The warning on these medicines say that rare occurrence of tendinitis & tendon ruptures can occur while or "after" taking these medicines. I don't think very many people know how long "after" means. My husband took Cipro 500mg in 1998. Around 11 months "after" he had his first rupture in 1999 in his left calf. It tore completely loose from where it was attached at the bottom of his ankle leaving his calf looking deformed. That left him with not only pain but a limp also. It's still torn away. In 2000, the quadriceps ligament tore at his right knee. It was operated on. In 2001, a quadriceps muscle tore apart in the center of his right thigh. It's still torn. Notice the quadriceps in the warnings isn't mentioned as tendons affected in ruptures nor are muscles. These ruptures came with no warning that anything was wrong. Around a month after he took Cipro, he had started having terrible rheumatoid arthritis type pain all over his body. Some of the things that started happening to him after taking Cipro in 1998 are involuntary movement of his arms & legs especially while trying to rest, insomnia, vivid nightmares, rectal bleeding, severe depression, suicidal thoughts & acts, a rash that looked like ant bites around his ankles, horrible swelled bottom left corner of his lip that only lasted a few days & other things. All these became far worse after taking CiproXR 1,000 in 2004. This was the second time he had ever taken Cipro. Around 11 months "after" taking CiproXR, the ruptures began again in 2005. This time in both his arms. He had 3 ruptures in 2005. There were also severe back spasms, frequent headaches & migraines, a rash that appeared in patches on his body that had bigger sores with dark centers, more cases of tendonitis, numbness worse in his legs & now affecting his hands, needles & pins sensation with burning feeling in his arms, vertical ridges in all his fingernails, lip swelled again like before and all the other things. The only thing that appeared to have ceased or showed some improvement after taking Cipro in 1998 was the rupturing had stopped, the severe depression seemed a little better & the suicidal thoughts & acts stopped, but that all came back too after taking CiproXR in 2004. My husband took a loaded .38, put it in his mouth & pulled the trigger, tried to electrocute himself, tried to burn himself up & others I don't want to mention. He should be dead but ONLY God's Grace spared him. He was a former Marine who kept himself in shape through the years. He was in his early 40's when he first took Cipro. He was so strong & such a hard working man before all this. He's disabled now. The doctors never knew what caused the ruptures. ALL the things he has been through are listed on the adverse reactions on these medicines. There are worse things than tendinitis & tendon ruptures "after" taking these medicines.

I was a healthy 42 year old male who took Levaquin for a sinus infection. The same day as the Black Box Warning was issued; I was having my third tendon reattachment surgery. I have to wait at least 6 weeks before I can undergo yet a fourth tendon rupture reattachment. At least it takes my mind of the Achilles Tendinopathy, joint pains, headaches, uncontrolled muscle twitching etc. I consider myself one of the lucky ones since so far it has not affected my kidneys, liver, heart, eyes and other side effects that many are dealing with from this class of drugs. I would urge a real journalist to take the time and look at the real number of cases. The Fda numbers are misleading. The clinical data coming from other counties are showing much higher rates of tendon ruptures and other life threatening side effects. Nothing against you but it’s a sad day when the only coverage we are now receiving is on law firm forums.

My life has changes when I took 3 pills of levaquin for a UTI. I had muscle weakness and pain with spasm. My legs felt so weak that I can hardly walk. Later on my achilles in both legs started acting up I have been dealing with them for 7 months with no relief. I can hardly walk or stand for more then 10 minutes. Every step that I take I worry if and when my achilles will tear. I was never told anything about this, I wish I knew because I would of never taken this meds I would of asked for something else. Every day I wake up and wonder what will levaquin have damaged today

I was prescribed levaquin, cipro, and other quinolone based antibiotics for a period of two years to fight a prostrate infection around 1993. It was about the time I was taking these drugs that I started having severe flu's, and viruses that took a very long time to get rid of. Every year, including the years after I quit taking the antibiotics, the flu's got worse until I got one that completely disabled me. I could barely walk, was light sensitive, noise sensitive, and just over all weak. All medical tests came back negative. The doctors could find no reason for my condition. I was diagnosed as having a post viral fatigue syndrome by Scripp's Clinic in 1999. I suffered from these effects severely for about two years, then started feeling little better, but would have attacks of fatigue that would put me in bed for days at a time. I still suffer from these attacks that come for no reason. I wake up everyday feeling horrible. I can only work part time. I have tried all kinds of therapy, medications, exercise routines, diets, more medical tests, but there doesn't seeem to be an answer to my problem. It caused me a divorce, and a great deal of money. I often get depressed to the point of just wanting to throw in the towel, but I remind myself that is the cowards way out. I am fortunate in that I still have a business, but have to pay a great deal of money to delegate the work out to other people. I cannot work that much. I really have no life since this happened to me. I wish there were an answer to the problem.

Are you willing to take on Big Pharma? There are thousands of us, maybe tens of thousands or more, who have been injured. Our doctors don't believe us. Nobody knows how to treat us. There doesn't seem to be any hope for us. We sit and wait for things to get better. For some, things get better. But, do they ever totally go away? I can't answer that yet. I hope someday to be able to say yes, they have gone away. But, for now, I wait. I took Levaquin seven months ago. I had almost every reaction listed on the package insert. My doctor told me that no, it could not be from the Levaquin even though the package insert told me otherwise. For five months, I could barely move. Every joint and every muscle was affected. My eyes, my heart, my ears, my intestinal tract, everything was affected. It has changed me. I am no longer the optimistic person I used to be. I always prided myself on being the kind of person who was there to help others. No longer could I be that person. I became a recluse. I barely left my house because of the pain and the depression. Slowly, things are improving but why did this happen to me? Why is it still happening to people? And, now the medical community has become the enemy. They are drug pushers that I have to protect myself and my family from. My life and entire view of the world has been turned upside down. According to the package insert, I am not considered a person at high risk for this type of reaction. I am 40 years old and previously pretty healthy. These reactions are not as rare as the pharmaceutical companies claim. But, how do we prove that? Big pharma needs to be stopped now! They want to push these meds on children next. Over my dead body will my children ever be given these fqs!

