Fluoroquinolones

One of the things that has recently complicated my life has been a prescription for Levofloxacin.  Levofloxacin is a member of the Fluoroquinolones family of drugs.  They're excellent at killing bacteria, but they carry very serious and dangerous side effects.  Two of the worst side effects are damage to the aorta and Achilles tendon rupture.  There has been a black box warning for the Achilles since 2008.  There's a long list of other bad things, but those are the two most significant.  The risk of damage increases with the age of the patient.  If you are over 60, your risk is increased.
Doctors like to prescribe these drugs because they work quickly on the bacteria (such as pneumonia) and then the patient feels better.  However, they're over prescribed.  My doctor did not say one word to me about the risks of this drug.  I was already aware from reading doctor blogs and discussing it with a couple of other docs I see, so I decided to take the risk because I was so sick.  It was a bad decision.  Four days after starting a low dose of Levofloxacin, the backs of my legs were giving me agony if I stood still for more than 60 seconds.  Walking is OK, standing is not.  I took 6 of the 7 pills and quit early, deciding I'd rather risk a super bug than hurt my legs anymore.  There is a lot of literature about these drugs on the internet, on reputable sites.

Here is one source, and there is another below, linked in the title.

What are Fluoroquinolones?

Fluoroquinolones (flurr-oh-QUINN-a-lones) are the most widely used type of antibiotic in the United States, and more than 26 million Americans take them in some form every year. Doctors prescribe them to treat a number of illnesses, including respiratory and urinary tract infections.
In some cases, these medications are life-saving, but they do harbor some serious side effects. Studies link these drugs to damage in the lining of the aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. Evidence suggests that fluoriquinolones can cause two kinds of damage to the aorta: dissection (tears) and aneurysms (bulging or enlargement). These conditions weaken the walls of the aorta and may lead to leaks or rupture which can be fatal.
These drugs are also linked to permanent, painful nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy and tendon ruptures that can leave people disabled.

There are six FDA-approved fluoroquinolones available in various brands and generic forms. This drug class makes up about 16.6 percent of the world market for antibiotics. The most popular antibiotics in the class are Cipro, Levaquin and Avelox. Medical experts expect the demand for antibacterial drugs to grow, and they estimate by 2019 the class will generate more than $7 billion in revenue for drug manufacturers.

Some doctors are better than others in discussing the risk/reward profile of a treatment.  If you become ill and your doctor wants to prescribe one of these drugs, have a conversation about it.  Ask if there is something less toxic you can take.  I'm now up being able to stand for about five minutes, but it still hurts.  I'm looking forward to getting the step stool out of the shower stall and showering standing up.  That's still not an option for me yet.  I know that challenging a doctor's order can be uncomfortable, but it's your body and your future.

Update to post.  Lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson continue.  Apparently they have known about the potential for peripheral neuropathy and the fact that it could be permanent since the mid 90s.  Any yet, they continued to push the drug.  Cipro and Avalox are also implicated.  Article is HERE.

Update to post 10/2/2023:  Good article here.