The Real Dangers Of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

Today's post from activistpost.com (see link below) is another very detailed explanation of why the type of antibiotics called Fluoroquinolones can be very bad news for neuropathy patients and patients who are prone to neuropathy. The toxicity of these antibiotics can cause neuropathy directly but they are still widely prescribed as a standard antibiotic. People with HIV, diabetics and other risk groups should always ask their doctors for an alternative, using evidence such as this to explain the links with neuropathy (amongst others including Gulf War illness which is the main subject of this article). You may not be at risk of Gulf War Syndrome but this article explains in great detail and with evidence, exactly why these antibiotics can be dangerous. You may have heard of ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin) and have already been prescribed them but they belong to the fluoro-quinolone group of drugs, that even the FDA has strenuously criticised because of lack of warning on their packaging. Always examine the box for the real name of your antibiotics and then discuss it seriously with your doctor to see if this really is the only option for you.

Gulf War Illness Tied to Cipro Antibiotics 
Lisa Bloomquist Monday, January 6, 2014

A U.S. military publication, The Air Force Times, made the connection that victims of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome (“Floxies”) have been screaming about for years – that Gulf War Illness is tied to Cipro. In an article entitled, “New FDA warnings on Cipro may tie into Gulf War Illness,” it was noted that the August, 2013 update to the warning labels of all fluoroquinolone antibiotics stating that PERMANENT peripheral neuropathy is a possible adverse effect, prompted The Air Force Times to make the connection.

Civilians suffering from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome (an adverse reaction to a fluoroquinolone – Cipro/Ciprofloxacin, Levaquin/Levofloxacin, Avelox/Moxifloxacin, Floxin/Ofloxacin and others) have noted the similarities between Gulf War illness and Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome for years. It is beyond likely, it is probable, that they are one in the same.

The Symptoms

The VA defines Gulf War Illness as “chronic, unexplained symptoms existing for 6 months or more” that are at least ten percent disabling. The CDC case definition of Gulf War Illness “requires chronic symptoms in two of three domains of fatigue, cognitive-mood, and musculoskeletal.”

Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome is a chronic, unexplained illness with symptoms lasting for months, years, or, as the updated warning label notes, permanently. The symptoms of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome are too numerous to list, but a cursory glance at the warning label for Cipro/Ciprofloxacin will tell you that the effects include musculoskeletal problems and central nervous system issues. Additionally, as pharmaceuticals that damage mitochondria, the energy centers of cells, severe fatigue is often induced by Fluoroquinolones.

A 1998 study entitled, “Chronic Multisymptom Illness Affecting Air Force Veterans of the Gulf War,” found that the most commonly reported symptoms of Gulf War Illness are sinus congestion, headache, fatigue, joint pain, difficulty remembering or concentrating, joint stiffness, difficulty sleeping, abdominal pain, trouble finding words, (feeling) moody or irritable, rash or sores, numbness or tingling and muscle pain.

A 2011 study conducted by the Quinolone Vigilance Foundation found that the most commonly reported symptoms of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome are tendon, joint, and muscle pain, fatigue, popping/cracking joints, weakness, neuropathic pain, paresthesia (tingling), muscle twitching, depression, anxiety, insomnia, back pain, memory loss, tinnitus, muscle wasting.

The symptoms are similar enough to raise a few eyebrows. It should be noted that when a chronic, multi-symptom illness suddenly sickens a patient or a soldier, and he or she goes from being healthy and active to suddenly being exhausted and unable to move or think, it is difficult to pinpoint and describe exactly what is going wrong in his or her body. Thus, even if the symptoms are identical, they may not be described in an identical way because of context and differing areas of focus.

For victims of fluoroquinolones, it is as if a bomb went off in the body of the victim, yet all tests come back “normal” so in addition to physical pain and suffering that the soldier/patient is going through, he or she has to suffer through dismissal and denial from medical professionals as well. Neither Gulf War Illness nor Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome are detected by traditional medical tests and thus both diseases are systematically denied. All blood and urine markers come back within the normal ranges, yet the patient or soldier is suddenly incapable of 90% of what he or she used to be able to do. When a large number of patients or soldiers (nearly 30% of the soldiers serving in the Gulf reported symptoms. Exact numbers of civilian patients suffering from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome are unknown because of delayed reactions, misdiagnosing the illness, tolerance thresholds, etc.) experience adverse reactions that are undetectable using the tests available, there is something wrong with the tests. The patients and soldiers aren’t lying and their loss of abilities isn’t “in their heads.”

Exposure to the same Poison

Another glaring similarity between Gulf War Illness and Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome is that everyone with either syndrome took a Fluoroquinolone.

