Have you heard about the recent FDA warning about fluoroquinolones?

Here is My Question:
Have any of the doctors read the FDA recent warning regarding fluoroquinolones? I was a healthy 54 year old prior to Cipro and now am totally disabled by tendon rupture, small fiber neuropathy, nerve damage from an anesthetic block given to repair the tendon and finally multiple sclerosis. Neurodegenerative diseases have been linked according to the FDA. When will the neurological community think outside the box?

Answer:
Excellent point. For those of you who have not heard about this warning it was released on May 12, 2016 by the FDA.

I’ve attached a link to this advisory for those of you more interested.  
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm500143.htm


Common Flouroquinolones include

• ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
• levofloxacin (Levaquin/Quixin)
• gatifloxacin (Tequin)
• moxifloxacin (Avelox)
• ofloxacin (Ocuflox/Floxin/Floxacin)
• norfloxacin (Noroxin)

Generally, these antibiotics should only be used if there is no other choice. MS patients are often prescribed these medications for urinary tract infections. These antibiotics should only be prescribed for a UTI if they are the only antibiotic that the bacteria will respond to after culturing. 

Revere (Rip) Kinkel MD
Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Program
Director of Hillcrest Neurology
Professor of Clinical Neurosciences
University of California San Diego