Fluoroquinolone toxicity on PBS Newshour

[Dawnmist]

This class of antibiotics is also known to have significant neurological side effects too. Small Fibre Neuropathy is one of those - I've spoken with many people who have daily full-body burning pain as a result of these antibiotics.

[irish]

The reason they use the Levoquin is because there is so much bacterial resistance to the old medications. The Zpak hardly does a thing anymore for most infections. Zpak is in the family of erythromycins and they are not working that well either. Most people don't realize that the antibiotics that work are not as good as it used to be. Doctors live in fear because if they start out with a weaker antibiotic and a person doesn't respond then they have to use the Levoquin and maybe it will be too late to knock out the infection......So, they will choose to use the levoquin first. If the person gets the side effects it is not good but the patient has beaten the infection. Hard choices to make. Irish

[Dawnmist]

I know. It's a rock-and-a-hard-place situation - but at least being aware of the issues means you have the opportunity to make an informed decision as to whether it is a risk you're willing to take, or whether you already have issues that mean you're likely to be more sensitive to certain side effects.

I'd try *very* hard to avoid them knowing about the neurological issues - I already have significant neurological damage due to Sjogren's and I really don't want to risk a side effect that can make that significantly worse when I know that I'm already "sensitive" to nerve issues. Someone else who has a lot of problems with connective tissue (especially someone with EDS or similar) would likely make a similar choice because they cannot afford the (increased to them) risk of tendon rupture.

[irish]

I had a lot of MRSA years ago and still run positive cultures but don't seem to get infections now. Knock on wood. I became allergic to all those antibiotics over the years and would do Cipro, which I am thinking I may be able to tolerate, but the Levoquin is the one that would knock the MRSA out. I started having central nervous symptoms such as dizziness and imbalance worse than from my Sjogrens and then I would get like my brain was irritated and I needed peace and quiet. My immunologist told me no more of that.

I have taken Doxycycline for years as that is the only antibiotic that is pretty much left for me and MRSA isn't touched by that anymore. Soooo, I sit and wait and just have faith that all will be well. If I get a bad infection then I will be getting IV antibiotics and my6 immunologist is not happy about that because of my propensity towards allergic reactions. Life with autoimmune disease!!!!!! Irish