Adrs symptoms and conditions

After you read a representative sampling of this website's testimonials, you certainly ask yourself inter alia: Can this be true? Did thousands of people inject an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone family, which crippled them for longer or for shorter? Most of us, I suspect, never really get beyond the initial litmus test: Did this medicine poison me or save me? (The answer depends, of course, upon the age, gender, medical condition, and most importantly, the DNA make-up of the individual patient. For hundreds of thousands of patients this antibiotic is a boon. For thousands of other misfortunes this antibiotic is a disaster.) But there is another important question here.

Who gains from self-revelation? To be sure individual sufferers gain certain emotional catharsis from posting their adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to levaquin. E-postings are one-way anonymous tracks that form ruts on a well-traveled trail of tears. Unless these postings are hoaxes written by mischievious gnomes, then they consitute prima facie evidence for a causal link between levaquin injection and sundry crippling ADRs.

Curiously, this e-forum cannot be used as a tool for organizing thousands of potential litigants who might coalesce under a class action lawsuit. Yes, we can analyze each other's anonymous revelations to see if they muster our respective sense of the "ring-of-truth" re: levaquin toxicity, and we may contact each other one-on-one, but no-one can harness this intoxicating communication's technology to reach simultaneously all respondents en masse as a bloc.

So, who wins? The emotionally unburdened e-poster who learns belatedly that s/he is not alone and that prescription medicine likely caused more pain than the underlying malady for which s/he is being treated? Or big pharma that continues to manufacture and market a medication that poses downside risk to many consumers who unwittingly incur more damage than therapeutic value?

Indeed, who wins in a forum where consumers anonymously reveal their symptoms and unconfirmed suspicions? The answer is big pharma wins. Pharmaceutical companies data-mine our postings to estimate the frequency and bredth of ADRs about which consumers complain. House statisticians estimate the ratio of active complainants : silent complainants, i.e., the ratio of complaints who show up on this website to the far heftier percentage of complainants who never post on this website because either they are technology-challenged or they are incurious. House actuarians proceed to estimate how much operating profits their employers must set aside to cover losses in out-of-court settlements or in awards made to plaintiffs in class action lawsuits.

I think this is how the game is played in a behavioral sink where billions are made in a deregulated marketplace that allows predators and prey to interact anonymously. Sorry to be such a downer, but I fathom only the desperate plight of tens of thousands of levaquin consumers for whom no monetary award ever will compensate them adequately for their suffering, and the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in court awards if consumers ever brought to bear their aggregate numbers and draw a bead on their big pharma tormenters.

I think it a true horror and shame that pharmaceutical companies have not devised a test which determines in advance which patient safely may consume levaquin and which patient's DNA places him or her at risk. I suspect the genome technology is available, but would dig too deeply into big pharm's bottom line. The economics of "parachutes-for-everyone" is infeasible. We are all guinea pigs in a B-grade movie featuring Russian roulette, billion-dollar pay-offs, and an FDA that pretends not to know.

Please, is the anyone who knows of a way to treat the dibilating muscle/joint pain experienced as a result of taking the antibiotic, levaquin?

I am a 36 year old woman living in hell for 3 months now.

In early October of last year I was admitted to the Hospital with diagnosed bronchitis a possible pneumonia. I was given Avelox which is a member of the Fluoroquinolone drug family. At the time I was in sever distress, could not breath, and was extremely weak from the infection. I stayed in the hospital for 6 days while they gave me Avelox along with various other meds to treat my symptoms and was released after finally getting a clear chest x-ray. The drug had done its job. But it was a week later that hell started. I was re-admitted to the same hospital with sever abdominal pain. They told me that I had hepatitis due to a reaction from the Avelox. My Dr. Also suspected I could have Wilsons Disease so he prescribed a liver biopsy, to say the very least this was a painful procedure. The biopsy came back negative and the liver function began to return to normal just as the pain everywhere else began.

joint and muscle pain
headaches
insomnia
uncontrollable twitching
arm and leg numbness
neck pain/spasms
a mass on my left breast (further diagnosed after mammogram, CT and Biopsy as a side effect to the Avelox)

My internist, Rheumatologist and the liver specialist all suspect “Post infection pain syndrom”.

However, after hearing now 3 separate times from 3 seperate Dr's about the possible side effect of Avelox I did a little research and every single one of my “symptoms” are on the lists of dangerous side effects for this drug. Now none of my Dr.s can tell me if I will ever get rid of the pain I am in. None of them seem to be able to do ANYTHING but treat my symptoms. By treating the symptoms all they can do is pain management which means pain killers. I simply can not function day to day with most pain killers so I am forced to live with the pain.

