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What Antibiotics Cause Joints Pain In The Shoulders?
Question: I took and antibiotic a year or so ago that caused me great pain in my shoulder joint. When I looked up the drug, I found this was a side effect of the drug. I can't remember the name of the drug. I thought it was doxycycline, but when I look it up now, it doesn't list that as a side effect. I think I may have mixed up the name of the drug, but I never want to take it again, so I need to know what it was. Can you help me, please
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Proctor,
I'm sorry you had this problem. While there is the potential for unusual side effects with any medication, I am wondering if what you took may have been in the antibiotic family called fluoroquinolones. Examples of this class of antibiotic are Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Levaquin (levofloxacin). Another is Avelox (moxifloxacin). Do any of those sound familiar?
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello Ms. Proctor,
I'm sorry you had this problem. While there is the potential for unusual side effects with any medication, I am wondering if what you took may have been in the antibiotic family called fluoroquinolones. Examples of this class of antibiotic are Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and Levaquin (levofloxacin). Another is Avelox (moxifloxacin). Do any of those sound familiar?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I believe it was Cipro. It sounds familiar. The problem is that I have had so many antibiotics over the years, that it is hard to keep them straight. If it was Cipro, as I think it was, that caused my shoulder joint pain that lasted a few months, can the problem return, even if I haven't had Cipro since? I am having the same joint pain as I had then, and have had for about a month. By the by, it is the same shoulder where I had a rotator cuff repair a few years ago.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
It's hard to say. Some people do have lasting tendon or musculoskeletal problems after Cipro. The musculoskeletal problem that are most associated with fluoroquinolones are tendinopathies - problems with the tendons. It may be related to the rotator cuff problem though.
I recommend going in to be seen and examined. A physical therapist can be particularly good at sorting that out. An MRI can show in detail what is going on with the soft tissues.
Many doctors are not fully aware of the risks for tendinitis from flouroquinolones although the medications are now required to have a "black box warning" on the packaging.
To confirm what medication it was, if you can remember when the pain started after the antibiotic in the past, you can call your pharmacist and ask what antibiotic was prescribed around that time.
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
It's hard to say. Some people do have lasting tendon or musculoskeletal problems after Cipro. The musculoskeletal problem that are most associated with fluoroquinolones are tendinopathies - problems with the tendons. It may be related to the rotator cuff problem though.
I recommend going in to be seen and examined. A physical therapist can be particularly good at sorting that out. An MRI can show in detail what is going on with the soft tissues.
Many doctors are not fully aware of the risks for tendinitis from flouroquinolones although the medications are now required to have a "black box warning" on the packaging.
To confirm what medication it was, if you can remember when the pain started after the antibiotic in the past, you can call your pharmacist and ask what antibiotic was prescribed around that time.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank-you for your help. The medication did have the black box warning on it. I will be seeing my doctor shortly for my yearly wellness check, and I will discuss this with him.
Brief Answer:
Your welcome
Detailed Answer:
That sounds like a good plan, but if the pain is severe or you now have a new limitation in movement or have increased weakness, then please don't wait - go in to be seen right away.
Ask your doctor to put flouroquinolone antibiotics in your problem list and drug side effects/allergies. While it isn't an allergy, if possible you will want to avoid this class of antibiotics (Cipro, Levaquin, ofloxacin, Avelox).
Good luck to you.
Your welcome
Detailed Answer:
That sounds like a good plan, but if the pain is severe or you now have a new limitation in movement or have increased weakness, then please don't wait - go in to be seen right away.
Ask your doctor to put flouroquinolone antibiotics in your problem list and drug side effects/allergies. While it isn't an allergy, if possible you will want to avoid this class of antibiotics (Cipro, Levaquin, ofloxacin, Avelox).
Good luck to you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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