David Rubenstein: This Antibiotic Is Destroying People's Health

 The author is a Metro Detroit resident By David Rubenstein

Kristen PettiJohn Avelox

  23 year old Kristine was prescribed Avelox for persistent cold, and only had a few days worth…

 Her liver was in full failure, and she was experiencing a form of Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare and extreme drug reaction mentioned on the Avelox label.

Kristine had a liver transplant on the Friday. The doctors reported that her old liver had turned to mush and fallen apart in their hands.  

She died after being prescribed this Avelox antibiotic.

Stefania Lucia Carpentone , Stefania è stata flossata dal Ciproxin (ciprofloxacina), classico caso di tossicità da fluorochinoloni.

Quattro settembre ho preso Ciproxin 1000 mg per un orecchio rosso infetto (solo un orecchio). Ho assunto un Ciproxin da 1000 mg = al giorno per 7 giorni. Ciproxin = ( Ciproflaxin Bayer) in Italia 

Dopo tre giorni mi è iniziato a tirare la faccia. Sono andata all'ospedale e mi hanno prescritto cortisone (Prednisone) 30 mg per 4 giorni.

Dopo mi girava ancora la faccia, sono andata dall'otorino che mi ha aumentato il cortisone a 60 mg per 7 giorni.

Da lì è iniziato l'inferno: già mi tirava la faccia, poi il collo e, dopo qualche giorno, dolori atroci e vibrazioni per tre mesi. Ho fatto agopuntura che ha fatto passare il dolore, ma è iniziata la gamba dura, poi le mani, tutto il corpo.

Non riuscivo più a camminare dopo un mese dal Cipro.

Vista ridotta e rigidità di tutto il corpo. Stefania Prima del Flox

**Vertaling naar het Nederlands:**

Op 4 september heb ik Ciproxin 1000 mg ingenomen voor een rood, geïnfecteerd oor (slechts één oor). Ik heb één Ciproxin 1000 mg per dag ingenomen gedurende 7 dagen. Ciproxin = (Ciprofloxacine Bayer) in Italië.

Na drie dagen begon mijn gezicht strak te trekken. Ik ben naar het ziekenhuis gegaan en daar hebben ze me cortison (Prednison) 30 mg voorgeschreven voor 4 dagen.

Daarna trok mijn gezicht nog steeds, dus ben ik naar de KNO-arts gegaan die de cortison verhoogde naar 60 mg voor 7 dagen.

Vanaf daar begon de hel: mijn gezicht trok al, daarna mijn nek en na enkele dagen vreselijke pijnen en trillingen gedurende drie maanden. Ik heb acupunctuur gedaan die de pijn heeft doen verdwijnen, maar toen begon mijn been stijf te worden, daarna mijn handen, mijn hele lichaam.

Na een maand vanaf de Cipro kon ik niet meer lopen.

Verminderd zicht en stijfheid van het hele lichaam.

de Photo :  Stefania Voor de Flox en erna.

fellow floxie, Íon Mórdha has lost his fight with fluoroquinolone antibiotic toxicity.

 Today, I received the devastating news that friend and fellow floxie, Íon Mórdha has lost his fight with fluoroquinolone antibiotic toxicity.

Over the years, Ion and I exchanged countless messages, voice notes and the occasional long phonecall. He was an unwavering pillar of support for me and so many others. When I was navigating my own regressions and severe neuromuscular events, he was there with vital advice on nutrients, histamines, healing strategies and emotional support to keep me going.

​Before this toxicity stole so much, Ion loved traveling, marathons, mountain biking, and filled the world with an incredible sense of humor. He was a bright, guiding light in the fluoroquinolone injured community, and his absence leaves a profound void. He will be deeply, greatly missed.

Last year Ion sent me a short biography describing how his life changed when he became poisoned by fluoroquinolone antibiotics if you care to take a moment to read...

My name is Ian Patrick Moore. May 21st, 2022, was the day my life ended as I knew it to be. The next day, I popped the first ciprofloxacin (Cipro) pill, little did I know that it would be the last time I would enjoy the sun on my face or take a simple walk. The first dose of this antibiotic was the beginning of a nightmare, and the days following were filled with hellish symptoms, both physical and mental. My mind, once sharp and dependable, became a foggy abyss of intrusive thoughts and confusion. Simple things—like walking to the shop or reading a book felt insurmountable.

The first suicidal thought struck me like a lightning bolt. I was walking through my neighborhood, desperately trying to ground myself, when the passing train caught my eye. I thought about stepping into its path, ending the nightmare before it consumed me entirely. An old man saw my hesitation and stopped me, asking if I was okay. I lied. I told him I was just feeling “a little off.” But deep down, I knew that something had gone catastrophically wrong.

