More Warnings with Fluoroquinolones

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review found that fluoroquinolone antibiotics can increase the occurrence of rare but serious events of ruptures or tears in the main artery of the body, so called aortic dissections or aneurysm. Systemic use given by mouth or through an injection of fluoroquinolones should be avoided in patients at increased risk unless there are no other treatment options available, such as those with a history of blockages or aneurysms (abnormal bulges) of the aorta or other blood vessels, high blood pressure, certain genetic disorders that involve blood vessel changes, and the elderly. Cases reported to FDA and four published observational studies provide consistent evidence of an association between fluoroquinolone use and aortic aneurysm or dissection. This is the latest in a series of warnings related to this class of common antibiotics. The others include significant decreases in blood sugar and certain mental health side effects, disabling side effects of the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system, peripheral neuropathy, tendinitis and tendon rupture, and restricting use for certain uncomplicated infections. Source: https://www.fda.gov/