Common class of antibiotics can cause arterial bleeding: USFDA

The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that a common class of antibiotics, used to treat a variety of infections in addition to certain serious illnesses, can cause bleeding of the arteries, with fatal results.

“Although the risk of aortic aneurysm or dissection is low, we've observed that patients are twice as likely to experience an aortic aneurysm or dissection when prescribed a fluoroquinolone drug,” FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. “For patients who have an aortic aneurysm or are known to be at risk of an aortic aneurysm, we do not believe the benefits outweigh this risk, and alternative treatment should be considered.”

“Aortic aneurysm” is a bulge in an artery that can grow and burst, causing dangerous or fatal bleeding.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are often used to treat serious respiratory infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, plague and exposure to anthrax. They include drugs sold under the names ciprofloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin. Patients usually take them orally or through injection.

The FDA cited research based on the reports of patient problems and on studies published between 2015 and 2018 to back its claim.

Patients most at risk for an aortic aneurysm after taking these antibiotics include senior citizens, those with high blood pressure, people with a history of blockages of the aorta or other blood vessels, and those who have genetic conditions like Marfan syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

The FDA says that from now on, it will require that a warning about these risks be added to prescribing information and to patient medication guides.

This is not the first time that these drugs have been singled out for harmful effects. In July, the FDA sent a notice that these drugs may significantly decrease blood sugar and negatively impact mental health. In 2016, the FDA said that the medicines might have a disabling side effect on muscles, nerves, joints and the central nervous system.

However, for patients who don't fall into the risk categories, the drugs could still be a good option.

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