Antibiotics and achilles

Has anyone ever had an achilles problem due to an antibiotic? If so, did it go away on it's own?

Nope
but I did have plantar fascilitis (spelling) 3 year ago and whether it due to antibiotic never occured to me. As I got very wet feet after a wet walk due to hiking boots not being properly maintained - ie. my fault. ( I been taking penicillin now for 4 years approx with not having a spleen and having the two major illnesses.)

I was given some very useful exercises to do and they worked for me though did take a while. They can be found on the internet. I also took ibufren (spelling) until started giving me indigestion so stopped them

Sandi I was just on an antibiotic and one of the side effects listed was a possibility of a tendon problem. Achilles was mentioned but I believe a rupture.

So - I'm saying no, I was very thankful when that course of antibiotics was finished without a problem.

I've taken Cipro many times without a problem (achilles rupture has been reported), but I just finished Levaquin and now both legs seem to have achilles tendonitis. I've read that it can be a precursor to a rupture. It started on Friday. I'm hoping it just goes away and am not sure what to do to prevent it from getting worse.

Sandi,

If you suspect it's from the Levaquin, there is an easy way in which you can lessen the side effect, if you still have some of it left. This can be done with any drug. If you're interested, I will share it with you.

You could also try homeopathic Rhus toxicodendron or Ruta, both of which are readily available in health food stores that have a homeopathic section (The selection is limited, but these two would most likely be among them.). They both have a great affinity for the tendons, and are used for tendonitis. A 30X, 30C or 12C potency would be appropriate-not that much difference, except you might need to repeat the 12C or 30X more frequently.

Take one pellet every 2-4 hours, depending on severity (the vial may say to take more, but you only need one.)
If there is no improvement after 3 doses, try a different remedy. Take only one remedy at a time.
Once you notice marked improvement, STOP, as the remedy will continue to work. Let it. Do not interrupt it.
Take another dose only if symptoms begin to return.
In most cases, you can expect some improvement within the first 30 minutes, and often, much sooner.

Although homeopathic remedies don't interfere with allopathic medications, and are especially safe when taken in these low potencies, when indicated, and only as needed, if you don't feel comfortable with the oral kind, you could try a topical cream that contains one of these. There's one that is sold in my area, called Triflora Arthritis Gel, by B&T (Boericke & Tafel) that contains Symphytum (comfrey), Rhus tox and Ledum (another good one for achilles tendonitis). B & T also has something called Sports Gel, that contains both Rhus tox and Ruta, Bellis perennis and Hypericum. They are both under $10, and could be used on other areas of the body, if needed. Do not apply on broken skin. Apply 3 or 4 times/day, and after bathing.

April

Sandi see what it says in my signature - suck it up cupcake [check with the doctor].

I remembered what I was on - the generic of Avelox. Now that I am thinking about it - I've had thumb tendonitis in my left hand/wrist and it is acting up again. My last one was Dec 31.

Wow I had no idea tendon problems could come from an antibiotic - what is the mechanism that makes that happen? It seems really weird. I have achilles tendonitis, pretty bad, for years. I haven't taken antibiotics in at least 15 years so it didn't start from that. I just got out of four months in a walking boot (which helped a lot) but it's back to about 75% as bad as when I started.
Erica

April - thanks, I'll look into it.

Melinda - I do plan to call tomorrow. I've taken Avelox too with no problems. This is the only one that ever caused this.

Erica - yes, it is actually a black box warning. I've been aware of it for years with the antibiotics that I usually take, but never had a problem. As soon as this started, I knew what it was. Both legs - no! I don't have time for it.

Erica, it seems odd that your tendinitis would be caused from antibiotics given 15 years ago. Have you been on Prednisone lately? Rupture of the Achilles tendon is a side effect of it as well (so assuming that there could be some tendinitis preceding it):

Musculoskeletal Side Effects of Prednisone

arthralgias, aseptic necrosis of femoral and humeral heads, increase risk of fracture, loss of muscle mass, muscle weakness, myalgias, osteopenia, osteoporosis, pathologic fracture of long bones, steroid myopathy, tendon rupture (particularly of the Achilles tendon), vertebral compression fractures.
Ref: www.drugs.com/sfx/prednisone-side-effects.html


Sandi,
If you are almost certain it is a result of the drug, I'd try antidoting it first, before anything else. As I said, can be simple to do if you have even a tiny bit of the drug left.

