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We listed the fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin (AVELOX), produced by the Bayer Corporation of West Haven, Connecticut, as a Do Not Use drug in the February 2000 issue of Worst Pills, Best Pills News because it can cause a change in electrical conduction in the heart known as QT interval prolongation that can lead to life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances.
Grepafloxacin (RAXAR), another fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was removed from the market in October 1999 after reports of at...
We listed the fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin (AVELOX), produced by the Bayer Corporation of West Haven, Connecticut, as a Do Not Use drug in the February 2000 issue of Worst Pills, Best Pills News because it can cause a change in electrical conduction in the heart known as QT interval prolongation that can lead to life-threatening heart rhythm disturbances.
Grepafloxacin (RAXAR), another fluoroquinolone antibiotic, was removed from the market in October 1999 after reports of at least seven deaths from heart rhythm disturbances had been linked to its use. Grepafloxacin, like moxifloxacin, was known to cause QT interval prolongation even before it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Sparfloxacin (ZAGAM), yet another fluoroquinolone, also causes QT interval prolongation and was listed as Do Not Use in the most recent edition of our book Worst Pills, Best Pills. Sparfloxacin remains on the market.
Physicians from Dresden, Germany reported a case of abnormally rapid heart rate (tachycardia) associated with the use of moxifloxacin in the January 6, 2001 British Medical Journal. The patient was a 49-year-old man who exercised regularly. He was prescribed moxifloxacin for sinusitis and bronchitis. Approximately 45 minutes after taking the daily dose of 400 milligrams of moxifloxacin he developed tachycardia (heart rate 120 beats per minute). About one hour before taking the moxifloxacin he had taken 500 milligrams of aspirin for a headache. He described his tachycardia as “thumping” palpitations, which he had never before experienced. The tachycardia lasted for 45 minutes. It did not recur when moxifloxacin was restarted.
German drug regulatory authorities have had reports of 19 other cases of tachycardia associated with the use of moxifloxacin.
What You Can Do
There is no medical reason that you should be using moxifloxacin when equally effective and safer antibiotics are available. The same advice applies to sparfloxacin.
