Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

[Guest guest]

Once more, Chuck is correct ;-)

The issue of the risk of Levaquin/Cipro causing tendon rupture is real.

However, as far as I have been able to determine, there is no way

a patient or doctor can predetermine the risk for an individual.

It appears that, although a real risk, the odds of it occurring are

very low. See the note below.

The modern Rx warning inserts in the drug package

describe this potential problem. If you don't have the warning

material, ask your pharmacist for it.

For over 7 years I've been periodically (one to as much as three

times per year) taking Leviquin to deal with recurring chronic

prostatitis. 500 mg, 1/day, for 20 to 30 days.. About three times

in that period I had to start the treatment with 750 mg Leviquin

or Cipro. Thus far I have had no symptoms of tendon problems.

Current age 68, no steroids, heart, lung, or liver problems.

If one has concerns about this apparently infrequent, but

serious should it occur, side effect of fluoroquinolones,

it certainly should be discussed with the prescribing doctor.

Chuck's first link includes the following:

------------------------------

Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN®, are associated with an increased risk

of tendon rupture or swelling of the tendon (tendinitis) in all ages. This

risk is higher if you are over 60 years of age, are taking steroids

(corticosteroid drugs), or if you have kidney, heart, or lung transplants.

a.. Tendon rupture can happen while you are taking LEVAQUIN® or up to

several months after you have finished taking it. Call your healthcare

professional right away at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or

inflammation

b.. Get medical help right away if you hear or feel a snap or pop, have

severe pain, rapid or immediate bruising after an accident, or are unable to

use the affected area

c.. Stop taking LEVAQUIN® until tendinitis or tendon rupture have been

ruled out by your healthcare provider and avoid exercise and using the

affected area

-------------------------------

The Best to You and Yours!

Jon in Nevada

--------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:48:09 -0500

Subject: [seedPods] Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Levaquin or Cipro for example

To: " 'newdx' " ,

,

,

" 'SeedPods' " ,

,

<advancedprostatecancer >,

<ProstateCancerSupport >

To All,

The spouse of a PC patient prescribed Levaquin reported that her husband

experienced Tendon Rupture as the result of being prescribed this

antibiotic.

In checking this side effect, I found that this is not an uncommon side

effect, among several other side effects, when being prescribed most any

fluoroquinolones - that includes Cipro, another antibiotic often prescribed

patients to determine, for example, if a urinary infection is causing a rise

in PSA.

Accordingly, I would caution ALL patients, when prescribed any antibiotic,

to both ask their physician as well as their pharmacist of the side effects

that might occur from the administration of the medication. Please review

the following:

http://www.levaquin.com/levaquin/about_levaquin_effects-levaquin.html

It appears that when a patient picks up his prescription of any

fluoroquinolones from his pharmacy a warning regarding tendon rupture and

other side effects should be provided with the prescription.

Please read the warning that is included regarding both Levaquin and Cipro

side effects on the internet drug index " RxList: "

http://www.rxlist.com/levaquin-drug.htm

http://www.rxlist.com/cipro-drug.htm

Chuck

[Guest guest]

It took literally years and a lawsuit against the FDA of all things to get them to put the black box warning on the package. Which tells you that even with the evidence before them, the FDA refused to do it. They had to be sued. With that kind of reluctance on their part in view of all of the evidence, it leaves one wondering what else is going on at the FDA , drugs that they have approved, for which they are not being sued. The people who sued them said that many times they go after the FDA it is to remove dangerous drugs from the market. I mean what kind of public agency is this where you have to actually get lawyers to sue them before they will act on the evidence as they did here in this case? They knew for years what these drugs were doing

but refused to warn the public until they were forced to in a lawsuit. To me this is more than just troubling.

I have my own problems years ago when I was prescribed Hizsmonol , an antihistimine. People were having seizures and heart attacks left and right before they pulled it from the market and it was a new drug. I had a seizure myself and my doctor never informed me as to what was going on and there was no internet back then. I had to find out by chance through another allergy sufferer. Personally, I don't trust the FDA and probably never will. When they removed Red Yeast Rice from the market some years ago they actually said they did so to protect the patent of some drug company that had a drug that was identical to it. Which seemed rather odd to me since you are not supposed to be able to patent compunds that exist in nature in the first place. Rather than pull the patent, they instead banned the importation of Red Rice Yeast and

openly admitted why they were doing so. They were again sued and had to lift the ban when a court ordered them to do so. Again, what kind of government agency is this and in whose interests are they working? We need our politicians to have some serious discussions about the mission and behaviour of the employees of this agency as it seems at least to me that they are not necessarily working on our side of the playing field.

