Regulatory bodies worldwide do not always issue safety data and the side effects of fluoroquinolones, according to a study released by the University of Portsmouth, UK.  Researchers found that Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada don’t issue any warnings about the disabling effects of these widely-prescribed antibiotics. Fluoroquinolones have been associated with serious side effects including tendon ruptures, nervous system and psychiatric problems, aortic dissections and aneurysms.  

“What this paper does is examine the evidence that was used to make these policies in the first place and as a result call for a global harmonization of the safety warnings,” said Dr. Robert Baldock, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the university.  

“As adverse reactions can be diverse and underreported, one of the challenges is identifying the number of serous adverse events there are, or have been,” he added.  “So many patients who report chronic fatigue, pain or psychiatric problems either remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.”

The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes that these antibiotics potentially have a permanent toxicity and advise doctors not to prescribe them as a first line therapy or unless absolutely necessary.

Other authors include Dr. Cecilia Bove of York College, and Oscar Champigneulle, Linda Martin and Dr. Charles L. Bennett of the University of South Carolina.