niceshyguymiami

http://www.fqresearch.org/

This page has appeared receantly and this group needs to be made aware of it.
Most of the page is under construction but if you have an interest in
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics It appears that it is developing into a valuable
resource. If you have the time here is some interesting reading:

http://www.fqresearch.org/post_marketing_reports.htm

you can read real accounts from real people which will help you put the
following updated list of ADRs for Levaquin into perspective.

Of interest to me is the changes that have occured to the list of adverse
reactions to Levaquin since I took it back in 1999. The drug company is
covering its ass by posting the possible adverse reactions and the list is
long.

http://www.fqresearch.org/levofloxacin_adrs.htm

ADVERSE REACTIONS

diarrhea nausea , vaginitis, flatulence , pruritus, rash, abdominal pain,
genital moniliasis, dizziness , dyspepsia , insomnia , taste perversion ,
vomiting , anorexia , anxiety , constipation , edema , fatigue , headache ,
increased sweating , leukorrhea , malaise , nervousness , sleep disorders ,
tremor , urticaria, insomnia, dizziness, vomiting, abdominal pain , dyspepsia,
rash , vaginitis , flatulence , pruritus , pain , chest pain , back pain .
agitation, anorexia, anxiety, arthralgia, dry mouth, dyspnea, edema, fatigue,
fever, genital pruritus, increased sweating, nervousness, pharyngitis,
rhinitis, skin disorder, somnolence, taste perversion, cardia failure,
hypertension, leukorrhea, myocardial infarction, myalgia, purpura, tinnitus,
tremor, urticaria. abnormal coordination, abnormal dreaming, abnormal hepatic
function, abnormal platelets, abnormal renal function, abnormal vision, acute
renal failure, aggravated diabetes mellitus, aggressive reaction, anemia,
angina pectoris, ARDS, arrhythmia, arthritis, asthma, bradycardia, cardiac
arrest, cerebrovascular disorder, circulatory failure, coma, confusion,
convulsions (seizures), coronary thrombosis, delirium, depression, diplopia,
embolism-blood clot, emotionally lability, erythema nodosum, G.I. hemorrhage,
granulocytopenia, hallucination, heartblock, hepatic coma, hypoglycemia,
hypotension, impaired concentration, increased LDH, jaundice, leukocytosis,
leukopenia, lymphadenopathy, manic reaction, mental deficiency, muscle
weakness, pancreatitis, paralysis, paranoia, postural hypotension,
pseudomembranous colitis, rhabdomyolysis, sleep disorders, speech disorder,
stupor, syncope, tachycardia, tendinitis, thrombocytopenia, vertigo, weight
decrease, WBC abnormal not otherwise specified.

In immature rats and dogs, the oral and intravenous administration of
levofloxacin increased the incidence and severity of osteochondrosis. Other
fluoroquinolones also produce similar erosions in the weight bearing joints and
other signs of arthropathy in immature animals of various species.

Convulsions and toxic psychoses have been reported in patients receiving
quinolonas, including levofloxacin. Quinolones may also cause increased
intracranial pressure and central nervous system stimulation which may lead to
tremors, restlessness, anxiety, lightheadedness, confusion, hallucinations,
paranoia, depression, nightmares, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts or acts.
These reactions may occur following the first dose. If these reactions occur in
patients receiving levofloxacin, the drug should be discontinued and
appropriate measures instituted. As with other quinolones, levofloxacin should
be used with caution in patients with a known or suspected CNS disorder that
may predispose to seizures or lower the seizure threshold (e.g., severe
cerebral arteriosclerosis, epilepsy) or in the presence of other risk factors
that my predispose to seizures or lower the seizure threshold (e.g., certain
drug therapy, renal dysfunction.)

Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity and/or anaphylactic reactions
have been reported in patients receiving therapy with quinolones. These
reactions often occur following the first dose. Some reactions have been
accompanied by cardiovascular collapse, hypotension/shock, seizure, loss of
consciousness, tingling, angioedema (including tongue, laryngeal, throat, or
facial edema/swelling), airway obstruction (including bronchospasm, shortness
of breath, and acute respiratory distress), dyspnea, urticaria, itching, and
other serious skin reactions. Levofloxacin should be discontinued immediately
at the first appearance of a skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity.
Serious acute hypersensitivity reactions may require treatment with epinephrine
and other resuscitative measures, including oxygen, intravenous fluids,
antihistamines, corticosteroids, pressoramines, and airway management, as
clinically indicated.

Serious and sometimes fatal events, some due to hypersensitivity, and some due
to uncertain etiology, have been reported in patients receiving therapy with
quinolones. These events may be severe and generally occur following the
administration of multiple doses. Clinical manifestations may include one or
more of the following: fever, rash or severe dermatologic reactions (e.g.,
toxic epidermal necrotysis, Stevens-Johnson Syndrome); vasculitis; arthralgia;
myalgia; serum sickness; allergic pneumonitis; interstitial nephritis; acute
renal insufficiency or failure; hepatitis; jaundice; acute hepatic necrosis or
failure; anemia, including hemolytic and aplastic; thrombocytopenia, including
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura; leukopenia; agranulocytosis; pancytopenia;
and/or other hematologic abnormalities. The drug should be discontinued
immediately at the first appearance of a skin rash or any other sign of
hypersensitivity and supportive measures instituted.

Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, and Achilles tendons that required surgical
repair or resulted in prolonged disability have been reported in patients
receiving quinolones. Levofloxacin should be discontinued if the patient
experiences pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon. Patients should rest
and refrain from exercise until the diagnosis of tendinitis or tendon rupture
has been confidently excluded. Tendon rupture can occur during or after therapy
with quinolones, including levofloxacin.

As with other quinolones, levofloxacin should be used with caution in any
patient with a known or suspected CNS disorder that may predispose to seizures
or lower the seizure threshold (e.g., severe cerebral arteriosclerosis,
epilepsy) or in the presence of other risk factors that may predispose to
seizures of lower seizure threshold (e.g., certain drug therapy, renal
dysfunction).

As with other quinolones, disturbances of blood glucose, including symptomatic
hyper- and hypoglycemia, have been reported usually in diabetic patients
receiving concomitant treatment with an oral hypoglycemic agent (e.g.,
glyburide/glibenciamide) or with insulin. In these patients, careful monitoring
of blood glucose is recommended. If a hypoglycemic reaction occurs in a patient
being treated with lavofloxacin, levofloxacin should be discontinued
immediately and appropriate therapy should be initiated immediately.