Post by beebs on Feb 24, 2012 8:21:50 GMT -5
Thank you John for your persistence in raising awareness.
Levaquin Causes A ‘Lot Of Damage:’ Fratti Explains
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By Ed Silverman // February 23rd, 2012 // 9:52 am
john-fratti-two-pbsFor the past few years, the Levaquin antibiotic sold by Johnson & Johnson has caused controversy and angst. The medication, which is part of the fluroquinolone class of drugs, has been linked to severe and lasting tendon damage, and is now the subject of some 2,600 lawsuits moving through federal and state courts. The extent of the litigation and the ensuing publicity over side effects prompted PBS to run a documentary and, recently, an asset management firm that specializes in socially responsible investing submitted a shareholder proposal to J&J in an attempt to force the health care giant to change its approach toward patients who were allegedly injured. A driving force behind these developments has been John Fratti, a former pharmaceutical sales rep who has been trying to convince the health care giant and the FDA to update Levaquin labeling to include a Black Box warning for potentially irreversible peripheral neuropathy. To a certain extent, the agency has been listening – Fratti was invited to speak at a safety workshop and was recently interviewed by agents from the FDA Office of Criminal Investigation. We spoke with him about his plight – he was diagnosed with neurological damage after taking the antibiotic – and his advocacy. This is an excerpt…
Pharmalot: So tell us a little about yourself…
Fratti: I’m 47 and live in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I was a pharmaceutical sales rep from 1998 until 2005, although not for J&J…The first two years, I worked for Wallace Laboratories, and sold cough and cold products… I later worked for PDI Pharmaceuticals.
Pharmalot: When did your odyssey with Levaquin begin?
Fratti: I was prescribed Levaquin by a urologist in 2005… At the time, I had no idea that this or other fluroquinolones could cause such damage… I didn’t think anything of it. It had been on the market since 1997 and I figured it must be safe… I knew it was used for more serious infections, but I knew I would use it for only a short period of time… I took it for 10 days in May 2005 and again for 10 days in August 2005.. Shortly thereafter, I had all kinds of problems – neurological issues, such as my equilibrium was off. My vision was distorted. There were aches and pain. My sleep was disturbed. It got progressively worse. I went to a slew of doctors – neurologists, general practitioner, internal medicine… The symptoms got so bad that I had to leave my job later that year. I eventually went on disability… For most of the past few years, I’ve lived with my parents…
Pharmalot: Meanwhile, you started a blog. What did you hope to accomplish?
Fratti: Yes, it’s called Levaquin Hurts. All these doctors told me it can’t be Levaquin that caused these problems. It has a half life and it’s out of your body in a certain timeframe… I believed them because they’re doctors… So over time I got on the computer and started doing research… Cont/..www.pharmalot.com/2012/02/levaquin-causes-a-lot-of-damage-fratti-explains/