More drugs than I have ever taken, Dr.s visits, time off work, stress and a standard of living that simply put is not living, not to mention the tremendous outlay of cash...to say the least I am frustrated.

I took Cipro for a UTI and from the first pill I took I felt like I was going to die. My head hurt so bad that I thought it was going to explode. I thought maybe it was just fighting the infection so I kept taking it. The more I took the more I felt sick my tendons in my legs hurt so bad and my neck and shoulders hurt like nothing I ever felt before. On day three I phoned the pharmacist and he told me that side effects from cipro never happen and that if I was really concerned go to the doctor and get a new antibiotic which I did. I was so mad when I went online and read the side effects of this terrible drug.
I stopped taking the Cipro and felt much better within a day but it took weeks for my muscles to feel better.
I will never take this drug again nor will I let my kids. I tell everyone I know to ask for a different antibiotic if given this one.

This is my third posting. At this URL thousands of people have recounted how they were were poisoned by medicine that was supposed to make them well. Reading these accounts is like watching a science fiction horror film. One after another over the course of five years since medicines.com began posting their respective experiences, another hapless victim falls headlong into the levaquin trap. It's like watching cars crash on a fog-filled highway. Suggestible doctors rely upon marketing representations by pharmaceutical reps. Doe-eyed patients fill with confidence their doctors' prescriptions. A small percentage of these presciptees --- what % we likely will never know --- suffers severe adverse reactions that change their lives forever. There are several thousand accounts of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) re: levaquin on this website alone. There must be ten times that number of computer illiterates or incurious who experienced ADRs but who never posted their stories on medicines.com. Insofar as Levequin poisoning can appear many months after the prescription-taker discontinued taking his/her prescription, one wonders separately how many people became blind-sided by symptoms which the ADR sufferer never remotely traced back to quinolones. Suddenly out-of-the-blue a hapless victim is felled by symptoms that require exhaustive medical testing. No-one intended this DNA-changing drug to create full employment for medical personnel. Ironically Levaquin poisoning has created a pharmaceutical aftermarket for medical professionals who occupy a no-lose proposition: Either Levaquin will cure what ails you now, or consequent Levaquin poisoning will put you at the head of the line for additional testing. The right hand unwittingly prescribes a poison while the left hand tests you and treats you for a possible antidote! It's really a half-wit's delight with possibly deadly consequences. The FDA bows to the invisible hand of deregulation and social Darwinism: What doesn't kill you makes you better. If enough people complain about their ADRs, the FDA might or might not post a black box warning about the prescription drug's adverse effect. But unaddressed is the crucial link between commission-incented pharmaceutical marketing reps and their prey ---- harried doctors who are too busy to read the contraindications' fine print. Big pharmacy knows well the drill, and has earmarked a percentage of company profits and set them aside to cover the inevitable lawsuits from crippled Levqauin consumers and/or their heirs. Big pharma's profits exceed big pharma's court-mandated awards. The hubaballo dies-down about the time the FDA has weighed-in with warnings and after big pharma has retired its belatedly discredited antibiotic in favor of marketing a **miracle** new generation replacement. It's Sisyphus (look it up) all over! It's hard not to be cynical and bitter. This is the equivalent of taking incoming "friendly fire" in the medical profession. With ADRs like these who needs illness? Just take the medicine and proceed right to sick.

I'm on day 3 of 750mg of Levaquin for walking pneumonia, and I feel awful. I've been so nauseous that I feel like I have the flu now. It started yesterday, but is definitely much worse today. I'm not taking any more of this medication. I'm calling my Dr. in the morning. I feel lucky after reading all these other posts.

It is quite amazing how when the story hits the news, the number of postings here jumps up! How sad it is that many people now realize the same things that many of us have known for quite some time. I only hope that the floodgate have now opened and that everyone will now keep the pressure on to limit the use of thee dangerous chemicals.

After 20 months I have had my right distal tendon surgically repaired, I endure tremendous pain in my left arm daily, and I fight the other unmentionable adrs. A black box warning is a start but it is not nearly enough.

New side effects: intense anger with the FDA and drug manufacturers, distrust of the medical community, and the required development of pain management skills.

From a UK Yellow Card Report.

