Anxiety and Panic Attacks  (Read More)
  Anxiety and Panic Attacks are quite common with these drugs.  Such
  events manifest soon after ingestion of just one pill.  Extreme nervous
  system reactions such as this are difficult to treat and the use of other
  drugs to treat these reactions often times fail.  It has been suggested
  that the binding of the fluoroquinolones with the GABA receptors in
  the brain may be responsible.
 
  Arthritis / Fibromyalgia /Chronic Fatigue  (Read More)
  Adverse reactions are often times misdiagnosis as numerous other
  rheumatological disease states.  The patient will require a complete
  work up as these reactions mimic serious other diseases and such
  diseases have to be ruled out.  There have been numerous reports of
  fluoroquinolone induced fibromyalgia as well as chronic fatigue.  We
  also find severe joint damage resulting from fluoroquinolone therapy.
 
  Brain Damage  (Read More)
  Pseudotumor Cerebri also referred to as increased intracranial
  pressure has been reported with fluoroquinolone therapy.  Strokes
  are also a known adverse reaction.  The effects of these drugs on
  brain function is still under investigation.  Hypoglycemia-induced
  anoxic brain injury has been associated with levofloxacin.  Reported
  neurotoxic effects include insomnia, seizures, and psychosis.
 
  Blood Disorders  (Read More)
  Serious and at times fatal blood disorders are a known adverse event
  associated with fluoroquinolone therapy.  Autoimmune hemolytic
  anemia, bone marrow depression, abnormal blood coagulation as well
  numerous other disease states affecting both the white and red blood
  cells have been reported.  Leukocytosis (white count increased) is
  often present as well as Lymphocytosis. 
 
  Body as a Whole  (Read More)
  The fluoroquinolones tend to affect the entire body.  Every one of the
  body's systems appears to be affected in some manner.  This may be
  due to the fact that the fluoroquinolones penetrate every organ in the
  body.  Such damage continues long after therapy has been stopped
  resulting in a cascade of events that truly baffle the treating physician.
  Patients are often times referred to dozens of specialist.
 
  Burning Pain  (Read More)
  Burning pain is one of the most common and serious adverse reaction
  to the fluoroquinolones.  The name for this is 'Peripheral Neuropathy'.
  Such pain may be irreversible and last a life time.  It has been stated
  that the sensation is much like being soaked in gasoline.  This pain
  is the result of severe nerve damage and there is no known treatment
  for permanent nerve damage such as this. 
 
  Caffeine Clearance  (Read More)
  You would be well advised to eliminate all caffeine from your diet as
  these drugs interfere with the clearance of a number of other drugs
  including caffeine.  This results in caffeine overdose to where one cup
  of coffee becomes a dozen as the caffeine accumulates within your
  system.  Caffeine can be found in any number of products other than
  coffee, tea and soft drinks.
 
  Causation  (Read More)
  There are many theories regarding these adverse reactions but very
  little research being done to determine the exact cause.  We believe
  that the research points to a direct toxic effect as well as interference
  on a DNA level.  The major point that the victims need to understand
  is the fact that such damage continues long after therapy has been
  discontinued, sometimes for years, other times for a lifetime.
 
  Central Nervous System  (Read More)
  Central Nervous System adverse reactions manifest as insomnia,
  seizures, tremors, taste perversions, and usually involves all five of
  the sense: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Touch, and Smell.  Ringing in the
  ears as well as vision problems including 'floaters' have been reported
  as being permanent in nature.  Insomnia may last for years as well
  resulting in additional problems due to sleep deprivation.
 
 Dental Damage (Read More)
  Severe dental damage has been reported by patients following
  flouroquinolone therapy.  Severe dental decay requiring root canals,
  caps and crowns appears to be a common complaint.  There have
  also been reports of calcification of the nerves within the teeth. This
  may be the result of alteration of saliva production and increased
  bacteria.  Or signs of fluoroquinoone induced Sjögren's Syndrome.
 
  Drug Interactions  (Read More)
  The fluoroquinolones interfere with numerous other drugs which may
  result in serious or even fatal interactions.  The proper absorption of
  concurrent medications may result in the medications not working or
  plasma levels reaching dangerous levels.  The use of NSAIDS has
  also been reported as an additional risk factor in regards to tendon
  and muscle damage when taken with a fluoroquinolone drug.
 
