When I was inappropriately prescribed Levaquin and Cipro, nobody warned me about the serious and often permanent adverse reactions. Black Box warnings didn’t exist back when I took them.

Luckily there are some Black Box warnings issued by the FDA in recent years.

Despite clear warnings, unfortunately, fluoroquinolones are still commonly prescribed and warnings are not reaching their intended audience. More needs to be done to educate patients and physicians. Doctors rely on the FDA to determine if a drug is safe and effective. The FDA feels that doctors and patients should educate themselves. There is an obvious disconnect and that needs to be bridged. Passing the buck or saying “well, we just didn’t know” harms patients. This is something all patients need to be concerned about because sometimes the “cure” is worse than the illness. Take me for example: I had a cough. And ended up disabled. This not only happens to me, but countless others globally.

FDA Warning Communications

• December 20, 2018- FDA warns about increased risk about aortic ruptures with fluoroquinolones
• July 10, 2018- FDA Reinforces labeling changes about low blood sugar and mental health issues
• July 26, 2016- FDA updates warnings for fluoroquinolone antibiotics
• July 26, 2016- FDA updates warnings for oral and injectable fluoroquinolone antibiotics due to disabling side effects
• April 17, 2013- FDA Report Linking Fluoroquinolones to Neurodegenerative Disorders 
• February 2011- Risk of Fluoroquinolone-associated Myasthenia Gravis Exacerbation
• July 10, 2008-Stronger Warnings Requested for Fluoroquinolones
  

Manufacturer Warnings & Communications

• Bayer: New Limitations of Use and Safety Information for Fluoroquinolones
• Warning label for Cipro/ciprofloxacin
• Warning label for Levaquin/levofloxacin
• Warning label for Avelox/moxifloxacin

Notable Studies:

• Treatment of Fluoroquinolone Associated Disability – the pathobiochemical implications
• Opportunities to Improve Fluoroquinolone Prescribing in the United States for Adult Ambulatory Care Visits– Academic paper by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention following 3 years of meetings with them.
• Fluoroquinolone Use and Risk of Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection
• Fluoroquinolone-induced Tendinopathy and Tendon Rupture
• Ciprofloxacin-induced Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

About Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of antibiotics. They are very powerful medications often wrongly given as a first line of defense against a wide variety of routine infections.

All antibiotics have side effects. What differentiates this class of antibiotics from others is its ability to cause severe adverse reactions that can disable patients and even cause death.

For some, adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones can occur immediately from as little as one pill. For others, reactions can occur weeks, months, or even longer after stopping the medication. Often, patients and even medical professionals do not suspect that these antibiotics could be the cause, as symptoms can often mimic other medical conditions.

Approximately half of the fluoroquinolones that were once on the market have now been removed from clinical practice due to their severe toxicities. Although warnings and cautionary information exist, doctors continue to prescribe this class of antibiotics for infections they were never intended to treat. As a result, many patients continue to unnecessarily suffer devastating disabilities.

Adverse Reactions to Quinolones

Oral Fluoroquinolones

• Avelox (moxifloxacin)
• Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
• Factive (gemifloxacin)
• Levaquin (levafloxacin)
• Noroxin (norfloxacin)
• Baxdela (delafloxacin)

Fluoroquinolone Eye Drops

• Besivance (besifloxacin)
• Cetraxal, Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin)
• Iquix, Quixin (levofloxacin)
• Ocuflox (ofloxacin)
• Vigamox (moxifloxacin)
• Zymar (gatifloxacin)
• Moxeza (moxifloxacin)

Fluoroquinolone Ear Drops

• Cetraxal, Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin)
• Floxin (ofloxacin)
• Xtoro (finafloxacin)

Inhaled Fluoroquinolones

• Quinsair (levofloxacin)

Veterinary Fluoroquinolones

• Dicural, Vetequinon (difloxacin)
• Advocin, Advocid (danofloxacin)
• Floxasol, Saraflox, Sarafin (sarafloxacin)
• Ibaflin (ibafloxacin)
• Marbocy, Zeniquin (marbofloxacin)
• Orbax, Victas (orbifloxacin)