Finally! Doctors have been prescribing Cipro for an uncomplicated UTI for many years. Thankfully FDA is now limiting the use of these scary drugs.
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved safety labeling changes for a class of antibiotics, called fluoroquinolones, to enhance warnings about their association with disabling and potentially permanent side effects and to limit their use in patients with less serious bacterial infections.”
“FDA safety review found that both oral and injectable fluroquinolones can cause disabling side effects involving tendons, muscles, joints, nerves and the central nervous system. These side effects can occur hours to weeks after exposure to fluoroquinolones and may potentially be permanent.” This gives me chills…
Ladies and gentlemen, if you ever have an uncomplicated UTI again and your physician prescribes you Cipro or just give him/her a hug and RUN AWAY!
Today’s action also follows a May 12, 2016, drug safety communication advising that doctors only prescribe fluoroquinolones when there are no other options available due to potentially permanent, disabling side effects. The drug safety communication also announced the required labeling updates to reflect this new safety information.
And yes, there are alternative antibiotics to treat UTI as well as natural alternatives.
This is good news, but gosh FDA, you are moving way to slow!