Hello Rose....we have a lot in common. This life-altering experience has changed my view of the world too. I am hanging by a thread onto the person I used to be and the life I once knew.
Everyone else around me goes about their daily lives....while we continue to suffer at the hands of Big Pharma. No help from the doctors we once placed our trust in. No help from anyone.
How can anyone understand this horrific nightmare, unless they are going through it too? Our lives are over...but we can't give up. Just go on suffering and fighting. And because we are HUMAN, we try as best we can to warn others, so noone else has to live this constant torment.
I also ask "How could this happen?"...but unfortunately I have no answers. It is beyond my comprehension. All I can do is protect my children, and those I love. And pray that I am there to see my boys grow up. Every day, I pray for recovery....for all of us. And I would like to still believe in a humane society....and an end to this unneccessary suffering and madness.

After Visiting the GU clinic in Lincoln UK, I took 1000mg for seven
days of a fifty six day course of offloxacin (FLOXIN) for bacterial
prostatitis (now diagnosed Non Bacterial prostatitis) . I had to stop
the meds due to the intense pain in my knees and shoulders. I was
diagnosed with Rieters Syndrome and given a thirteen week appointment
with Urology. After finally waiting the thirteen weeks suffering
terribly, the urologist at Lincoln totally refuted that the GU clinic
had ever diagnosed Reiters Syndrome and duly diagnosed me with Non
Bacterial prostatitis. As for the pain in all my joints i would have
to speak to my GP. He diagnosed arthragia but at this point I had the
following symptoms.
Severe night time sweats
Clunking tendons in all joints
Severe back hip and ankle pain.
Buzzing in my back and legs
Bee like stings all over the place.
Paid to see a Rhuematologist who diagnosed Osteoarthritis due to the
lack of inflammation and tendontis due to over exercise.
I have had a real shitty 9 months but the floaters in my eyes was the
last straw.
I Researched the after effects and found theres thousands ben poisoned
Im not mad after all, but after seeing the rhuematologis again you
might think it in his eyes.

Thought I'd share my misfortune so nobody ever takes a FQ antibiotic
again..

Lets see.. if I remember correctly (i could never forget this
episode).

I was prescribed Avelox (moxifloxacin) in June 2005 for a sinus
infection. Took Advil sinus during 10 day course (was NOT told not
to, and it wasn't mentioned on the pamphlet). No problems during 10
days, but after finishing it all 1 day later, all hell broke loose.

I had a MASSIVE headache in the back of my head.. took more Advil and
went to work. Still had head pain so took more Advil Sinus after work.

Severe back of head pain (this was INSIDE my head not outside, like a
tension headache)was now accompanied with abundant sweating (my
clothes were soaked), dizziness (couldn't walk and my legs were
uncooordinated) and vomiting. Called 911 and was taken to the ER.

An emergency CAT scan revealed bleeding in my cerebellum. A
neurosurgeon was called in and brain surgery was performed to remove
the clot a few hours later. I passed out in the ER and remember very
little.

To make matters worse, the surgery site swelled up and the fluid was
backing up in my brain. So a shunt (basically they stick a needle in
your brain and let the excess CSF drain out) was inserted.

Spent a month in the hospital in a wheelchair and during that time
the FQ ADR's kicked in. My legs hurt badly and I was very very hot..
all this time I didnt know why.

I had double vision and my talking was impaired.
After a month I was in therapy.. Develpoed massive pain in my left
HAND and SHOULDER. I also had an unknown tingling in my mouth and
nose. Had insomnia for about 2 months. An MRI proved the tears in my
hand and shoulder. I couldnt put my arm up for a year.

Contacted 2 dozen lawyers after I tried to piece together what
happened, but alas, a lawsuit against the drug company was impossible.

To sum it all up, I was left brain damaged, balance, talking and
walking are all impaired.

Cant do what I used to, lost my job, home, car and all my posessions
had to be sold. 25 years of guitar playing is now down the tubes. I
have no dexterity or coordination in my left hand anymore

I was very healthy and of course now it is very clear that the Avelox
caused all of this. Initially I blamed myself (age - 39) for the
stroke and blamed the stroke for the crazy symptoms.. but now I can
see that its not the case AT ALL.


These FQ's are poison, but profits are made anyway selling them

I took one 500 mg pill of Cipro in Nov. 2006. Since then I have expereienced muscle pains and muscle twitching in my calf muscles and biceps, also nerve pains everywhere in my body, and pain in my achilles tendons. My symptoms started later the night that I took Cipro, and they still persist off and on

From being healthy, I turned into an invalid overnight.
I took a fluoroquinolones derivative, and suffered well over 50 symptoms as mentioned by Mr Fuller in his comment.

Serious healthy issues ensued, such as heart failure, arrytymias, hypothyroidism, life threatening hypo/hyperglycaemia, chronic kidney disease, valve and veins, serious neurological dysfunction causing vestibular symptoms, visual, auditory, olfactory, and damage to the brain stem, shoulders, wrists, fingers, hips and knees inflammation, tendinitis, and other cascading health problems.

An excellent website for symptoms, info, tips and advice: More ...

For those who need support, information and a safe forum, please visit More ...

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics have damaged many people. I know of this severe damage on a personal level since I suffered such and adverse reaction to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic Levaquin myself 22 months ago. Since then I have had daily pain and disability of my nervous and musculoskeletal systems and for several months had endocrine and gastrointestinal problems as well. The disability and damage caused by fluoroquinolones is long term and may gradually escalate in that more severe problems such as worsened neuropathy, neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and endocrine disorders once initiated by the fluoroquinolones may develop with a delayed and insidious progress.

This progression of the fluoroquinolone toxicity syndrome is well know by its sufferers and not recognized by health care givers. There has been no investigation in to the reactions. This lack of attention stems from of an antiquated FDA reporting system and the under-representation of the seriousness and frequency of the adverse reactions. The makers of fluoroquinolones have no interest in investigating adverse reactions when doing so will hurt them financially. It is only recently with the weight of litigation pressing down that the FDA has published its incomplete and grossly inadequate boxed warning about the potential for fluoroquinolone toxicity.


I have met many other patients suffering from the adverse effects of fluoroquinolones. Many of them reside in my community including 3 physicians and more than twenty patients.

Although these drugs may be life saving in certain infections when less toxic antibiotics may fail, they have been promoted for use as first line treatment for sinusitis, and urinary tract infections, and are often given indiscriminately to unsuspecting patients by uninformed and cavalier physicians for benign viral upper respiratory infections. Unfortunately for many patients they are trading a mild short term medical problem for a serious long term one.