The physical symptoms began almost simultaneously. My bladder burned as if it were filled with acid, and I couldn’t sit for more than a few minutes without unbearable discomfort. The sun, which once felt warm and life-giving, now left me shivering and manic, as though my very nervous system was rebelling. I didn’t understand it at the time, but the antibiotics had crossed my blood-brain barrier, wreaking havoc on my GABA receptors and destabilizing my central nervous system.

Within weeks, I was no longer myself. My legs felt weak, as if the muscles were dissolving beneath my skin. My feet burned like they were pressed against hot coals, and the simplest tasks became Herculean. Insomnia set in, robbing me of the one thing I desperately needed to heal. My nights were filled with sweat-soaked sheets and the constant sensation of being on the edge of panic.

Food, once a source of comfort, became an enemy. Certain foods scorched my gut, while others sent me spiraling into fits of anxiety. Every meal was a gamble, and I began to dread eating entirely. The weight began to melt off me, a cruel confirmation that my body was failing to absorb the nutrients it needed.

I was once a healthy 72 kilos, fit and active. Now, I was a shell of myself—frail, emaciated, and barely holding on. No matter how much I ate or how high-calorie the meals were, my weight continued to plummet, sometimes dipping as low as 47 kilos. The contrast was staggering, and I couldn’t understand how my body could betray me so completely.

I sought help, desperately trying to find someone who could explain what was happening to me. My local GP believed me from the start. They listened, empathized, and offered their best support. I will forever be grateful for their belief in my suffering, especially when so many others doubted me. But the doctors I saw afterward seemed uninterested in my case. I went to the local A&E in Bristol, telling them about my burning feet and the suicidal thoughts that were beginning to dominate my days. Instead of understanding or compassion, I was handed another prescription for 4-6 weeks of ciprofloxacin.

When I expressed my concerns, the doctor brushed them aside. She told me about her own experience with doxycycline, how her skin had peeled off her fingers but she’d “pushed through” because the benefits outweighed the risks. Her words were hollow and cruel, a dismissal of the agony that was consuming me.

Luckily, I did not take the full 6-week prescription that the hospital doctor had prescribed. I stopped the ciprofloxacin on my own, knowing deep down that it was only exacerbating my suffering. But that act of self-preservation, while saving me from further damage, didn’t end the nightmare—it only prolonged it.

This pattern repeated itself with nearly every doctor I saw. Neurologists, gastroenterologists, rheumatologists—each one ran their tests, shrugged their shoulders, and told me there was little they could do. The few who acknowledged the possibility of fluoroquinolone toxicity offered no solutions, only confirmation that I was part of a rare, unlucky group.

By the summer of 2024, my body was no longer my own. My muscles had wasted away to the point where even sitting was excruciating. My once-strong legs, the same legs that had powered me through cycling marathons, were now swollen, weak, and useless. I couldn’t climb stairs without assistance, and walking outside felt like dragging dead weight behind me.

The heat only made things worse. My body, now hypersensitive to everything, reacted violently to even a few minutes in the sun. My skin burned, my joints ached, and the nerves in my legs and pelvis felt like they were being electrocuted. Histamine intolerance, once a concept I barely understood, now dictated every aspect of my life.

Ion Mordha

Ion, may the heavy burdens you carried so bravely in this life be finally lifted from your shoulders. May your spirit return to the wild, open trails you loved, riding free, uninhibited, and surrounded by peace. We honor the light you gave to so many of us in our darkest hours. Rest beautifully, my friend; your kindness and strength will never be forgotten. Godspeed.

Minder weergeven

Opmerkinge

Verwoestende bijwerkingen door veelgebruikte antibiotica

https://radar.avrotros.nl/artikel/verwoestende-bijwerkingen-door-veelgebruikte-antibiotica-62457 

“El Levofloxacino me daño de las rodillas hacia abajo… casi no puedo caminar” Es el testimonio de Titisita,

 https://www.facebook.com/reel/903858036077518?locale=nl_NL

**English Translation:**

“Levofloxacin damaged me from the knees down… I can barely walk.”  

This is the testimony of Titisita, an elderly woman who was prescribed the antibiotic Levofloxacin. The U.S. FDA warns that Levofloxacin is contraindicated in people over 60 years of age because they have a significantly higher risk of suffering its serious adverse effects.

