even higher in patients who:

• are over 60 years of age
• concomitantly take corticosteroid drugs
• are heart, kidney, or lung transplant recipients

In addition to the FDA warnings, however, fluoroquinolone use may result in other rare but severe and even life-threatening side effects. Patients or their caregivers should immediately contact the patient's physician if the patient experiences any of the following signs or symptoms:

• swelling of the throat and/or face
• difficulty swallowing
• shortness of breath
• rapid heartbeat
• tingling in the toes or fingers
• hives or itching
• loss of consciousness

Of course, patients who feel pain or notice inflammation in the shoulder, hand, heel, or other joints should also contact their physician at once. They should rest and avoid physical exercise until the physician has examined the affected tendons. Torn tendons may require surgical repair.

If you or a loved one has suffered a tendon injury or other quinolone or fluoroquinolone side effect, you may be entitled to compensation. To find out, contact an experienced pharmaceutical injury attorney.