A recent press release from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advises doctors to use more discretion when prescribing certain antibiotics for uncomplicated infections. The class of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones should only be used for serious infections or when no other treatment options are available.
Serious Drugs Overused for Minor Infections
Fluoroquinolones are antibacterial drugs – ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), ofloxacin (Floxin), and gemifloxacin (Factive) – which are critical in treating tough diseases like anthrax inhalation and hospital-acquired pneumonia. However, the FDA warns that they should not be used for more common infections like acute bronchitis, acute sinus infections, and urinary tract infections.
Possible Dangerous Side Effects of Cipro and Levaquin
The FDA safety review found that fluoroquinolones are “associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects that can occur together. These side effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system.” The consequences of taking these drugs can include irregular heartbeats, depression, nerve damage, ruptured tendons, and seizures.
Millions of Case Studies
Fluoroquinolones were prescribed to 33 million patients in 2013, ranking it fourth on the list of most-prescribed antibiotics and accounting for over 12% of antibiotic prescriptions overall. This widespread use of fluoroquinolones means that millions of patients each year contribute to the body of knowledge about the safety of the drugs.
Lawsuit Against Former FDA Chief and Johnson & Johnson
Given that drugs like Levaquin are so over-prescribed, it stands to reason that eventually lawsuits would catch up with drugmakers. Five patients who experienced severe tendon damage after taking Levaquin have filed suit against not only the drugmaker, Johnson & Johnson, but also a former FDA chief and a hedge fund which included J&J stock. The lawsuit accuses the plaintiffs of conspiring to hide the dangers of fluoroquinolones in exchange for the ongoing profitability of the drugs.
Previous CDC and FDA Warnings About Fluoroquinolones
Last week’s announcement wasn’t the first time a government agency has spoken out about the dangers of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued warnings about the misuse of antibiotics, saying that about one-third of prescriptions for them are unnecessary.
It wasn’t even the first time that the FDA brought attention to the fluoroquinolone class of drugs, either. In 2008, the FDA called for a boxed warning on the drug’s labeling, warning against tendon damage risks. Then, in 2013, the FDA warned of permanent nerve damage risk from fluoroquinolones.
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