TEMAFLOXACIN

 

  Omniflox
  Temafloxacin
  Abbott Laboratories

 
No Package Insert Available

  Safety Profile Removed from Clinical Use due to adverse reactions

  Discontinued, no longer available

Temafloxacin was associated with severe hemolytic-uremic syndrome, lomefloxacin caused phototoxicity and central nervous system (CNS) effects.

Temafloxacin (Omniflox) has been removed from clinical use due to severe toxicity (ie: hemolytic hepatic reactions). Temafloxacin, a quinolone antimicrobial, was introduced in 1991. Shortly afterwards, its use became associated with severe adverse effects, including hypoglycaemia, haemolytic anaemia, renal failure, hepatitis and anaphylactic reactions. This led to its worldwide withdrawal by the manufacturer. As of June 5, 1992 products containing temafloxacin were withdrawn worldwide by the manufacturer, having regard to severe adverse reactions associated with their use, some of which were fatal.
Reference: (HHSNS) HHS News: US Department of Health and Human Services, P92-16, ,05 June 1992)
 

Temafloxacin
Scientific and common names, and synonyms
QUINOLINECARBOXYLIC ACID
C.A.S. number 108319-06-8

Legislative or regulation action

WHO Comment : Temafloxacin, a quinolone antimicrobial, was introduced in 1991. Shortly afterwards, its use became associated with severe adverse effects, including hypoglycaemia, haemolytic anaemia, renal failure, hepatitis and anaphylactic reactions. This led to its worldwide withdrawal by the manufacturer.

OMN 22 Jun 1992 Products containing temafloxacin will not be allowed for import and marketing. (Reference: (OMNCR) Circular, 25/92, , June 1992)

WD Jun 1992 Products containing temafloxacin were withdrawn worldwide by the manufacturer, having regard to severe adverse reactions associated with their use, some of which were fatal. Reference: (HHSNS) HHS News: US Department of Health and Human Services, P92-16, ,05 June 1992)


Peripheral Neuropathy:
Rare cases of sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy affecting small and/or large axons resulting in paresthesias, hypoesthesias, dysesthesias and weakness have been reported in patients receiving quinolones.


QUINOLONES MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL
TO PROLONG THE QTc INTERVAL OF THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN SOME PATIENTS. DUE TO THE LACK OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, GATIFLOXACIN SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN PATIENTS WITH KNOWN PROLONGATION OF THE QTc INTERVAL, PATIENTS WITH UNCORRECTED HYPOKALEMIA, AND PATIENTS RECEIVING CLASS IA (E.G. QUINIDINE, PROCAINAMIDE) OR CLASS III (E.G. AMIODARONE, SOTALOL) ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENTS.

Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, and Achilles tendons that required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability have been reported in patients receiving quinolones. Tendon rupture can occur during or after therapy with quinolones.

Quinolones may cause central nervous system (CNS) events including nervousness, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares, or paranoia.

As with other quinolones, disturbances of blood glucose, including symptomatic hyper- and hypoglycemia, have been reported, usually in diabetic patients receiving concomitant treatment with an oral hypoglycemic (e. g., glyburide) or with insulin. In these patients, the monitoring of blood glucose is recommended.


    The Food and Drug Administration today (June 1992) announced that Abbott Laboratories of Abbott Park, Ill., is voluntarily recalling the broad-spectrum anti-infective drug Omniflox (temafloxacin) tablets, and will halt all further distribution of the drug.  This action is being taken because of severe adverse events associated with the use of the drug that have been reported to the company and to FDA in the first three months of marketing. Temafloxacin was approved in late January 1992 and marketed in mid-February.  Since that time there have been approximately 50 reports of serious adverse reactions, including three deaths.  There were several cases of severe low blood sugar, especially in very elderly patients with decreased kidney function.  Among the severe reactions there were a number of cases of an unusual complex of adverse reactions consisting of hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells) and other blood cell abnormalities.   Also observed were patients with kidney dysfunction, about half of which required renal dialysis.  Other patients suffered liver dysfunction.

