Grassroots Momentum Builds For Warning Public of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic Toxicity Allegedly Damaging The DNA of Thousands of Victims

WASHINGTON, May 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A group of 50 Americans who call themselves "Floxies" because they each took the prescribed antibiotic medication Fluoroquinolone which they allege has had disastrous health consequences, have appealed to members of Congress for help in warning others. 

In their impassioned appeal, the group called "Fluoroquinolone Toxicity 24/7 Forum." say that Fluoroquinolone toxicity has been like an atomic bomb exploding in their bodies damaging their muscles and scrambling their DNA to the point many are too sick to work, too weak to walk. They estimate this intense adverse drug reaction affects hundreds of thousands of Americans.  The organization bases this on an interpolations of FDA voluntary data, which the government agency admits grossly underestimates the extent of the problem

In the eight years since the battle was won to force the first "black box warning" on the labels of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics, the widespread efforts of victims and activists haven't rested, but rather continued to grow and gain momentum as new concerns emerged. Today, thousands of people are united across blogs, local meet-ups and support groups -- on Facebook and across the Internet. Their message? More needs to be done to assure safe handling of these powerful drugs.

Just this month, a group of over 50 victims and activists gathered on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, holding signs warning, "Cipro is Poison, Levaquin Cripples and Kills, and Avelox Attacks." Meanwhile, the handicapped accessible entrances to the Senate and House Office Building were busy as other members of the group made their way to meetings scheduled with their senators and representatives.

"May 9 was World Fluoroquinolone (FQ) Awareness Day, but we fight for this cause every day of our lives," says Baltimore resident Terry Aston, chairperson and organizer of the Second Annual FQ DC Rally. Aston also runs the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity 24/7 Live Chat Group, a popular Facebook group closed to all but victims of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome and their families.

Aston credits success of the nonprofit law firm Public Citizen in 2008 for giving voice to FQ victims about other risks of the antibiotics. "We have followed in their footsteps," she says.

Media contact: Adrienne Mazzone 561-750-9800 x2270; [email protected].

SOURCE Fluoroquinolone Toxicity 24/7 Forum