Defective Drugs:
Tendon Injuries Linked to Levaquin and Cipro
Levaquin and Cipro Details
- This Alert Affects: Patients who took Levaquin and Cipro and experienced tendon ruptures or tendonitis.
- Damages: Levaquin and Cipro have been linked to tendon ruptures, tendonitis and Achilles tendon damage.
- Company(ies): Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Bayer Pharmaceuticals
- Additional Details: Part of the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics, Levaquin and Cipro treat bacterial infections. Levaquin treats infections in the urinary tract, bones, abdomen, lower respiratory system and skin, while Cipro treats infection in the skin and lungs.
- Date: On July 8, 2008, the FDA placed a black box warning on Cipro and Levaquin to highlight the risk of tendon injuries associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
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Levaquin and Cipro Lawsuits
Levaquin and Cipro are part of the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics. Levaquin is used to treat infections in the urinary tract, bones, abdomen, lower respiratory system and skin, while Cipro treats bacterial infections in the skin, lungs and urinary tract.
The FDA has reported that patients taking Levaquin and Cipro have been experiencing serious tendon injuries, including Achilles tendon ruptures. In July 2008, the FDA reported over 800 cases of tendon ruptures, tendonitis and other tendon disorders in patients taking Levaquin. In addition, over 300 reports of tendon ruptures occurred in Cipro patients. The FDA then required both Levaquin and Cipro to include a black box warning, the agency’s strongest safety alert, about the tendon problems. Symptoms of tendon ruptures include pain or swelling in the tendon area, a pop in the tendon area and inability to move the affected area.
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Be afraid be very afraid. After multiple prescriptions over a period of a few years for variious sinus ear or bladder infections and even for bronchitis and not having the slightest idea that these drugs were capable of this I got what was classified as sick with...oh lets see Fibromyalgia possibly Lupus and even RA all of which turned out to be NOT the case. I had ruptured tendons so severe in my right elbow FYI I am right handed that I have already had two operations on it toward the end of one Cipro prescription BOTH my ahcilles Tendons ruptured not being identified or diagnosed for over a year and a half after the fact but more importantly misdiagnosed as part of the other tendon disorder which no one really xrayed or MRId then recently during a Levaquin prescription I went to turn the key to unlock my car door and injured the tendons in my RIGHT hand. In the past few years and multiple unconcerned or unworried doctors who didnt seemed to think test were warranted I have from at least two doctors mind you without a physical examination and right off the bat after I tell them my history have had them ask me have you seen a psychiatrist Really I mean seriously dude have you seen me walk someone who worked out 2 and half hours 7 days a week a baton twirling teacher who also worked in constructin and bartended at night. My life is non existent right now. I walk like I am 95 years old. It is so difficult to rupture an achilles tendon but to rupture both from doing absolutely nothing because by the time these antibiotics did this I was already in so much pain I wasnt even working yet I also question the doctors that so freely and widely still to this day prescribe these drugs when there are many alternative safe alternative broad spectrum antibiotics that are ntried and true. So to you question. YES STOP TAKING THESE MEDS NOW
John (12/28/09):
I'm currently taking Cipro.... should I be worried?