Quinolone
From Freepedia
Quinolones and fluoroquinolones form a group of broad-spectrum antibiotics. They are derived from nalidixic acid.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are highly potent and considered relatively safe. However, they can have potentially troublesome side effects. For example, case reports have implicated their use in rare instances of tendon damage, especially when administered with a systemic corticosteroid.
Due to the high potency of this class of drugs, it is advised that they should be used sparingly to reduce to spread of resistance.
Ciprofloxacin, unlike the newer generations of fluroquinolones, seems to inhibit GABA and therefore causing seizures in patients with renal insufficiency.
Mechanism
Quinolones act by inhibiting the bacterial DNA gyrase enzyme. This way they inhibit nucleic acid synthesis and act bacteriocidically.
Examples
1st generation
- Nalidixic acid (Wintomylon®)
2nd generation
- Norfloxacin (Noroxin®)
- Ciprofloxacin (Cipro®, Ciproxin®)
- Enoxacin
- Lomefloxacin
- Ofloxacin (Tarivid®)
- Levofloxacin (Levaquin®, Cravit®)
3rd generation
4th generation
- Trovafloxacin
- Moxifloxacin (Avelox®)
- Gemifloxicin (Factive®)
External links
- Fact Sheet: Quinolones
- Fluoroquinolone-Induced Tendinopathy: What do we know? Richard M. Harrell, MD.