BOB

----- Forwarded Message -----To: seedpods@...; newdx ; iceballs ; ProstateCancerSupport <ProstateCancerSupport >Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 1:27 PMSubject: Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Once more, Chuck is correct ;-)The issue of the risk of Levaquin/Cipro causing tendon rupture is real.However, as far as I have been able to determine, there is no waya patient or doctor can predetermine the risk for an individual.It appears that, although a real risk, the odds of it occurring arevery low. See the note below.The modern Rx warning inserts in the drug packagedescribe this potential problem. If you don't have the warningmaterial, ask your pharmacist for it.For over 7 years I've been periodically (one to as much as threetimes per year) taking Leviquin to deal with recurring chronicprostatitis. 500 mg, 1/day, for 20 to 30 days.. About three timesin that period I had to start the treatment with 750 mg Leviquinor Cipro. Thus far I have had no symptoms of tendon problems.Current age 68, no steroids, heart, lung, or liver problems.If one has concerns about this

apparently infrequent, butserious should it occur, side effect of fluoroquinolones,it certainly should be discussed with the prescribing doctor.Chuck's first link includes the following:------------------------------Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN®, are associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or swelling of the tendon (tendinitis) in all ages. This risk is higher if you are over 60 years of age, are taking steroids (corticosteroid drugs), or if you have kidney, heart, or lung transplants.a.. Tendon rupture can happen while you are taking LEVAQUIN® or up to several months after you have finished taking it. Call your healthcare professional right away at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammationb.. Get medical help right away if you hear or feel a snap or pop, have severe pain, rapid or immediate bruising after an accident, or are unable to use the

affected areac.. Stop taking LEVAQUIN® until tendinitis or tendon rupture have been ruled out by your healthcare provider and avoid exercise and using the affected area-------------------------------The Best to You and Yours!Jon in Nevada----------------------------------------------------------Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:48:09 -0500Subject: [seedPods] Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -Levaquin or Cipro for exampleTo: "'newdx'" ,,"'SeedPods'" ,<advancedprostatecancer >,<ProstateCancerSupport >To All,The spouse of a PC patient prescribed Levaquin reported that her husbandexperienced Tendon Rupture as the result of being prescribed thisantibiotic.In checking this side effect, I found that this is not an uncommon sideeffect, among several other side effects, when being prescribed most anyfluoroquinolones - that includes Cipro, another antibiotic often prescribedpatients to determine, for example, if a urinary infection is causing a risein PSA.Accordingly, I would caution ALL

patients, when prescribed any antibiotic,to both ask their physician as well as their pharmacist of the side effectsthat might occur from the administration of the medication. Please reviewthe following:http://www.levaquin.com/levaquin/about_levaquin_effects-levaquin.htmlIt appears that when a patient picks up his prescription of anyfluoroquinolones from his pharmacy a warning regarding tendon rupture andother side effects should be provided with the prescription.Please read the warning that is included regarding both Levaquin and Ciproside effects on the internet drug index "RxList:"http://www.rxlist.com/levaquin-drug.htmhttp://www.rxlist.com/cipro-drug.htmChuck

[Guest guest]

It took literally years and a lawsuit against the FDA of all things to get them to put the black box warning on the package. Which tells you that even with the evidence before them, the FDA refused to do it. They had to be sued. With that kind of reluctance on their part in view of all of the evidence, it leaves one wondering what else is going on at the FDA , drugs that they have approved, for which they are not being sued. The people who sued them said that many times they go after the FDA it is to remove dangerous drugs from the market. I mean what kind of public agency is this where you have to actually get lawyers to sue them before they will act on the evidence as they did here in this case? They knew for years what these drugs were doing

but refused to warn the public until they were forced to in a lawsuit. To me this is more than just troubling.

