Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Symptoms in a Patient Presenting with Low Back Pain

Abstract

Fluoroquinolone medications have been shown to contribute to tendinopathies, cardiotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. Low back pain is a common musculoskeletal condition for which chiropractic treatment is most often sought. This case report details a patient presenting with low back pain and a history of fluoroquinolone toxicity. The patient was initially treated with chiropractic manipulation, which increased her symptoms. She was then referred to an osteopathic physician who treated the patient with intravenous antioxidants and amino acids, an elimination diet, and probiotic supplementation. Within 4 months of therapy, the patient reported a decrease in pain, a resolution of her dizziness, shortness of breath, panic attacks, tachycardia, and blurred vision. After an additional 8 weeks of antioxidant therapy, she reported further reductions in pain and improved disability. People susceptible to fluoroquinolone toxicity may present with common musculoskeletal symptoms. A past medical history and medication history may help to identify this population of patients. People presenting with fluoroquinolone toxicity may have unidentified contributing factors that predispose them to this anomaly. This patient reported improvements in pain and disability following antioxidant amino acid therapy for a total of 6 months. The natural history of fluoroquinolone toxicity is unknown and may account for the observed improvements.

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“…Fluoroquinolones causes adverse effects on musculoskeletal region, GI tract, CNS and skin in a dose-dependent manner (Hall et al 2011;Strauchman and Morningstar 2012). Hence, one aim of improving fluoroquinolone salts is to retain the beneficial effects while simultaneously reducing the adverse effects.…”

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“…But fluoroquinolones have come to be widely used for routine and less menacing infections. Until very recently, ADRs associated with these drugs were officially deemed to be rare, relatively mild, and temporary (Strauchman and Morningstar 2012). But as early as the mid-1990s, the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen pressed the FDA to recognize an association between fluoroquinolones and tendon ruptures.…”