Montelukast

The product information for montelukast has been amended to include the following ADRs: Reaction No. of UK Yellow Card reports

Nausea 63 Diarrhoea 54 Rashes 52 Insomnia 44 Dizziness 42 Fatigue 37 Vomiting 24 Pruritus 24 Arthralgia 20 Urticaria 19 Malaise 18 Dyspepsia 13 Myalgia 12 Dry mouth 9 Anaphylaxis 4 Angioedema3

In addition, the following suspected ADRs have been reported and are still being evaluated: psychiatric disorders (63) ; also nightmares (13), sedation (13), palpitations (12), tremor (10) and increased sweating (10).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Zafirlukast The most frequently reported ADRs under the Yellow Card Scheme for zafirlukast have been rashes (7), headache (7), abdominal pain (6), nausea (6) and pruritus (5). All of these are included in the product information which has also been updated to include the following ADRs that have been identified from data other than UK Yellow Card reports: urticaria, angioedema, blistering, bruising, bleeding disorders, including menorrhagia (rare), thrombocytopenia and agranulocytosis (both very rare). Churg-Strauss syndrome Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare syndrome characterised by a history of asthma, and often rhinitis and sinusitis, with systemic vasculitis and eosinophilia. There has been a recent increase in the number of reports of CSS associated with the use of anti-asthma drugs, particularly the leukotriene receptor antagonists. The MHRA/CSM have received 63 reports of CSS through the Yellow Card Scheme since 1963, 59 since the beginning of 1998; Of these, 90% were associated with drugs used to treat asthma (mainly leukotriene receptor antagonists). In many, but not all cases there was documented evidence of a reduction or withdrawal of oral corticosteroid therapy prior to the onset of the reaction. There are clear warnings regarding the possible association with CSS in the product information for montelukast and zafirlukast. Prescribers should be aware of the possibility that, although rare, CSS may be the underlying cause of asthma in their patients. In patients prescribed a leukotriene receptor antagonist prescribers should be alert to the development of eosinophilia, vasculitic rash, worsening pulmonary symptoms, cardiac complications and/or peripheral neuropathy. The identification of new and suspected ADRs emphasises the important role of the Yellow Card Scheme in helping to ensure the safe use of medicines. The safety profile of leukotriene receptor antagonists remains under close review. Please continue to report all suspected ADRs to montelukast (Singulairt) and zafirlukast (Accolatet) through the Yellow Card Scheme.1. MHRA/CSM Current Problems in Pharmacovigilance 1998; 24:14.
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http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:3fU602hhlG8J:www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/pl-p/documents/publication/con2023236.pdf+montelukast+ADR&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us

Update: I have spent hours searching scientific data bases for articles on Singulair. So far this is the most direct reference to adverse drug reactions and Singular.

For anyone who wanted to print the article from the Swedish researchers that stated that their study suggested that montelukast (singulair) should be investigated for adverse psychiatric drug reactions, I was able to find a link with open access to the public. So far, this is the only article that I have found. I am still searching through databases. This link should work if you cut and past. I am sure that all doctors would appreciate the opportunity to read it for themselves to see what they think.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/8/1

Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups – signal detection Gertrud Brunlöf , Carina Tukukino and Susanna M Wallerstedt Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden author email corresponding author email BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1 Conclusion In conclusion, the present study indicates that ADRs are reported for commonly used drugs in children. The number of ICSRs varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

Please don't forget to print the Tables which open on a separate page. Table 2 lists the specific side effects that they found which include anxiety, aggression, night mares, pain, and several others.

I would also like to point out a table that was in the Swedish study that showed what the adverse drug reactions were. It lists that children had night mares, aggressiveness, sleep disorder, abdominal pain, increased appetite, anxiety, fatique and several others. All of these symptoms are similar to what we are reading on this board.

This study was done in a foreign country before anything was ever announced in the American media. If you take this article to your doctor, please don't forget to print the tables. There is a link on the page.

See this link for the article.
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/8/1

Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups – signal detection
Gertrud Brunlöf , Carina Tukukino and Susanna M Wallerstedt
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
author email corresponding author email
BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1

Conclusion
In conclusion, the present study indicates that ADRs are reported for commonly used drugs in children. The number of ICSRs varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

Table 2
Description of ICSRs for children in the ATC code R03DC. All ICSRs concerned the substance montelukast.

Age (years)
Dose (mg/day)
Treatment duration (when known)
ADR
SPC (Yes/No)

ADR, adverse drug reaction; ICSR, individual case safety report; SPC, summary of product characteristics
Brunlöf et al. BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008 8:1 doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1

For anyone who wanted to print the article from the Swedish researchers that stated that their study suggested that montelukast (singulair) should be investigated for adverse psychiatric drug reactions, I was able to find a link with open access to the public. So far, this is the only article that I have found. I am still searching through databases.

