Post Marketing Reports for April 2003

From: "dianaewilliams" <diana@m...>
Date: Sat Apr 5, 2003 5:32 pm
Subject: joint pain and cipro
hi all -

We returned from China after adopting a baby, and two weeks later, I
got an upper resp cold, cough and later a sinus infection. I'm happy
to say it is not SARS. Usually, I will try all kinds of alternative
remedies before resorting to antibiotics, but with 2 kids now, I
couldn't feel so badly and still function.

I took Cirpo for 2 days - the first day my left pinky joint became
tender, the next day the right one did, and this morning I have
terrible pain in my right knee and calf muscle.

Of course I had stopped the Cipro - my MD told me I probably have a
virus that's going around that effects the joints - I'm just too
tired to even argue with him. I slept five hours in the middle of the
day today after a 10 hour night.

Does anyone know of alternative ways to help the body recover from
this nasty drug? I'm horrified by what I've read about it here!

diana


From: "susan_w_77429" <susan_w_77429@y...>
Date: Sat Apr 5, 2003 10:51 pm
Subject: It's been 17 months and 6 days for me...

I recently have had another bad flareup. Had to use crutches because
of the pain in my knees and legs. Ironically, in the beginning it
was my left leg that was the worse. For the past six months or so,
it is now my right knee. This must be an autoimmune disorder. It is
the only thing that makes sense to me. What to do?

Starting today I am trying an herbal supplement. Turmeric is
supposed to be very good for inflammation. It may take several
months to kick in, so I will post again after that time is up.

I am still not able to walk any distance, much less exercise. I had
just bought a 3 year health club membership before I took the two
Levaquin tablets. Money I would like to have reimburst from the drug
company that markets this poison. But, while we still have doctors
that say, "It couldn't have been the Levaquin", the drug companies
will be safe.

Good Luck to everyone here.

Susan in Texas


From: "frank5095" <frank5095@y...>
Date: Mon Apr 7, 2003 10:09 pm
Subject: No Sex Drive, No Pleasure

Hi everyone,

In the past 4 years, I have been on APO OFLOX and FLOXIN for more
than a total of 13 weeks for a prostate infection that I may not
have had.

The last time I took Floxin was more than 6 months ago, and the side
effects are still in full force. Some days it gets better, and other
days it gets worse.

I have the usual joint pain, headaches, muscle pain, muscle
stiffness, and muscles turning to complete MUSH !!!
But the worse thing is that I think my prostate is almost completely
destroyed by now. 10 weeks after I first took APO OFLOX (4 years
ago), my sex drive was completely gone. I couldn't feel anything
eventhough my testosterone level was within the normal range.
After that, my prostate no longer contracted, and just recently, my
prostate may no longer be producing any fluids since my ejaculations
are not preceded by any fluids. I also derive no pleasure during the
ejaculations.

Prior to taking Floxin, I had a very high sex drive, and strong
orgasms. But when I speak to doctors about this, they think the
problem is psychological. It is extremely frustrating !! I will be
meeting with a reputable urologist shortly.

Has anyone experienced the same symptoms, and what have you done to
remedy the problem?

thanks for any help on this

Frank

From: "stayhome3kids" <kfkawilliams@e...>
Date: Tue Apr 8, 2003 5:41 pm
Subject: cipro..not my friend

i have finally gotten off my lazy butt and joined the msg. board. my
short story... 5 doses of cipro 500mg. for a uti. muscle cramps and
burning in hands. yuck.has lasted 2 mos. lots of dr. visits and
tests.. my dr. believes it is an adr to cipro but has no real
thoughts on remedies.i am going to let time take care of things
since there is no alternative.

does anyone out there think david bloom was on cipro
prophylactically sp? for anthrax???? just a thought...


From: "drjcalton" <drjcalton@y...>
Date: Sat Apr 12, 2003 12:59 pm
Subject: how long?
Hi.
Thank you all for sharing your stories. I have a question that no
doctor can answer but I am hoping someone here can as I am
getting desperate.