I have my own problems years ago when I was prescribed Hizsmonol , an antihistimine. People were having seizures and heart attacks left and right before they pulled it from the market and it was a new drug. I had a seizure myself and my doctor never informed me as to what was going on and there was no internet back then. I had to find out by chance through another allergy sufferer. Personally, I don't trust the FDA and probably never will. When they removed Red Yeast Rice from the market some years ago they actually said they did so to protect the patent of some drug company that had a drug that was identical to it. Which seemed rather odd to me since you are not supposed to be able to patent compunds that exist in nature in the first place. Rather than pull the patent, they instead banned the importation of Red Rice Yeast and

openly admitted why they were doing so. They were again sued and had to lift the ban when a court ordered them to do so. Again, what kind of government agency is this and in whose interests are they working? We need our politicians to have some serious discussions about the mission and behaviour of the employees of this agency as it seems at least to me that they are not necessarily working on our side of the playing field.

BOB

----- Forwarded Message -----To: seedpods@...; newdx ; iceballs ; ProstateCancerSupport <ProstateCancerSupport >Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 1:27 PMSubject: Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Once more, Chuck is correct ;-)The issue of the risk of Levaquin/Cipro causing tendon rupture is real.However, as far as I have been able to determine, there is no waya patient or doctor can predetermine the risk for an individual.It appears that, although a real risk, the odds of it occurring arevery low. See the note below.The modern Rx warning inserts in the drug packagedescribe this potential problem. If you don't have the warningmaterial, ask your pharmacist for it.For over 7 years I've been periodically (one to as much as threetimes per year) taking Leviquin to deal with recurring chronicprostatitis. 500 mg, 1/day, for 20 to 30 days.. About three timesin that period I had to start the treatment with 750 mg Leviquinor Cipro. Thus far I have had no symptoms of tendon problems.Current age 68, no steroids, heart, lung, or liver problems.If one has concerns about this

apparently infrequent, butserious should it occur, side effect of fluoroquinolones,it certainly should be discussed with the prescribing doctor.Chuck's first link includes the following:------------------------------Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN®, are associated with an increased risk of tendon rupture or swelling of the tendon (tendinitis) in all ages. This risk is higher if you are over 60 years of age, are taking steroids (corticosteroid drugs), or if you have kidney, heart, or lung transplants.a.. Tendon rupture can happen while you are taking LEVAQUIN® or up to several months after you have finished taking it. Call your healthcare professional right away at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammationb.. Get medical help right away if you hear or feel a snap or pop, have severe pain, rapid or immediate bruising after an accident, or are unable to use the

affected areac.. Stop taking LEVAQUIN® until tendinitis or tendon rupture have been ruled out by your healthcare provider and avoid exercise and using the affected area-------------------------------The Best to You and Yours!Jon in Nevada----------------------------------------------------------Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:48:09 -0500Subject: [seedPods] Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -Levaquin or Cipro for exampleTo: "'newdx'" ,,"'SeedPods'" ,<advancedprostatecancer >,<ProstateCancerSupport >To All,The spouse of a PC patient prescribed Levaquin reported that her husbandexperienced Tendon Rupture as the result of being prescribed thisantibiotic.In checking this side effect, I found that this is not an uncommon sideeffect, among several other side effects, when being prescribed most anyfluoroquinolones - that includes Cipro, another antibiotic often prescribedpatients to determine, for example, if a urinary infection is causing a risein PSA.Accordingly, I would caution ALL

patients, when prescribed any antibiotic,to both ask their physician as well as their pharmacist of the side effectsthat might occur from the administration of the medication. Please reviewthe following:http://www.levaquin.com/levaquin/about_levaquin_effects-levaquin.htmlIt appears that when a patient picks up his prescription of anyfluoroquinolones from his pharmacy a warning regarding tendon rupture andother side effects should be provided with the prescription.Please read the warning that is included regarding both Levaquin and Ciproside effects on the internet drug index "RxList:"http://www.rxlist.com/levaquin-drug.htmhttp://www.rxlist.com/cipro-drug.htmChuck

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> It took literally years and a lawsuit against the FDA of all

> things to get them to put the black box warning on the package.

> Which tells you that even with the evidence before them, the

> FDA refused to do it. They had to be sued. With that kind of

> reluctance on their part in view of all of the evidence, it

> leaves one wondering what else is going on at the FDA , drugs

> that they have approved, for which they are not being sued. The

> people who sued them said that many times they go after the FDA

> it is to remove dangerous drugs from the market. I mean what

> kind of public agency is this where you have to actually get

> lawyers to sue them before they will act on the evidence as

> they did here in this case? They knew for years what these

> drugs were doing but refused to warn the public until they were

> forced to in a lawsuit. To me this is more than just troubling.

