Safety and tolerability of fluoroquinolones.
Clinical trials in patients with community- and hospital-acquired infections have established that the clinical effectiveness and safety of fluoroquinolones are similar to beta-lactam and macrolide agents. The most common drug-related adverse effects (AEs) with fluoroquinolone therapy involve the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system and are usually transient and mild to moderate in severity. However, serious toxic reactions have led to the limited and restrictive use of trovafloxacin in the United States and the withdrawal of temafloxacin and grepafloxacin from worldwide markets. In addition, postmarketing spontaneous AE reports have imposed updates in the precautions and warning sections of product package inserts of selected fluoroquinolones. This article reviews the AEs associated with the fluoroquinolones and compares the safety profiles of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, and moxifloxacin.
University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Kelly A
KA
Sprandel
Keith A
KA
Rodvold
D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000187:drug effects; D012449:Safety
D001786:Blood Glucose; D024841:Fluoroquinolones