Comments on: FDA Requires Black Box Warning for Tendon Ruptures on Cipro, Levaquin and Several Other Antibiotics

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:41:57 +0000

I took Cipro 3 weeks ago for a UTI. This past Monday night I had a spontaneous right bicep tendon tear. I also took Cipro for 10 days in September 09. Follow up with Orthopod and probable MRI to determine extent of tear. Had to have ultrasound to rule out DVT due to severe hematoma on right arm. Pain is extreme. I had no idea there was a problem with Cipro.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:24:55 +0000

I had an outpatient uretreral stent proceedure done on October 1, 2009, at which time I was given an injection of Levofloxacin before I left the hospital, along with a prescription for Ciprofloxacin, with instructions to begin taking it the next day (Friday). By Friday evening (early Saturday), I was in such agony with my legs that my husband called 911 for an ambulance. I was taken back to North Fulton Hospital, Alpharetta, Ga., where they didn’t have a clue as to what was the matter (nor did I). My orthopedic doctor was contacted, who also didn’t know what was happening. Unfortunately, I had had a cortisone injection in one knee the day before the proceedure, but nobody made the connection (I am 77 years old). I was given morphine and ketorolac injections and sent home on crutches absolutely out of my mind with pain with instructions to call his office for an appointment the next week. I have spent the last six weeks on a walker and/or cane. When I tried to discuss the possible tendon problems with my doctors (the orthopedic doctor and the urologist), they denied knowing anything about such problems. No MRIS or further testing were ever done. I am still in terrible pain, but nobody seems to care.

By: janet

janet — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:30:41 +0000

don’t use cipro. I had it prescribed and for a long time i had knee problems

By: W. Maynard

W. Maynard — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:11:19 +0000

I have had ruptured tendons in both elbows, 5cm tears in both shoulder RTR Cuffs, and now a torn tendon in my right foot….! All within the last 4 years! First stop tomorrow is to the Rx to have my records for the last 6 years printed out, as I have had numerous sinus infections, and have had many different anti-biotics prescribed. I don’t know if I have had this class of anti-b before, but this is now WAY TOO much of a coincidence

By: First Levaquin Tendon Tear Lawsuit Scheduled For Trial August 2010 : AboutLawsuits.com

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:37:31 +0000

[...] effects of Levaquin have been found to increase the risk of tendon damage. The FDA required that a “black box” warning be added to all of the antibiotics in this class in July 2008, warning users that they should [...]

By: Carole

Carole — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:47:10 +0000

I have been taking levaquin for a sinus infection. I developed shoulder and arm pain that has kept me from work the past 2 days. I stopped the medicine and am hoping the pain will subside. In searching levaquin online, I found that another medication, Tequin, may be in the same group of antibiotics. I had a bad reaction to that med a few years ago & have it listed as an “allergy” in my medical record. Are they the same drug group & should I have been prescribed levaquin if I cannot tolerate Tequin? I can’t understand how this could have happened?!

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:55:39 +0000

I took cipro back in july of 08 for a bladder infection, I spent 2 months barely walking, I didn’t know what was causing the pain in my tendons, heals and toes, my mornings are a nightmare, it takes me a good hour to get to the point were I can even walk, I seem fine while I work and walk after I get going in the morning, however if I stop moving for around 20 min. my nightmare starts all over, I went to a foot doctor, he told me I have bone spurs in my heals I just laughed this isn’t bone spurs I have had bone spurs, its like stepping on a tac that not what this is, I think this is going to be a life long problem, I don’t think there is anything anyone can do about it.

By: Gilbert

Gilbert — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:12:31 +0000

I was just prescribed Cipro by my doctor. At the time I didn’t remember the wwarning against it until I got home. I then called the pharmacist and asked him about it. He told me that he didn’t know anything about a black box warning. Evidently my physician either did not know about it either or ignored it. This is a short term treatment for a local infection and I plan to take it. But I wonder about the value of FDA warnings when they don’t reach the pharmacists and are therefore not implemented.