There are many drugs and categories of drugs that can cause harm. Here are some of the more common ones:
EpiPen maker failed to investigate product flaws associated with patient deaths, FDA says
"The FDA said Meridian Medical Technologies, a Pfizer company that
manufactures the auto-injectors used to treat life-threatening allergic
reactions, had detected faults in some units of the EpiPen and failed to
adequately respond. In addition, the company received "hundreds of
complaints" that the drug did not function properly -- "including some
situations in which patients subsequently died."
Prescription Drugs Now Kill More People In The US Than Heroin And Cocaine Combined
When Half a Million Americans Died and Nobody Noticed (Vioxx)
Not Good: Nearly 1 in 3 Drugs Have Safety Issues Even After FDA Approval
"New research has shown that, even after drugs are approved by the US
Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nearly one in three of them go on to
have safety issues. That's not necessarily as bad as it sounds - the
good news is that this shows the FDA is taking lifetime monitoring of
its approved drugs seriously. But perhaps more concerning is the fact
that so many drugs with safety issues are getting approved in the first
place."
Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibiotics, ciprofloxin is probably the most widely recognized. Other drugs in this category, sometimes called "floxies" have names ending in -floxin. In 2016 the FDA put out a warning saying that these drugs should be used as a last line of defense and generally avoided for common, non-serious infections because they cause serious side effects. These side effects can be disabling and permanent and include tendon rupture, central nervous system damage, and heart damage.
FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA advises restricting fluoroquinolone antibiotic use for certain uncomplicated infections; warns about disabling side effects that can occur together
"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising that the serious
side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs
generally outweigh the benefits for patients with acute sinusitis, acute
bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other
treatment options. For patients with these conditions, fluoroquinolones
should be reserved for those who do not have alternative treatment
options.
An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects that can occur together. These side effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system."
FDA updates warnings for fluoroquinolone antibiotics on risks of mental health and low blood sugar adverse reactions
"Across the fluoroquinolone antibiotic class, a range of mental health side effects are already described in the Warnings and Precautions section of the drug labeling, but differed by individual drug. The new class-wide labeling changes will require that the mental health side effects be listed separately from other central nervous system side effects and be consistent across the labeling of the fluoroquinolone class. The mental health side effects to be included in the labeling across all the fluoroquinolones are disturbances in attention, disorientation, agitation, nervousness, memory impairment and delirium."
"Additionally, the recent FDA review found instances of hypoglycemic coma where users of fluoroquinolones experienced hypoglycemia. As a result, the Blood Glucose Disturbances subsection of the labeling for all systemic fluoroquinolones will now be required to explicitly reflect the potential risk of coma with hypoglycemia."
Specific cases and stories
Paralyzed By A Prescription: Doctor 'Poisoned' By Common Antibiotic
A doctor who once prescribed these meds became paralyzed after taking them. He recovered after a stem cell transplant, and now raises awareness among other doctors about the risks they pose. He says the experience taught him about what patients go through.
‘I can’t walk today:’ 25 Investigates finds millions still prescribed risky antibiotic
In 2023 over 3,000 adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones were reported to the FDA. These drugs continue to be used with relative frequency despite the FDA's warning that the risks generally outweigh the benefits.
Southland Firefighter Says Popular Antibiotic Poisoned His Body, His Life
The prescribing doctor told him that only elderly people or those with existing health problems get the side effects, and another doctor told him it was fine and to stay off the internet. Doctors are generally unaware of the dangers of this drug.
Popular antibiotics linked to growing number of suicide deaths, patients unaware of side effects
FDA reports tie over 200 suicides to cipro and levaquin. The FDA estimates that only between 1 and 10% of adverse drug reactions are reported.
