Fluoroquinolones

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

Luckily, some Black Box warnings have been issued by the FDA in recent years.

Unfortunately, fluoroquinolones are still commonly prescribed despite clear warnings 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 apparent disconnect, and that needs to be bridged. Passing the buck or saying, “Well, we just didn’t know,” harms patients. All patients need to be concerned about this because sometimes the “cure” is worse than the illness. Take me for example: I had a cough. And I ended up disabled. This not only happens to me but countless others globally.

FDA Warning Communications

About Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones are one of the most commonly prescribed classes of antibiotics. They are potent medications often wrongly given as a first line of defense against 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. Patients and medical professionals often do not suspect these antibiotics could be the cause, as symptoms can 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 suffer devastating disabilities unnecessarily.

Adverse Reactions to Quinolones

Tendinitis
Tendon rupture
Ligament rupture
Meniscus tear in the knee
Joint pain/popping
Muscle atrophy/weakness/pain
Degeneration of spinal disks
Peripheral neuropathy/nerve pain/nerve damage
Fatigue
Dental pain
Facial pain/numbness
Muscle twitching/involuntary spasms
Tremors
Insomnia
Brain fog
Anxiety/depression
Impaired memory
Speech/aphasia
Suicidal ideation
Seizures
Visual/auditory hallucinations
Non-allergy itching
Poor wound healing
Swallowing deficit
Persistent gastric problems
Mouth sores
Food/chemical sensitivities
Dry/itchy eyes
Lack of tear production
Visual changes
Retina tears
Vertigo
Tinnitus
Palpitations/arrhythmia
High/low blood pressure
Dysautonomia

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)
Baytril (enrofloxacin)
Pradelex (pradofloxacin)