A growing number of lawsuits have been filed by people who were injured by side effects of Avelox. This popular antibiotic is linked to deadly heart problems, aortic aneurysms, nerve damage, and more.
UPDATE: Study Links Avelox and Heart Problems
In September 2019, a study of 9 million people found an increased risk of heart problems within 60 days of taking Avelox and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Experts are warning that antibiotics can damage tissues in the heart valves, which could lead to side effects such as aortic/mitral valve regurgitation, heart failure, heart attack, and more.
What is Avelox?
Avelox (moxifloxacin) is an antibiotic in the fluoroquinolone class that is manufactured by Bayer. The oral version of Avelox was prescribed to over 2 million Americans in 2011. It is also one of the most popular injection antibiotics in hospitals. It has been approved by the FDA since the 1990s.
What Infections Can Avelox Treat?
- Community acquired pneumonia
- Acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis
- Acute bacterial sinusitis
- Mild to moderate pelvic inflammatory disease
- Community acquired pneumonia
- Complicated skin and skin structure infections
- Complicated intra-abdominal infections
Common Avelox Side Effects
Between 1-10% of people on Avelox suffer from complications, including nausea, diarrhea, headache, dizziness, abdominal or gastrointestinal pain, mycotic superinfection, QT interval prolongation in patients with hypokalemia, elevated transaminase levels in the liver, and more.
Severe Side Effects of Avelox
- Heart failure
- Heart valve problems
- Heart attack
- Hospitalization for heart problems within 60 days of taking Avelox
- Aortic aneurysm (aortic dissection)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Nerve damage
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
- Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN)
- Allergic skin reactions
- Death
FDA Strengthens Warnings for Avelox
In July 2016, the FDA updated labels on Avelox to warn that the risk of disabling side effects outweighs its benefit for treating minor infections. These side effects include tendon problems, muscle and joint pain, nerve damage, confusion, hallucinations, skin reactions, and more.
Avelox and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS)
Patients have died from severe allergic skin reactions, such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS), after taking just a few doses of Avelox. This severe side effect causes large sections of skin to blister and peel off in sheets, which can lead to deadly infections and other life-threatening injuries.
Avelox and Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic aneurysms occur when a weakened section in the wall of the aorta causes it to bulge outward until it suddenly rips open, causing massive internal bleeding and death. In 2018, the FDA ordered drug-makers to add warnings about this severe side effect to the Prescribing Information.
Avelox and Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a rare but serious side effect of all antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone class, including Avelox. The label on Avelox has carried warnings about this side effect since 2004. In August 2013, the FDA warned that patients on Avelox can rapidly develop nerve damage and the symptoms may be permanent.
Avelox Lawsuits
Over 1,200 lawsuits involving antibiotic-induced nerve damage have been centralized into a Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2642) in Minnesota. All of these lawsuits involve people who were diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage).
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