Common antibiotic linked to serious, potentially-deadly side effects
May072015
Updated: 04/29/2015 6:50 PM | Created: 04/28/2015 9:56 PM
By: Chris Ramirez, KOB Eyewitness News 4
By: Chris Ramirez, KOB Eyewitness News 4
One of the most commonly-prescribed drugs in America is causing severe and painful reactions to hundreds of thousands of people taking it, according to research done by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and medical doctors around the country.
The line of antibiotics is called fluoroquinolones. They are more commonly referred to by their product names or sponsors, which are:
- Noroxin® (norfloxacin)—Merck and Co.
- Cirpo® Cipro XR® (ciprofloxacin)—Bayer HealthCare
- Levaquin® (levofloxacin)—Janssen Pharmaceuticals
- Avelox® (moxifloxican)—Bayer HealthCare
- Factive® (gemifloxican)—Cornerstone Therapeutics
- Ofloxacin—generic
“It was terrifying and heartbreaking,” Joanne said. “The pain was indescribable.”
Fluoroquinolones are like the bazookas in the arsenal of antibiotics. They are very strong and often doctors will prescribe them to treat minor infections. But it’s like using a cannon to kill a fly.
The potency of the pill sent Joanne’s body into what amounted to be years’ worth of pain. This is a list of just a few of the side effects Joanne says she experienced:
- Hair loss
- Constant ringing in her ears
- Retinal damage, leaving black spots in her vision
- Onset depression and anxiety
- Inability to swallow
- Intolerance to many foods
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
- Arrhythmia
- Painful joints and tendons
- Burning sensation on the skin
- Skin rashes and sores
- Muscle Atrophy
- Sudden seizures
Fluoroquinolones come with a long list of warnings, usually in small print accompanying the prescription.
Charles Bennett, M.D. is a leading researcher on fluoroquinolones. He spoke with KOB 4 from his office at the University of South Carolina.
“You’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people with a side effect,” Dr. Bennett said.
Dr. Bennett’s work in 2004 led the FDA to add a black box warning to fluoroquinolones. A black box warning is the highest level of a warning the FDA can add to a drug to encourage doctors and consumers to read the potential side effects.
Dr. Bennett is now petitioning the FDA to add another warning regarding possible mitochondrial toxicity. In short, mitochondrial toxicity is a breakdown of your body’s cells.
In April, 2013, the FDA released its own research findings that showed a link of fluoroquinolone usage to mitochondrial toxicity. The same report shows the toxicity could lead to neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and ALS.
“Would it be accurate to say that if you’re taking fluoroquinolones today, there could be a latent effect later in life…maybe 10, 15 years down the road?” asked 4 Investigates Reporter Chris Ramirez.
“That’s a very important question,” answered Dr. Bennett. “We’ve seen a delayed onset of people who use the drug, then have toxicity that we would potentially associate with the drug. But to verify these latent toxicities, it will take a tremendous amount of science. But that is our working hypothesis.”
Joanne, who is a normally a private person, is stepping out of her comfort zone and taking on an advocacy role to encourage the FDA to add the mitochondrial toxicity warning to fluoroquinolones. She also shared her story in the hopes it would encourage more dialogue between physicians and their patients about drug side effects.
She hopes patients have the courage to question their doctors about any kind of treatment they prescribe. And Joanne hopes people know—no one knows your body like you do, not even your doctor.
- WATCH: Part 2 of the series, which includes more information from Joanne and some response from viewers and social media users.
- Part 3 of the series, in which a man talks about the terrible side effects of using Cipro®, which left him in a wheelchair.
Source: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S3780256.shtml#.VUjvBJPLJfT
,
that “propaganda is the executive arm of the invisible government.”
This can be seen most clearly in the modern police state and the growing
citizen 
,
wrapped up in the pseudo-patriotic War on Terror. The increasing
consolidation of media has enabled the entire corporate structure to
merge with government, which now utilizes the concept of
and come to any other conclusion. Predictive programming has its
origins in predominately elitist Hollywood, where the big screen can
offer a big vision of where society is headed. Just look back at the
books and movies which you thought were far-fetched, or “science
fiction” and take a close look around at society today. For a detailed
breakdown of specific examples,
. Today, it has been taken to even further extremes as a 
as the testing ground for mind control. The military mind is perhaps
the most malleable, as those who pursue life in the military generally
resonate to the structures of hierarchy, control, and the need for
unchallenged obedience to a mission. For the increasing number of
military personal questioning their indoctrination, a recent story
highlighted DARPA’s plans for 
