Antibiotics To Get Warnings Over Tendon Damage

[ensho]

http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/07/antibiotics-to-get-warnings-over-tendon-damage/


The FDA wants to add Black Box warnings to several antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections, including Bayer’s Cipro and Johnson & Johnson’s Levaquin, over concerns the meds cause tendonitis and tendon rupture. The move comes six months after Public Citizen sued the agency to require the warnings on the drug labels.

-snip-

UPDATE: In a statement , Sid Wolfe of Public Citizen says the FDA isn’t going far enough. “The FDA is silent on our request that it also send a warning letter to physicians clearly describing possible adverse reactions, such as tendon pain, so that patients can be switched to alternative treatments before tendons rupture.

“We are troubled that the FDA is not doing everything within its power to prevent more people from needlessly suffering disabling tendon ruptures. Nothing could be simpler and more effective than a letter to doctors in addition to what the FDA has proposed.”
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[CountAllVotes]

1. I took Levaquin last year

and yes, it killed the severe infection that I had. It also killed my entire immune system (good and bad). I am still paying for the side-effects from this damned drug today!

I'll never take Levaquin again. It is a toxic drug!

:kick:

[ensho]

2. thanks for the warning

I was strongly urged to use an antibiotic by a doctor for a medical procedure. (I strongly did not want to) and it gave me a vaginal infection that took a couple of wks. to get rid of because I wouldn't pay 100 bucks for a salve.

damn

[CountAllVotes]

6. that is similar to what happened to me

except the yeast infection (and bacterial infection) I developed also was growing on my stomach and torso and even went so far as to morph into thrush! I still have not gotten rid of these problems completely. In fact, I've been to the doctor 3X in the past 2 weeks and must go AGAIN next week.

Doesn't seem there is a whole lot they can do about this. I took this drug in May of 2007 for a severe urinary tract infection btw. Oh how I regret it!

Hope you are better now!

:dem: :kick:

[Marblehead]

10. yeast can be controled

with coconut, very anti fungal. something you can try. I drink coconut milk as a daily suppliment or coconut oil.

[AngryAmish]

7. With so much MRSA, I definitely would take a prophylactic antibiotic for an invasive procedure

[Marrah_G]

3. My life was saved and then almost ruined by this drug

I had a kidney infection go septic and ended up in the hospital for 4 days. They sent my home on this drug. In less then a week I had to be taken by ambulance back to the hospital because I could no longer move my arm or legs.

The end result determined that I had a rare side effect of Cipro called Peripheral Nueropathy ( in ALL FOUR extremities). It took almost a week in the hospital for them to determine t was the drug. There was no large warning attached to the drug and doctors were not notified of the new side effects showing up. It took a while to recover an lots of Occupational Therapy. I still have lingering effects. Anxiety attacks (they are rare now, instead of daily), my short term memory isn't like it once was, insomnia (again... its less frequent as time goes on), numb fingers and toes( this also is better then it was originally, the nerves are slowly coming back).

It was the scariest time of my life. Single mother, no family close by, 3 kids facing life in a wheel chair. Talk about terrifying. Fortunately they finally figured out what was causing my paralysis and I regained most of my functions.

Cipro is a drug that saves many, but when side effects do occur they are NASTY side effects.

[CountAllVotes]

8. OMG

Wow! :wow: that is horrible! I hope you recover 100% soon!

:kick:

[Marrah_G]

9. This is WAY better then it was

The things that are lingering don't seem so bad now- just glad to be walking, hugging my kids, typing, etc. Even if they are permanent I can live with that.

[murray hill farm]

4. I have been taking low dose Cipro

as UTI preventative for probably 20 yrs. No tendon problems...no problems at all with it. And it is very effective as a treatment plan.

[Marrah_G]

5. It is a helpful drug

But people, especially Doctors, need to know about the side effects because when they do occur they are very bad. It took almost a week and a ton of tests to figure out it as the Cipro. Had it gone on longer it would have been permanent.

[murray hill farm]

11. Absolutely!

I agree 100%...we all need to be as informed as possible. Also, sorry you had such a horrid reaction. What a terrifying experience. Glad u made it through it and are OK now.

[Holly_Hobby]

12. I took Leavaquin in 2000 and my Rx info warned of this problem

back then.