Antimicrobial Drug Therapy Tied to Increase in Tendinitis, Tendon Rupture, Says FDA
APTA PT Bulletin Online Vol. 9 Issue 30
Health care professionals should be aware that certain patients who take fluoroquinolone antimicrobial drugs may be at increased risk for tendinitis and tendon rupture, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Tuesday.
According to the FDA's Information for Healthcare Professionals notice, the risk of developing fluoroquinolone-associated tendinitis and tendon rupture is further increased in people over age 60; in those taking corticosteroid drugs; and in kidney, heart, and lung transplant recipients. Patients experiencing pain, swelling, inflammation of a tendon, or tendon rupture should be advised to stop taking their fluoroquinolone medication and to contact their health care professionals promptly about changing their antimicrobial therapy. Patients also should avoid exercise and using the affected area at the first sign of tendon pain, swelling, or inflammation, says the notice.
The medications involved in this action are: Cipro and generic ciprofloxacin, Cipro XR and Proquin XR (ciprofloxacin extended release), Factive (gemifloxacin), Levaquin (levofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), Noroxin (norfloxacin), and Floxin and generic ofloxacin.
