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New warnings for Levaquin and Cipro

Posted at 7:06 PM, May 13, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-13 19:06:11-04

10 years ago, Laura LaLone suffered devastating side effects after taking Cipro for a common urinary tract infection.

Severe nerve damage forced LaLone to live with chronic pain and robbed her of the ability to work and travel.

She was among those who testified before the Food and Drug Administration last year regarding the dangers of Fluoroquinolones, commonly known as Cipro and Levaquin.

An I-Team investigation obtained an FDA database.

It revealed more than 98,000 reports of adverse reactions and more than 1,500 deaths linked to the drug.

The new restrictions include:

  • Warning about disabling side effects
  • Not for use on common infections
  • Doctors told to stop treatment immediately after patient reports side effects

The warning comes too late to help LaLone and thousands of others, but they may spare countless patients the pain and suffering she's endured.

MORE | Popular drug fails to list severe side effects