Cipro Tendon Rupture
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Cipro® tendon rupture reports have been increasing in number since the drug's introduction in 1987. Cipro (ciprofloxacin) was introduced by its manufacturer, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, as a synthetic antibiotic, a member of the class of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Soon after its release on the U.S. market, Cipro tendon ruptures began to be reported to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency that monitors drug safety in the U.S.).
Tendon Rupture Reports
There are currently more than 250 cases of tendon ruptures due to fluoroquinolone antibiotic treatment in the FDA's database. Of course, the number of cases reported to the FDA is only a fraction of the total number of cases. In addition, of the nearly 1,000 cases of fluoroquinolone-related tendon damage in the FDA database, nearly one-quarter are due to Cipro use.
Tendon Rupture: Complete Tearing
Tendons are fibrous cords that connect muscle to bone, or muscle to another body structure such as the eyeball. A tendon can become damaged from overuse or in an accident. Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon; a rupture of a tendon is a rip or tear completely through the tendon.
A Cipro-based tendon rupture may require surgical repair. The medical bills from tendon damage can be significant, and a patient may also lose work time and physical capacities due to tendon damage.
Cipro-related tendon damage may occur in the:
· elbow
· wrist
· thumb
· heel
· knee
· shoulder
· neck
· other sites
Fluoroquinolones & Tendon Damage
It is not known how Cipro and other fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., Levaquin, Floxin, and Noroxin) cause tendon ruptures and other tendon damage. Each of the fluoroquinolones is designed to kill certain bacteria that cause infections. The tendon injuries have occurred as early as a period of hours after the administration of the fluoroquinolone in some patients, and as late as six months after a term of the antibiotic treatment had concluded.
A tendon injury may be signaled by swelling, pain, bruising, or difficulty moving the affected body part. The symptoms may be temporary, or the damage may be permanent.
Talk to a Lawyer about a Cipro Tendon Rupture
If you've suffered tendon damage as a consequence of being treated with Cipro, contact a law firm for help and counsel. You may be entitled to compensation for your injury.
