The use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics has been linked to serious heart issues, according to a boxed warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Boxed warnings are placed on prescription drug labels to inform buyers about serious or life-threatening risks.
The agency first added a boxed warning to fluoroquinolones in 2008 because of the increased risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture associated with the drug.
Studies suggest that the body’s microbiome is composed of at least 39 trillion bacteria. While you're young, your family, dietary intake and environmental exposure contribute to the variety in your microbiome, which in turn affects your lifelong health.
Daily activities like eating, brushing your teeth, kissing someone and playing with your pet can also affect your microbiome.
The composition of your microbiome may be as unique as your fingerprint and has an important role in disease prevention. It also affects the function of your skin, lungs and liver.
Bad bacteria can cause illnesses that are frequently treated with antibiotics from Big Pharma. Of the 10 most commonly prescribed drugs, two are from the antibiotic class of fluoroquinolones.
The FDA included an additional warning in 2011 for people diagnosed with myasthenia gravis as updates were included in the 2013 Boxed Warning describing irreversible peripheral neuropathy.
By 2018, the FDA warned that fluoroquinolone antibiotics may increase the occurrence of ruptures or tears in the aorta.
In January 2022, the FDA announced that "fluoroquinolones should be reserved for use in patients with no other treatment options for acute bacterial sinusitis, or ABS, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis (ABECB), and uncomplicated UTI because the risks generally outweigh the benefits."
The agency added that for some severe serious bacterial infections, "the benefits of fluoroquinolones outweigh the risks, and it is appropriate for them to remain available as a therapeutic option."
But even with these warnings, researchers found in April 2022 that fluoroquinolones are still some of the most prescribed antibiotics globally.
This is likely due to some healthcare workers having "unsatisfactory knowledge" of the safety profiles and risks of fluoroquinolones. Hence more education on adverse reactions to these antibiotics may be necessary.
The aorta is the main artery in the human body that supplies oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. The artery comes from the left side of your heart and runs down the front of your backbone.
The FDA review revealed that fluoroquinolone antibiotics increase the risk of tears in the aorta -- also known as aortic dissections -- or ruptures of an aortic aneurysm, leading to excessive bleeding and even death.
The findings occurred when antibiotics were given by mouth or through an injection. In turn, FDA warned against the use of fluoroquinolones in those at risk, unless there are no other treatment options available.
Fluoroquinolones aren't recommended for people who are at risk of or have aortic aneurysm. These include people with hypertension, peripheral atherosclerotic vascular disease and specific genetic conditions, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome or Marfan syndrome.
The findings came from four published observational studies, which suggested a consistent link between aortic dissection or rupture and fluoroquinolone use. However, the underlying mechanism could not be determined from those studies.
Some of the commonly used fluoroquinolones include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin) and moxifloxacin (Avelox). These drugs are prescribed to treat upper respiratory and urinary tract infections.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics linked to other health issues
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics have been associated with Achilles tendon ruptures and damage for more than a decade. Other severe side effects, such as retinal detachments and aortic aneurysms, may also be associated with other systems requiring collagen formation.
This helps explain, at least in part, how fluoroquinolones increase the risk of aortic rupture or dissection, as collagen lines your arteries and veins to allow for stretch as the heart pumps blood.
In July 2022, the FDA issued another warning to inform physicians about the increased risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture linked to fluoroquinolones.
Dr. Renata Albrecht, who heads the FDA’s Division of Special Pathogen and Transplant Products, explained that Achilles’ ruptures linked to fluoroquinolones are at least three to four times more common than ruptures among people not taking the antibiotics.
If you are taking fluoroquinolones, seek immediate medical care if you experience soreness or inflammation in your muscles or tendons. Do not exercise while your joints are affected.
A study has also linked fluoroquinolones to the increasing number of children and adults suffering from kidney stones.
Data suggest that the odds of developing kidney stones increased 1.5 times with the use of fluoroquinolones while exposure within three to 12 months was associated with a greater risk. Experts warned that children and adolescents were particularly susceptible to kidney stones.
Reactions can occur throughout the body, impacting the central nervous system and musculoskeletal, visual and renal systems, sometimes simultaneously.
Other severe reactions reported include:
- Agitation
- Aortic rupture or dissection
- Delirium
- Disorientation
- Disturbance in attention
- Hearing loss and/or tinnitus
- Hypoglycemia leading to coma
- Kidney failure
- Kidney stones
- Memory impairment
- Retinal detachment
Strengthen your immune system to avoid the need for antibiotics
Having a strong immune system can help reduce the chance of microbes causing serious infections.
Here are some tips on how to support your immune system and prevent illness:
Balance your gut flora
You can support your gut health by incorporating naturally fermented foods into your diet. Start slow if you're not used to eating fermented foods and beverages like kefir, kimchi, kombucha, miso, natto, sauerkraut and tempeh.
Gut health is important for a healthy immune system because your gut is the main residence of your immune system. This means disrupting your gut microbiome automatically disrupts immune function, which can have many adverse consequences.
Follow a balanced diet
Avoid foods that can harm your immune system, such as fried foods, processed foods, sugars and trans fats.
Try to reduce your net carbohydrate (fructose and sugar) and protein intake and replace them with high-quality healthy fats. (Related: Choline: An essential nutrient for brain and heart health.)
Exercise regularly
Physical activity can help boost the circulation of immune cells in your blood, creating a more efficient system that locates and eliminates pathogens in your body.
If you are used to a sedentary lifestyle, plan a balanced fitness plan that incorporates weight training, high-intensity exercises, stretching and core work to improve your stamina, strength and overall health.
Get enough sleep
Studies show that sleep deprivation has the same effect on the immune system as physical stress or disease, which is why getting enough sleep is important for strong immune defenses.
Reduce stress
High levels of stress hormones can affect your immune health so try to manage your stress levels. Try relaxing activities like meditation or yoga if you are often anxious and stressed.
Optimize your vitamin D levels
Researchers say that inadequate vitamin D levels can increase your risk of various infections. The best source of vitamin D is through sensible sun exposure.
Monitor your vitamin D levels to confirm that they are in the therapeutic range of 60 to 80 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). If you can’t get sun exposure, consider taking an oral vitamin D3 supplement, along with magnesium and vitamin K2.
BadMedicine.news has more stories about the adverse effects of common prescription medications.
Watch the video below for more information on how antibiotics affect your gut microbiome.
This video is from the Wellness Forum Health channel on Brighteon.com.
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