    There has also been a substantial number of reports of allergic reactions, some of which have caused life-threatening respiratory distress.  Temafloxacin is one of a newer class of synthetic oral fluoroquinolones -- broad-spectrum antibiotics -- that are used to treat a variety of infections including lower respiratory tract infections, skin and skin structure infections, infection of the prostate and urinary tract infections.  Similar antibiotics of its class have not been reported to be   
associated with comparable numbers of serious adverse reactions.  Consumers who have the medication are advised to consult their physician and return any unused portions of the product to the place of purchase.  FDA is one of the eight Public Health Service agencies within HHS.
 


Other adverse reactions associated with the fluoroquinolones

Peripheral Neuropathy
Cases of sensory or sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy affecting small and/or large axons resulting in paresthesias, hypoesthesias, dysesthesias and weakness have been reported in patients receiving quinolones.

QUINOLONES MAY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO PROLONG THE QTc INTERVAL OF THE ELECTROCARDIOGRAM IN SOME PATIENTS. DUE TO THE LACK OF CLINICAL EXPERIENCE, QUINOLONES SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN PATIENTS WITH KNOWN PROLONGATION OF THE QTc INTERVAL, PATIENTS WITH UNCORRECTED HYPOKALEMIA, AND PATIENTS RECEIVING CLASS IA (E.G. QUINIDINE, PROCAINAMIDE) OR CLASS III (E.G. AMIODARONE, SOTALOL) ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENTS.

Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, and Achilles tendons that required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability have been reported in patients receiving quinolones. Tendon rupture can occur during or after therapy with quinolones.

Quinolones may cause central nervous system (CNS) events including nervousness, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares, or paranoia.

As with other quinolones, disturbances of blood glucose, including symptomatic hyper- and hypoglycemia, have been reported, usually in diabetic patients receiving concomitant treatment with an oral hypoglycemic (e. g., glyburide) or with insulin. In these patients, the monitoring of blood glucose is recommended.

In 2004 new warning labels added to all of the Fluoroquinolones regarding Peripheral Neuropathy (irreversible nerve damage), Tendon Damage, Heart Problems (prolonged QT Interval / Torsades de pointes), Pseudomembranous colitis, Rhabdomyolysis (muscle wasting), Steven Johnson Syndrome, as well as concurrent usage of NSAIDs contributing to the severity of these reactions.
.
Although such events have been reported since the mid sixties, the FDA waited almost forty years to add such warnings to the package inserts.  These new warnings again fail to adequately warn either the patient or the physician.

"Drug companies write the package inserts of all drugs, carefully including the information they choose and
omitting information they want to avoid. Drug companies underwrite a large percentage of continuing
education courses for doctors. In doing so, they make sure that the speakers represent the company view.
Drug companies design studies that are meant to produce favorable results and then publish the studies in
medical journals. Studies with unfavorable results are not published. Drug reps typically bring stacks of
studies, all favorable, which impress doctors, who no longer have the time or motivation to search  the
medical literature themselves. Drug reps do not include independent studies with less favorable
conclusions. Many doctors never see these." 

Source: 
 THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE CULTURE OF CORRUPTION


The following has been associated with fluoroquinolone therapy:

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY (as noted above)
Achilles and other tendon ruptures that required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability.
Convulsions, increased intracranial pressure, and toxic psychosis.
Central nervous system (CNS) events including: dizziness, confusion, tremors, hallucinations, depression, and, ly, suicidal thoughts or acts. These reactions may occur following the first dose.
Severe hypersensitivity reactions characterized by rash, fever, eosinophilia, jaundice, and hepatic necrosis with fatal outcome
Pseudomembranous colitis and may range in severity from mild to life-threatening.
Lameness in immature dogs with permanent lesions of the cartilage.
Central nervous system (CNS) events, including nervousness, agitation, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares or paranoia.
Crystalluria
Moderate to
severe photoxicity

Pregnancy Warning

Fluoroquinolones caused fetal harm in animal studies, including decreased body weights and malformed bones as well as an increased risk of death. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects to the fetus, these drugs should not be used by pregnant women.