Sandi wrote: Melinda - I do plan to call tomorrow. I've taken Avelox too with no problems. This is the only one that ever caused this.

Sandi my friend I'm sorry - I was going to put a happy face after that and I forgot - I meant to put this there

April Erica did say "I haven't taken antibiotics in at least 15 years so it didn't start from that."

Hmmm I have tendonitis, technically I believe it is tendonosis, the tendon isn't ruptured. I wonder if that could be related to prednisone? I had a bad bout of achilles tendonitis in the late 90s, then it came back after I got off two years of prednisone in 2007 - I haven't recovered from that 2007 tendonitis. It seemed to me that prednisone kept it suppressed, reduced the inflammation, so while I was on prednisone it wasn't bad. Everything hurt less while I was on prednisone. I even had fewer headaches.

I'd still be very interested if anyone could explain how antibiotics cause tendon problems. I believe it I just don't understand how that might work.
Erica

I don't have any of it left. I'm sure it was from the Levaquin. I started it last Friday - one a day for seven days. Too coincidental. Two days ago, the achilles pain started. Friday right foot, Saturday, left foot. I am also on 20 mg's of Prednisone which I'm sure didn't help matters, probably made me a bit more susceptible. I'm just hoping it's a temporary inflammation that will go away.

I'm looking, Erica. I can't find 'why', I am only finding that it happens.

It seems they don't know why. Everything I find says it's not understood.

Melinda - I also found that the quinolone antibiotics can cause irreversible neuropathy. Do you happen to remember if you took one prior to the onset of your neuropathy? Just curious. I can't remember if I took an antibiotic before mine started. You usually don't think about things like that if you're not aware of it.

This is bumming me out. I read that I should stay away from quinolones now. They are one of the few I was able to take.

ok, I've never heard of any of this before! My first thought was, different shoes? An exceptional amount of walking? I dunno. I guess if you've had it before from an antibiotic, you would know! Interesting is all I can say! If I may ask, how come your on antibiotics? If you don't want to answer, I understand

No new shoes, no extra walking. It's a very well known side effect. I've never had it before from an antibiotic. I just knew about it from researching quinolones since I take that family of antibiotics when I need one. I never really expected it to happen though.

I was taking it for bronchitis. I've spent the past two weeks wheezing and coughing my head off. It got so bad I couldn't breathe after taking 5 steps. I never had it this bad before.

Erica - this was the best thing I could find:

Researchers feel that the mechanism is due to a toxic effect on collagen fibers. This may be caused by a substance called matrix metalloproteinase.

www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/i-have-achilles-tendonitis-could-it-be-caused-by-the-antibiotic-i-took-553600.html

Thanks! That's something I can sort of get my mind around. Googled around a bit - wow tried the wikipedia article on matrix metalloproteinase as a starting point - I need a degree in biochemistry to grasp it. Looks like zinc is involved somehow.
Erica

If zinc is involved in some way (assuming lower body quantities of it), would supplementing with it while one is taking the drug maybe help prevent the issue at hand? Or perhaps particular drugs lower one's absorption of zinc which then causes an issue? Dunno. Just wondering out loud......Might be worth trying sometime if you have to take one of the drugs that has that as a side effect.

I haven't researched the zinc yet. I'm trying to get to it. I did see the PA today who confirmed achilles tendonitis and agreed it was due to the Levaquin. It's getting worse.

ugh, so now what?

Live with it and hope it doesn't progress to a rupture. If it gets too bad, they will refer me to a specialist and start PT.

It's worst in the morning when I first get out of bed. I hobble pretty bad then, but it gets a bit better after that which is good because that's when I'm running around at work. Then in the evenings it starts up again. I'm just bummed because those were the few good body parts I had left!

Good news - it seems to be resolving. I lucked out for once!

During my research, I learned that people with Lupus are more susceptible to this problem from this type of antibiotic. Makes sense since the antibiotic affects collagen.

One of the rare side effects of Levaquin or any of the group of antibiotics called fluroquinolones could be tendon rupture. I work for an internist and have seen several patients changed to a different type of antibiotic after developing pain or tenderness especially in the Achilles tendon.


Debbie D