FDA requires new labeling for fluoroquinolone antibiotics

Editor's Note

The Food & Drug Administration announced on July 10 that it was requiring labeling changes for fluoroquinolone antibiotics because they may cause significant decreases in blood sugar and mental health side effects.

The labels will add that low blood sugar levels can lead to coma and make the mental health side effects more prominent and consistent across the fluoroquinolone drug class.

Among the mental health side effects added or updated are:

• disturbances in attention
• disorientation
• agitation
• nervousness
• memory impairment
• delirium.