Breast-feeding Warning

Fluoroquinolones are excreted in human milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse effects in nursing infants, you should not take these drugs while nursing.


Additional adverse events reported:

Body as a Whole: Change in serum phenytoin.

Cardiovascular: Palpitation, atrial flutter, ventricular ectopy, syncope, hypertension, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, cardiopulmonary arrest, cerebral thromobosis. Cardiovascular collapse, cardiopulmonary arrest, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, tachycardia, palpitation, cerebral thrombosis, syncope, cardiac murmur, hypertension, hypotension, angina pectoris. Postural hypotension, vasculitis.

Central Nervous System: Dizziness, lightheadedness, insomnia, nightmares, hallucinations, manic reaction, irritability, tremor, ataxia, convulsive seizures, lethargy, drowsiness, weakness, malaise, anorexia, phobia, depersonalization, depression, paresthesia. Convulsive seizures, paranoia, toxic psychosis, depression, dysphasia, phobia, depersonalization, manic reaction, unresponsiveness, ataxia, confusion, hallucinations, dizziness, lightheadedness, paresthesia, anxiety, tremor, insomnia, nightmares, weakness, drowsiness, irritability, malaise, lethargy Agitation, confusion, delirium, dysphasia, myoclonus, nystagmus, toxic psychosis.
.
Gastrointestinal: Painful oral mucosa, oral candidiasis, dysphagia, intestinal perforation, gastrointestinal bleeding. Cholestatic jaundice has been reported. Ileus, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, C. difficle associated diarrhea, pseudomembranous colitis, pancreatitis, hepatic necrosis, intestinal perforation, dyspepsia, epigastric or abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, oral ulceration, oral candidiasis, mouth dryness, anorexia, dysphagia, flatulence Constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, hepatic necrosis, jaundice, pancreatitis, pseudomembranous colitis. (The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antimicrobial treatment.)

Hemic/Lymphatic: Agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, methemaglobinemia, prolongation of prothrombin time

Metabolic/Nutritional: Elevation of serum triglycerides, cholesterol, blood glucose, serum potassium.

Musculoskeletal: Arthralgia or back pain, joint stiffness, achiness, neck or chest pain, flare up of gout. Arthralgia, jaw, arm or back pain, joint stiffness, neck and chest pain, achiness, flare up of gout Myalgia, possible exacerbation of myasthenia gravis, tendinitis/tendon rupture.

Renal/Urogenital: Interstitial nephritis, nephritis, renal failure, polyuria, urinary retention, urethral bleeding, vaginitis, acidosis. Renal failure, intarstitial nephritis, hemorrhagic cystitis, renal calcuti, frequent urination, acidosis, urethral bleeding, polyuria, urinary retention, gynecomastia, candiduria, vaginitis. Crystalluria, cylindruria, hematuria, and albuminutia have also been reported.
Albuminuria, candiduria, renal calculi, vaginal candidiasis.

Respiratory: Dyspnea, epistaxis, laryngeal or pulmonary edema, hiccough, hemophysis, bronchospasm, pulmonary embolism. Respiratory arrest, pulmonary embolism, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, respiratory distress, pleural effusion, hemoptysis, epistaxis, hiccough

