FDA alert-Avoid CIPRO RX for Urinary Tract Infections, sinusitis, bronchitis if lesser drugs will su

LorettaMarshall

Good evening friends~

Today in my list of medical alerts, I see this article by the FDA released May 12, 2016. 

Now we are told that Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), should not be used to treat uncomplicated infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and urinary tract infections for which other drug types are effective.

Each one of us has, no doubt, have had CIPRO prescribed for our UTIs which are not uncommon with us.  This just makes me wonder about the drugs doctors prescribe for us.  After you read the article, there have been 25 comments which are also instructive.

Just thought I would post this, because I suspect most of us have been diagnosed with sinusitis, bronchitis or a urinary tract infection at some point in our lives.  CIPRO is an antibiotic commonly prescribed for UTIs.  It has certainly been prescribed for me.  Now I’ll have to ask the doctor to consider alternatives with less side effects when I get sick next time.

The last thing we need is a drug reaction from a strong drug to cure a common problem!

Loretta – Peritoneal Carcinomatosis/Ovarian Cancer Stage IV

NOTE:  IF YOU KEY IN MEDPAGETODAY.COM, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO VERIFY THE ARTICLE.  However, I just attempted to post it and got another SECURITY ERROR.  So the exact article is quoted below but without the web reference! 

"FDA: Avoid Cipro, Similar Drugs for Common Infections - Agency says risks outweigh benefits

byJohn Gever  - Managing Editor, MedPage Today

WASHINGTON -- Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, the class that includes ciprofloxacin (Cipro), should not be used to treat uncomplicated infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, and urinary tract infections for which other drug types are effective, the FDA announced Thursday.

Only patients with these conditions who can't be treated with other agents should receive fluoroquinolones, the agency said.

"An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e., tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects that can occur together. These side effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system," the FDA said.

Labels and medication guides for these agents will be updated to reflect the review's findings.

The FDA noted that it has had concerns about fluoroquinolones for these uses for many years, having included boxed warnings about the tendon risks in 2008, for example.

Last year, the agency convened an advisory committee meeting to review the risk-benefit balance for fluoroquinolones. The panel agreed that the balance was unfavorable for sinusitis, bronchitis, and other common conditions for which multiple treatment options exist." 

 

LorettaMarshall

Attempting to send web reference for above article separately

http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/GeneralInfectiousDisease/57872?isalert=1&uun=g67937d5025R5067363u&xid=NL_breakingnews_2016-05-12

 This is so aggravating.  When I included this link in my letter above, SECURITY ERROR, notice popped up.  Now I send it by itself and it posts.  Many of my letters will include a list of references for a particular subject.  While I'm not a doctor, I do know a bit about how to research info on the web, and like to share what I learn with friends who might benefit by it. 

 

Editgrl

Thanks for posting this.

I was given Cipro a couple of months ago in the ER for a kidney infection with a subsequent prescription for it orally.  It wasn't until a few days later when I was functioning well enough to read all the warnings that I came across the myriad of potentially serious issues.  Fortunately, to this date, I have not experienced any of those SE, though I had fairly significant stomach pain while on the medication.  I will never take it again unless it is the ONLY option.

Kaleena

Loretta:

They had given me this when I was getting stent changes (ureter stent) which had to be done every three months.   After about the 4th time and as I was waking up from the procedure, I had a reaction wherein my hands and feet were very itchy and I felt like indigestion in my chest.  Although I was still pretty out of it, I heard the tech say I was also getting blotchy so they gave me benedryl and from that time on I do not get that drug.

 

RandomHiker

Who is doing this?
I wonder why they are prescribing this so much these days. I have only had this prescribed for me for times when other drugs did not work. I have never had it prescribed for a UTI. When I took Cipro for bronchitis it was after they tried several other drugs which failed. And, once for sinusitis which did not respond to other drugs.

anicca

Especially avoid if you have neuropathy

If you have neuropathy from chemo treatments, this class of drugs can exacerbate it.  It was prescribed to me by an ENT.  I told him my history, and that I read that it could have a negative effect.  He replied that he did not think it would.  Idiot!  After 3 days, my neuropathy had regressed to the state it was six months prior.  Until then, it had been progressively lessening.  I called him and got a different prescription.  The bottom line, with all drugs, is that when you are between a rock and hard place, you are forced to choose among possible negative results.  Sinus infections and UTI's are not serious enough, in general to force one to take a drug with such known risks, particularly if you are able to take a different drug.