Tendon problems are increasingly being reported as the most commonly prescribed fluoroquinolone, known as Cipro, has become a popular remedy for a variety of infections including those in the skin, upper respiratory system and urinary tract. In a recent study, Williams incubated human musculoskeletal cells with differing strengths of Cipro and found that the cells made destructive enzymes in response to the drug. It's common for athletes to try to work through this sort of thing, but if they do that while they're on this drug, they'll get into trouble. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently updated labeling for fluoroquinolones to include a warning about the possibility of tendon rupture and to recommend stopping the drug and refraining from exercise at the first sign of tendon pain or inflammation. Yet many doctors aren't aware of this advice, notes Williams, who says exercisers at greatest risk are those who do high-impact activities such as heavy weight lifting or sports that involve jumping and rapid acceleration and deceleration.
Athletes also can run into trouble by ignoring usage directions for medications.
Pain is the body's signal that something is wrong, he notes, so trying to block it out may lead to serious injury. Injury also can occur when exercisers take drowsiness-inducing medications, such as alcohol and many antihistamines, before activity, Chamberlain notes. People taking them should avoid things like cycling or using mechanical equipment like a treadmill. Give your body a chance to tell you how it reacts to a new drug. Take it for a day and pay attention to its effects.