Skin/Hypersensitivity: Pruritus, urticaria, photosensitivity, flushing, fever, chills, angioedema, edema of the face, neck, lips, conjunctivae or hands, cutaneous candidiasis, hyperpigmentation, erytherna nodosum. Allergic reactions ranging from urticaria to anaphylactic reactions have been reported. Anaphylactic reactions, erythema multiforme/Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis, vasculitis, angioedema, edema of the lips, face, neck, conjunctivae, hands or lower extremities, purpura, fever, chills, flushing, pruritus, urtigaria, cutaneous candidiasis, vesicles, increased perspiration, hyperpigmentation, erythema nodosum, photosensitivity. Allergic reactions ranging from urticaria to anaphylactic reactions have been reported. Anaphylactic reactions, erythema multiforme/Stevens-Johnson syndrome, exfoliative dermatitis, toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Special Senses: Blurred vision, disturbed vision (change in color perception, overbrightness of lights), decreased visual acuity, diplopia, eye pain, tinnitus, hearing loss, bad taste. Decreased visual acuity, blurred vision, disturbed vision (flashing lights, change in color perception, overbrightness of lights, diplopia), eye pain, anosmia, hearing loss, tinnitus, nystagmus, a bad taste. Also reported were agranulocytosis, prolongation of prothrombin time, and possible exacerbation of myasthenia gravis. anosmia, taste loss.
 


Adverse Laboratory Changes

Oral

Changes in Laboratory Parameters Listed as Adverse Events:

Hepatic: Elevations of ALT (SGPT), AST (SGOT), alkaline phosphatase , LDH , serum bilirubin.
Hematologic: Eosinophilia, leukopenia, decreased blood platelets, elevated blood platelets, pancytopenia.

Renal: Elevations of serum creatinine, BUN, CRYSTALLURIA, CYLINDRURIA, AND HEMATURIA HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

Other Changes: Elevation of serum gammaglutamyl transferase, elevation of serum amylase, reduction in blood glucose, elevated uric acid, decrease in hemoglobin, anemia, bleeding diathesis, increase in blood monocytes, leukocytosis.

I.V.

The most frequently reported changes in laboratory parameters with intravenous fluoroquinolone therapy:

Hepatic: Elevations of AST (SGOT), ALT (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase, LDH, and serum bilirubin.
Hematologic: Elevated eosinophil and platelet counts, decreased platelet counts, hemoglobin and/or hematocrit.

Renal: Elevations of serum creatinine, BUN, and uric acid.

Other: Elevations of serum creatinine, phosphokinase, serum theophylline (in patients receiving theophylline concomitantly), blood glucose, and triglycerides.

Other changes occurring infrequently were: decreased leukocyte count, elevated atypical lymphocyte count, immature WBCs, elevated serum calcium, elevation of serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidose ( GI), decreased BUN, decreased uric acid, decreased total serum protein, decreased serum albumin, decreased serum potassium, elevated serum potassium, elevated serum cholesterol.

Other changes occurring ly during administration of fluoroquinolone were: elevation of serum amylase, decrease of blood glucose, pancytopenia, leukocytosis, elevated sedimentation rate, change in serum phenytoin, decreased prothrombin time, hemolytic anemia, and bleeding diathesis.
 


ANIMAL PHARMACOLOGY
Oral and I.V.

“Fluoroquinolone and other quinolones have been shown to cause arthropathy in immature animals of most species tested. …Damage of weight bearing joints was observed in juvenile dogs and rats. In young beagles, 100 mg/kg ciprofloxacin, given daily for 4 weeks, caused degenerative articular changes of the knee joint… In a subsequent study in beagles, removal of weight bearing from the joint reduced the lesions but did not totally prevent them.”
Source: www.rxlist.com

“Crystalluria, sometimes associated with secondary nephropathy, occurs in laboratory animals dosed with fluoroquinolone….In rhesus monkeys, crystalluria without nephropathy has been noted after single oral doses as low as 5 mg/kg…In dogs, ciprofloxacin at 3 and 10 mg/kg by rapid IV injection (15 sec.) produces pronounced hypotensive effects…In rhesus monkeys, rapid IV injection also produces hypotension but the effect in this species is inconsistent and less pronounced.”
Source: www.rxlist.com

“In mice, concomitant administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as phenylbutazone and indomethacin with quinolones has been reported to enhance the CNS stimulatory effect of quinolones."
Source: www.rxlist.com

"Ocular toxicity seen with some related drugs has not been observed in ciprofloxacin-treated animals.”
Source: www.rxlist.com

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