This link should work if you cut and past. I am sure that all doctors would appreciate the opportunity to read it for themselves to see what they think.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/8/1

Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups – signal detection
Gertrud Brunlöf , Carina Tukukino and Susanna M Wallerstedt
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden
author email corresponding author email
BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-1

Conclusion
In conclusion, the present study indicates that ADRs are reported for commonly used drugs in children. The number of ICSRs varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

I posted before regarding a study that suggested that montelukast should be studied for possible psychiatric adverse drug reactions in children. I could only find the abstract. I have now located the entire article. I originally thought the study was British but it was done in Sweden. I am going to make an e-mail file. If you would like the full text of this article to take to your doctor, I will send it to you.

Individual case safety reports in children in commonly used drug groups – signal detection

Gertrud Brunlöf , Carina Tukukino and Susanna M Wallerstedt
Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Regional Pharmacovigilance Centre, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, SE-413 45 Göteborg, Sweden

BMC Clinical Pharmacology 2008, 8:1doi:10.1186/1472-6904-8-

Here is the discussion and conclusion.

Discussion
ICSRs were present in 19 of the 30 most commonly used drug groups in children. The number of ICSRs varied between the groups of drugs, the two most reported drug groups being the leukotriene receptor antagonists and centrally acting sympathomimetics. The reporting of new drugs should be expected to be larger compared with old drugs, according to the Swedish instructions concerning ADR reporting. The leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast was registered in 1998. Consequently, no extra attention to ADRs during montelukast treatment was demanded in 2005. Centrally acting sympathomimetics, on the other hand, were introduced later and the number of ICSRs may be influenced by the increased focus on this drug group. Another explanation for increased reporting rates for certain drug groups may be media attention.

ADRs during treatment with montelukast seem to occur predominantly in small children, the majority in the present study being <15 years old, whereas children according to European Medicines Agency include 0 to 17 years.
In the present study, five percent of the ICSRs in children included serious ADRs. The corresponding figure for adults was 32%. With vaccine reports included, the proportion of serious ADRs has been reported to be 13% in children .

The design of the present study does not to allow conclusions concerning the question whether the number of ICSRs per million DDD differs between children and adults. Lower doses are often used in children, making direct comparisons difficult. Moreover, dose adjustments for children compared with DDD may vary depending on age of the child as well as the drug in question, making comparisons using DDD as denominator inconclusive. The number of ICSRs in the present study is quite small, implying that minor fluctuations in the number of reports can significantly affect the result. Hence, the disposition of ADRs in children needs further investigation.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the present study indicates that ADRs are reported for commonly used drugs in children. The number of ICSRs varies in different groups of drugs. A possible signal for montelukast and psychiatric adverse drug reactions was found, which should be further explored.

Well, I am not posting a side effect. I actually stumbled upon this website while trying to look up whether hypoglycemia is a side effect of Levaquin. I am a physician assistant and routinely prescribe this medication. Unfortunately ALL medications have the potential for causing many many many different side effects. Obviously one has to weigh the benefits of using the medication with the risk of side effects. And certain side effects are obviously more common than others. While I appreciate the point of a website like this, it is very frustrating for me, as a clinician, to read someone posting things that are absolutely untrue which can potentially cause undue distress or worry for everyone who may read it. I am referring to the person who wanted "to let everyone know of the relationship between levaquin and vancomycin." Her only source for this WRONG information is a nurse who told her daughter. Did she ever think that the nurse could be wrong and that maybe before posting something like that she should ask a pharmacist or a physician. Vancomycin and floroquinolones are not related pharmacologically!!!!

For all of you suffering on this board I strongly suggest you log unto www.fqresearch.org where you will find over 4000 medical journal entries, case reports, etc., that detail the horrendous damage these drugs are capable of. You will also find a link there for a support forum hosted by yahoo that everyone here is invited to join.

We have been fighting with the FDA since 1999 to get "Black Box" warnings as well as "Dear Doctor" letters sent. Had this been done I doubt that most of you would be suffering like this. This class is a drug of LAST RESORT, and it is not approved as a first line agent for ANY disease state.

It is both shocking and appalling that we see people coming on this site promoting the use of these drugs and chasing you for suffering a reaction. I can assure you this is not "in your head" by any means. These severe adverse reactions have been documented since 1982 within ALL of the leading medical journals. They are THE most toxic and dangerous antibiotic in clinical use today.

