On February 16, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health advisory about the antibiotic drug Tequin, which is used to treat adults with lung, sinus, or urinary tract infections. Tequin is also used to treat the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea.

The FDA insisted the drug’s manufacturer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, revise the labeling for Tequin to indicate that the drug should not be prescribed to diabetics due to serious reports of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

Instances of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia have occurred in patients without a history of diabetes. Although most of these cases reported to the FDA have been reversible, a few of them resulted in death.

Source: “Stronger Warnings for Tequin,” Food and Drug Administration Release, February 16, 2006.