Here’s Why Tequin Is a Dangerous Drug That Must Be Avoided
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury or death as a result of using Tequin, it is time to seek compensation for your pain and suffering. Please contact our office to speak to our Tequin lawsuit attorneya for assistance.
What is Tequin?
Tequin is the brand name of antibiotic drug gatifloxacin, launched by Bristol-Myers Squibb after it received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1999. The drug is typically used in the treatment of pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, skin diseases and certain sexually transmitted diseases, in adults.
Tequin belongs to a class of popular antibiotics called fluoroquinolone. The Fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics are known to be highly potent, and were once considered relatively safe, but are now being recognized as fairly harmful with irreversible side effects. Recent studies link Tequin with the risk of diabetes. It is observed that Tequin may cause fluctuations in blood sugar severe enough to require hospitalization. The risk is however limited only to Tequin and does not include other drugs such as Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox which belong to the same class as Tequin. It needs to be noted, however, that findings from other research have also linked the entire class of drugs with tendon ruptures.
Tequin Side Effects
Tequin is now being recognized as causing dangerous and potentially fatal side effects such as:
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- hypergylcemia (high blood sugar)
- diabetic ketoacidosis (severe out of control blood sugar) which may lead to severe liver damage/diabetic coma.
Other side effects associated with the use of Tequin include liver injury, irregular heartbeats, fainting, muscle damage, dizziness and nausea.
Additionally, findings from a Canadian study established that patients who used Tequin were 17 times more likely to develop hyperglycemia, as compared with patients who used an alternative form of antibiotic.
Following the reports that emerged on Tequin side effects, Bristol-Myers Squibb issued a letter to physicians in February 2006, urging them to be cautious when considering Tequin for patients. The manufacturer explained that contraindications were expected in patients with diabetes and specifically geriatric (elderly and aged) patients. Additionally, the drug maker also suggested that doctors should not prescribe Tequin to those who were at risk of developing diabetes and related complications.
The letter issued by Bristol-Myers Squibb was essentially an attempt by the manufacturer to save the drug from being completely banned in the market. Additionally, the company also responded by changing the labeling on Tequin to include warning information that indicated the risks associated with the drug.
However the drug continued to draw increasingly negative media attention, and Public Citizen, a public interest group, demanded a total ban on the drug in May 2006, citing 20 deaths and 159 hospitalizations that were linked to the use of the drug.
Following the intense pressure from media and citizen interest groups, Bristol-Myers Squibb withdrew Tequin from the market in May 2006, but the remaining stock of the drug continues to be available. Additionally, it needs to be noted that the drug maker transferred the patent license to Kyorin Pharmaceutical Company, a Japanese manufacturer, and the drug may still be marketed in other parts of the world.
Contact Our Law Firm Today
Our dedicated team of Tequin diabetes lawyers will offer you complete information on your legal rights over a free consultation. Our team will work closely with you to understand and evaluate your case individually, and offer you appropriate legal counsel.
Our San Antonio attorneys have years of rich experience in handling prescription drug cases and will assist you through all the legal formalities. Contact our San Antonio office today at 210-888-8888.