**Fluoroquinolones Alert** is an account run by people affected by the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Moxifloxacin, and Norfloxacin. Every single day, without exception, we receive new testimonies from individuals who have been seriously injured by these drugs.

The U.S. FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have issued warnings and restrictions on the use of these antibiotics due to their serious, disabling, and potentially permanent adverse effects. In 2024, the UK’s MHRA introduced a mandatory restriction on their use.

The FDA has warned that these antibiotics can cause:

• Tendinitis and tendon rupture  

• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)  

• Severe muscle and joint pain  

• Muscle weakness  

• Nervous system disorders  

• Anxiety, insomnia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms  

• Disabling effects that can affect multiple body systems

One of the most concerning aspects is that reactions can appear **during** treatment or even **weeks and months after** stopping the medication.

The FDA has also stated that for common infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis, or uncomplicated urinary tract infections, the risks of fluoroquinolones may outweigh their benefits when safer alternatives are available.

Unfortunately, in Latin America, fluoroquinolones are still routinely prescribed as first-line antibiotics without any warning about their serious risks. Because of their massive and indiscriminate use, thousands of people have been seriously injured.  

**Avoid tragedies. Avoid fluoroquinolones.**
------------------------
original Spanish

“El Levofloxacino me daño de las rodillas hacia abajo… casi no puedo caminar” Es el testimonio de Titisita, una mujer mayor a las que le fue recetado el antibiótico Levofloxacino. La FDA de EE.UU advierte que el Levofloxacino esta contraindicado en mayores de 60 años debido a que tienen una probabilidad mayor de sufrir sus graves efectos adversos.

Fluoroquinolonas Alerta es una cuenta de afectados por los antibióticos Ciprofloxacino, Levofloxacino, Moxifloxacino y Norfloxacino. Todos los días y sin excepción recibimos nuevos testimonios de personas que han sido gravemente lesionadas por estos fármacos.

La FDA de EE.UU y EMA de Europa han emitido alertas y restricciones al uso de estos antibióticos debido a sus graves efectos adversos discapacitantes y posiblemente permanentes. En 2024 la MHRA de Reino Unido emitió una restricción obligatoria a su uso.

La FDA ha advertido que estos antibióticos pueden causar:

• Tendinitis y ruptura de tendones

• Neuropatía periférica (daño nervioso)

• Dolor muscular y articular severo

• Debilidad muscular

• Alteraciones del sistema nervioso

• Ansiedad, insomnio y síntomas neuropsiquiátricos

• Efectos incapacitantes que pueden afectar múltiples sistemas del cuerpo

Uno de los aspectos más preocupantes es que las reacciones pueden aparecer DURANTE el tratamiento o incluso semanas y meses DESPUÉS de haber suspendido el medicamento.

La FDA también indicó que, para infecciones comunes como sinusitis, bronquitis o infecciones urinarias no complicadas, los riesgos de las fluoroquinolonas pueden superar sus beneficios cuando existen otras alternativas más seguras.

Lamentablemente en Latinoamérica las Fluoroquinolonas aun se prescriben como antibióticos de rutina y sin advertir de sus serios riesgos. Debido a su uso masivo e indiscriminado, miles de personas hemos sido gravemente lesionadas. Evita tragedias, evita las Fluoroquinolonas.

Another Flox Kiley K Woodland

 https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYlQ5SHsX4n/

**Information on the Instagram Reel**

**Link:** https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYlQ5SHsX4n/

**Creator:** Kiley K Woodland  

**Account:** @celebratethelittlewins  

**Duration:** 57 seconds  

**Publication Date:** May 21, 2026  

**Engagement (at time of verification):** 69 likes and 6 comments

### Content Summary

This is a motivational and spiritual Reel focused on personal development and resilience. The video features Kiley K Woodland delivering an encouraging message about overcoming hardship.

**Full text overlay / spoken message:**

> “There is beauty in the breaking. You do not need to have your entire life figured out to move forward again. Little wins...one day at a time. If you feel alone and demoralized and exhausted in your journey ahead, please know I’m right there with you. Shit sucks and it’s hard beyond anything I could even describe but I do have to believe there are so many blessings on the other side of this for both of us. Even when we can’t see it, God and our guardian angels are busy helping plan our comeback. Outlast the temporary and hold the vision..I know it’s gonna be worth it 🧚🏼‍♀️✨”

### Context

Kiley K Woodland runs the account @celebratethelittlewins, where she shares content centered on personal growth, overcoming challenges, faith, and celebrating small victories. She describes herself as a singer-songwriter, survivor, and advocate.

Would you like assistance with downloading the video, more details about her profile, or any other specific information?