Fluoroquinolones are already old antibiotics. Why do they find themselves singled out today?
Fluoroquinolones have actually been on the market for over 30 years; the problem is that they are too prescribed off-label. The number of prescriptions in France is estimated at 6 million, and at 50 million in Europe. However, for 25 years, several medical and pharmacy theses have been published describing serious adverse effects associated with these antibiotics.
And there was no alert?
4 years ago, the European Medicines Agency “reassessed” their “benefit/risk ratio” and restricted their therapeutic indications. But, it didn’t change anything. This class of antibiotics continues to be widely prescribed.
For what?
Doctors refuse to make the link between the clinical signs and the taking of antibiotics while the serious adverse effects are well documented. There are hardly any reports to pharmacovigilance: only 5% of them go up.
What actions does your association carry out?
It’s been 18 months that I harass the health authorities, the councils of the orders of doctors, pharmacists… And a year that I try to obtain that the patients victims of serious adverse effects, like Élise, can benefit from a adapted care pathways, as for rare diseases, with a team of competent professionals.
Are Fluoroquinolones the New Picks Deal?
No, in the case of Pick, it was the operation of a pharmaceutical laboratory which was at the heart of the scandal. There, it is the negligence of the medical profession, endorsed by the health authorities at European level which is in question.
The fact remains that these are antibiotics that have great utility.
Yes, but in the context of severe infections. However, in fact, doctors do not hesitate to prescribe it for simple urinary tract infections, even respiratory infections without any seriousness! And without even informing about the potential serious adverse effects. In France, it is estimated that 60% of prescriptions are made off-label, and this rate is even 80% in other countries such as Italy or Spain.
But are the doctors well informed?
The information is known and widely disseminated. But there is real ignorance among a majority of the mechanisms of action of these antibiotics; they work by preventing DNA replication in bacteria. The problem is that, in some patients, they damage the DNA of intracellular organelles called mitochondria, which are the energy factories of our cells. And that we find everywhere, especially at the level of nerve cells, peripheral nerves, the brain… Hence these diffuse signs.
How many victims?
There are currently about 100 people seriously ill from taking these antibiotics; but testimonies flow in, auguring a much larger number.
What is your request today?
We are asking for the establishment of an administrative process of the “exception drug” type obliging doctors to justify in writing their prescription of fluroquinolones – either in the event of serious infections and without other options – and to warn patients of the risks.