Per a Veteran of the Marines who commented on healthboards.com about the use of Ciprofloxacin by soldiers in the Gulf:

The Ciprofloxacin 500 mg were ordered to be taken twice a day. The Marines were the only service that I know for sure were given these orders. We were ordered to start them before the air war, and the order to stop taking them was giver at 0645 Feb 28th 1991 by General Myatt 1st Marine div commander. We were forced to take Cipro 500mg twice a day for 40 plus days. so the Marines were given NAPP (nerve agent protection pills) or pyridiostigmine bromide to protect us from nerve agent, and We were ordered to take the Cipro to protect from anthrax. We were part of the human research trial conducted by the Bayer corporation in the creation of their new anthrax pills. At that time they had no idea of the side effects of flouroquinolones. That’s the class of medications that Cipro falls into. After the Gulf War the FDA and Bayer co. started releasing the list of side effects. You do need to know what was done to you so you will have to do your own research. Good luck to all of you and Semper Fi.By definition, everyone who suffers from Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome has taken a fluoroquinolone – Cipro/Ciprofloxacin, Levaquin/Levofloxacin, Avelox/Moxifloxacin or Floxin/Ofloxacin. Civilians are also part of the “human research trial conducted by the Bayer corporation” as well as Johnson & Johnson, Merck and multiple generic drug manufacturers who peddle fluoroquinolones as “safe” antibiotics.

The Case Against Fluoroquinolones

Of course, there were multiple chemicals and poisons that Gulf War Veterans were exposed to in the 1990-91 Persian Gulf War and thus it has been difficult to pinpoint an exact cause of Gulf War Illness. The ruling out of the following possible causes should certainly be questioned thoroughly, but “depleted uranium, anthrax vaccine, fuels, solvents, sand and particulates, infectious diseases, and chemical agent resistant coating” have been found not to cause Gulf War Illness. Other potential causes of Gulf War Illness include oil fires, multiple vaccines, pesticides, and, of course, fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Cipro). (It should be noted that non-deployed military personnel who served during the Gulf War period, but who were not deployed in the Middle East, have also been afflicted with Gulf War Illness and thus toxins that both deployed and non-deployed personnel have been exposed to should be the focus of investigations into the causes of Gulf War Illness.)

The Air Force Times article is one of the first official mentions of the relationship between Cipro and Gulf War Illness. Officially, the link hasn’t been examined (though some very smart researchers are building a case as you read this). Why Cipro hasn’t been looked at as a potential cause of Gulf War Illness is a question that I don’t know the answer to. Perhaps it’s because most people think that all antibiotics are as safe as penicillin. Perhaps it’s because most people have a tolerance threshold for fluoroquinolones and don’t react negatively to the first prescription that they receive. Perhaps it’s because even today, more than 30 years after Cipro was patented by Bayer, the exact mechanism by which fluoroquinolones operate is still officially unknown (1). Perhaps it’s because it is unthinkable that a commonly used antibiotic could cause a chronic syndrome of pain and suffering. Perhaps it’s because the tests that show the damage done by fluoroquinolones aren’t used by the VA or civilian doctors’ offices. Perhaps it’s because fluoroquinolones are the perfect drug – they take an acute problem – an infection, and convert it into a chronic disease-state that is systematically misdiagnosed as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, an autoimmune disease, leaky gut syndrome, insomnia, anxiety, depression, etc. and turns formerly healthy people into lifetime customers of the medical establishment / pharmaceutical companies. Perhaps it is simply widespread ignorance about the way these dangerous drugs work.

The Cliff's Notes version of how fluoroquinolones work is as follows:

The fluoroquinolone depletes liver enzymes that metabolize drugs (CYP450) (2). When the enzymes are depleted sufficiently, the fluoroquinolone forms a poisonous adduct to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (3, 4), which destroys and depletes mtDNA (5). While the mtDNA is being destroyed, the fluoroquinolone is also binding to cellular magnesium. (6, 7) The mitochondria reacts to being assaulted by producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) (8, 9). Some of the ROS, specifically hydrogen peroxide, combines with the excess calcium (there is a balance in cells of magnesium and calcium and the binding of the magnesium results in an excess of calcium) to induce the expression of CD95L/Fas Ligand (5) which then causes cell death (apoptosis) and immune system dysfunction (10) which leads the body to attack itself – like an autoimmune disease.

Damage is caused by every single step in the process. Additional damage may be done by the fluorine atom that is added to fluoroquinolones to make them more potent. It should be noted that the complexity of these cellular interactions is too vast to write up in this article.

Every symptom of Gulf War Illness is consistent with mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress (11), both of which have been shown to be brought on by fluoroquinolones.

Though the tests used in typical medical practice show no reason for victims of fluoroquinolones to be ill, that fact simply shows that the wrong tests are being used. Tests of mitochondrial function, antioxidant/oxidant ratios and DNA will show the damage that is done by fluoroquinolones. The way to determine whether Cipro is the cause of Gulf War Illness is to conduct a DNA mass spectrogram analysis on afflicted Gulf War Veterans. If the DNA mass spectrogram analysis shows that quinolone molecules have adducted to the DNA of the Veterans, that’s a smoking gun of damage done by Cipro.

Millions of civilians have also been hurt by fluoroquinolones. I can connect fluoroquinolones to almost every chronic disease that has increased in prevalence since the introduction of fluoroquinolones to the mass population in the mid-1980s. Additionally, DNA is damaged and thus the effects are intergenerational and many of the chronic diseases that plague children can be linked to fluoroquinolone use by parents.

Some very well-respected researchers are working on more furthering the case that Cipro is responsible for Gulf War Illness. If any Gulf War Veterans want to take on Bayer before those studies are released, the way to do so is through obtaining a DNA mass spectrogram analysis and having it analyzed by a toxicologist. It is proof of damage and it is necessary. When that proof is obtained, I encourage all Gulf War Veterans to use it to fight those who poisoned them – Bayer and their corroborators in the DOD and the FDA.