But the FDA refuses to provide adequate warnings within the package inserts and Public Citizen has had to SUE them in Federal Court to even have them review their petitions seeking, once again, "Black Box Warnings and Dear Doctor Letters."

Recently Bayer issued a "Dear Doctor" letter in Europe regarding the severe adrs to Avelox. But we find no such letters being written here in the United States.

Anyhow, just a brief note to let you know that you are not alone, your name is "Legions", and we have been fighting on your behalf since 1999.

Regards,

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
www.fqresearch.org

For all of you suffering on this board I strongly suggest you log unto www.fqresearch.org where you will find over 4000 medical journal entries, case reports, etc., that detail the horrendous damage these drugs are capable of. You will also find a link there for a support forum hosted by yahoo that everyone here is invited to join.

We have been fighting with the FDA since 1999 to get "Black Box" warnings as well as "Dear Doctor" letters sent. Had this been done I doubt that most of you would be suffering like this. This class is a drug of LAST RESORT, and it is not approved as a first line agent for ANY disease state.

It is both shocking and appalling that we see people coming on this site promoting the use of these drugs and chasing you for suffering a reaction. I can assure you this is not "in your head" by any means. These severe adverse reactions have been documented since 1982 within ALL of the leading medical journals. They are THE most toxic and dangerous antibiotic in clinical use today.

But the FDA refuses to provide adequate warnings within the package inserts and Public Citizen has had to SUE them in Federal Court to even have them review their petitions seeking, once again, "Black Box Warnings and Dear Doctor Letters."

Recently Bayer issued a "Dear Doctor" letter in Europe regarding the severe adrs to Avelox. But we find no such letters being written here in the United States.

Anyhow, just a brief note to let you know that you are no alone, your name is "Legions", and we have been fighting on your behalf since 1999.

Regards,

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
www.fqresearch.org

For all of you suffering on this board I strongly suggest you log unto www.fqresearch.org where you will find over 4000 medical journal entries, case reports, etc., that detail the horrendous damage these drugs are capable of. You will also find a link there for a support forum hosted by yahoo that everyone here is invited to join.

We have been fighting with the FDA since 1999 to get "Black Box" warnings as well as "Dear Doctor" letters sent. Had this been done I doubt that most of you would be suffering like this. This class is a drug of LAST RESORT, and it is not approved as a first line agent for ANY disease state.

It is both shocking and appalling that we see people coming on this site promoting the use of these drugs and chasing you for suffering a reaction. I can assure you this is not "in your head" by any means. These severe adverse reactions have been documented since 1982 within ALL of the leading medical journals. They are THE most toxic and dangerous antibiotic in clinical use today.

But the FDA refuses to provide adequate warnings within the package inserts and Public Citizen has had to SUE them in Federal Court to even have them review their petitions seeking, once again, "Black Box Warnings and Dear Doctor Letters."

Recently Bayer issued a "Dear Doctor" letter in Europe regarding the severe adrs to Avelox. But we find no such letters being written here in the United States.

Anyhow, just a brief note to let you know that you are no alone, your name is "Legions", and we have been fighting on your behalf since 1999.

Regards,

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
www.fqresearch.org

I took 15 days of Avelox in March 2004. This was given with Prednisone (Medrol) which enhances the possibility of an ADR. I initially had lower leg and Achilles tendon pain, then sharp wrist pain. Paresthesia soon followed. I called my ENT who told me to quit the medication. Nevertheless, a couple days later, I developed a rash on my palms which looked like allergic vasculitis, and the paresthesia intesified. My GP suspected a drug reaction and performed CPK tests. CPK 3 came back elevated but later returned to normal. A couple weeks later, numbness developed in my toes.

A neurologist has so far diagnosed me with bilateral ulnar neuritis (nerve inflammation in the elbows), carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendinitis. There is also evidence of a peripheral neuropathy. I can no longer exercise, and it hurts to type. My hands are still red and inflammed.

ADRs to this drug are virtually identical to those of Levaquin. the drug is extraordinarily dangerous, and should be reserved for the most aggressive infections.

