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Dr Yves Dour (Doctor of Pharmacy)
According to France Info, the Paris prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into unintentional injuries and deception, after several complaints concerning the adverse effects of a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Furthermore, these sometimes seem to be prescribed in an unjustified manner.
Around twenty complaints received by the public health center of the Paris prosecutor’s office led to the opening of an investigation this Wednesday, March 27, into fluoroquinolones, a class of antibiotics. What do we blame them for? According to the plaintiffs, they were prescribed these antibiotics with potentially serious and disabling side effects, without even needing them. They have suffered from “abnormal side effects.
Antibiotics causing multiple disabilities
All the complaints come from people who have taken antibiotics from the fluoroquinolone class, drugs used in serious bacterial infections, and marketed under different names: Oflocet, Ciflox or Tavanic. According to the association for help and information on the harmful effects of fluoroquinolones, they are unfortunately still prescribed excessively for benign infections such as cystitis, otitis or sinusitis. However, taking them would cause many serious side effects such as intense pain in the arms, in the legs to the point of no longer being able to walk, or even neuropathies.
“Some victims are polyhandicapped for life, recognized as such by disability centers. They are almost abandoned in the French health system.” insisted Philippe Coville, president of the association at the microphone of France Info on Wednesday who revealed the file.
Thus, in 2023, a patient association denounced no less than “six million poisonings in France in four years” by fluoroquinolones.
Question medical practice first
“This is a first step”cautiously greeted Philippe Coville on Wednesday March 27 after two years of insistence with the health authorities on the adverse effects of these antibiotics. Especially since, according to him, “twice as many fluoroquinolones are prescribed per capita in France as in Germany and England, without any therapeutic justification.” A habit that goes against the benefit/risk balance that we expect from a prescription.
“Sometimes there is indeed a serious infection and the prescription of fluoroquinolones is “justified”. On the other hand, in many cases, there are much less dangerous alternatives and therefore they should not be prescribed.” he indicated .
An opinion shared by Yves Dour, doctor of pharmacy and member of our Doctissimo expert committee.
“That an investigation is opened is not surprising since the possibility of side effects was considered for a long time and many manifestations were known. It is no coincidence that for 2, 3 or even 4 years, we have used them sparingly and with great caution. It is only fair to ask doctors and the National Medicines Safety Agency to highlight this and shed light on the disadvantages of this type of medication.”