Levaquin Blog

LevaquinBlog would like to draw attention to some excellent analysis by the blog www.myquinstory.info .  We encourage you to read the entire post, but here’s some of the most compelling data:

According to Medwatch, the adverse drug reporting arm of the FDA, the following statistics are available on fluoroquinolone antibiotics, from a period from 1997 to 2007: Levaquin 39,128 adverse drug reactions (ADR’S) and 808 deaths, Floxin 13,495 ADR’s and 311 deaths, Cipro 40,395 ADR’s and 837 deaths, Avelox 30,160 ADR’s and 337 deaths, and Proquin 40,151 ADR’s and 831 deaths.  For this list of FQs, and it is not a total inclusive list, the total adverse drugs reactions are 163,329 with deaths totaling 3,124. According to the FDA, reports to Medwatch only represent between 1% and 10% of the actual numbers of occurrence.  Why?

The FDA states that most people have never heard of the Medwatch program and a lot of doctors are not inclined to waste their valuable time in reporting adverse drug reactions or telling patients about it.  Looking at the facts from the FDA’s own admission, deaths from FQ’s could easily total over 30,000, based on if only 10% of the actual occurrences have been reported.

Now humor me for a minute as my logical mind kicks in.  Toyota recalls millions of cars and has to appear before congressional hearings because of the possibility that a defect cause 275 crashes and 18 deaths over 11 years, and the fluoroquinolones antibiotics have caused, at the very least, 163,329 ADR’s and 3,124 deaths, and no hearings, no outcry, no acknowledgement from the medical community? Why?

What do you think?  Should Congress, the media and the public spend more time analysing and worrying about Toyota’s car defects or the ongoing danger that is flouroquinolone toxicity (together with the FDA’s malaise when it comes to protecting the public)?  Which is really more a danger to the public?

See full post here: http://www.myquinstory.info/?p=202

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Have you or someone you know been harmed by Levaquin or a similar antibiotic? Are you or someone you know suffering due to the adverse effects of taking antibiotics like Levaquin? If so, post a comment and tell your story here. Through awareness we can do what the manufacturers failed to do – warn everyone of the dangers of these drugs.

As always: Be well. Be aware.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

I know that Levaquin has important uses. It is the “atom bomb” of antibiotics: Where others won’t get the job done, Levaquin will destroy everything in its sights. Unfortunately, we’re seeing all too often that this means your tendons are at risks. When other drugs aren’t effective, or when allergies prevent alternative meds, then Levaquin might be right for you. But I remember first hearing that you can now take “once-a-day” antibiotics and heal right up – I thought that was great. I mean, Amoxicillin’s been around for over 30 years, and who likes taking 2-3 pills a day? Especially when you can just take one?

But this SHOULD NOT be used as a marketing tool. The convenience factor should not blur the other risks. If someone doesn’t need something as strong as Levaquin, then they shouldn’t be prescribed it. It’s not just the doctors’ fault: The drug companies promote the benefits of these (often costly) drugs without stressing the additional risks over alternatives. But it is also the consumers’ job to be vigilant. Especially now, when you know the dangers. Be aware and that will go a long way towards being safe.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

This was pointed out by Josh from Facebook. Mike Myers went on David Letterman last month and talked about going on Cipro for a toe infection. (See around the 4:00 minute mark.) I’m not a doctor, so I’m not going to criticize his medical decisions, but when someone uses a drug as strong as Levaquin or Cipro as a first-defense for an infection, they might be subjecting themselves to disproportionate pain and suffering. Unfortunately, a lot of people hear that they can take one pill for 5 days and choose to do that over the traditional antibiotic treatments. Hopefully, we can help bring awareness to these risks to avoid unnecessary and excessive fluoroquinolone treatments (and subsequent floxings). What do you think?

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Here’s a story (and some advice) from Ball Quick Athletics concerning the special risks weightlifters face when prescribed Levaquin:

Antibiotics and Injuries: Which Class of Antibiotics Can Bring Your Lifting Career to a Screeching Halt?

It’s almost that time of the year. Football season is just beginning, my lawnmower is getting less and less use, and the temperature is fluctuating more than the stock market. And the season wouldn’t be complete without an endless stream of antibiotics coming from the doctors’ offices. But before you go begging your doctor for an antibiotic for that runny nose, there’s one class of antibiotics that you better be particularly concerned about, especially if you lift heavy weights.

And that class is…. Fluoroquinolones (i.e. Cipro, Levaquin,etc)

Introduced in the 1980s, this class antibiotics is becoming increasingly popular with each passing year primarily due to the increase in antibiotic-resistant infections. Used most commonly to treat pneumonia and bronchitis, nowadays doctors are using them to treat just about everything. In fact at my pharmacy, they’re quickly creeping up the list of most popular antibiotics dispensed, right behind amoxicillin, azithromycin, and bactrim ds.

And why should you care… Tendon ruptures (those things that connect your bones to your muscles)

99 out of 100 doctors aren’t going to ask you if you lift weights. In fact, 99 out of 100 doctors are probably going to tell you squatting 300 pounds is extremely dangerous:-) So it’s your responsibility to be aware of potential tendon problems associated with fluoroquinolone use.

Even though they’re rare (most experts agree the odds are probably 1 in 100,000), the results can be extremely devastating, especially to an athlete or weekend warrior. In fact, in 2008 the FDA required that all fluoroquinolones carry a black box warning indicating potential tendon problems associated with their use (the equivalent of wearing the scarlet letter). And what is even more concerning to you and I, we’re already at a higher risk because a potential risk factor for tendon rupture is participation in sports, which includes weightlifting. In addition, you’re even further at risk if you’re taking corticosteroids like prednisone. Even inhaled corticosteroids for allergies (Nasonex, Flonase, Nasacort) put you at a higher risk.

Another important fact: Just because you finished your 10 day course of Cipro without any pain, don’t think you’re out of the woods just yet. There’s been documented cases of tendon ruptures 6 months AFTER using a flouroquinolone.

How will you know? Snap, crackle, pop.

The most commonly affected tendon is the Achilles tendon. However, they can affected virtually any tendon in your body. Symptoms range from stiffness and redness surrounding the tendon to complete inability to move the affected joint. Usually the pain is quick and intense.

I saw firsthand what Levaquin can do. My mother began a 5 day course of Levaquin, and had to stop after 3 days because of the tendon pain. It was so bad she couldn’t even walk up and down the stairs. And the worst part: it took 3 weeks for the pain to subside. And this is a lady who has passed 2 kidney stones without any pain medication stronger than Tylenol.

So what’s your options? Ask

Ask for a different antibiotic. Tell the doctor you lift weights, and you don’t want to risk injury. If you have pneumonia and are relatively healthy, ask for a z-pack. It’s considered first line anyways (plus it’s also a lot cheaper). With antibiotics, there is usually always alternatives. With so many of them out today, there’s almost always overlapping coverage for different types of bacterial infections, unless of course you have something truly funky going on.

More questions?

Here’s the best review I’ve found regarding fluoroquinolone-induced tendon ruptures: “Fluoroquinolone-associated tendinopathy: a critical review of the literature.”

Source: http://ballquickathletics.com/blog/?p=204

Bookmark It

Hide Sites