  Depersonalization  (Read More)
  Best described as a sense of total detachment with one's life.  Often
  referred to as "watching yourself live" as if you were watching a movie
  rather actually taking part in your life.  Such detachment results from
  fluoroquinolone therapy but is often times diagnosis as a psychiatric
  disorder rather than a severe adverse reaction.  Suicidal thoughts as
  psychotic reactions are common adverse reactions.
 
  DNA Damage   (Read More)
  The fluoroquinolones interfere with DNA replication by inhibiting an
  enzyme complex called DNA gyrase. This can also affect mammalian
  cell replication.  Although the quinolone is highly toxic to mammalian
  cells in culture, its mechanism of cytotoxic action is not known. 
  Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between mammalian
  cell cytotoxicity of the quinolones and the induction of micronuclei.
 
  Gastrointestinal Damage  (Read More)
  Damage to the digestive system is one of the leading adverse events
  associated with these drugs.  Nausea, vomiting and severe diarrhea
  are often times reported.  Hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis,  intestinal
  bacterial overgrowth, pseudomembranous colitis, liver failure are all
  known adverse reactions to fluoroquinolone therapy.  Hypersensitivity
  to food additives also contributes to digestive problems.
 
  Hearing Loss  (Read More)
  Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) as well as total and partial hearing loss
  is yet another adverse event of a permanent nature.  Loss of balance
  due to damage to the inner ear has also been reported.  Increased
  Intracranial Pressure (feeling of pressure in ears ) is another.  In spite
  of the risk of  seizures triggered by fluoroquinolone eardrops, as well
  as deafness, the FDA has approved clinical trials for pediatric use.
 
  Hypo / Hyperglycemia  (Read More)
  Fatal blood sugar reactions are associated with the fluoroquinolones.
  Numerous drugs found in this class have been associated with cases
  of both hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood
  sugar) that can be serious and fatal.  We believe that such events are
  a class effect and are overlooked by the treating  physician.  Tequin is
  no longer manufactured for this very reason, but is still in clinical use.
 
  Heart Damage  (Read More)
  QT Interval Prolongation, Torsades de Pointes, and Ventricular
  Fibrillation, which may result in fatal heart attacks have been reported.
  Damage to the heart valves as well.  Such events are to be considered
  a class effect.  Moxifloxacin (Avelox) carries a far greater risk of QT
  prolongation than any other fluoroquinolone but was recently approved
  by the FDA in spite of this increased risk anyhow.
 
  Kids / Pediatric Use  (Read More)
  The only indications for which a fluoroquinolone is licensed by the
  US Food and Drug Administration for use in patients younger than
  18 years are complicated urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, and
  post exposure treatment for inhalation anthrax.  Fluoroquinolones
  cause arthrotoxicity in juvenile animals and have been associated with
  irreversible musculoskeletal events in both children and adults
 
  Kidney Damage  (Read More)
  Acute interstitial nephritis, acute renal failure, allergic nephropathy,
  renal vasculitis, nephrotoxicity and purpura are all associated with
  fluoroquinolone therapy.  Renal failure with fluoroquinolones is a very
  real risk with fatal outcome.  Patients develop end-stage renal disease
  and remained dependent on dialysis. Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN)
  may prove to be irreversible.
 
  Liver Damage  (Read More)
  Fatal liver damage may prove to be a class effect of the quinolone
  drugs.  Severe liver damage resulting in liver transplants have been
  reported.   Trovan was removed due to such liver damage and is
  banned overseas.  Acute severe hepatitis is also a known adverse
  reaction to fluoroquinolone therapy.  Delayed, prolonged cholestatic
  hepatitis is also a severe adverse reaction to the fluoroquinolones.
 
  Muscle Damage & Tendon Ruptures  (Read More)
  One of the most crippling adverse reactions is spontaneous tendon
  ruptures which may occur during as well as years after therapy.  Such
  events have been reported since 1982.  Tendinitis, arthralgia, myalgia
  as well as severe joint, muscle and tendon pain are one of the most
  common adverse reactions.  Cases of rhabdomyolysis (muscle
  death) with fatal outcomes are also being reported.
 
  Obstetrics  (Read More)
  Research indicates that the fluoroquinolones can rapidly cross the
  blood-placenta and blood-milk barrier, and are extensively distributed
  into the fetal tissues.  Peak concentration in human breast milk is
  similar to levels attained in plasma.  Breast-feeding mothers who take
  a fluoroquinolone will expose their infants to severe adverse reactions
  and pregnant women are at risk killing or damaging their unborn child.
 