To any Gulf War Veterans who read this – you are soldiers and you are warriors. I know that you have been weakened, but you are still alive and those of you who can fight, should, because a grave injustice has been done to you. It is an injustice that is also being inflicted on innocent civilians. There is nothing okay about the poisoning of our military men and women, or the American public, with chemotherapy drugs masquerading as antibiotics. I encourage you to fight Bayer and their corroborators like what they are – domestic terrorists. It is a fight that you can win. The truth, and a significant amount evidence, are on your side.

Post Script: The author’s web site, with more information about fluoroquinolones, is www.floxiehope.com. Further information about fluoroquinolones can be found through the Quinolone Vigilance Foundation – www.saferpills.org.

Numbered Sources:

Inorganic Chemistry, “New uses for old drugs: attempts to convert quinolone antibacterials into potential anticancer agents containing ruthenium.”
FDA Warning Label for Ciprofloxacin
The Journal of Biological Chemistry, “The Mechanism of Inhibition of Topoisomerase IV by Quinolone Antibacterials.”
Findings of Toxicologist Joe King
The Journal of Immunology, “Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Control T Cell Activation by Regulating IL-2 and IL-4 Expression: MechanismN of Ciprofloxacin Mediated Immunosuppression“
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, “Effects of Magnesium Complexation by Fluoroquinolones on their Antibacterial Properties”
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States, Biochemistry, “Quinolone Binding to DNA Mediated by Magnesium Ions”
Science Translational Medicine, “Bactericidal Antibiotics Induce Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Mammalian Cells“
Journal of Young Pharmacists, “Oxidative Stress Induced by Fluoroquinolones on Treatment for Complicated Urinary Tract Infections in Indian Patients“
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, “Ciprofloxacin Induces an Immunomodulatory Stress Response in Human T Lymphocytes“
Nature Precedings, “Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Injury in Chronic Multisymptom Conditions: From Gulf War Illness to Autism Spectrum Disorder”

About Lisa Bloomquist: I am a Colorado native that enjoys the mountains, pilates, blogging and my cat. I was severely adversely effected by Cipro in 2011. Before I took Cipro I was in perfect health. Since those fateful pills in 2011, I have been fighting for my health. Most of my health has returned and now I am screaming about the dangers of fluoroquinolones so that others can learn from my experience. I will continue to scream until those in the medical professions start paying attention to their Hippocratic Oath, proper informed consent is established for administration of these drugs, and they stop giving them to children. This article first appeared at Collective-Evolution.

http://www.activistpost.com/2014/01/gulf-war-illness-tied-to-cipro.html

Quinolone Antibiotics And Neuropathy

Today's post from topclassactions.com (see link below) is yet another story of the damage caused by quinolone antibiotics - in this case, severe neuropathy. Despite FDA warnings and case studies from all across the world, doctors are still widely prescribing this family of antibiotics but the damage they can cause to existing and potential neuropathy patients, speaks for itself. If your doctor proposes prescribing fluoroquinolones for your infection, please don't just accept it but start a serious discussion with him or her to see whether they are in fact the right sort of antibiotic for you. There are alternatives but remember, once you have nerve damage you can't turn the clock back. For the sake of a serious discussion, you could save yourself years of misery. Other articles on this subject can be found by using the search button to the right of this page.
 

Busy Mom Tells Harrowing Story of Quinolone Peripheral Neuropathy 
By Amanda Antell June 16, 2015

Quinolone antibiotics are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States, designed to treat all varieties of infections. Unfortunately, these famous drugs have been linked to several severe side effects like blindness and nerve damage.

In one of the most recent examples of these cases, a young mother that was prescribed Levaquin was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy soon after. Not even 40 years old, this mother now struggles to walk and must undergo intense physical therapy several times a week; she complains that she will lose strength in her legs if she does not do this.

It all started last summer when the young mom, Shannon, had been diagnosed with a sinus infection and was prescribed Levaquin to treat it. Soon after starting the medication, Shannon started feeling a burning-like pain in her legs, along with her feet and eyes. After three months and four doctors, she was finally diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. Her doctor had come to this conclusion based on the correlation between her symptoms and her Levaquin prescription.

The doctors involved in the case stated that they were not surprised by this incident, as they had read many similar cases from different cities. One of the diagnostic doctors, Dr. Charles Bennett, is one of the chairs of a drug safety watchdog agency at the University of South Carolina. He had recently petitioned for the FDA to add new black box warnings for Levaquin.

The FDA already required recent label updates for quinolone drugs regarding the side effects of tendon rupture, muscle weakness, and nerve damage. However Dr. Bennett insists that stronger warnings need to be attached to quinolone drugs, like Levaquin, because statistics show that 1,200 people have died from these side effects with nearly 100,000 injuries.

When Shannon learned that she was suffering nerve damage allegedly caused by her antibiotic, she was devastated, but feels lucky that her condition was not serious enough to be life-threatening. Currently, Shannon is trying to stay positive and is hoping that her nerves will regenerate themselves so she can resume her life. Family members state that they find it difficult to watch her struggle, and wish that the drug companies had provided stronger warnings and conducted sufficient research.

