Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 8, 2026

A Protocol for Comprehensive Assessment of Bulbar Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Published on: February 21, 2011
Recognizing Subtle Neurological Adverse Effects of Fluoroquinolones: A Case Report of Isolated Dysarthria
Benedetto Caroleo1, Gianmarco Marcianò2, Giuseppe Bertucci1
1Department of Internal Medicine - Soverato Hospital- ASP Catanzaro - Via De Cardona n°98 - 88068 Soverato, Catanzaro, Italy.
Background:
Fluoroquinolones may have negative effects on the central nervous system; isolated dysarthria has not been thoroughly described.
Case:
Piperacillin/tazobactam and high-dose levofloxacin were used to treat a severe case of Legionella pneumophila pneumonia in a 55-year-old man with diabetes and temporary renal failure who was admitted to the hospital. On the eighth day of treatment, he experienced sudden dysarthria without any additional neurological impairment. Magnetic resonance angiography and brain magnetic resonance imaging results were negative. After levofloxacin was stopped two days later and replaced with azithromycin, the patient's dysarthria completely disappeared, and he was discharged on azithromycin (500 mg for 11 days). The Naranjo score (likely adverse reaction) was 6.
Conclusion:
This case report highlights the importance of quickly identifying even mild neurological problems in fluoroquinolone-treated patients, especially when risk factors are present. In a broader sense, it upholds the concepts of patient safety and therapeutic appropriateness, which state that drugs should only be used when necessary and should be stopped immediately if they have negative side effects. In this regard, strict adherence to the current regulatory cautions about fluoroquinolones is necessary.
Insights
High-dose levofloxacin, an antibiotic, can cause central nervous system side effects like dysarthria. Promptly recognizing and managing these adverse drug reactions is crucial for patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fluoroquinolones are associated with central nervous system adverse effects.
- Isolated dysarthria as a fluoroquinolone side effect is not well-documented.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
Local Anesthetics: Adverse Effects
Once absorbed into the systemic circulation, local anesthetics can affect the organs that depend on the functioning of sodium...
Botulism
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects
Unlike...
Language and Cognition
Antiepileptic Drugs: Potassium Channel Activators
Ezogabine has gained approval as an adjunctive treatment...