  Phototoxicity and Skin Damage  (Read More)
  Stephen Johnson Syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis syndrome,
  or T.E.N.S., a life-threatening skin disorder in which the top layers of
  skin blister and peel off in sheets, is associated with the quinolone
  class.  The fluoroquinolones are a new class of photochemical
  carcinogens with severe phototoxicity reactions.  Severe disfiguring
  rashes are associated with Factive but the FDA approved it anyhow.
 
  Rhabdomyolysis  (Read More)
  Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the
  release of muscle fiber contents into the circulation. Some of these
  are toxic to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage.
  Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening adverse reaction to
  fluoroquinolone therapy and requires immediate medical attention.
 
  Severe Pain  (Read More)
  Severe, untreatable pain, of an unknown origin is another insidious
  adverse reaction.  Such pain may be a combination of tendon and
  muscle damage together with severe nerve damage.  Fibromyalgia
  is the usual diagnosis and such pain may very well last a lifetime.
  There is no known treatment other than pain management but the
  drugs commonly used to treat such pain are usually ineffective.
 
  Seizures  (Read More)
  Risk factors for fluoroquinolone -induced seizures may include
  seizure history, electrolyte imbalances, dose unadjusted for renal
  insufficiency, and concomitant treatment with agents that lower the
  seizure threshold.  Seizures are common with all the drugs found
  this class though more prevalent with the newer quinolones.
 
  Sleep Disturbances / Insomnia  (Read More)
  Sleep deprivation as the result of severe insomnia contributes to any
  number of psychological adverse events.  Such insomnia has been
  reported to last for years in some patients.  Sleeping aids have proven
  to be, for the most part, ineffective when treating fluoroquinolone
  induced insomnia.  Vivid dreams and even terrifying nightmares are
  to be expected long after fluoroquinolone therapy has been stopped.
 
  Special Senses  (Read More)
  All five senses; hearing, sight, taste, touch and smell, suffer severe
  damage as a result of fluoroquinolone therapy.  Taste perversions,
  hearing and vision damage are most often times reported.  This may
  be the result of nerve damage or vasculitis.  Patients have reported
  a 'crawling' sensation as if there was something under the skin, loss
  of sensation and other such abnormalities.
 
  Strokes and Aneurysms  (Read More)
  Strokes, aneurysms, and other vascular disorders including vasculitis
  have been associated with the fluoroquinolones.  Little is known as to
  mechanisms of action that result in such life threatening adverse
  reactions but such events may prove to be fatal or crippling to the
  patient.  We are of the opinion that events such as these are often
  overlooked in the elderly or infirmed.
 
  Toxic Psychosis and Delusions (read more)
  Toxic psychosis may appear during fluoroquinolone therapy in
  patient's   who do not have a prior history of psychiatric disturbances.
  The symptoms of toxic psychosis are aggressive or hostile behavior,
  paranoia, delusional thinking and auditory hallucinations. There have
  been reports of fatalities due to violent episodes, suicides, and
  homicides during and after fluoroquinolone therapy.
 
  Urological Damage  (Read More)
  Hematuria (blood in the urine), crystalluria, kidney stones, as well
  adverse testicular effects are all associated with fluoroquinolone
  therapy.  Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men
  is often times treated with fluoroquinolones even though this is not
  an approved use of the fluoroquinolones.  Nor do we find the use of
  this class to be effective for treating sexually transmitted diseases.
 
  Vasculitis  (Read More)
  Fluoroquinolone induced hypersensitivity vasculitis as well as renal
  vasculitis are known adverse reactions with associated fatalities.
  There is very little research in regards to this particular adverse
  reaction even though vasculitis is a suspect contributor to the many
  reported spontaneous tendon ruptures.  Such damage to the blood
  vessels often times appear as popular and purpuric lesions.
 
  Vision Damage and Blindness  (Read More)
  Severe corneal toxicity, corneal deposits, irreversible retinal toxicity,
  permanent diplopia (double vision), floaters, cataracts, decreased
  vision and even irreversible blindness are all part of the adverse
  reactions of the fluoroquinolones.  Patients have reported numerous
  vision disturbances to which the underlying cause cannot be found.
  Still these drugs are used to treat minor eye infections.
 
  Fluoroquinolones:  A Drug of Last Resort  (Read More)
  This is but a brief description of the serious and permanent adverse
  reactions associated with the fluoroquinolones.  Within these web
  pages you will find full main stream documentation of all that has
  been stated here.  We consider it to be Medical Malpractice for a
  patient to undergo fluoroquinolone therapy unless there is a direct
  threat to the patient's life or limb presenting.