Levaquin’s manufacturing company, Johnson & Johnson, had emailed a statement to WCNC regarding Shannon’s case. The company insisted that Levaquin is a highly important medication that has been used to treat bacterial infections for more than 20 years, and has proven to have more benefits than risks when evaluated. Many patients disagree with this sentiment, after being left with permanent nerve damage, blindness, or other physical scarring.
Overview of Quinolone Peripheral Neuropathy

The concern of quinolone peripheral neuropathy became rampant when the FDA issued a public warning in August 2013 that stated that serious nerve damage could occur when taking a quinolone antibiotic. The agency warned that nerve damage could be permanent and can occur as soon as a week after starting the medication. A year later, in August 2014, a study published in Neurology found that quinolone injections or oral tablets could double the risk of peripheral neuropathy, as well as permanent nerve damage. The medications included in the FDA’s warning are Levaquin (levofloxacin), Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), Noroxin (norfloxacin), Floxin (ofloxacin), and Factive (gemifloxacin).

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord, otherwise known as the central nervous system, somehow become disrupted. These nerves are vital in sending signals between the brain and the rest of the body, so any interferences can impair muscle movement, cause severe pain, and prevent sensation signals from reaching the arms and legs. Currently, it is unknown as to what causes peripheral neuropathy but doctors believe that quinolones somehow cause the nerves to cross signals with each other.

Doctors warn that this condition is fast and aggressive, resulting in permanent nerve damage in some cases. Numerous patients have filed legal action against Johnson & Johnson and other quinolone manufacturing companies for failing to protect them against the dangers of their products.

http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/58115-busy-mom-tells-harrowing-story-quinolone-peripheral-neuropathy/

Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics A Direct Cause Of Neuropathy Discuss!

Today's post from personalmedicare.com (see link below) is an impassioned plea for common sense regarding a subject that has been 'current' for years and yet seems to produce no concrete results or changes, despite the condemnation of the FDA. Fluoroquinolones are dangerous if you already suffer from neuropathy and just as dangerous if you don't, yet despite the mountain of evidence that backs up this opinion, doctors still prescribe them as antibiotics of choice for a host of bacterial infections. This article asks why and this blog supports that question 100%. If a personal plea as in this article doesn't persuade you and you need more scientific evidence; there are other articles here on the blog on this subject (use the search facility to the right of the page) but even if you don't do any more research, always ask your doctor if a fluoroquinolone antibiotic is the right choice and ask him or her to prove why!

NEW FDA WARNING for Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox-Permanent Peripheral Neuropathy- Mixed Emotions
February 17, 2016 admin

The FDA announced on August 15, 2013, that fluoroquinolone drugs such as Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox will be required to change packaging inserts to contain a warning for severe, permanent and disabling peripheral neuropathy. The FDA states that the damage may occur very soon into the administration of the drugs and the damage may be permanent.

If you as the reader, are not familiar with exactly what peripheral neuropathy is, here is the FDA’s description: Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder occurring in the arms or legs. Symptoms include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, or a change in sensation to light touch, pain or temperature, or the sense of body position. It can occur at any time during treatment with fluoroquinolones and can last for months to years after the drug is stopped or be permanent. Permanent. Yes, forever. Never going to stop burning for the remainder of your life. It’s the feeling of spontaneous human combustion with out all the nasty fire and flames. Holy cow. How is this even acceptable?

I have very mixed emotions about the FDA’s announcement today. As a victim of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity and peripheral neuropathy, I am caught between being pleased and being angry. Very, very angry. Most victims, and I know thousands of them, will tell you that they told their doctor about their peripheral neuropathy as well as their other grocery list of horrific symptoms and doctors simply smirked and informed them “These drugs don’t cause that”. Patients were then recommended an anxiety drug, psychotropic drug or asked if someone at home was abusing them. I wonder where doctors get their information regarding drugs that they throw out like beads at a Mardi Gras parade? Some physicians are completely unaware of the Black Box warning placed on fluoroquinolones in 2008 for tendon tears and those who know about it never ask the tendon tear victim “Did you take a quinolone?”. Victims who themselves have become aware of fluoroquinolones and their resulting tears (God bless the internet) have informed their doctors. Not many victims report that their doctor informed THEM that they had a tear as a result/side effect of the drug. Doctors are in denial and they are in deep. There is also money. Yes sireeeee! Good old money. It’s always found where shady deals are done and pacts are made with the Devil. If you don’t believe me Google Dollars for Doctors, put in your physicians name and magically (God bless the internet, again), you are informed as to how much he/she made from drug companies this last year. You also get too see which drug companies are lining the pockets of the people we entrust with our lives to. It’s business. BIG business, so don’t kid yourself for a moment that it’s not.

My next thought is the FDA is covering it’s hiney and trying to cover it fast. Victims are becoming more and more vocal, gathering in groups on Facebook (God bless the internet, again), having Floxie meet ups, organizing in an underground network. If you as the reader are not familiar with the term “Floxie”, it is a darling colloquialism fashioned by author Stephen Freid in his best selling book Bitter Pills-Inside the Hazardous World of Legal Drugs . The term has probably stuck because” Floxie” is much cuter than “disabled” or “eternally suffering human being”. Websites devoted entirely to flouorquinolone victims abound. Google Cipro is Poison or Death by Levaquin or even just the drug names and you will get more than you can wrap your head around. These groups have initiated petitions, organized a lawsuit registry for a potential lawsuit and last May, marched on the Washington Capitol and met with legislators proclaiming the dangers and devastating side effects of these drugs. Victims will no longer take this sitting down. They are no longer being strong armed into believing they are the one in a million, the 1% or just genetically inferior. Lets not forget Medwatch, the FDA’s reporting system. Floxies are reporting in massive numbers and re-reporting each year that they are symptomatic from the drug. (To file a report go to www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/medwatch/). There is a lot of boat rocking going on in the Flox world these days and I think the FDA is feeling it.

