Levaquin and Cipro Reactions

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Levaquin and Cipro Reactions

_http://www.medicationsense.com/fluoroquinolone.html_

(http://www.medicationsense.com/fluoroquinolone.html)

 

 

 

 

Cipro and Levaquin are antibiotics, drugs used to fight infections. The

fluoroquinolone (FQ) family of antibiotics includes:

 

Avelox (moxifloxacin)

Cipro (ciprofloxacin)

Factive (gemifloxacin)

Floxin (ofloxacin)

Levaquin (levofloxacin)

Noroxin (norfloxacin)

Tequin (gatifloxacin)

 

 

Levaquin and Cipro are the most famous because they are the best-sellers.

FQs are effective for fighting severe, life-threatening infections, but too

often they are prescribed for minor problems such as sinus, bladder, or

prostate infections. The results can be devastating.

 

 

In 2001, Dr. Cohen published a ground-breaking article* on the severe and

often disabling reactions some people sustained while taking Levaquin,

Cipro, or another FQ antibiotic. Dr. Cohen says, **It is difficult to describe

the severity of these reactions. They are devastating. Many of the people

in my study were healthy before their reactions. Some were high intensity

athletes. Suddenly they were disabled, in terrible pain, unable to work, walk,

or sleep.**

 

 

The 45 subjects in Dr. Cohen's study reported the following side effects*.

 

Peripheral Nervous System:

Tingling, numbness, prickling, burning pain, pins/needles sensation,

electrical or shooting pain, skin crawling, sensation, hyperesthesia,

hypoesthesia, allodynia (sensitivity to touch), numbness, weakness, twitching,

tremors, spasms.

 

 

Central Nervous System:

Dizziness, malaise, weakness, impaired coordination, nightmares, insomnia,

headaches, agitation, anxiety, panic attacks, disorientation, impaired

concentration or memory, confusion, depersonalization, hallucinations,

psychoses.

 

 

Musculoskeletal:

Muscle pain, weakness, soreness; joint swelling, pain; tendon pain,

ruptures.

 

 

Special Senses:

Diminished or altered visual, olfactory, auditory functioning, tinnitus

(ringing in the ears).

 

 

Cardiovascular: Tachycardia, shortness of breath, hypertension,

palpitations, chest pain.

 

 

Skin:

Rash, swelling, hair loss, sweating, intolerance to heat and\or cold.

 

 

Gastrointestinal:

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

 

 

Many subjects reported multiple side effects from multiple systems. Dr.

Cohen found that 36 (80%) subjects had severe reactions. Many were still

disabled years after taking a FQ. Of the 45 subjects, 33 (74%) had taken

Levaquin, 11 (24%) Cipro.

 

 

According to the reports of FQ patients, many doctors are poorly informed

about the risks of FQ antibiotics Often, when a patient complains of side

effects with a FQ, doctors ignore the complaint or deny that the FQ could

cause the problem. Many doctors have not seen the warnings in the FQ package

inserts, not even the large, black-bordered warnings recently mandated by

the FDA.

 

 

Some doctors do care. They run all kinds of tests on patients injured by

FQs. Test results are usually normal, although MRIs may be positive in

people with FQ-related tendon injuries or rupture. Ultimately, FQ patients are

left with little information and a few pills for pain.

 

 

Over the years, Dr. Cohen has been contacted by hundreds of people with

FQ-reactions. He has provided information to help them understand the

reactions they have sustained. He has provided direction in how to obtain help,

both medical and legal. Although there is no antidote for FQ reactions, there

are things people can do to help control their symptoms. Dr. Cohen is an

expert in the use of many of prescription drugs and natural supplements that

are used to help people with FQ reactions.

 

 

Dr. Cohen provides office or telephone consultations for people sustaining

FQ reactions. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call

the office at 858-345-1760.

 

 

Annals of Pharmacotherapy. _Peripheral Neuropathy with Fluoroquinolone

Antibiotics. _ (http://www.theannals.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/12/1540)

Dec. 2001;35(12):1540-47.

 

 

 

Dr. Cohen's article was first published in October 2001, during the

anthrax scare. The article triggered a national debate about Cipro's safety.

These concerns prompted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to remove Cipro as

its first-choice antibiotic for treating anthrax exposure.

 

 

View all of Dr. Cohen's _medical articles,_

(http://www.medicationsense.com/published_articles.html#articles) _consumer

publications, _

(http://www.medicationsense.com/published_articles.html#consumer) and

_presentations_

(http://www.medicationsense.com/presentations.html) .