Antibiotics serve a useful purpose when it comes to fighting bacterial infections. That being said, doctors have been prescribing these as if they were candy for decades now. Bacteria are intelligent, living beings whose main aim is to survive. As a result, common bacteria have evolved to beat these antibiotics so they can pass on their genetic material to their offspring. Doctors, it seems, are fighting a losing battle, and they are throwing every available antibiotic at patients who go on to suffer serious side effects.
Antibiotics that are commonly used include:
- Levaquin
- Cipro
- Avelox
- Noroxin
- Floxin
These antibiotics are used in common respiratory, digestive and urinary tract infections which can become fatal if not dealt with in a timely manner. That being said, the side effect profiles of these medications are more often than not worrying, and may become permanent if not dealt with in a timely manner.
Peripheral Neuropathy
This refers to nerve damage. The body is covered by a network of nerves which branch out from the base of the spinal cord. Antibiotics have been shown to cause these nerves to atrophy as well as die in some cases. This is something that can happen in as little as 7 days, and most patients are caught unawares.
Here are some of the symptoms of antibiotic damage neuropathy
- Extreme nerve pain which feels like a thousand pins and needles on your skin
- Loss of reflexes
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Soreness on patches of skin
- Paralysis
- Muscle wasting.
It is important to see a doctor immediately once you start experiencing any of these symptoms because you may be on the way to suffering permanent nerve damage.
Tendon Damage
Tendons are thick fibrous tissues which connect muscles to bone. These are affected by the overprescribing of antibiotics, and can weaken the way they attach to the bone. Should they detach, you may have a very hard time walking, using a limb and suffer extreme pain needing immediate medical intervention.
Antibiotics have their place. However, overprescribing them isn’t going to make things better. If you suffered antibiotic side effects which compromised your health and led to further treatment to repair the damage done, you may be able to sue the doctor and hospital which prescribed these medications by way of a medical malpractice lawsuit as well as the drug makers through a drug injury claim. Please give us a call today on (773) 673-9861 for your free and confidential consultation into antibiotic injury cases. Thanks for choosing us.