New research indicates popular fluoroquinolone antibiotic medications like Levaquin, Avelox, and Cipro may increase the risks of aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection.

Antibiotic side effects are a concern for patients and medical experts, but these new complications further recent concerns regarding the risk and benefit ratio of fluoroquinolone medications.

A recent study published in the JAMA Internal Medicine medical journal on Oct. 05. 2015, indicated that fluoroquinolones may cause the body’s main artery to enlarge.

The research was conducted by researchers from National Taiwan University’s of Emergency Medicine, after analyzing thousands of patients who were hospitalized for either aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection.

The research team had compared 1,477 case patients against a control group of 147,700 from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database from January 2000 through December 2011.

The findings had further suggested Levaquin, Avelox, Cipro and other fluoroquinolones more than doubled the risk of aortic aneurysm.

Even though most incidents of aortic aneurysm have little to no symptoms, it can be potentially fatal if the aorta ruptures and causes internal bleeding.

“Use of fluoroquinolones was associated with an increased risk of aortic aneurysm and dissection. While these were rare events, physicians should be aware of this possible drug safety risk associated with fluoroquinolone therapy,” the researchers concluded.

Overview of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Side Effects

Antibiotic side effects have become an increasing concern for physicians due to the popularity of the drugs, as well as the severity of these complications

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can be prescribed to treat a variety of conditions, with the most common purposes including respiratory and urinary tract infections.

However, the use of fluoroquinolones has a much broader range, as over 20 million prescriptions are written per year to treat bacterial infections.

Cipro, Avelox, and Levaquin are some of the most popular in the drug family, with recent research suggesting these drugs and other fluoroquinolones may cause life threatening complications to the aorta.

Aortic dissection is when the inner layer of aorta tears, creating a life threatening internal bleeding injury. When the inner layer of the aorta tears, it allows blood to seep through the aortic wall and separate the inner layers inside the aorta. This can cause the aorta’s outer wall to rupture or leak, which is fatal if not treated in time.

Aortic aneurysm occurs when the aortic becomes enlarged, and most commonly forms in the abdomen.

With the new research that suggests these drugs may increase the risk for aortic dissection or aortic aneurysm, it has become a major concern for prescribing physicians.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic side effects have been associated with tendon ruptures for quite some time, leading researchers to question other complications relating to collagen.

According to medical research, these medications may be causing aortic complications in a similar manner the drugs allegedly weaken tendons.

Even though these are serious concerns, these aortic complications are not listed as antibiotic side effects on the drugs’ warning labels.

Patients who were injured by fluoroquinolone antibiotic side effects may be eligible to file legal action against the manufacturing company, and should consult a specialized lawyer.