Sincerely,


Todd Plumb MD

In 2003 I ingested 20 pills total of AVELOX and LEVAQUIN, as prescribed by my doctor to treat a sinus infection. My life has been hell on earth ever since, w/ the progression of severe, disabling adverse reactions. Today as I post these words, I can add Premature Ventricular Contractions to the never-ending list of ADR's, as well as neck pain so severe that I can hardly hold up my head and type this.

Every morning when I open my eyes, I awaken to this nightmare. There is a “sickness” that feels like my body has been poisoned. My hands and feet are swelled and sore…my entire body is stiff and painful…heart-palpitations, vibrations throughout my body…ringing in my ears…bleeding specks of sores on my skin…and a full, bloated feeling in my gut…I feel like I should be dead. It is only by the grace of God, and the love of my 2 children that I am able to pull myself up out of bed, and make it painfully down the stairs. Crying will do no good, as I know I must be strong to fight this horrendous ordeal that has become my life. Knowing that there are others who are living this nightmare gives me a sense of strength…and compassion. There are no more words to described what we are going through emotionally, let alone physically. How could something so unbelievably criminal have happened to us?? And why is this insanity being allowed to continue?? How many more innocent people will have their lives destroyed…how many more must suffer…how many more must die….before something is done?? Someone tell me, what will it take??

Diagnosed w/ arthralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, tendinitis both elbows, enlarged lymph nodes…
still seeing doctor after doctor, and specialists who can only treat the “symptoms”, not the cause.

The Black-Box warning for tendon damage is hardly sufficient and long-overdue.

The poisons that robbed my children of a mother were AVELOX and LEVAQUIN…20 pills. I traded a sinus infection for this life of pain and misery.

More ...

Thank you
~Shells~

I was a fairly normal, happy and healthy 51 y/o male enjoying life, and full of energy until I took a 10 day course of Cipro to treat a minor UTI. That was 2 years ago. I am now struggling to survive the damage and multiple injuries inflicted on me by Cipro. The Cipro did clear up my UTI like any other simple antibiotic would have, but the difference is that Cipro has left me crippled and in intense pain 24/7. Cipro damaged my joints, tendons, nerves in feet and legs, and has done CNS damage that gave me insomnia, anxiety and depression. I just received my lab tests recently, and they now show that I have Diabetes Insipidus as well. I traded a simple UTI that could have been cleared by any number of simple and safe antibiotics, but since Dr's have been using the fluoroquinolones like Cipro as a first line treatment for these minor infections, I now have all these health problems, including a life threatening condition, all brought on by Cipro. Basically, Cipro has destroyed my health and ruined my life. The new warnings on FQ ABX are way too weak and way overdue. The FQ class of ABX is extremely toxic and dangerous. I now feel like my life is over and I am living on borrowed time. Every day is a struggle to get through and there is no sign of improvement. The victims injured by these toxic drugs live with the daily horror of what has happened to them, and would give anything to be able to go back in time and not have let their ignorant Dr. poison them. Every day I think about all the others suffering like me, and the new unsuspecting ones yet to be poisoned. Something has to be done to stop this insanity and waste of human life. That weak Black Box warning only covers tendon rupture and doesn't list all the real dangers associated with the FQ's. I only wish that my Dr. had warned me of all the possible side effects, and I would have taken something else and not be in this daily hell. Gary TBY

My name is Leslea and I am a Clinical Laboratory Manager, have been a Medical Technologist for almost 30 years. I am very well respected by the medical staff at my facility because if I bring up a subject, perhaps a laboratory protocol that I want to put into place or changed, I have done my homework on the subject.
With that in mind, I want to urge physicians to take heed to the fact that fluoroquinolones are not safe for a very large segment of the population. There are literally thousands and thousands of people whose lives are forever changed because of the quinolones.
I know that most, if not all, facilities with microbiology departments put out an antibiogram, at least annually, for the medical staff to reference. Please use your antibiograms to pick the least toxic and most effective antibiotic for your patient.
Use the quinolone class only as a last resort, after other antibiotics have failed or the patient will expire if they aren’t used. Using the quinolones routinely just doesn’t make sense when other antibiotics will work. Keep in mind if this class of antibiotics continues to be used so nonchalantly they will become ineffective due to bacteria developing resistance to them.
I have personally experienced multiple system adr’s to the quinolones, and know a multitude of people like me. That is why I am writing this, I want to prevent the number of people that are damaged by quinolones from growing exponentially.
The adr’s to the quinolones are grossly under reported due to the fact that a lot of reactions aren’t recognized, but are diagnosed as an unrelated problem. If the number of adr’s to quinolones were accurately reported to the medical community, no physician would ever routinely prescribe quinolones again, unless he was some sort of sadist.
My motivation for writing this is honorable, our term would be risk management in the medical community, for the layperson it would be a passionate desire to prevent others from suffering like I am.
Just in case you are wondering, my first reaction to a quinolone caused damage to my tendons particularly my left knee. The tendons were so weak that my knee dislocated 6 times over a 7 month period, I probably should have been in a wheel chair, but I needed to work. I have a permanent baker’s cyst in that knee. The tendonitis was so painful that walking was more like hobbling.
My second reaction made my first reaction seem like a walk in the park. When I mentioned multiple systems earlier, I meant CNS, muscular, skeletal, soft tissues and connective tissue damage. Four and a half years post two doses of Avelox, I still have a multitude of symptoms, some that are not going to resolve. Although I am in severe unrelenting pain, I consider the worst part of my reaction to be the CNS or brain damage.
I have debilitating depression, which I never had prior to this. But the thing that takes the cake is the following: I am sure you can imagine that I am or actually was above average in intelligence, Avelox has destroyed my short term memory and has made me struggle to find simple everyday words when carrying on a conversation. My nickname used to be “The Steel Trap” because I never forgot anything and could recall verbatim conversations no matter how long or short the amount of time that had elapsed. My memory was what is called photographic in nature. You might be tempted to say, well you are getting older, well I don’t believe that CNS changes due to aging happen overnight unless there is a stroke involved. That, and the fact that I am not alone with this reaction, speaks very loudly to the truth of the matter.
I will quickly list the other damage I am dealing with; peripheral neuropathy, myofascial damage in my right hip that has lead to permanent gluteus median adhesions after tearing. I have chronic muscle spasms and knots in my right hip and shoulder, this is the cause of the severe unrelenting pain, the shoulder knots and spasms lead to horrible tension headaches. I also have to take Valtrex to keep shingles at bay, another wonderful symptom of the nerve damage. My tendons and ligaments in my right knee are tender to the touch and painful, my vision is altered due to floaters and blurring, luckily laboratories are notoriously noisy so I don’t notice the tinnitus too much. I could go on and on, but you get the picture. By the way, I was a healthy active person prior to this reaction, I was 47 at the time and most people would guess my age at 35 because of my personality, strength and agility, they were always shocked to find out how old I was.
Please help me in preventing any other healthy individuals from experiencing this nightmare.
I also challenge you to do your own research into the real picture of this class of antibiotics, quit taking the word of the FDA or pharmaceutical companies, they have an agenda, but it is less than honorable. You can start by going to More ... .
Thank you for your time.

