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Medication side effects are the #4 leading cause of death in the U.S. annually (JAMA 1998). Yet, few people receive adequate information when medication is prescribed. This website is dedicated to providing information to help you and your doctor make informed, intelligent choices about medications and natural alternatives to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of treatment. Note: This website is free of drug company or government influence. Jay S. Cohen M.D.

Dr. Jay S. Cohen, M.D.

Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome: A Letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education & Labor

To: The United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Re: Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome (FTS)

Dear Senators:

Serious adverse reactions to fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) have been reported in medical journals and to the FDA since the 1980s. Although the FDA has increased the warnings on these drugs (Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox, Floxin, Norfolk, Factive), my analysis of FDA data shows that reports continue to climb in number. As of February 2014, approximately 45,000 individual cases of fluoroquinolone toxicity have been reported to the FDA. And, as studies have proven, the FDA receives reports of only 1%-5% of the actual numbers of adverse reactions that occur.

I have been following these medications for 16 years and have evaluated in person or by telephone consultation more than 300-400 people injured by FQs. In 2001, I published an article, “Peripheral Neuropathy with Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics”, in the peer reviewed journal Annals of Pharmacotherapy. This article described 45 cases of severe neurological symptoms such as tingling, numbness, burning pain, twitching, and/or weakness. Moreover, 93% of the subjects manifested symptoms in other injuries to other vital systems: agitation, impaired cognitive function, intractable insomnia, hallucinations, psychosis, acute manic episode, joint or muscle pain, or tendon rupture. In many cases, toxicities also involved the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, skin, and sight or hearing. Overall, ninety percent of my subjects experienced toxicity to multiple body systems. Hence my coining the term Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome.

Of greatest concern, the majority of my cases had lasted more than 1-2 years and were ongoing. These severe, long term reactions occurred in a generally young and healthy population. The average patient age was 42, many of them athletes. In fact, top athletic organizations now warn athletes to avoid treatment with FQs.

Because of the impaired healing seen in severe FTS patients, we have long suspected genetic injury from FQs. These drugs were designed to injure the genetic structure of bacteria and thereby kill them, and they are very efficient in doing so. However, testing was never performed to ensure that FQs did not also injure human DNA. A recent study using high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometrography has demonstrated that FQs do indeed injure human DNA. Further study on this must now be undertaken.

There is no doubt that fluoroquinolones are important medications that help many thousands of people each year, but the indiscriminate prescribing of these highly potent, “big gun” antibiotics for everyday minor infections such as sinusitis, sore throats, or bladder infections is unnecessary and medically unsafe. Medical authorities have repeatedly denounced the overuse of FQs. In my 40+ years in pharmacovigilance, FQs surpass Vioxx and thalidomide in the degree of permanent harm done.

FDA warnings currently describe many of the adverse effects of FQs. Recently the FDA has finally acknowledged that FQs can cause permanent injury. However, FDA warnings do not adequately describe the FTS syndrome, so doctors do not consider FTS and instead waste valuable time and expense testing for rare neurologic or rheumatologic disorders, meanwhile discounting or dismissing patients who are suffering severely from FTS. The warnings must be improved and the word about FTS must be spread nationally and worldwide. It can start with you. If you still doubt what I have written here, please examine the extensive literature on FQs toxicity beginning with the articles cited below.

Jay S. Cohen M.D. had been a faculty member at the University of California, San Diego, for three decades and has published more than 20 articles on drug safety in leading medical journals. Based on his articles and books, the FDA chose him as the keynote speaker at a FDA conference in 2004. He has debated FDA officials on drug safety strategies at conferences for the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics and at the Drug Industry Association. His work has been highlighted in major newspapers and magazines including the New York Times, Newsweek and others. During the anthrax scare of 2001, within days of Dr. Cohen’s publication of his article on FQs and his appearance on National Public Radio, the CDC withdrew its recommendation for Cipro for treating anthrax exposure in favor of other, safer antibiotics such as doxycycline, shown to be effective against anthrax exposure, and also much safer and less expensive.

Important Articles on FTS:

Mayo Clinic. Hall MM, Finnoff JT, Smith J. Musculoskeletal complications of fluoroquinolones: Guidelines and precautions for usage in the athletic population. PM & R (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) 2011,Feb;3(2):132 142.

Cohen JS. Peripheral Neuropathy with Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics. Annals of Pharmacotherapy 2001, Dec;35(12):1540 47.

Melhus A. Fluoroquinolones and tendon disorders. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety 2005 Mar;4(2):299 309.

Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ. The risk of fluoroquinolone induced tendinopathy and tendon rupture: What does the clinician need to know. Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic 2010, Apr;3(41):49 54.

Williams RJ, Attia E, et al. The effect of ciprofloxacin on tendon, paratendon, and capsular fibroblast metabolism. American Journal of Sports Medicine 2000, Jun;28:364 369.

Kaleagasioglu F, Olcay E. Fluoroquinolone induced tendinopathy: etiology and preventive measures. Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine 2012, 226:251-258.

Adikwu E, Brambaifa N. Ciprofloxacin induced chondrotoxicity and tendinopathy. American Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology 2012, Oct;7:94 100.

Tsai WC, Yang YM. Fluoroquinolone associated tendinopathy. Chang Gung Medical Journal 2011, Sep/Oct;34(5):461-7.

Khaliq Y, Zhanel GG. Musculoskeletal injury associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Clinical Plastic Surgery 2005, 32:495?502

Gürbay A, Gonthier B, Signorini-Allibe N, Barret L, Favier A, Hincal F. Ciprofloxacin induced DNA damage in primary culture of rat astrocytes and protection by Vitamin E. Neurotoxicology 2006 Jan;27(1):6-10.

Corps AN, Harrall RL, Curry VA, et al. Ciprofloxacin enhances the stimulation of matrix metalloproteinase 3 expression by interleukin1beta in human tendon derived cells. A potential mechanism of fluoroquinolone induced tendinopathy. Arthritis and Rheumatism 2002, Nov;46(11):3034-40.

Pouzaud F, Bernard B K, The M, et al. In vitro disinhibition of fluoroquinolones’ toxicity on tendon cells: involvement of oxidative stress. Journal of Pharmacology And Experimental Therapeutics 2003, Oct;308:402.

Shakibaei M, de Souza P, van Sickle D, Stahlmann R. Biochemical changes in Achilles tendon from juvenile dogs after treatment with ciprofloxacin or feeding a magnesium deficient diet. Archives of Toxicology 2001 Aug;75(6):369-74.

Biundo JJ Jr, Mipro RC Jr, Fahey P. Sports related and other soft tissue injuries, tendinitis, bursitis, and occupation related syndromes. Current Opinion in Rheumatology 1997, Mar;9(2):151-4.

Dr. Cohen is an Associate (Voluntary) Professor of Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, one of the top 20 universities in America. His work in the area of preventing medication side effects has been widely published and is recognized nationally. If you would like Dr. Cohen’s input on your EM, he is available for office or telephone consultations. He charges a fee for his time, just as he charges people with other medical conditions who come to his office or consult with him from around the world. For information, contact Leslie at 858-345-1760 or schle@att.net.
NOTE TO READERS: The purpose of this E-Letter is solely informational and educational. The information herein should not be considered to be a substitute for the direct medical advice of your doctor, nor is it meant to encourage the diagnosis or treatment of any illness, disease, or other medical problem by laypersons. If you are under a physician’s care for any condition, he or she can advise you whether the information in this E-Letter is suitable for you. Readers should not make any changes in drugs, doses, or any other aspects of their medical treatment unless specifically directed to do so by their own doctors.

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