A group of antibiotics puts patients at a significant increased risk for developing permanent nerve damage, according to researchers.

Mahyar Etminan, a drug safety researcher at the University of B.C. in Canada, has spent significant time researching the link between peripheral neuropathy and the antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones. 

In his most recent study, Etminan looked at the medical records of nearly 1 million men between the ages of 45 and 80, focusing on men diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, and found that men using fluoroquinolones were twice as likely to experience peripheral nerve damage.

Etminan warns that due to the effectiveness of fluoroquinolones at treating bacterial infections, many physicians prescribe these medications even though other alternative treatments are available. He advises physicians and medical professionals to refrain from prescribing these drugs unless they have to.

Unfortunately, fluoroquinolones have also been linked to several serious side effects including liver disease, retinal detachment, and kidney disease.

“An Ontario group found a link with liver disease. We found a link with retinal detachment and kidney disease, and now peripheral neuropathy. These are pretty serious, nasty conditions compared with a more typical antibiotic, which might give you a couple of days of diarrhea,” Etminan said.

Peripheral neuropathy occurs when the nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body become damaged or destroyed. Peripheral nerves allow sensational signals to travel between the brain and body. Damage to these nerves can interrupt that communication, which may lead to impaired muscle movements, and cause pain.

Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include tingling or numbness of the hands and/or feet, burning pain, skin, hair or nail changes, extreme sensitivity to touch, burning pain, sharp, jabbing or electric pain, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, paralysis, heat intolerance, dizziness or lightheadedness, and bowel and bladder problems.

In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered all fluoroquinolone drug manufacturers to include warnings about the connection between the medication and peripheral neuropathy. This warning was the result of receiving several adverse health reports.

Fluoroquinolones are a common class of antibiotics prescribed throughout the United States. Typically the medication is used to treat infections such as urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, sinus infections, and several other types of bacteria infections.

Several brands of fluoroquinolones are levofloxacin (Levaquin), cirprofloxacin (Cipro), moxifloxacin (Avelox), norfloxacin (Noroxin), ofloxacin (Floxin), and gemifloxacin (Factive).

Quinolone Lawsuits

Patients who took fluoroquinolone antibiotics and suffered from nerve damage, paralysis, peripheral neuropathy, uveitis, pigment dispersion syndrome, retinal detachment and several other nerve injuries are filing quinolone lawsuits against major drug companies. Awards and settlements from these lawsuits may help victims pay for past and future medical bills as well as compensate them for the pain and suffering they were forced to endure.