Anitibiotic Tequin Linked To Adverse Side Effects Involving Abnormal Glucose Levels

Potentially Fatal Cases Of Hypoglycemia And Hyperglycemia

The antibiotic Tequin (gatifloxacin) significantly increases the risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and the risk high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) during or after its use. Drug side effects resulting in abnormal blood sugar, or glucose, levels may be severe enough to require hospitalization, and are potentially fatal.

Tequin was approved by the FDA in 1999 to treat many different bacterial infections — including pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea. Tequin is in the class of popular antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. Other antibiotics in this class include Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Levaquin (levofloxacin). The blood sugar problems linked to Tequin have not been associated with Cipro nor Levaquin, i.e., not a "class effect" situation.

The label, or package insert, for Tequin has changed several times over the years due to adverse event reports suggesting that this antibiotic can cause harmful blood sugar levels. The most recent Tequin label change was announced in a February 2006 Dear Doctor letter sent by Bristol-Myers Squibb to healthcare professionals. At the same time, an FDA MedWatch Alert about Tequin was issued. The FDA alert was followed by a similar Tequin warning from Health Canada at the end of February 2006.

On March 1, 2006 The New England Journal of Medicine posted an early-release version of an article about Tequin and the blood-sugar disorders, or dysglycemia, found by researchers in two Canadian studies. In summary, all patients in the those two studies were age 66 or older. Some had diabetes and some did not. For all those patients, however, Tequin posed a risk of harmful blood sugar changes (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia) within 30 days of using this antibiotic. At present, the researchers do not know if the same risks apply to younger patients.

What does this mean to you? If you are using Tequin, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of these potentially fatal blood sugar fluctuations:

• Confusion
• Visual disturbances
• Heart palpitations
• Tremors
• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Dry mouth

If you notice any of these signs or symptoms, doctors say that you should seek prompt medical care without delay.

Read more on our Tequin Information Page >>