The warning also states that this is only for injections or oral doses. Many victims report the same symptoms of fluorquinolone toxicity by IV and eye drops and the symptoms are exactly the same. My own mother was floxed with Zymaxid eye drops for cataract surgery. Zymaxid is the eye drop form of Gatifloxacin which was banned by the FDA in 2006 for severe hepatic failure as a result of the drug. It’s poison orally but go ahead and drop it in your eyes and it’s fine. HUH??? The reality is the results are the same. Children are also given these drops for pink eye and ear infections with regularity. The results are the same but young children are not fully capable of communicating their symptoms so many of the symptoms are unnoticed, blamed on behavior or the illness for which the drugs were prescribed. With the ear drops, the busted ear drum is the only obvious tell tale sign of a child’s severe reaction.

I tend to write very tongue -in-cheek when I write about these drugs. The reality is pretty horrific and terrifying. The day in and day out suffering of Fluoroquinolone Victims should be recognized by doctors, family members, husbands, wives, partners and society as a whole and yes, the FDA. So is a warning on packaging for drugs that steal lives seems almost trivial and somewhat of an insult. It also feels like redemption for victims that have been called crazy by family members or hypochondriac by doctors. I have mixed emotions. It’s a win but it feels like a “gimme”. Like the FDA is tossing a bread crumb and ignoring all the other disabling effects of these drugs. My only hope is that doctors will no longer use these drugs on high risk patients with known chronic diseases like diabetes, Crohns, ulcerative colitis and Lyme.

It looks like a win but it feels like a loss. One thing I do know it that it not GAME OVER. Not by any measure.

Find help here: Fluoroquinolone Victims Advocacy Network – sign the petition for a BLACK BOX WARNING for peripheral neuropathy.

About me, the author. My name is Erin Wilson and I am an advocate and peer counselor for victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity. A two time victim of Levaquin, I have lived it and seen it all. I now counsel victims in recovery and make the public aware of the devastating effects of these drugs. If you have been harmed by Cipro, Levaquin or Avelox or any fluoroquinolone drugs, there is help.

http://www.personalmedicare.com/new-fda-warning-for-cipro-levaquin-avelox-permanent-peripheral-neuropathy-mixed-emotions/

Can Flouroquinolone Antibiotics Cause Neuropathy

As has been mentioned before on the blog, a type of antibiotic called Flouroquinolone has been shown to cause Neuropathy (amongst other things). However, not only for neuropathy patients but for HIV patients in general, this sort of information is vital. People with HIV are prone to various secondary infections, especially if their immune system is compromised and the correct antibiotic needs to be used. Apart from that, certain antibiotics clash with certain HIV medications and doctors need to be extra aware when prescribing antibiotics for infection.
Today's post comes from Antibiotics.org (see link below, which is an "Antibiotics drug reaction support site" and states clearly the risks of taking Flouroquinolones. The lesson here is both to discuss the possible side effects of antibiotics with your doctor and read the labels when you get them. Flouroquinolones certainly look like they need to be avoided.

Flouroquinolones

Food and Drug Administration imposed the government's most urgent safety warning on Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox and many other flouroquinolone antibiotics. The FDA orders a prominent "black box" warning and the development of new literature for patients emphasizing the risks. The most prominent risk is tendon rupture causing long term disability, possibly permanent.

This is an important first step to ensuring these antibiotics are only used when the patient faces a potential fatal outcome, and only after the use of all other antibiotics have been ruled out. This is not due to the probability of risk, but rather severity.

To those who have been affected, prognosis is normally not good. There is no cure. Often repeat exposure through food and water cause a continual never ending cycle of symptoms. Many victims face the fact that their lives have been completely destroyed. Many face loss of job and income, some face breakup of the family. Some have even committed suicide because of the pain inflicted by these drugs.

Unfortunately, physicians currently give these prescriptions out like candy. To emphasize the ignorance of physicians, Cipro is often prescribed post-op for tendon repair surgery. The physician will often prescribe a drug known to cause tendon rupture as a preventive to infection after tendon repair surgery. There is an obvious neglect on the part of the physicians who simply do not known the potential dangers of the drugs they prescribe. So where is the breakdown of information? Unfortunately many physicians mistakenly rely on pharmaceutical drug reps to point out any potential side effects rather than investigating it themselves. Further implicating the physicians, they accept gifts from drug companies and in return will prescribe unnecessary and dangerous substances. Drug Reps, paid on commission, find themselves making more sales by not disclosing the dangers, or make light of potential side effects. Making the problem worse, the drug manufactures trivialize and distort the potential risks.

A pending U.S. Senate bill would require drug companies to report gifts to doctors of more than $25. New York State's legislature plans to hold hearings this year on the relationship between doctors and drug companies. One congressional critic has even compared the drug industry with the tobacco industry, and Senator John McCain has called drugmakers the "bad guys."