I took four doses of Levaquin, to fight a possible infection,
following a plastic surgery procedure. On the 5th day I was
unable to move. My wrists, elbows, knnes, shoulders and feet
were so swollen and sore I was forced to stay in bed for a week.
I continued to take the Levaquin because joint pain was not one
of the listed side effects, so I thought something els was wrong. I
finally went to a doctor who told me to go off the Levaquin
immediately. He then put me on Prednisone for 7 days. This did
work but the joint pain, swollen fingers and toes and weak wrists
returned after I stopped the Prednisone. It has now been 7
weeks and I continue to be in pain, especially in the morning.
How long can I expect this to last? The doctor said 2 weeks but
he obviously was wrong. I am so concerned that the continued
swelling is going to affect my joints permanently. Not to mention
that everday tasks such as opening a jar have become hearly
impossible. I do not want to go back on the Prednisone but am
feeling desperate. Any suggestions?

thank you


From: "Allie D" <ad@s...>
Date: Mon Apr 21, 2003 8:38 am
Subject: Can anyone give me some advice ?????
Hi, I recently went on Cipro for a nasty sinus infection for 14 days.
At around the 10 day mark I was feeling so crappy I dropped it and
told my allergy doc to take a flying leap for prescribing that crap to
me. I've been so tired I can barely operate, my fricken penis is
burning which started in my testicles, and my brain has been mush (no
memory) and I've been getting night sweats also. I've been off it for
2 days and I'm still having symptoms (burning penis, I have to pee all
the time, night sweats, hot flashes). I am IRATE !!!!! I'm so leary of
taking any other medication now it's driving me insane. How long are
these symptoms going to linger ????? I'm going to call my doctor ASAP
this morning and he better be able to do somtheing...can he do
anything about it ? I'm also a coffee drinker and am getting the hint
that it makes it worse...so that'll change immediately. Can anyone
give me any advice...PRETTY PLEASE ?????


From: "transitco3302" <jbbuxton@c...>
Date: Mon Apr 21, 2003 1:58 pm
Subject: Floxed

I took 5 days of leviquin, 2 days off and 10 days of cipro, back in
February. On day 9 of cipro I got the joint pain, anxiety, and
insomnia, took day 10, and felt miserable. Sleeping pills were
little help. Sleeping better now, but not perfect. Joint pain
diminishing, but the joint pain at the base of trhe sternum is still
very annoying.. Digestive system recovering, but will take more time
to be normal. The one thing that is really bothersome is it seems as
soon as I drink a fluid, it goes right through me, and am still
having lower abdominal pains. All the usual blood work says I am
normal, but do not feel it. Is anyone else have the fluids right
through you problem, and if so has it improved??? Thanks


From: "kjpargolf" <kjpargolf@y...>
Date: Wed Apr 23, 2003 3:58 pm
Subject: Excruciating Pain in Legs, Unsteadiness, SOB, Panic Attack

My God! I'm a pharmacist, recently diagnosed with diverticulitis,
who got placed on Cipro 500mg. twice daily for 10 days. I didn't
notice the pain in my lower legs until the other night, the 10th day
of therapy. The pain became absolutely excruciating (and I'm in very
good shape for 50 years of age) and got so bad that I went into the
emergency room that night, with additional shortness of breath, and
irregular heart beat, thinking I had a blood clot in my legs or was
having a heart attack! This turned out to be basically a panic
attack, but the pain still persists 2 days later. It was scary. At
first the pain started out as kind of a dull ache, and I assumed it
was from inactivity. Within hours the pain became so intense that I
was extremely uncomfortable. I called the prescribing doctor and
told the doctors in the ER about my problem, and neither of them
associated this with the Cipro. I've read about the "achilles"
reaction to the quinolones. But this was much more than that. It was
a real burning, like there was a fire inside my leg and on my skin.
My strong personal and professional opinion is that quinolones (at
least Cipro, the one I have personal experience with) need to either
come with a very strong warning about their potential side effects,
or be taken off the market!! I can't imagine how a 70 or 80 year old
person would react to it, expecially for 14 days, which I often see
as a pharmacist. They are potentially very, very harmful, and I'll
help anyone or any company prove it. I don't want to experience it
again or see anyone else experience what I did. Thank you for
listening, and feel free to contact me.