It is my impression that all of the regulatory agencies in the US

are always under siege by the companies they regulate.  Whether

and how much they give in to those companies varies with the

changing agency directors, the administration in power, the

influence of congressmen and senators who are lobbied by the

companies to pressure the FDA, the position taken by the courts,

and the activity of citizens.

I think that the scientists and technical people at the FDA are

mostly committed to good science and safe drugs.  However they

sometimes get leaned on from the top and are forced to do things

that they wouldn't necessarily do if there were no political

constraints.

It's a tough problem and it seems to have gotten worse over the

last 20 or 30 years as anti-regulation and free market health

care have become articles of faith in American politics.

> I have my own problems years ago when I was prescribed

> Hizsmonol , an antihistimine. People were having seizures and

> heart attacks left and right before they pulled it from the

> market and it was a new drug. I had a seizure myself and my

> doctor never informed me as to what was going on and there was

> no internet back then.

Sorry about your bad experience.  I think very few doctors

actually read the labels for the drugs they prescribe.  They

listen to the sales pitch and read the brochures from the

companies and that's about it.

It's amazing that most doctors who prescribe Lupron don't seem to

know that joint pain is a common side effect.  IIRC, the label

says very clearly that 33% of patients taking the drug for a

significant period had that side effect.  I only discovered it

after researching what could have caused my joint pain.

I also had a bad reaction to Flomax that the doctors said they

had not seen before, not heard of, and didn't initially think

that it was caused by the drug - until they actually read the

label and saw that it was a clearly identified side effect.  And

these were good doctors at the NCI Clinical Center - better than

a lot of docs in the community.

Ah well, I continue to believe that people will look back on this

period as a time of very primitive medicine.

    Alan

[Guest guest]

Alan Meyer wrote:

It's amazing that most doctors who prescribe Lupron don't seem to

know that joint pain is a common side effect. IIRC, the label

says very clearly that 33% of patients taking the drug for a

significant period had that side effect. I only discovered it

after researching what could have caused my joint pain.

Let this also be a reminder to go back and

check up on your side effects after being on a medication for a while. I have

been bugged by joint pain for the past year and have been wondering what it was

maybe it was the cancer metathasizing in my bones some where. I am sure I read

this when I first went on Lupron but wasn’t experiencing that symptom. I

guess I will find out when I go on my vacation (I hope) in November.

[Guest guest]

Larry Helber wrote:

>> Alan Meyer wrote:

>>

>> It's amazing that most doctors who prescribe Lupron don't seem to

>> know that joint pain is a common side effect.  IIRC, the label

>> says very clearly that 33% of patients taking the drug for a

>> significant period had that side effect.  I only discovered it

>> after researching what could have caused my joint pain.

> Let this also be a reminder to go back and check up on your

> side effects after being on a medication for a while.  I have

> been bugged by joint pain for the past year and have been

> wondering what it was maybe it was the cancer metathasizing in

> my bones some where.  I am sure I read this when I first went

> on Lupron but wasn’t experiencing that symptom.  I guess I will

> find out when I go on my vacation (I hope) in November.

In my case, and in at least one other case I know about, the

joint pain was in the small joints - fingers and toes.

Metastasis is often in the large joints - especially the back and

hips.

If you've got pain and stiffness in the fingers and " trigger

finger " , and if it's worst when you get up in the morning, that

sounds like a Lupron side effect.  I was able to completely

control it with the following practices:

1. Sleep with my hands balled up into fists.  They got less stiff

that way.

2. Relieve the pain and stiffness with alternating hot and cold

water.  Either hot or cold works.  Alternating them seemed to

work best of all.

3. Eliminate the stiffness with exercise.  Do LOTS of hand

exercises of every type.  Squeezing a rubber ball or hand grip

exerciser works great.  Pressing fingers against each other.

Squeezing and relaxing your hands on the steering wheel while you

drive.  Any exercises that build strength and flexibility seemed

to help.  Don't overdo it, but do as much as you can, many times

per day.

However, if the pain is in your spine or hips, talk to your

doctor about getting help.  A bone scan will show whether the

pain is due to metastasis or some other problem.  If it is a

metastasis, targeted radiation can help a lot in relieving it and

preventing it from growing worse.  Pain killing drugs can also

help.

Best of luck.

    Alan

[Guest guest]

Most of it has been down in my feet and

usually in the evening. I have hip pain but it has been xrayed by the

oncologist and at least it is negative. Usually stretching the muscles in

my feet help to make it go away.

