Recently new warnings were released about the fluoroquinolones (quinolone antibiotics), including Levaquin and Cipro. These antibiotics may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis.
Quinolones should be avoided in patients with a known history of myasthenia gravis. Myasthenia Graves is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating muscle weakness and fatiguability.
In fact, all patients with muscle weakness or respiratory difficulty should NOT take these antibiotics.
All quinolone’s are also associated with increased risk of tendonitis and tend to ruputure in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, and patients taking
1. Corticosteriods
2. Patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants.
Also patients with a history of tendon problems including tendonitis, should not take these antibiotics as well.
Talk with you physician and dentist about side effects and potential negative effects before taking these and other medications.