From: "devimootie" <devimootie@y...>
Date: Thu Apr 24, 2003 10:36 am
Subject: new to the world of FQ adrs

For 3 weeks I have suspected that I was affected by Cipro I took (on and off
over probably a 2-3 year period) but even as of yesterday I was
still doubtful. Yesterday, however, I got some lab results back from my
Dr.--which ruled out all the ailments I thought I surely had. After
reading the info posted on this site, and reading other reports on the
internet--I now--reluctantly--believe I may have been "floxed" as well. I
have joint pain and stiffness throughout my body, tire easily and have gone
from jogging 3miles 4x's/week to not able to walk around the
block w/o pain and fatigue. I also have itchy skin and small hives that seem
to come and go at will. Furthermore--I have been struggling
with a ton of panic and anxiety that--low and behold--began following a long
dosing of 500mg Cipro twice a day about one year ago. I never
would have related any of these things except for a chance warning I read in
the back of a book on frequently perscibed drugs that cause joint
pain. I did a web search--and that landed me here. When I read the message
archives--I felt like I was reading words from people who were
describing my experience--I felt vicariously understood and I also slightly
horrified. I told my Dr. yesterday that since none of these other
diseases panned out--ms, lupus, rheum arth, leuk, thyroid ect, ect.--would she
consider that it could be an adr from the oft perscibed cipro?
She said yes--and has asked for some of the articles I've gathered. I will try
to file a report to the FDA as recommended but I gather from my
research so far that there really is no "cure". I feel relieved on the one
hand to know I'm not dying of some horrible illness-on the otherhand, I
feel pitched headlong into a world of complete uncertainty. Mostly, I feel
sorry for the insult to my body--and to all of the FQ victims. I don't
know what else to say--but thank you all for listening and for writing/sharing
your experiences.


From: "kjpargolf" <kjpargolf@y...>
Date: Thu Apr 24, 2003 12:09 pm
Subject: Is being totally floxed permanent or is there chance of recovery?

This is unbelievable to read all these testimonies?
Is there any chance of recovery from being "floxed"
or is it totally permanent? Thanks for your help.


From: "bobgroz2001" <bobbygr@r...>
Date: Thu Apr 24, 2003 12:32 pm
Subject: Re: Is being totally floxed permanent or is there chance of recovery?
--- In quinolones@yahoogroups.com, "kjpargolf" <kjpargolf@y...> wrote:
> This is unbelievable to read all these testimonies?
> Is there any chance of recovery from being "floxed"
> or is it totally permanent? Thanks for your help.

I was floxed a year ago. No improvement at all in my condition.
These pills ruined my life

From: "Linda Hughes" <dathasgirl@a...>
Date: Thu Apr 24, 2003 12:38 pm
Subject: Re: [quinolones] Is being totally floxed permanent or is there chance of recovery?

I don't think you're going to find anyone here who's over it. Some of us
think sometimes that we're better, but then it comes back with a vengeance.
We honestly don't know.

Abundant Blessings,
Linda Hughes


Date: Fri Apr 25, 2003 11:42 pm
Subject: fluoroquinolone eye drops for kids

"...received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
market its Vigamox antibiotic solution (moxifloxacin 0.5%) for the treatment
of
bacterial conjunctivitis. "

"In four studies, 336 pediatric patients and 392 adults had no safety
concerns or adverse events that were significantly different from placebo.
Silver LH, Burkey R, Montgomery D, Gower L, Dickerson J, Crenshaw K, Potts S,
Gross R, Schlech B. Safety of ophthalmic moxifloxacin in the treatment of
newborns, infants and toddlers, children and adolescents with bacterial
conjunctivitis. ARVO 2003; Abstract 804"

"no safety concerns", yet when we look at Ofloxacin (another ophthalmic
fluoroquinolone) we find the following:

"ADVERSE REACTIONS
Ophthalmic Use
The most frequently reported drug-related adverse reaction was
transient ocular burning or discomfort. Other reported reactions
include stinging, redness, itching, chemical
conjunctivitis/keratitis, periocular/facial edema, foreign body
sensation, photophobia, blurred vision, tearing, dryness, and eye
pain. Rare reports of dizziness have been received."

Yet Silver et al claims that there were "no safety concerns or adverse events
that were significantly different from placebo". What kind of drugs was he
taking while conducting this study? I am sure that a one year old child had
no problem bringing all of the above to Silvers attention once they
manifested.