Rather than retype this comment over and over, as so many sites are running with this story, I would beg pardon from the host of this site to allow me to paste this comment, which has been spell and grammar checked for errors as well as submitted to those other sites. I believe it captures the concerns of those who have been injured by this class and hence a relevant comment to this story, as well as adds the facts that have been deliberately excluded by the FDA within their press release:

Tendon rupture is the least of the patient's concerns. This class is associated with irreversible peripheral neuropathy, fatal liver and kidney damage, fatal hypo and hyperglycemia, SJS and TEN, toxic psychosis, spontaneous ruptures not only of the tendons but also muscles, ligaments and cartilage, the list of serious adrs is boundless. More than half of the drugs found in this class have been removed from clinical practice due to severe and even fatal adverse reactions.

I just received a report of a 14year old male who tore the cartilage in both knees requiring extensive surgical intervention as a result of being on levaquin to treat a nail infection. Not to mention they young lady who has been in a wheelchair for the past decade due to the damage done to her tendons which rendered them beyond surgical repair. She was given cipro for an earache.

Within the NDA (new drug application) for levofloxacin we find clinical studies that revealed an adr rate in excess of 40% (one or more reactions) and a number of listed fatalities. We find these same numbers with all the NDAs for this class. This tendon issue we are now discussing was first revealed to the FDA back in 1982 (bailey et al). The FDA did NOTHING until Public Citizen filed a petition in 1996 seeking both black box warnings and dear doctor letters. The FDA did neither. Another petition was filed by the Attorney General of the State of Illinois in 2005 seeking these same actions. In 2006 Public Citizen once again petitioned the FDA. Rather than respond to these petitions as required by law, the FDA stonewalled the petitioners for more than three years. It was not until suit was filed in Federal Court by Public Citizen to compel the FDA to respond to these petitions did the FDA do anything.

And what they did was nothing more than a 'slap to the face' to those of us who have had our lives destroyed by these drugs. It is far too little, far too late. And we would not even be tossed this 'bone' if this lawsuit were not pending. This is nothing more than a blatant attempt by the FDA to avoid full disclosure of the true safety profile of this class which will be required when they lose in Federal Court.

Bayer issued a European "Dear Doctor Letter" in February of 2008 in regards to fatal liver injury as a result of being on Avelox. Yet we see no such letter being issued here in the States, nor do we see the FDA requesting one either. This class has been crippling and killing patients since the mid sixties. For more than forty years now the FDA has hidden the true safety profile from both the patient as well as the treating physician.

Those who have an interest in reading this forty years worth of medical journal entries, case reports, newspaper articles, clinical studies, etc., that documents all that I state here are invited to log unto More ... " rel="nofollow">More ... The FDA is also grossly misleading when they state that the risk factor is one in one hundred thousand. The actual risk is .5% to 16% depending upon which citation you prefer to reference as well as the year in which it was published.

I find the manufacturers to be grossly misleading the patient and physician alike when they state that this class is a safe and effective antibiotic with minimum side effects. I have forty years worth of medical documentation that proves that they are anything but for those who care to read it, rather than this line of misleading and false information being provided by the FDA.

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
More ... " rel="nofollow">More ...
fqresearch@aol.com
davidtfull@aol.com

Of further interest is the fact that over in Europe restrictions have recently been place on both Avelox as well as Norfloxacin due to severe adverse reactions.

Comment: Though I had posted this on other sites dealing with this issue, it is still relevant to the discussion at hand and I would hope the host of this site would not take offense at me repeating it here:


In addition to the recent "Black Box Warnings" as well as the European "Dear Doctor" issued by Bayer overseas back in February 2008 concerning Avelox, the European Medicines Agency has moved to severely restrict the use of Avelox (moxifloxacin), to wit:


FRANKFURT, July 24 (Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency has recommended limiting the use of oral moxifloxacin-containing medicines after finalizing a review of the safety of the antibiotics, the agency said on Thursday.


The European body (EMEA) said it had concluded that these drugs should only be prescribed for acute bacterial sinusitis, acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis and community-acquired pneumonia when other antibiotics cannot be used or have failed.


"The agency also recommended strengthening the warnings for oral moxifloxacin medicines," it said in a statement.

Moxifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, is marketed by Bayer (BAYG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) under its brand Avelox.


At its July 2008 meeting, the agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that the benefits of oral moxifloxacin medicines continued to outweigh its risks.


However, due to safety concerns, mainly related to an increased risk of adverse hepatic reactions, it recommended restricting their use in these indications.


The CHMP opinion will now be forwarded to the European Commission to apply to all oral moxifloxacin-containing medicines authorized in the European Union.


Responding to the recommendation, Bayer said the review confirmed the positive benefit-risk profile of the drug.

"We would welcome an EMEA assessment of other antibiotics used for treatment of these infections in a similar fashion in the interest of patient care," said Kemal Malik, a member of Bayer HealthCare executive committee and chief medical officer.


More ...


Black Box Warnings, Dear Doctor Letters, restrictions place on the use of Avelox, thousands of patients responding to these articles claiming severe injuries from this class, hundreds if not thousands of adverse drug reaction forums with tens of thousands of members world wide, as well as more than fifty percent of these drugs removed from clinical practice, and last but not least the fact that Nalidixic Acid, upon which all these drugs are based is a listed cancer causing agent, I dare to ask: are we still to believe the following comment which can be found at the end of just about any article written about this class?


'The fluoroquinolones as a class are generally well tolerated; most adverse effects are mild in severity, self-limited, and rarely result in treatment discontinuation...'