Antibiotics known as flouroquinolones have been associated with some or all of the following adverse drug reactions:

* Tendonitis, Tendon Rupture, Tendon, Ligament, Joint and Muscle Damage
* Vision Damage, Hearing Loss, Taste Perversion
* Peripheral Neuropathy (Tingling, burning sensation)
* Insomnia, Nightmares, Anxiety Attacks, Depersonalization, Cognitive Disorders
* Brain, Heart, Liver, Kidney, Pancreas, Blood and Endocrine Disorders
* Severe Psychotic Reactions, Suicidal Thoughts or Actions
Gastrointestinal Damage

Compounding the problem, there are numerous drugs which should not be taken in combination with this class of antibiotics. There are increased risks of injury when they are taken in combination with corticosteroids (e.g.: Prednisone, Flovent, Nasarel, Azmacort, Advair Disku, Methylprednisolone Dospak, Elocon Cream, Desoximetasone Cream, and Sterapred) and when taken in combinations with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (e.g.: Motrin, Pamprin, Aleve, Advil, and Ibuprofen, among others). Physicians are frequently not aware of these contraindications and prescribe dangerous combinations of drugs which cause severe injuries to their patients. Physicians may also not be able to identify that their patient is suffering an adverse reaction and instruct them to continue to take more of the antibiotic resulting in very serious and perhaps preventable injuries.

http://www.antibiotics.org/

Check Your Antibiotics For Nerve Damage Side Effects!

Today's post from healthycanadians.gc.ca (see link below) returns to the subject of the commonly prescribed antibiotics called fluoroquinolones (among others:ciprofloxacin (CIPRO, CILOXAN) enoxacin (PENETREX)  levofloxacin (LEVAQUIN) moxifloxacin (AVELOX) norfloxacin (NOROXIN, CHIBROXIN) ofloxacin(FLOXIN, OCUFLOX) and their dangers, especially to patients prone to, or living with nerve damage. This article backs up FDA warnings in the States and others across the world stating that these drugs are dangerous. It couldn't be clearer in that and yet doctors across the world, (pushed by pharmaceutical reps) continue to issue these drugs like M&Ms, with scant regard for their potential for serious side effects (including nerve damage). If your doctor suggests one of these antibiotics as a cure for an infection, please discuss it with him or her first and try to arrange one of the various safer alternatives. There are other articles here on the blog on the same subject. Using the Search box, type in 'fluoroquinolones' and check out the evidence for yourself.

FLUOROQUINOLONES - Risk of Disabling and Persistent Serious Adverse Reactions
January 23, 2017 Posting date:

Dear Healthcare Professional Letter Subcategory: Drugs Source of recall:
Health Canada Issue: Important Safety Information 
 Audience:Healthcare Professionals, General Public Identification number: RA-61900
Issue
Who is affected
Report health or safety concerns
Related AWRs
 
Audience

Healthcare professionals

Key messages
 
Rare cases of disabling and persistent serious adverse reactions including tendinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system disorders have been reported to Health Canada for fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. taken by mouth or by injection). 

Healthcare professionals are reminded to:
Consider the potential for disabling and persistent serious adverse events when choosing to prescribe a fluoroquinolone.
Avoid fluoroquinolones in patients who have previously experienced serious adverse reactions associated with them.
Stop fluoroquinolone treatment if a patient reports any serious adverse reaction. Patients should be switched to an alternative treatment with a non-fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug, if needed, to complete the treatment course.
Health Canada is currently working with manufacturers to strengthen the prescribing information for these drugs.

Issue

Canadian and international cases of disabling and persistent serious adverse reactions including tendinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system disorders have been reported in patients treated with oral and injectable fluoroquinolones.

Products affected

FLUOROQUINOLONES (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin), oral and injectable dosage forms.

Background information

Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibacterial drugs used in the treatment of various gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial infections, including respiratory and urinary tract infections.

Health Canada conducted an assessment to examine the safety of systemic fluoroquinolones. This was prompted by the findings of the United States Food and Drug Administration benefit/risk assessment on systemic fluoroquinolones and the occurrence of disabling and persistent adverse reactions.

Health Canada’s safety review focused on already known and labelled adverse reactions associated with the use of fluoroquinolones that resulted in persistent disability. Health Canada has received reports of a small number of these cases over time.

The reported adverse reactions in Canada associated with persistent disability mostly involved the musculoskeletal system (e.g., tendonitis and Achilles tendon rupture), peripheral neuropathy and central nervous system disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, dizziness and confusion).

Health Canada’s assessment concluded that fluoroquinolones are associated with rare cases of disabling and persistent serious adverse reactions such as tendinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and central nervous system disorders.

Health Canada consulted the Scientific Advisory Panel on Anti-Infective Therapies (SAP-AIT) on the use of fluoroquinolones for treating certain infections, considering their potential association with disabling and persistent events. The SAP-AIT recommended labelling updates to all systemic fluoroquinolones to include information on the severity and persistence of these adverse reactions.

Who is affected
Information for consumers

Fluoroquinolones are a class of prescription antibacterial drugs that are used to treat several types of bacterial infections.

Fluoroquinolones are generally well tolerated but they have been associated with rare serious side effects that were disabling and persistent, including tendon damage, nerve damage in the hands and feet, and central nervous system disorders. These side effects can occur hours to weeks after exposure to fluoroquinolone treatment.

