You went to the doctor looking for answers to your health concerns. If your doctor diagnosed you with a urinary tract or respiratory infection, they may have prescribed you a fluoroquinolone to treat it. Doctors have prescribed fluoroquinolones to treat bacterial infections like these for the better part of two decades.
While this antibiotic has provided relief to patients, it has also caused devastating side effects.
Recognizing the signs of peripheral neuropathy
Patients taking fluoroquinolones have developed nerve damage – a condition called peripheral neuropathy — from taking their medication. All these patients wanted was to treat their respiratory or urinary tract infection and developed severe nerve damage as a result of their doctor’s orders. Here are a few things you should know:
- Symptoms surface quickly. The side effects begin emerging in a matter of days, not weeks or months.
- Nerve damage is painful. Early warnings of nerve damage include numbness, burning, sharp pains, and even tingling. You shouldn’t dismiss these signs.
- Side effects can be long lasting. In many cases, the nerve damage has lasted after the patient stopped taking their antibiotic.
These side effects are no secret
The government has known about the side effects of these antibiotics for years and even mandated a warning on the packaging in 2008 after first recognizing nerve damage four years prior. Despite the well-known risks, the product remains on the market.
If you’ve experienced these symptoms or had your doctor diagnose you with nerve damage after taking this antibiotic, you’re not alone. Millions of people just like you have been in this position. If you’ve taken a fluoroquinolone for your bacterial infection, you may have a way to receive compensation for your pain and suffering.
