How Do Fluoroquinolones Work?

Fluoroquinolones are bactericidal agents widely used to treat upper and lowerrespiratorytract infections such astuberculosis, mycobacterial infections,sinusitis,bronchitisand肺炎, andurinary tractinfections. Fluoroquinolones are effective against bothgram-positive andgram-negativebacteria.

Fluoroquinolones work by inhibiting the action ofenzymessuch as type IIDNAtopoisomerases, DNA gyrase, andtopoisomeraseIV (enzymes that participateincutting and supercoiling of double-stranded DNA) that are required for thesynthesisofbacterialmRNAs andDNA replication. The DNA formed is incomplete and defective, therefore it breaks down leading tocelldeath.

In addition to upper and lower respiratory tract infections andurinarytract infections, fluoroquinolones are used to treat:

• Infections of softtissue, bones, and joints
• Typhoid fever
• Anthrax
• Intestinal andbiliarytract infections
• Intra-abdominalinfections
• Septicemia(seriousinfectionin thebloodthat may be life-threatening)
• Bacterialdiarrhea
• Skininfections
• Prostatitis(inflammationand swelling of theprostate glandin men)
• Pyelonephritis(inflammation and infection ofkidney)
• Chlamydialurethritis(inflammation and infection of theurethra) andcervicitis(inflammation and infection ofcervixin women)
• Pelvic inflammatory disease(infection and inflammation offemalereproductive organs)

The most common serious side effects of fluoroquinolones include:

• Peripheral neuropathy(conditions that result when nerves that carry messages to and from thebrainandspinal cordfrom and to therestof the body are damaged or diseased)
• Headache
• Drowsiness
• Sleeplessness
• Dizziness
• Nauseaand vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Tendinopathy (a type oftendondisorder that results inpain, swelling, and impaired function)
• Swelling and pain of joints and muscles
• Diarrhea
• Hypoglycemia(低血糖)
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Suicidalthoughts
• Exacerbationof myasthenia graves (anautoimmune diseasethat causesabnormalweakness of muscles)

Other rare but serious side effects of fluoroquinolones may include:

• Leukopenia(decrease in white blood cells)
• Anemia(decrease in红细胞)
• Photosensitivity
• Nephrotoxicity (decrease in kidney function caused because of the poisonous effect of the drug)
• Hepatotoxicity (decrease inliverfunction caused because of the poisonous effect of the drug)
• Hypersensitivity reaction (overreaction of bodyimmune systemthat is harmful to the body and cause allergies)
• Aortic dissection(tearing ofaorta)
• QT prolongation
• Hallucinations

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with yourdoctoror药剂师to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking yourmedicationand never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Drug names include:

• Avelox
• Baxdela
• Cipro
• Cipro XR
• Ciprofloxacin
• Delafloxacin
• Factive
• Floxin
• Gemifloxacin
• Levaquin
• Levofloxacin
• LevofloxacinSystemic
• Moxifloxacin
• Moxifloxacin Systemic
• Norfloxacin
• Norfloxacin Systemic
• Noroxin
• Ofloxacin
• ProQuin XR