Patients should inform their healthcare professional if they think they have previously experienced a side effect related to fluoroquinolone use. Patients should immediately consult a healthcare professional if they experience serious side effects, such as joint and muscle pain, swelling or rupture of a tendon, tingling, numbness, weakness, or other alterations of sensation, tremors, restlessness, anxiety, lightheadedness, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, nightmares, insomnia, suicidal thoughts.
Information for healthcare professionals

It is recommended that the potential for disabling and persistent serious adverse events be considered when choosing to prescribe a fluoroquinolone.

Fluoroquinolones should not be prescribed to patients who have experienced serious adverse reactions during or after prior treatments.

Healthcare professionals are advised to stop systemic fluoroquinolone treatment if a patient reports a serious adverse reaction. The patient’s treatment should be switched to an alternative treatment with a non-fluoroquinolone antibacterial drug if needed to complete the treatment course.

Healthcare professionals should be aware that some adverse reactions associated with the use of fluoroquinolones can occur within hours to weeks after exposure to the treatment.
Action taken by Health Canada

Health Canada is working with the manufacturers to update the fluoroquinolone Canadian Product Monographs. Health Canada continues to monitor the situation and will take further action as deemed necessary.

Health Canada is communicating this important safety information update to healthcare professionals and Canadians via the Recalls and Safety Alerts Database on the Healthy Canadians Web Site. This communication update will be further distributed through the MedEffect™ e-Notice email notification system.
Report health or safety concerns

Managing marketed health product-related side effects depends on health care professionals and consumers reporting them. Any case of serious or unexpected side effects in patients receiving fluoroquinolones should be reported to Health Canada.

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345; or
Visiting MedEffect Canada's Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax.

For other health product inquiries related to this communication, contact Health Canada at:

Marketed Health Product Directorate

E-mail: mhpd_dpsc@hc-sc.gc.ca

Telephone: 613-954-6522

Fax: 613-952-7738
Related AWRs

Information Update - Fluoroquinolone antibiotics may, in rare cases, cause persistent disabling side effects


2017-01-23 | Health products

http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2017/61900a-eng.php

MAKING SURE ANTIBIOTICS AS THEY SHOULD

Researchers at ETH Zurich are decoding the structure of the large ribosomal subunit of the mitochondria at an atomic level, thereby providing insight into the molecular architecture of this ribosome with implications for a better understanding of the mode of action of antibiotics.

A team of ETH Zurich researchers led by professors Nenad Ban and Ruedi Aebersold have studied the highly complex molecular structure of mitoribosomes, which are the ribosomes of mitochondria. Ribosomes are found in the cells of all living organisms. However, higher organisms (eukaryotes), which include fungi, plants, animals and humans, contain much more complex ribosomes than bacteria. In eukaryotes, ribosomes can also be divided into two types: those in the cytosol -- which comprises the majority of the cell -- and those found in the mitochondria or "power plants" of cells. Mitochondria are only found in eukaryotes.

Ribosomes serve as translation devices for the genetic code and produce proteins based on the information stored in DNA. Every ribosome consists of two subunits. The smaller subunit uses transfer ribonucleic acids (transfer RNA or tRNA) to decode the genetic code it receives in the form of messenger RNA, while the larger subunit joins the amino acids delivered by the transfer RNA together like a string of pearls.

Even higher resolution, even more details

Mitochondrial ribosomes are especially difficult to study because they are found only in small amounts and are difficult to isolate. At the beginning of the year, ETH researchers had shed light on the molecular structure of the large subunit of the mitoribosome in mammalian cells to a resolution of 4.9 Å (less than 0.5 nm). However, this resolution was not adequate to reliably build a complete atomic model of this previously unknown structure. The team lead by ETH Professor Nenad Ban has now succeeded in this task and was able to map the entire structure at a resolution of 3.4 Å (0.34 nm). The researchers recently published their findings in the scientific journal Nature.

The scientists used high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy at the Electron Microscopy Center of ETH Zurich (ScopeM) and state-of-the-art mass spectrometry methods in their experiments. Thanks to recent technical advances in cryo-electron microscopy and the development of direct electron detection cameras that can correct for specimen motion during the exposure, it only recently became possible to capture images of biomolecules at a resolution of less than four angstroms.

Improving the effect of antibiotics

In particular, the new images show the details of the peptidyl transferase centre (PTC), which is where the amino acid building blocks are combined. The proteins synthesised in this way then pass through a tunnel, where they finally exit the large subunit of the ribosome.

"This process is medically relevant," said Basil Greber, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher in Nenad Ban's group. The reason is that this tunnel is a target for certain antibiotics. The antibiotic becomes lodged in the tunnel and prevents the proteins that have just been synthesized from leaving the tunnel. However, antibiotics should only inhibit protein synthesis in the ribosomes of bacteria.

"For an antibiotic to be used in humans, it must not attack human ribosomes," explains Greber. Antibiotics must inhibit protein synthesis only in bacterial ribosomes. The problem is that mitochondrial ribosomes resemble those of bacteria, which is why certain antibiotics also interfere with mitoribosomes. "This can lead to serious side effects." The ETH researchers' findings will make it possible in the future to design antibiotics that inhibit only bacterial and not mitochondrial ribosomes. This is one basic requirement for using them in clinical applications.