Or are we to continue wonder if we are the only ones who have bothered to do any research on this class in the past twenty six years. For surely who ever would make such a claim has not.


“Repeat a lie a thousand times and it becomes the truth ...” - usually credited to Dr Joseph Goebbels, Propaganda Minister of the Third Reich. I now credit it to those medical researchers who continue to state how safe and effective this class of chemotherapuetic agents are. For they have repeated this lie a thousand times a thousand times. Rather odd coincident that they are both (Goebbels, and these medical researchers who state such blatant lies) members of the medical community.

Comment: What is behind the ignorance and denial found within the medical community regarding the true safety profile of the fluoroquinolones?


An editorial in response to the FDA's recent addition of "Black Box Warnings" to the fluoroquinolone class.

Written by the Director of the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation, Mr. David T. Fuller.


The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation continues to collect post-marketing reports regarding the non-abating nature of the severe and crippling adverse drug reactions associated with fluoroquinolone therapy via the Internet. Ever since the research forum went on line, the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Forum hosted by Yahoo has received thousands of reports, including numerous associated fatalities. The homepage for the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation, More ... " rel="nofollow">More ... has accumulated over 4000 medical journal entries, newspaper articles, post marketing reports, lawsuits and other such supporting data the clearly shows the rampant ignorance and denial within the medical community regarding the non-abating nature of such events.


For more than forty years, since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, the victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity have been denied the medical care they so desperately need as their physicians have routinely failed to recognize, treat and report such events. Peripheral Neuropathy, spontaneous tendon rupture, severe and non abating joint and tendon damage, resulting from such toxicity, are all known, listed and published adverse drug reactions to these chemotherapeutic agents, commonly referred to as fluoroquinolones or quinolones. Yet the victims continue to be told by their physicians "it cannot be the drug".


Numerous news stories since the anthrax scare back in 2001 have documented such injuries, with the most recent being the death of the daughter of one member of the research forum, whose death was the direct result of such careless scripting of these toxic and dangerous drugs. Another forum, the quinolone adverse drug reaction forum, hosted by Yahoo since February 14, 1999, has accumulated over 57,000 such post regarding the damage this class of chemotherapeutic agents can and will do. The law firm of Sheller, Ludwig and Badey, one of the largest class action and medical malpractice firm in the Northeast, had filed a class action lawsuit against Bayer AG, the manufacturer of Cipro. This suit was filed on behalf of all those who have suffered such damage including the Capitol Hill Staff, the Washington Postal Workers, and the employees of the American Media who were exposed to Ciprofloxacin as a result of the Anthrax Scare. This suit was later withdrawn alleged to be the result of the astronomical cost of such litigation.


In spite of the overwhelming evidence of the non-abating nature of such injuries, the FDA continues to approve new drugs within this class together with new indications for those already on the market. Ignoring the 9,711 reports that include 806 associated deaths and 39,128 total reactions found within the AERS reports for Levofloxacin. (Levaquin Nov. 1997 - May 30, 2007) In 2004 these numbers were 5,276 reports, 473 associated deaths and 19,792 total reactions respectively. Together with the 8,766 reports which include 837 associated deaths and 40,395 total reactions for Ciprofloxacin found within the AERS reports as well. (Nov. 1, 1997 - June 5, 2007) Where as these numbers were 4,995 reports, 480 associated deaths and 20,890 total reactions in 2004. As well as the following:


Floxin: Nov. 1997 - May 30, 2007

Total reactions: 13,495

Total death outcomes by case: 311

Total individual safety reports: 2,962


Proquin (ciprofloxacin) Nov. 1, 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 40,151

Total death outcomes by case: 831

Total individual safety reports: 8,688


Tequin: Nov. 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 15,494

Total death outcomes by case: 196

Total individual safety reports: 5,307


Factive: Nov. 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 1,979

Total death outcomes by case: 7

Total individual safety reports: 1,108


Avelox: Nov. 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 30,160

Total death outcomes by case: 337

Total individual safety reports: 7,391


Almost fifty percent of such chemotherapeutic agents have been removed from clinical practice or their use severely curtailed, due to toxicity issues. Yet, Mr. MacCarthy, the 2001 Vice President of U.S. Medical Science at Bayer's West Haven facility stated in 2001"If you are telling me that someone had these effects and they were persisting, long term, months to years after treatment I would be surprised."


The members of the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation had been telling Mr. MacCarthy's employer exactly that for years prior to him making such a statement to the press. Those within the media who have an interest in interviewing those who "had these effects and they were persisting, long term, months to years after treatment" are welcomed to visit our website and forum. For we state unequivocally that Mr. MacCarthy was being less than forthright in the statements he had made back in 2001. Such documentation has been made available to the firm he works for year after year. The adverse reactions experienced by the members have shown to be both persistent and non-abating, "year after year", contrary to what Mr. MacCarthy had stated publicly. As one member of the forum so eloquently stated, "Mr. MacCarthy is mistakened"(sic) as we have the documentation as well as hundreds of such victims to prove all that we state here which is available for public scrutiny.”


Those within the media who have an interest in interviewing those who “had these effects and they were persisting, long term, months to years after treatment” are welcomed to visit this any one of the thousands of such websites found on the Internet as well. Mr. MacCarthy apparently could not be bothered to take the time to do so prior to making the comments that he had in 2001, in my humble opinion.


Here we are SEVEN years later, and we still continue to hear such denials from the manufacturers and the medical community even though these numbers have increased dramatically. Levaquin has been reported as having the most numerous, non-abating and severe adverse drug reactions associated with its use on Mediciations.com


A review of the online adverse drug reaction reporting forum: More ... (October 2002 – February 2004) revealed that Levaquin was associated with approximately 17% of ALL adverse drug reactions being reported to this site, irregardless of the drug being reported upon. Medications.com started receiving such reports as of October of 2002. Medications.com is an Internet community that allows people interested in commonly prescribed drugs to interact so that they can discuss the implications -- both positive and negative of using these important tools in modern medicine. Medications.com list over 4,500 drugs in common use to date, users have posted thousands of side effects and messages about many of these drugs.