I cannot help but be amazed at some of the post. It is obvious that these folks have NO CLUE as to the damge these drugs can and will do and I find such idiotic posts quite insulting. There is no question that some people do quite well on the fluoroquinolones without having any adverse reaction. To make fun of those who have suffered severe and even life threatening reactions is insane. Having suffered such a reaction three years ago that now requires the intervention of at least a dozen specialist I find no humor in this. I have lost the majority of my vision, I have damage to my liver, kidneys, pancreas and joints. I am a virtual cripple as a result of such scripting abuse and damned near died as a result. If these morons would read some of the older post they will find several such post that refer to a FATAL reaction. If you have taken these drugs without such reactions you should be on your knees thanking all mighty God and not ridiculing those who have, for the next time you could very well be in my shoes. The tens of thousands of others that I have spoken to over the past three years who have suffered such damage and even worse, would gladly trade places with any of you who posted in this manner, irregardless of your obivous brain damage and warped sense of humor.

There have been numerous aditional post since I brought the following to your attention, therfore I am sending this information once agian:

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_research

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

www.fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is "Legions". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com I would not of even of dignified the idiotic posts I was reffering to earlier with this response had it not truly been a matter of life or death.
Such a response one could very well be expect from the ignorant physician, for they know not what they do, but these people know exactly what they are doing and deserve the scorn of everybody, whether they be a victim of these drugs or one of the luckier ones who escaped such injuries.
I find them to be a cross between a horse and a mule.

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

Those who wish to contact me directly feel free to do so at
davidtfull@aol.com

"it is your responsibility to ask about potential side effects, interactions with other drugs you are taking, etc. It is also your responsibility to read the detailed informa tion that comes with every prescription from a pharmacy that lists possible side effects"

Excellent advice but with one FATAL flaw. The majority of the information recieved from the physician and/or the pharmacy is wholely inadequate regarding the side effects of these drugs. (the majority of them are not even listed) When asked about the potential side effects the physicians routinely state that these are safe and effective drugs with minimum side effects. Nothing could be further from the truth. The monographs indicate once again that such events are rare and occur at rates approaching 1%. Once again, not true, in reality they rapidly approach 27%. One recent study indicated 65% (Cipro when given for prostatitits) When such events manifest again the medical community denies any and all such assocation stating that they have never heard of such things, even though it has been reported in medical journals for almost forty years. Of the hundreds and hundreds of adrs reported within this forum you will not fnd ONE that is not a known, listed and published adverse event. It has been only through forums such as this that such knowledge is shared. You certainly will not find such information readily available from your physician or from your pharmacist. Herein lies the problem. Nor will you find it within the monographs as such warnings are couched in antiquated descriptions such as uticaria (itching) and other greek and latin terms for common medical conditions. This has been done deliberately to mislead the general public regarding such events. It is not lack of common sense that these victims are lacking, it is the trust that they have placed in their physicians to have an intimate knowledge regarding toxic chemotherapuedic agents that they hand out like Halloween candy. Such ignorance is rampant and to expect a physician who routinely fails to recognize, treat and report such events to be of any value during such a discussion is asking far too much. Patients are routinely handed free samples of these drugs, with no risk vs benefit discussion ever taking place, no monograph or any other information provided by the physician, and then told when such events manifest "..it cannot be the drug.." are instructed to continue taking it. The majority of the medical community has no idea what a fluoroquinolone is and what drugs make up the class let alone what the potential side effects may be. If the lack of common sense is found to be so disturbing then perhaps the lack of common sense regarding the prescribing of these toxic drugs that needs to be addressed. Not the ignorance of the patient who trust the FDA, the manufacturers, the physician and the pharmacist, only to find that thier trust has been grossly misplaced. There are anything BUT a safe and effective antibiotic with minimum side effects. They in fact are not even true antibiotics. They are a toxic and dangerous form of chemotherapuetic agents of last resort. ONLY to be prescribed when nothing else has proven to be effective. They are not and never were intended to be a first line agent. These are one form of such therapy that indeed have the potential to do far more harm than good when carelessly prescribed. Such ignorance cannot possibly be considered the fault of the patient. It is the fault of the prescibing physician. Should one wish to attack the lack of common sense I suggest that they start there. The victims of such scripting abuse have enough problems to deal with without adding such nonsense to thier never ending list.

So, you're an M.D. and you know everything; is that it? Maybe you better do a little research on the ADRs of Levaquin and other fluoroquinolones. All these "bizarre" symptoms are listed in the PDR as possible ADRs of fluoroquinolone therapy(except yours, of course). How can you ask us to believe that it's purely coincidence that all these people developed these symptoms right after taking the drugs that are KNOWN to cause them? Most of them didn't even KNOW that these were possible adrs; they're just seeking answers.