Tequin: The Side Effects of a Dangerous Antibiotic

In the wake of fatalities related to the prescribed use of Vioxx, Bextra and the Ortho-Evra birth control patch, common sense would dictate that the big pharmaceutical companies would engage in some serious soul-searching. All three of these drugs represent case studies of what happens when big businesses place the well-being of their profit margins over the safety and lives of patients and consumers.

Now would be a good time for our pill makers to give a good faith accounting of themselves by performing a thorough and honest review of their products. To do so should be simple: tell the American people if there are any other drugs out there like Vioxx or Bextra. They should do so without engaging in lobbying and legal wrangling with the FDA. This give-and-take with the FDA can take years, and it always seems to take place while the questionable drugs are already out on the market. Lives are quite literally on the line for every day that these bureaucratic quagmires drag on. Pfizer, GSK and all the other pharmaceutical companies could take the initiative and cut through the red tape by delivering an honest appraisal of questionable drugs themselves.

Unfortunately, with the pill-peddling business as brisk as it is, Big Pharma doesn’t appear to have any inclination to change. They seem content to put bad pills out with huge marketing campaigns, completely disregarding the safety of the public at large. The latest drug to come under scrutiny is a Glasko Smith-Kline antibiotic called Tequin.

This antibiotic has been on the market since December of 1999. Its purpose is to treat chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and urethral and cervical gonorrhea. The difference between Tequin and other similar antibiotics is that the active ingredient in Tequin is called Gatifloxacin. Some patients that are prescribed Tequin have had their blood sugar levels dramatically altered, sometimes fatally so. From January 1, 2000 through June 30, 2005, 388 patients have experienced severe cases of either a severe spike in blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), or a severe drop in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia.) Among these cases, 159 patients were hospitalized and 20 patients died.

The FDA’s response to these cases was not to ban the drug, but to simply add warnings to the label provided to health care providers. As the cases began to pile up over the years, The FDA kept adding amendments to the label. This occurred in August of 2001, two months later in October of 2001, and October of 2002. Considering that there are other antibiotics that perform the same function without any similar side effects, this appears to be an incredible lack of judgment.

On Friday, April 28, Bristol - Myers Squibb announced that it would no longer manufacture Tequin, but made no plans to recall all of the anti-biotic that was still available for use. As of this writing, the website for Tequin is “under construction,” with no mentions whatsoever of the problems associated with the drug OR of BMS’ decision to cease manufacturing.

The idea that doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies can allow the remaining supply of a dangerous drug to remain available because its recall would be too expensive isn’t credible. Pharmaceuticals generate hundreds of billions in revenue, with the profit margin per pill well above other products. Shipping costs shouldn’t be a problem.

If you or a loved one has experienced severe complications due to the use of Tequin, you may be eligible for legal compensation. You were given a drug with a very spotty FDA record instead of one of the equivalent antibiotics that work just as well. The Law Firm of Rappaport, Glass, Greene and Levine can ensure that your rights as a victim are protected, and that your illness due to the profit-mindedness of Glasko Smith-Kline will not simply be ignored. Contact our offices for a free case assessment today.