What is wrong with the medical community that continues to prescribe fluoroquinolone antibiotics?

Question

Cipro, levaquin and all fluoroquinolone antibiotics should have a black box label to prevent MD's from handing them out like candy. I personally know four people that have had horrible adverse effects from the drug. Some of these effects don't start for weeks or months and can be permanent. Check out the fluoroquinolone toxicity research forum. The denial of the medical profession to address this is a tragedy for victims. Even Bayer (the manufacturer admits these horrid effects are from these drugs. Your tendons can rupture, peripheal nerve damage, cardiac damage, and severe anxiety to name a few. If this is brought to the attention of your doctor, you will probably be referred to a shrink. There is a class action lawsuit from the postal workers given cipro for the anthrax scare. They have experienced horrible side effects. How can patients get their doctors out of denial?

Answer 1

I'm sure I won't win the best answer but......

As with any drug or medical procedure, there are risks and benefits. The side effects that you are talking about are uncommon. The postal workers given the cipro only had mild side effects, mostly gi and resolved. None had the serious effects you were talking about. See: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol8no10/02-0346.htm

It is naive to think that doctors are swayed by the drug reps. It would not be worth it to prescribe a contraindicated medication just so I could continue to get pedicures. From experience, many docs hate to see drug reps b/c they slow you down.

Chemotheraphy has cured up to 70% of leukemia, I'm sure no alternative medicine can do that.

Answer 2

It would probably help to outlaw drug reps from giving docs so many perks for prescribing their drugs. I personally know one doc who was given gift certificates for weekly pedicures from a drug rep. It's all about bribary, folks!! Medicine is a business, just like everything else!! If they get you messed up with one drug, they'll give you another to supress the symptoms. Have you noticed that relatively few drugs actually cure illness? Most just supress symptoms, and when you quit taking the drug your symptoms come back. Don't get me started!!


Much Love!!

Answer 3

I think one of my major tendons ruptured just reading this horribly frightening story.

Thanks for your exceedingly noble attempt at calming America and bringing this issue to a head for us. (Kind of a blackhead, really, but that's ok...)

Right thinking America will always persevere!