A surprising discovery

The ETH researchers also made an unexpected discovery. They found that mitoribosomes use transfer RNA in two fundamentally different ways. Firstly, the tRNA is used to select the right amino acid for peptide synthesis in the PTC. Secondly, one tRNA is a fixed part of the structure, unlike in all other ribosomes. Although it has been known for quite some time that mitochondrial ribosomes integrated new proteins into their structure over the course of their development, this is the first time that the use of an entirely new RNA molecule was observed. "This demonstrates the great evolutionary plasticity of mitoribosomes," underscored Greber.

The ETH team is now faced with a major, still unresolved task in its research: determining the structure of the smaller subunit of the mitochondrial ribosome. The fact that it is more flexible than the large subunit renders this undertaking an even greater challenge.

FDA Advice For Doctors About Nerve Damage From Antibiotics

Today's post from topclassactions.com (see link below) is the latest article warning of the dangers of nerve damage from fluoroquinolone antibiotics. This time the warning comes from the FDA themselves. Last year they instructed the pharmaceutical companies to put warning labels on the boxes of these drugs and now they are advising doctors who prescribe these antibiotics, to be especially alert to symptoms of nerve damage in their patients (at which point of course, it could be too late). There's no doubt that this has been the hot topic in neuropathy circles for some time now but with good reason. If your doctor prescribes antibiotics for you, ask him or her if they belong to the fluoroquinolone group and if they do, don't leave the surgery until you have had a serious discussion as to whether they're going to harm you or not. There are alternatives but successful marketing campaigns have made these drugs the most popular antibiotics around. However, if you're prone to neuropathic problems or have them already you really need to question their value for you.

FDA Advises Doctors to Monitor Antibiotic Users for Nerve Damage 
By Amanda Antell January 13, 2015

Due to the mass concern of fluoroquinolone side effects, the FDA recently announced that it wants healthcare professionals to watch for the risk of peripheral neuropathy in patients prescribed these antibiotics.

As of Aug. 15, 2013, fluoroquinolones had become a major concern for the FDA for a number of reasons, but this particular warning surrounded the devastating side effect peripheral neuropathy, which can cause nerve damage, burning pain, paralysis and more.

The agency advises prescribing physicians to closely monitor patients who are prescribed any members of the fluoroquinolone family, which include the antibiotics levofloxacin (Levaquin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), and gemifloxacin (Factive).

In its announcement, the FDA reiterated its requirement for manufacturing companies to have their medications’ labels include peripheral neuropathy on their list of side effects, and emphasized the danger with a recent toll of injuries. If not diagnosed in time, this condition can cause severe to permanent damage.

According the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Trade press team, the agency made the decision to update the warning for fluoroquinolone peripheral neuropathy due to the number of injury reports the agency had received. While the agency decided against withdrawing fluoroquinolones from the market, the FDA did revise its systemic benefit and risk evaluations regarding these antibiotics.

A recent review of the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) Database had identified 83 cases of fluoroquinolone peripheral neuropathy between Jan. 01, 2003 and Aug. 01, 2012; this was the report discussed in the Aug. 15, 2013 FDA warning. Each of these patients had become disabled due to some degree of antibiotic nerve damage, which furthered the FDA’s concern of this possible correlation.

Antibiotic Nerve Damage a Concern for Years

The concern of peripheral neuropathy being associated with fluoroquinolones started in 2004, when the FDA required all fluoroquinolones to carry this risk on their list of side effects.

While the complication of antibiotic nerve damage is a frightening thought, it’s the fact that the injury reports indicate that the condition could start within a few days of starting the medication, and continue for years after stopping it, that has many so concerned. Even in 2015, the FDA and other medical institutes have not managed to identify what exactly causes peripheral neuropathy from antibiotics, but it appears not to be related to age or duration of medication use.

Additionally, during their August 2013 warning, FDA MedWatch stated that physicians should give patients a medication guide for every fluoroquinolone prescription, and patients should be instructed to contact their physicians if they show signs of peripheral neuropathy. While suddenly ceasing medication is not advisable without a physician’s consultation, the FDA generally recommends that the medication should be switched with a non-fluoroquinolone antibiotic, unless the risks of the new antibiotic outweigh the benefits.

Medical experts state that a majority of peripheral neuropathy reports indicate that it is not linked with diabetes, thyroid conditions, vitamin deficiencies, or environmental factors. It is important to note that the risk of peripheral neuropathy is still a relatively recent concern, but remains prevalent because there are no known prevention methods.

Overview of Quinolone Peripheral Neuropathy

Fluoroquinolones are among the most popularly prescribed antibiotics in the United States, and are used to treat a variety of bacterial infections. In 2011, over 23 million patients were prescribed a member from this antibiotic family to treat their conditions. As mentioned before, peripheral neuropathy has been listed as a side effect for fluoroquinolones since 2004, with patients reporting long-lasting or permanent disability, allegedly in direct consequence of using this medication.

Peripheral neuropathy is a condition where the nerves that send signals from the brain and spinal cord become damaged, which disrupts communication with the rest of the body. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy will vary depending on which nerves are affected. Generally speaking, the symptoms are in the arms and legs and include numbness, tingling, burning, or shooting pain.

It is important to note that peripheral neuropathy symptoms start quickly, and spread just as fast, so it is vital that patients see their physicians immediately.

 http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/47255-fluoroquinolone-peripheral-neuropathy/