The down-side of antibiotics
The FDA announced yesterday the requirement of a new boxed warning about the risks of tendinitis and tendon rupture on the labels of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Drugs in this class are relatively new and are commonly prescribed for certain bacterial infections. They include: ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cipro XR, and Proquin XR), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), and ofloxacin (Floxin), as well as generic versions. Those at highest risk of this complication include persons older than 60, and recipients of a kidney, heart, or lung transplant, as well as corticosteroid users. The achilles tendon (in the ankle) is the most common site of tendon rupture.
According to the FDA, “Physicians should advise patients, at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation, to stop taking the fluoroquinolone, to avoid exercise and use of the affected area, and to promptly contact their doctor about changing to a non-fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drug.” Although these side effects are uncommon, they certainly can be serious and would not be expected in someone taking the drug who is uninformed.
Antibiotics are powerful, yet often misused drugs. They have saved millions of lives and have dramatically improved the quality of health care in this country and around the world, yet today these drugs have also become a growing source of serious side effects as well as a cause of many drug-resistant bacterial infections. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared antibiotic resistance one of its “top concerns.”
Antibiotics should never be taken for a viral infection, such as a cold or the flu, because they will not make a difference, other than possibly causing undesirable side effects. Antibiotics should only be taken as directed and under the supervision of a health care provider.
via FDA, July 8, 2008
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