An exclusive 5 On Your Side investigation has contributed to a major drug warning connected to one of the nation's most prescribed antibiotics.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised new restrictions and label warnings for a family of antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, most commonly prescribed as Cipro and Levaquin.
Last July, our investigation obtained an FDA database that revealed at least 3,000 patients whose death had been linked to the drug and another 200,000 complaints of side effects including kidney infections and nerve damage.
As a result, the FDA now advises restricting the drugs for certain "uncomplicated infections" and is "warning about disabling side effects that can occur."
According to a drug safety bulletin released Thursday, the FDA is advising "serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for patients with sinusitis, bronchitis and uncomplicated urinary tract infections."
Health care professionals are being told to "stop systemic" treatment immediately if a patient reports serious side effects.