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Alan Meyer

Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011

12:01 PM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: Re:

Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Larry

Helber

wrote:

>> Alan Meyer wrote:

>>

>> It's amazing that most doctors who prescribe Lupron don't seem to

>> know that joint pain is a common side effect. IIRC, the label

>> says very clearly that 33% of patients taking the drug for a

>> significant period had that side effect. I only discovered it

>> after researching what could have caused my joint pain.

> Let this also be a reminder to go back and check up on your

> side effects after being on a medication for a while. I have

> been bugged by joint pain for the past year and have been

> wondering what it was maybe it was the cancer metathasizing in

> my bones some where. I am sure I read this when I first went

> on Lupron but wasn’t experiencing that symptom. I guess I will

> find out when I go on my vacation (I hope) in November.

In my case, and in at least one other case I know about, the

joint pain was in the small joints - fingers and toes.

Metastasis is often in the large joints - especially the back and

hips.

If you've got pain and stiffness in the fingers and " trigger

finger " , and if it's worst when you get up in the morning, that

sounds like a Lupron side effect. I was able to completely

control it with the following practices:

[Guest guest]

You can ask a doctor about it Larry, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's unrelated either to the cancer or the Lupron. It may just be that you need different shoes or perhaps shoe inserts, or that you're standing on your feet a lot and the feet are getting tired. --Alan Meyerameyer2@...From: Larry Helber To:

ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 4:29 PMSubject: RE: Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Most of it has been down in my feet and

usually in the evening. I have hip pain but it has been xrayed by the

oncologist and at least it is negative. Usually stretching the muscles in

my feet help to make it go away.

From:

ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:

ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Alan Meyer

Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011

12:01 PM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: Re:

Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Larry

Helber

wrote:

>> Alan Meyer wrote:

>>

>> It's amazing that most doctors who prescribe Lupron don't seem to

>> know that joint pain is a common side effect. IIRC, the label

>> says very clearly that 33% of patients taking the drug for a

>> significant period had that side effect. I only discovered it

>> after researching what could have caused my joint pain.

> Let this also be a reminder to go back and check up on your

> side effects after being on a medication for a while. I have

> been bugged by joint pain for the past year and have been

> wondering what it was maybe it was the cancer metathasizing in

> my bones some where. I am sure I read this when I first went

> on Lupron but wasn’t experiencing that symptom. I guess I will

> find out when I go on my vacation (I hope) in November.

In my case, and in at least one other case I know about, the

joint pain was in the small joints - fingers and toes.

Metastasis is often in the large joints - especially the back and

hips.

If you've got pain and stiffness in the fingers and "trigger

finger", and if it's worst when you get up in the morning, that

sounds like a Lupron side effect. I was able to completely

control it with the following practices:

[Guest guest]

You can ask a doctor about it Larry, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's unrelated either to the cancer or the Lupron. It may just be that you need different shoes or perhaps shoe inserts, or that you're standing on your feet a lot and the feet are getting tired. --Alan Meyerameyer2@...From: Larry Helber To:

ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 4:29 PMSubject: RE: Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Most of it has been down in my feet and

usually in the evening. I have hip pain but it has been xrayed by the

oncologist and at least it is negative. Usually stretching the muscles in

my feet help to make it go away.

From:

ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:

ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Alan Meyer

Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011

12:01 PM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject: Re:

Re: Warning regarding antibiotic fluoroquinolones -

Larry

Helber

wrote:

>> Alan Meyer wrote:

>>

>> It's amazing that most doctors who prescribe Lupron don't seem to

>> know that joint pain is a common side effect. IIRC, the label

>> says very clearly that 33% of patients taking the drug for a

>> significant period had that side effect. I only discovered it

>> after researching what could have caused my joint pain.

> Let this also be a reminder to go back and check up on your

> side effects after being on a medication for a while. I have

> been bugged by joint pain for the past year and have been

> wondering what it was maybe it was the cancer metathasizing in

> my bones some where. I am sure I read this when I first went

> on Lupron but wasn’t experiencing that symptom. I guess I will

> find out when I go on my vacation (I hope) in November.

In my case, and in at least one other case I know about, the

joint pain was in the small joints - fingers and toes.

Metastasis is often in the large joints - especially the back and

hips.

If you've got pain and stiffness in the fingers and "trigger

finger", and if it's worst when you get up in the morning, that

sounds like a Lupron side effect. I was able to completely

control it with the following practices: