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Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy by 47%

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Posted 5/14/2019 11:06 AM (GMT -8)
https://neurosciencenews.com/antibiotics-nerve-damage-13083/?fbclid=iwar1drcfmdtmcjhc9c2ebroglkasiuxttsdvojurxahh0d-oncxhebfj1dys

Common antibiotic may increase nerve damage and peripheral neuropathy risk


Summary: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics, such as Levofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin, appear to increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy by 47%. However, there is no significant increased risk of developing neuropathy associated with amoxicillin use.



Research from the University of Dundee has shown that a commonly used class of antibiotics may increase a patient’s risk of suffering a serious and potentially permanent form of nerve damage by almost 50%.
Posted 5/14/2019 11:10 AM (GMT -8)
We knew it was a risk (per black box warning) BUT 47%?? Wow


Although the warning does say it may or may not be permanent.

Considering this plus the other B.B. warnings it has - I would certainly pause before taking these abx.

I declined them when offered at the J clinic. Well actually I spoke up before the NP brought the subject up.
Posted 5/14/2019 11:34 AM (GMT -8)
My medical file for years has shown that I have an “allergy” to this family of antibiotics. I was given Cipro (name brand) via IV after surgery years ago without my knowledge. Afterwards, I developed neuropathy in my left foot. Imagine a live bee inside your foot! That was the sensation. A horrible buzzing that would jolt me as if I had been zapped by electricity. It was like something out of a B-rated Sci-Fi movie! I searched the internet and found groups of people who were damaged by this drug. So many people that the FDA issued the black box warning. Initially, the worst reaction to this drug was for spontaneous snapping tendons. Just recently, neuropathy has been added to the black box warning.

As a runner, I would be horrified to experience snapping tendons! People have been crippled for life! I was lucky that my neuropathy, induced by Cipro, resolved in about six months. I would only use this drug if I was dying.
Posted 5/14/2019 12:10 PM (GMT -8)

cyclinglady said...
My medical file for years has shown that I have an “allergy” to this family of antibiotics. I was given Cipro (name brand) via IV after surgery years ago without my knowledge. Afterwards, I developed neuropathy in my left foot. Imagine a live bee inside your foot! That was the sensation. A horrible buzzing that would jolt me as if I had been zapped by electricity. It was like something out of a B-rated Sci-Fi movie! .

You must not have Lyme disease... as the buzzing (anywhere in the body) is a common symptom of Lyme disease and coinfections.

And that makes it really difficult to determine if you’ve been floxed...or if it’s another lyme symptom.
Posted 5/14/2019 12:13 PM (GMT -8)
The B.B. warning of neuropathy isn’t recent - I believe it was 2016

Altogether I think there are 4 different B.B. warnings on the fluorquinolones now...
Too bad they’re the most effective against Bartonella
Posted 5/14/2019 12:16 PM (GMT -8)
There are now 4:

- tendon rupture
- peripheral neuropathy (that may be permanent
- CNS effects
- worsening of Myasthenia Gravis
Posted 5/14/2019 12:36 PM (GMT -8)
ive had peripheral neuropathy due to lyme long before i started taking cipro.

all abx have potential bad side effects. after 9m of mino i now have permanent staining of teeth and spots around eyes.... its been one year and they are still there...

u need to weight in the risks. abx helped me a lot, i have no doubts ive done the right thing taking them...
Posted 5/14/2019 2:06 PM (GMT -8)

mpost said...
ive had peripheral neuropathy due to lyme long before i started taking cipro.

all abx have potential bad side effects. after 9m of mino i now have permanent staining of teeth and spots around eyes.... its been one year and they are still there...

u need to weight in the risks. abx helped me a lot, i have no doubts ive done the right thing taking them...

Yes, I had neuropathy as one of my symptoms as well.
If you didn’t have the neuropathy prior to treating though - and started Cipro and it started - then how would you know if it was a herx from the infection or a side effect from the Cipro?

Yes all abx have side effects but some are more serious than others and if the fda puts a BB warning on them - then it’s one of those.

I wouldn’t say that staining of the teeth or spots around the eyes are on the same level as permanent neuropathy or CNS issues though.
If you go to the floxy site you will see story after story of people whose lives are ruined from being floxed.

And yes - you’re so right - you need to weigh the risks - lyme and co’s is no picnic and can also be destructive and ruin people’s lives.

Dr J still prescribes it - and obviously he thinks the benefits outweigh the risks.
Posted 5/15/2019 12:51 AM (GMT -8)
The 47% increase in peripheral neuropathy is an increase from 2.4 patients in 10,000 to 3.5 patients per 10,000. It is still a very low number and the length of treatment along with higher dosages seem to be a major player in determining neuropathy. The number of patients getting peripheral neuropathy from a regular 10 day course of fluoroquinolones is 1 in 152,983. This is directly from the article.

Other factors come into play as well such as drug lipophilicity, patient magnesium levels, and patient hydration status. If you are adequately hydrated and have amble magnesium levels, fluoroquinolone treatment will cause much less side effects.
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