"Dr. Mark Daniell and colleagues, from the University of Melbourne, reviewed
the medical records of 138 patients with bacterial corneal ulcer. Of these,
54 were treated with fluoroquinolone and 84 were treated with tobramycin
1.3% plus cefazolin 5%.
The two therapies were equally effective in treating the condition in terms
of visual outcome, the researchers found. However, serious complications
such as corneal perforation, evisceration, or enucleation of the affected
eye occurred in 16.7% of patients receiving fluoroquinolone, compared with
only 2.4% of patients receiving fortified antibiotic therapy. The authors
estimated that patients taking fluoroquinolone had an 8.9-fold increased
risk of serious complications."

Now who is lying here? Daniell or Silver?

Based upon Dr. Daniell's research one would then assume that 16.7% of these
kids are taking a substantial risk with none of the benefits. Of course the
FDA has no interest in what Dr. Daniell and colleagues has to say and
endorsed Silver et al wholeheartedly. Just the facts and figures of the
manufacturers if you please, we certainly do not want to hear from
researchers that have documented these adverse events now do we? This is
just what this forum needs, the terrified parents of a bunch of pre-teen
newbies. Gotta love the FDA.

What makes them think that this product will be any different from
levofloxacin, ofloxacin, or any other fluoroquinolone?

Levofloxacin ophthalmic solution is an antibiotic used to treat eye
infections.
Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:
vision problems (e.g. blurry vision)
fever
burning eyes
eye pain
light sensitivity
sensation of a foreign body in the eye
headache
dry eyes
swelling eye lids
sore throat
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor
immediately:
skin rash
itching
hives
difficulty breathing or swallowing
swelling of the face or throat

The madness never ends now does it? But in MIchigan you can no longer sue
the manufacturers if you suffered severe harm if they followed the FDA's
labeling rules (as a result of a recent Michigan Supreme Court ruling). So
in essences if the FDA approves a dangerous drug like this for kids, and the
manufacturers list all of the possible adrs, the kids and their parents
cannot hold the manufacturer responsible when these drugs destroy their one
year old child. At least in Michigan. Other States to soon follow the
Michigan rule.

Stay tune for blind crippled kids playing with lame puppies and blind cats.
But of course it cannot be the drugs, Silver et al says they have "no safety
concerns or adverse events that were significantly different from placebo".
Must be the placebos that "f'ed" all of us up, not the fluoroquinolones. :)

WARNING: PLACEBOS HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE PERIPHEAL NUEROPATHY, TENDON
RUPTURE, PHOTOXICITY, PANIC ATTACKS, LIVER FAILURE, HEART ATTACKS, AND DEATH
DUE TO TOXICITY IN CHILDREN.
Should your child suffer a fatal reaction to a placebo do not continue to
medicate your child and report such a fatality to the FDA using the MedWatch
program so we can blame their death on something other than the placebo..

FDA (aka Fu***** Dumb A***s)
MedWatch (aka "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil")



From: "cbryson602" <cbryson602@a...>
Date: Sun Apr 27, 2003 7:26 am
Subject: Tequin/Vision Problems

I haven't been to this web site since summer 2002, but decided to
check back and see if more reports of vision problems from those who
took Tequin. My husband took Tequin in late June, early July, (two
separate weeks w/one week off in between). His last dose was July 4
with odd headaches on 7/2, 7/3 and 7/4. On July 10 he complained of
vision disturbances. On July 13 his vision became extremely blurry,
July 14 to hospital. July 15 to an eye hospital in Philly. Steroids
for five days, some improvement. All tests for temporal arteritis
negative. Later in July sight went DARK!!! Steroids again. Minor
improvement. Three hospitalizations total, blood thinning to get
blood to optic nerve, steroids, third time they said nothing further
they could do. (This is a world renowned eye hospital in
Philadelphia). We went for acupuncture, which actually did bring
about quite a dramatic improvement in eye sight over two months
following third hospital discharge. At least now, though he has
still dead spots on optic nerve, sight has improved to 20/60 and
20/50, and he is able to drive with glasses. His reading has come
back where he no longer needs the closed circuit TV we had bought in
Sept. Unfortunately, due to all the treatments he received, he
contracted a staph infection of the blood which resulted in
osteomyelitis (which symptoms were masked by use of oral steroids)
and ate away T4-5 vertebrae in spine, and he has had major surgery to
repair those vertebrae and fuse the thoracic spine, and now learning
to walk again with the aid of a cane, a total of 76 days in hospital
and rehab for THIS event) To this day -- and ALWAYS -- I will blame
Tequin for this entire sequence of events. I only wish I could prove
it for certain. CB