The total number of adverse reactions, regardless of the drug mentioned, as of 2-11-2004, totals approximately 4,469. Levaquin, by far, received more such post than ANY other fluoroquinolone drug listed on this site. Of the 774 adverse reactions reported for all of the fluoroquinolones listed, 752 were for Levaquin. The only fatality listed for a fluoroquinolone was for Levaquin. 97.5% of all adverse reactions to the fluoroquinolones were reported for Levaquin. As such reports are received anonymously the verification of such reports was not feasible nor did we attempt this. But one can assume that receiving this many reports over a sixteen-month period that the majority of such reports are indeed valid. This study also lacks the necessary controls required to present the above as fact and as such should be viewed for debating purposes only.


A review of the side effects posted on Medications.com (October 2002 – February 2004) for the fluoroquinolones used in clinical practice in the United States revealed the following:


Avelox 8 post


Ciprofloxacin 7 post


Floxin 5 post


Levaquin 752 post w/(1) fatality


Tequin 2 post


The predominate adverse reactions reported for Levaquin are as follows:


Nuerotoxicity

Tendon Damage and or rupture

Insomnia

Non abating injury (multiskeletical)

Peripheral Neuropathy

Gastrointestinal

Anxiety and Panic attacks

Vision Problems

Rash, sweats, taste perversions, hearing loss


ALL of which those who suffer such reactions are being told by the treating physician to have no association with fluoroquinolone therapy. This trend is repeated on a number of adverse drug reaction forums dealing with the adverse drug reactions as they relate to the Fluoroquinolones. As the above data has not been verified other than visiting this site and doing a physical count the absolute accuracy has not been determined.


Since the time that this analysis was performed the numbers have increased so dramatically to the point that it is no longer feasible to even attempt such a comparison today. And yet the NUMBER ONE drug with the most adverse reactions, as well as the most severe adverse reactions, continues to be levaquin on that site.


In spite of the overwhelming evidence presented at that 62 Meeting of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee that the fluoroquinolones cause irreversible joint damage in the pediatric population the FDA has recently added the use of Ciprofloxacin in the pediatric population, Treating children as young as one years of age. We are currently faced with a clear and present danger regarding these drugs as the FDA, ignoring the tragic results of such careless scripting, has now authorized this use knowing full well that the physician will continue to abuse their discretion.


I challenge the FDA to explain to me how they expect a child who cannot even walk or talk yet to register a complaint of joint and tendon pain. Numerous studies have indicated that such use in a pediatric patient runs the risk of crippling the child for life. One such patient has undergone numerous surgeries to repair this damage and remains crippled to this day. Yet additional clinical trials continue aided and abetted by the FDA, for other drugs in this class other than Ciprofloxacin. A disaster that is detailed within the 62nd meeting of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee where it was so eloquently stated:


“…when we talk about the issue of arthropathy that potentially includes a number of things, ranging from simple effusion, for instance, of a knee joint, which might rapidly resolve after the conclusion of therapy, to a more permanent disability. ..” (sic)



“…in September of 1997 there is now a ciprofloxacin suspension which is available, and although it continues to have the same warning statements about arthropathy in juvenile animals and the potential concern in pediatric populations, obviously, the issue of off label use will extend over to pediatric populations in this formulation….”(sic)


“…An important safety question is, what adverse events should be monitored, and Doctor Goldberger alluded to this earlier. This is some of the examples I present. One is permanent lameness, reversible lameness, joint effusion, joint pain, and even latent articular disease or damage that may occur months or years following drug exposure, and there may be others….”(sic)


“…And, data submitted to the Agency, as well as data from the scientific literature, indicate that these lesions don't appear to be reversible…”(sic)


“…Doctor Stahlmann in Berlin is working on an idea that it may be an effect between the endocrines, the magnesium and the matrix and the quinolone. And that data is just coming out now. But as to the exact mechanism, I think you're right. I don't think we have a handle, as far as I know, on the exact mechanism. If there's anybody else that does, I'd sure like to hear it…”(sic)


“… Relating your personal experience, I was wondering about the potential for a delayed effect that in fact one might have a patient who had some histologic changes that would not be manifest clinically for many years. Is that a potential?” (sic)

“… I think it is a potential…”(sic)


“… In trying to assess toxicity with a very sensitive assay, obviously you've got tissue that you can look at in your animal models. There is some human data that were collected by Doctor Urs Schaad using MRI scanning in children and I'm wondering if you can correlate some of your histopathologic findings with MR in the animal model to give us an idea of how sensitive it would be sort of as a follow-up to Doctor Klein's question is the MR something that will be able to predict long-term outcomes, even if there are no clinical symptoms during therapy….”(sic)


“… That I don't know. I'll just be perfectly frank. I don't know. But on the slides I've seen from the animals from the chronic study, the repaired articular cartilage that is there is principally fibrocartilage yet it will provide the same joint margin and it has a calcified base and when we stain it with safrain O screen there's no proteoglycans there so it's going to make it an extremely chondromalaistic area and beyond the one year I can't tell you what the results will be…”(sic)


“…Anyway, it was by a group in Vienna where they looked at the articular cartilage of postmortem specimens of articular cartilage from kids with cystic fibrosis that had been on quinolones for a period of time and they found that there was damage in the chondrocytes….”(sic)


“…There were no deaths reported in U.S. pediatric zero to 18 year old cases where a flouroquinolone was reported as the suspect drug. However, there are eight deaths in the whole cohort of suspect and concomitant flouroquinolone drug reports in the system. Five of these deaths reported ciprofloxacin as a concomitant drug and not the suspect drug. These five were U.S. cases with ages ranging from seven months to six years. The remaining three deaths were all foreign, all 18 year old patients with either ofloxacin or norfloxacin reported as the suspect drug….”(sic)


“…There are 14 reports of arthropathy or arthralgia in the pediatric zero to 18 year old flouroquinolone reports. One report of a 14 year old girl had both ofloxacin and lomefloxacin as the suspect drug so there is an extra count because of the two flouroquinolones on this one report. This particular report indicates that a pediatric orthopedic surgeon diagnosed femoral anteversion as the cause for the girl's arthralgia, therefore you see it listed twice, and not the flouroquinolones. Most of the reports indicated that either an involved knee or elbow with or without other joints was involved….”(sic)


“…One interesting case which is not included on this slide for arthralgias was a 15 year old boy who received ofloxacin IV for an emergency appendectomy and had not grown more than his 70 inches in height over the last year. The 15th percentile for height for a 15 year old boy however is 66.5 inches and the expected growth rate is about two inches per year…”(sic)


