TABLE 8.
Frequently occurring adverse effects of the new fluoroquinolones and ciprofloxacin
| Adverse effect | Fluoroquinolone | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciprofloxacin | Clinafloxacin | Gatifloxacin | Grepafloxacin | Levofloxacin | Moxifloxacin | Sparfloxacin | Trovafloxacin | |
| Gastrointestinal | ||||||||
| Nausea | + | ND | + | + + | + | + + | + | + + |
| Vomiting | + | ND | ND | + | +/− | +/− | + | + |
| Diarrhea | + | + + | + | + | + | + + | + | + |
| Central nervous system | ||||||||
| Dizziness | + | ND | + | + | − | +/− | − | + + + |
| Headache | + | ND | + | + | + | +/− | + | + |
| Allergic | ||||||||
| Rash | + | ND | ND | + | − | +/− | + | +/− |
| Pruritis | +/− | ND | ND | + | − | +/− | +/− | +/− |
| Phototoxicity | +/− | + + | +/ND | + | +/− | +/− | + + | +/− |
| Cardiovascular (QTc prolongation)* | − | ND | ND | + | − | − | + + | ND |
| Taste perversion | − | ND | ND | + + + | +/− | − | − | ND |
| Injection site reaction | + | + | NA | NA | + | NA | NA | +/− |
Percentages of patients experiencing this side effect have not been documented for both sparfloxacin and grepafloxacin. The relative number of “+” symbols here only indicates that there are more reports of this side effect with sparfloxacin.
Side effect has not been observed;
Side effect occurs in less than 1% of patients;
Side effect occurs in 1% to 5% of patients;
Side effect occurs in 6% to 10% of patients;
Side effect occurs in more than 10% of patients;
Side effect is expected to occur but has not been documented yet. For clinafloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin and trovafloxacin, because these agents have not been extensively studied in clinical trials, if a specific side effect was not found to be reported a ‘ND’ was entered into the table. For ciprofloxacin, grepafloxacin, levofloxacin and sparfloxacin, a ‘−’ was entered into the Table if a specific side effect was not found to be reported because these agents have been extensively studied in clinical trials.
NA Not applicable (fluoroquinolone is not available in an intravenous formulation);
ND No data.