What I Want People To Know About Fluoroquinolone Toxicity

Explaining fluoroquinolone toxicity can be challenging. At Quinolone Vigilance Foundation, we hear from many people who are affected by fluoroquinolones, and many of us within the foundation have been affected ourselves.

We have compiled some information that we “floxies” want you to know about Fluoroquinolone Toxicity.



Everyone is different

• The adverse reactions run the spectrum. What one person experiences can vary greatly from someone else.

Physical and emotional toll

• Fluoroquinolone toxicity can steal my self worth every day. It keeps me from things I enjoy and things I need to do.

• My “good” days are not the same as your good days. In my world, a good day might mean I don't cry from pain, or it might mean I made it off the couch for a few minutes. On a really good day it might mean that I can make it to the store and there is no guarantee of when I will be able to do that again. It varies from day to day. Sometimes even minute to minute.

The role of family and friends

• I can't control when I will have a flare-up. I could have a flare up minutes before I have plans, and I am not using it as an excuse to cancel plans. I need you to not take it personally and be understanding. I hate it just as much as you do, if not more.

• This requires my loved ones to be understanding and open minded. Not everyone can be and that is detrimental to my health if I have to battle this alone.

• THIS IS A REAL CONDITION  with research and data backing it up. Do not reject something you do not understand and if you want to help me, please educate yourself about what I am going through.

• The most important and helpful thing you could do for me is BELIEVE ME.

The struggle is real

• Fluoroquinolone toxicity can injure, disable, and kill. It is a serious condition that has no blanket treatment and no cure.

• It does not change who I am. It does change what I can do.

  It's not what you think

• I am not lazy and I am not making this up.

• I did not choose this. It happened to me because I was not warned by my doctor and I may pay for that for the rest of my life.

• Fluoroquinolone toxicity is an invisible illness, just like 96% of chronic illnesses. I could look fine on the outside and suffer immeasurably on the inside.

• This has no cure. The remedies you try to push on me could actually put my health in more jeopardy. What works for one person, could kill someone else. If I say no to the remedy you suggest or push on me, it is not rejecting you. It is valuing my health enough to know what could make me sicker.

I also want you to know what adverse reactions are associated with fluoroquinolones.



Adverse Reactions Associated with Fluoroquinolones

• Tendinitis
• Tendon rupture
• Ligament rupture
• Meniscus tear in knee
• Joint pain/popping
• Muscle atrophy/weakness/pain
• Degeneration of spinal disks
• Peripheral neuropathy/nerve pain/nerve damage
• Fatigue
• Dental pain
• Facial pain/numbness
• Muscle twitching/involuntary spasms
• Tremors
• Insomnia
• Brain fog
• Anxiety/depression
• Impaired memory
• Speech/aphasia

• Suicidal ideation
• Seizures
• Visual/auditory hallucinations
• Non-allergy itching
• Poor wound healing
• Swallowing deficit
• Persistent gastric problems
• Mouth sores
• Food/chemical sensitivities
• Dry/itchy eyes
• Lack of tear production
• Visual changes
• Retina tears
• Vertigo
• Tinnitus
• Palpitations/arrhythmia
• High/low blood pressure
• Dysautonomia

And I want you to know the names of fluoroquinolones so that this doesn't happen to you too.




Oral Fluoroquinolones

• Avelox (moxifloxacin)
• Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
• Factive (gemifloxacin)
• Floxin (ofloxacin)
• Levaquin (levafloxacin)
• Noroxin (norfloxacin)
• Maxaquin (lomefloxacin)
• Penetrex (enoxacin)

Fluoroquinolone Eye Drops

• Besivance (besifloxacin)
• Cetraxal, Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin)
• Iquix, Quixin (levofloxacin)
• Ocuflox (ofloxacin)
• Vigamox (moxifloxacin)
• Zymar (gatifloxacin)
• Moxeza (moxifloxacin)

Fluoroquinolone Ear Drops

• Cetraxal, Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin)
• Floxin (ofloxacin)
• Xtoro (finafloxacin)

Veterinary Fluoroquinolones

• Advocin, Advocid (danofloxacin)
• Baytril (enrofloxacin)
• Dicural, Vetequinon (difloxacin)
• Floxasol, Saraflox, Sarafin (sarafloxacin)
• Ibaflin (ibafloxacin)
• Marbocy, Zeniquin (marbofloxacin)
• Orbax, Victas (orbifloxacin)

For more information, go to www.SaferPills.org