“…Three patients had their seizure after the first dose of flouroquinolone, one on ciprofloxacin and the other two on ofloxacin, one of which had received ofloxacin several months earlier…”(sic)


“…The 15 psychiatric reports are a loose grouping of reports which include events ranging from euphoria to psychosis. The ages range from five to 18 years with the median at 15 years. There were two suicide attempts, one on ofloxacin and the other on norfloxacin, three reports of hallucination, one each on ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin, and one report of aggressive behavior with confusion in a patient who had a psychiatric history and was on norfloxacin. The seven cases of photosensitivity were reported with lomefloxacin with one case on ciprofloxacin and two cases on ofloxacin. …”(sic)


“…I will mention that there were 152 U.S. cases aged zero to 18 years in the U.S. AERS system suspect flouroquinolones in the WHO line listing. The country with the most pediatric reports in the WHO foreign reports is the United Kingdom with 177 reports followed by Germany with 72 and France with 71. The rest of the countries had 20 or fewer reports….”(sic)


“…And with regards to muscular-skeletal events, 21 percent of the patients had an event in ciprofloxacin…”(sic)


“…We have focused our analysis on joint disorders and pefloxacin. 79 cases were reported and consist mainly of arthralgia. I don't know the pronunciation of hydrarthrosis -- 49 persons. It involved the knee in 52 cases, the wrist in 20 cases, the elbow in 20 cases, the shoulder in 6 cases, the ankle in 5 cases, and the hip once. It is associated with a functional discomfort in all cases, and when the duration of this discomfort is known, it can persist more than one month in 61 percent of these cases. But the outcome was favorable in 58 cases without discontinuation in two cases. …”(sic)


“…There have been sequelae in three cases with knee effusions persisting one year later in one case with discomfort following 8 months later in the second case. The third case is articular. It is a 17-year-old patient who experienced arthropathy and the drug was not suspected and the treatment was continued two following months. It leads to destructive arthropathy of the knees and the hip and prothesis was performed three years later. He was treated for a cerebral abscess. The outcome was unknown in 18 cases. In 9 cases, there was no follow-up. In the 9 last cases, we had a follow-up three months later and patients were not -- were still with disabilities and after we have no evolution….” (sic)


“… It is my understanding that one of the children had a joint replacement, is that correct?”

“ Pardon me?”

“ One of the children with the complications had an artificial joint replacement?”

“Yes.”


“…If an irreversible cartilaginous lesion can occur, it is very likely that is going to cause problems down the line and we can't even anticipate what they are like…” (sic)


In spite of the following proven horrendous side effects:


Permanent disability

Permanent lameness

Joint effusion

Joint pain

Latent articular disease or damage that may occur months or years following drug exposure

Lesions that don't appear to be reversible

Potential for a delayed effect that would not be manifest clinically for many years

Damage in the chondrocytes

Eight deaths (five of which involved Ciprofloxacin)

14 reports of arthropathy

Seizures

Stunted growth

Suicide attempts

Hallucinations

Photosensitivity

Knee effusions persisting one year later with destructive arthropathy of the knees and the hip

(And with regards to muscular-skeletal events, 21 percent of the patients had an event in

Ciprofloxacin)


As one member of this advisory committee stated “…If an irreversible cartilaginous lesion can occur, it is very likely that is going to cause problems down the line and we can't even anticipate what they are like…”

As such the FDA has no idea what risk these children face nor how to treat such events once they occur.

Yet in conclusion this committee stated “…We clearly want to encourage development of these drug for use in pediatrics…”.


Within the newest package insert for Ciprofloxacin we find peripheral neuropathy being added as a severe, non-abating adverse drug reaction. A disease state in which the peripheral nerves are so badly damaged the patient will spend the rest of their natural life in severe, non-abating pain for there is no treatment protocol available for such a disease state that offers any relief. But we see no “Black Box Warning” concerning this. Of additional concern is the fact that there are also ongoing clinical trials regarding the use of other chemotherapeutic agents within this class involving pediatric patients as young as six months of age.


For more than forty years since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, severe and permanent injury to the patient has been documented. Not one year in the past twenty six has gone by without additional articles being published in the leading medical journals documenting the horrendous damage these drugs can and will do since the introduction of Nalidixic Acic. Now the FDA has given their blessing on the use of chemotherapeutic agents within the pediatric population.


The use of these drugs will NOT be restricted to the approved indications either. The FDA has stated “…obviously, the issue of off label use will extend over to pediatric populations …” So now a child with a minor ear ache or sore throat will risk being crippled for the rest of their lives and the FDA will continue to turn a blind eye to such abuse for it is NOT within the legal rights of the FDA to control how such drugs are used once they have been approved. The FDA has no say in the manner in which a physician chooses to utilized a drug once it has been approved.


As such we now look forward to a whole generation of pediatric patients being destroyed by the careless manner in which such drugs are utilized and the treating physician will continue to fail to recognize, treat and report such events. Just as they have been doing for the past forty six years. Numerous forums now exist on the Internet in which the adult patients have been reporting such severe reactions since 1999. We can all now look forward to the distraught parents of these children joining such forums as a direct result of this total and complete failure of the FDA to protect the health and welfare of the pediatric population. Ignoring their own research and the findings of their advisory committee, they have approved a proven dangerous and toxic drug for the use in children.


The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation continues to collect post-marketing reports regarding the non-abating nature of the severe and crippling (and at times fatal) adverse drug reactions associated with fluoroquinolone therapy via the Internet. Since one of the first such forums went on line back in 1999, over nine years worth of horror stories regarding the damage these drugs can and will do have been forwarded to the FDA. In spite of the overwhelming evidence of such severe and at times fatal adverse reactions, the FDA continues to refuse to take action. In a letter we received from the FDA, (circa 2004) Frances T. Gipson, FACHE Office of Executive Programs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, stated that “…we will weigh all risks and benefits associated with Fluoroquinolone Class Drugs prior to taking any additional action…We will continue to monitor future adverse events reported to us.” To add insult to injury regarding such inaction by the FDA, Gipson also states “…It was also noted that the majority of those adverse events reported are well-known side effects of the Fluoroquinolone class of drugs…” Three years later (circa 2007) Public Citizen received a reply from the FDA to their petition seeking Black Box Warnings stating the very same thing almost word for word. So did the Attorney General of the State of Illinois in response to their petition filed a year earlier.


For more than forty six years, since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, the victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity have been reporting such “well-known side effects”, only to be denied the medical care they so desperately need as their physicians have routinely failed to recognize, treat and report such events. Peripheral Neuropathy, spontaneous tendon rupture, severe and non abating joint and tendon damage, as well as fatalities resulting from such toxicity, are all known, listed and published adverse drug reactions to these chemotherapeutic agents, commonly referred to as fluoroquinolones or quinolones. Yet the victims continue to be told by their physicians “it cannot be the drug” and the FDA continues to “monitor future adverse events.” It surely does not get any sicker than this.


Numerous sites continue to be added to the Internet dealing with these reactions in an effort to draw media attention to those of us who are left outside the city gates, like lepers to be pitied and ignored. On any one of these sites you will find tens of thousands of case histories, posted in the very words of the victims themselves, which describe the horrific suffering they or their loved ones have endured as a direct result of the FDA’s failure to prevent such carnage. You will also find postings regarding those who have forfeited their lives due to the rampant ignorance regarding the adverse reactions associated with these chemotherapeutic agents.


The recent addition of this frivolous “Black Box Warning” only emphasizes the fact that such adverse reactions experienced by such victims have shown to be both persistent and non-abating, “year after year”, contrary to what Mr. MacCarthy had stated publicly seven years ago. The comments made within the video presented by the good doctor from John Hopkins emphasizes the fact that NOTHING has changed since then either when it comes to the rampant ignorance found within the medical community.


Since 1999, over nine years ago, we now have added over fifteen different sites to the Internet that deals with these issues. All dealing with what Mr. MacCarthy claimed to have no knowledge of. Perhaps he may wish to read the postings under “In Fond Memory Of” on the fqvictims site. It has been stated that “dead men tell no tales” but thanks to the efforts of those involved with bringing this new site on line; they have been given a chance to do exactly that. For you will find post after post detailing the horrendous manner in which such fatalities related to the careless and thoughtless use of these dangerous drugs, have occurred. No doubt Mr. MacCarthy has no knowledge of the permanent nature of such reactions either. Over a thousand documented fatalities, forty thousand severe adverse reactions, four thousand medical journal entries, fifteen new adverse reaction websites, nine years worth of post marketing reports, and the FDA continues to state that they intend to “continue to monitor future adverse events reported to us”. The victims continue to report the carnage, yet no one is listening. Perhaps with this “new” warning, somebody, somewhere, will. But somehow I rather doubt that we will find that they work at the FDA.


You would also note that Internet sites that published this new warning and allowed people to post a comment have been overwhelmed with patient’s complaints. I rather doubt that this would be taking place unless the drug in question is truly defective. People have far better things to do with their time I would imagine.



Mr. David T. Fuller

Director

Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

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fqresearch@aol.com

davidtfull@aol.com


About the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation


The foundation is a non profit organization consisting of those who have suffered irreversible and non-abating injury as a direct result of fluoroquinolone therapy. The foundation is dedicated to presenting the research regarding these issues in the hope of preventing such injury to others and to make such research readily available to those who have shown a prior interest. We strive to present accurate and up to date information to the victims of such scripting abuse so that they may be in a position to receive the medical care such rampant ignorance has denied them. Such documentation is readily available via the forum or the homepage More ... " rel="nofollow">More ...


The author of this Editorial has NO financial ties whatsoever with anyone found within the legal or medical field. There are no known conflicts of interest to disclose, and the Foundation has never accepted any donations, of any kind, from any person, corporation, or special interest group since it's inception.

These issues are being discussed on a number of internet sites at the moment. Though this list is far from being all inclusive,(and may even include duplicate sites), those who have visited and commented here may have an interest in what others have had to say elsewhere, or adding their own comments to the discussions taking place on these other sites:

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(direct link to the video)

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(do NOT open this in aol. It may freeze up aol when you try to exit from it. Use explorer instead. If you choose to ignore this advice then before you close the window that contains this video, click on the HOME button at the top of that window first, then attempt to close it.)

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Maybe someone on this site can help me. Two months ago, my little brothe - 45,a great father, working two jobs, going to church every Sunday, never been arrested or in any legal trouble whatsoever - robbed a woman in a crowded parking lot with a toy gun, then took a fake bomb into a finance company, demanded money, and then ran out without hurting anyone or getting any money. This is COMPLETELY out of character as he has never committed a violent act of any kind in his entire life. He is a pacifist, sweet man who has always tried to live his life based on that of Jesus. He is now in jail and was diagnosed by the jail psychiatrist as having been in a state of "hyer mania" at the time he did this. He describesi it as having some kind of out of body experience, and that it was like watching a movie with someone else playing his role. He had been diagnosed with pneumonia four days prior to this and had a high fever. About a month after he was arrested, I was given a bag of medications that he had been taking four days prior to this. Among the others, including narcotic-laced cough syrup, was 500 mg Levaquin. I have since been doing a lot of internet research and have read some stories about people having psychotic episodes as an adverse reaction to Levaquin. Does anyone have any information about this that I can pass on to our attorney? He is still awaiting trial and a mental evaluation. Thanks.

floyd, try this site: More ...
Look up Cipro induced madness
Levaquin is a quinolone & so is Cipro. My husband took Cipro & went through some "changes" also.

floyd, the following site has more information.
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MAXIDEX WARNING

I had eye surgery and in the post-op pack was MAXIDEX(dexamethasone) drops by ALCON LABS.

Two days later I was BLIND

Use Google and enter EPOCRATES MAXIDEX to verify

I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me when I was being treated with Levaquin for sinusitis about 2 years ago and ended up not being able to walk due to extreme pain in my lower legs. I also had severe, debilitating headaches. I literally spent a solid 10 hours on the couch at one point, sitting up with my head against the back of the couch in an awkward -- but relatively pain free -- position. I couldn't get up to use the bathroom, eat, drink, let my dogs out or anything because I could not move from that position without severe pain. No tv or radio, no sleep, just sat there for 10 hours with my eyes closed, kind of whimpering. I kept going back to the emergency room and not one doctor identified the problem until I went back to my family physician, who immediately took me off Levaquin and I was fine. Hopefully, I will have no long-term issues from this.

Now, I've been given Cipro for a UTI (even though I warned the urologist about my Levaquin ordeal) and I'm scared to take it.