Patients taking popular fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Cipro may not realize that certain Cipro side effects may be very severe and even deadly.

Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a drug in the fluoroquinolone family, a class of antibiotics that hit the market in the late 1980s. Cipro treats common bacterial infections such as those in the respiratory and urinary tract, sexually transmitted infections and others.

Cipro complications can manifest themselves in many different ways throughout the body. The more that fluoroquinolone antibiotics are used, the more researchers are finding out that Cipro side effects may be worse than the conditions the drug aims to treat.

Cipro Side Effects

Nerve damage in the form of peripheral neuropathy is one of the major Cipro side effects.Peripheral neuropathy causes patients to have pain, tingling, numbness, burning and weakness in the outer extremities of the body.

Several years ago, the FDA issued a warning that Cipro could cause irreversible nerve damage to patients in the form of peripheral neuropathy.

Tendon rupture was also recognized as one of many Cipro side effects. The most common site for tendon rupture is the Achilles tendon, which typically only ruptures with extreme stress from running or jumping.

However, tendon rupture as a result of Cipro complications typically did not require excessive force to cause the tendon to rupture.

Retinal detachment has also been reported in the list of Cipro complications. Retinal detachment due to fluoroquinolone use was only recently discovered in 2012 as being linked to Cipro.

Retinal detachment occurs when the retina, a thin layer of tissue, pulls away from its normal position on the wall of the back of the eye. If not treated immediately, retinal detachment may lead to blindness.

Aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection are two other serious conditions that have recently been linked as Cipro side effects.

Aortic aneurysm occurs when the wall of the main artery, called the aorta, begins to weaken and causes the artery to bulge out. Due to the weakening in the wall of the artery, there is an increased risk of rupture in this area. If not treated immediately, an aortic aneurysm may be fatal.

Aortic dissection is a condition where the inner lining of the aorta tears. The blood then begins to flow within the torn lining, forcing the layers apart even more. Without treatment, approximately 80% of people will die within the first two weeks.

Patients who experience any of these Cipro side effects should seek immediate medical attention, especially since retinal detachment, aortic aneurysm, and aortic dissection are all considered a medical emergency. Delaying diagnosis and subsequent treatment may results in fatal outcomes.

Filing a Cipro Side Effects Lawsuit

If you or a loved one has suffered severe Cipro side effects such as an aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection, or experienced other severe Cipro complications, you may be able to seek legal compensation for your condition.

An experienced Cipro attorney can review your case at no charge and can help you determine if filing a Cipro lawsuit is right for you.