INTRODUCTION
You have most likely found this website because you are suffering from an
adverse drug reaction ("ADR") to a fluoroquinolone ("FQ") antibiotic. The
fluoroquinolones include the brand names, Cipro, Levaquin, Tequin, Maxaquin,
Avelox, Factive, Floxin, Noroxin, Penetrex, Zagam, as well as any other
antibiotic that contains the words "flox" or "ox" in the generic name, such as
ciprofloxacin, levefloxacin and gatifloxacin.
Some ophthalmic and otic (ear) drops solutions contain FQ's such as:
Chibroxin(norfloxacin), Ocuflox(ofloxacin), Quixin(levofloxacin),
Zymar(gatifloxacin), Ciloxan(ciprofloxacin), Floxin Otic (ofloxacin), Cipro Otic
(ciprofloxacin).
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING A FLUOROQUINOLONE ANTIBIOTIC AND ARE SUFFERING FROM
ONE OR MORE OF THE ADR'S LISTED BELOW, PLEASE STOP TAKING IT IMMEDIATELY, REPORT
YOUR ADR'S TO YOUR DOCTOR AND DEMAND THAT HE/SHE PRESCRIBE A NON-FLUOROQUINOLONE
ALTERNATIVE.
If you have finished your course of FQ'S and you are suffering from one or more
of the ADR's listed below, YOU MUST NEVER TAKE ANOTHER FQ ANTIBIOTIC AGAIN.
TYPICAL FQ ADR'S
PLEASE BE WARNED some FQ ADR's can be permanent, crippling and even fatal. There
are numerous tell-tail symptoms that many FQ victims commonly experience
including, but not limited to:
Central Nervous System:
- toxic psychosis
- panic/anxiety
- insomnia
- seizures
- tremors
- dizziness
- confusion
- depression
Peripheral Nervous System:
- numbness
- pain
- burning
- tingling
- stinging
- weakness
Musculoskeletal System:
- joint pain
- tendon pain
- tendon rupture
- muscle pain (rhabdomyolysis - a potentially fatal, rapid muscle wasting ADR
which may include dark or pink urine)
Cardiovascular System:
- torsedes de pointes (a fatal arrhythmia)
- heart attack
- palpitations (irregular heartbeat)
- bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
- tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
Immune System:
- anaphylactic reaction (potentially fatal allergic reaction)
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (potentially fatal autoimmune reaction where the
immune system attacks the skin)
Additional ADR's:
renal (kidney) failure
liver failure (potentially fatal)
Drug Interactions - FQ's should not be taken together with:
- Corticosteroids (ie: prednisone)
- NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs ie: Advil, Nuprin, Motrin,
Naprosyn, Aleve)
- caffeine
- theophylline (asthma medication)
This is only a partial list of known FQ ADR's. THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER
POTENTIALLY FATAL ADR'S ASSOCIATED WITH FQ ANTIBIOTICS. See the manufacturer's
package insert for more complete (but, thanks to the FDA, not necessarily
totally complete) list of ADR's.
CHAT TIMES:
Saturday - 3:00 PM EST (New York, East Coast Time)
Tuesday - 9:00 PM EST (New York, East Coast Time)
Thursday - 9:00 PM EST (New York, East Coast Time