Adverse Events in Older Adults Taking Fluoroquinolones

The Food and Drug Administration issued several warnings recently regarding the use of fluoroquinolones because of a variety of serious toxicities. Risk for serious adverse reactions increases in older people because of the physiologic changes that come with aging, the increased likelihood of concurrent comorbidities, and the use of multiple medications. Because of these risk-enhancing factors, fluoroquinolone use, particularly in older people, should be scrutinized and used only when no other therapeutic alternatives exist. Pharmacists can have an impact on fluoroquinolone prescribing and use; therefore, they can optimize patient outcomes by reducing the potential for harm caused by fluoroquinolone use in older people.