The U.S Food and Drug Administration is warning physicians and patients about a serious side effect of the antibiotic daptomycin (marketed under the brand name Cubicin). This intravenous medication is used in the treatment of serious skin infections, but has been known to cause life-threatening eosinophilic pneumonia, a type of pneumonia marked by an accumulation of a type of white blood cells called eosinophils in the lungs. The symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fever, and difficulty breathing. The FDA has confirmed seven cases of eosinophilic pneumonia and, thus far, all the victims are older than 60 years of age and symptoms began within two weeks of administration. [via LA Times]
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Tags: antibiotic, Cubicin, daptomycin, eosinophil, FDA, infection, pneumonia
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.
July 30th, 2010 at 6:19 am
Steven, This is another one of those great examples of the unintended consequences of the medicines we prescribe. I always keep this ‘great unknown’ front and center when I’m mulling over therapeutic options. The fact that many of these misadventures come out post marketing gives me great pause with new meds. I’m fortunate that in outpatient dermatology I’m rarely pushed up against the wall with my treatment choices and can usually select meds that have a long track record of safety. Thanks for the FYI.
Cynthia Bailey MD
July 31st, 2010 at 6:14 am
pleaze ban this.
August 1st, 2010 at 9:45 am
A friend of mine has complained to me after a doze ofantibaotics,it resulted into pneumonia case.I could not believe this.If any negative effect is detected to harm ones life.Pliz be open and condem this in time.Otherwise I suggest a total burn on the medicine.
August 1st, 2010 at 5:29 pm
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF”BLACK BOX” MEDICATION!! SO NO-ONE UNDER 60 HAS DIED —YET!!!WITHOUT A DOUBT THIS SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE MARKET. M.BARNES RPH