Conditions and symptoms
What Is Tendinitis? Why Antibiotic Labels Warn About It
Tendinitis · say it: ten-dih-NY-tisAlso written: tendonitis, tendon inflammation, tendinopathy
Short answer
Tendinitis is inflammation or irritation of a tendon, the tough cord that joins muscle to bone, causing pain and stiffness near a joint.
What it means
Tendons are strong cords that attach muscles to bones. Tendinitis means a tendon is inflamed or irritated, usually from overuse, but sometimes from medicines. It causes pain, tenderness and stiffness, often around the heel (Achilles tendon), shoulder, elbow or wrist, and pain is often worse with movement.
Medicine labels warn about tendinitis mainly for fluoroquinolone antibiotics, which can cause it and lead to tendon rupture. The risk is higher in people over 60, those taking corticosteroids, and those with kidney, heart or lung transplants. Labels advise stopping the medicine, resting the area and contacting your doctor at the first sign of tendon pain or swelling.
Tendinitis is different from tendon rupture, where the tendon tears. It is also different from arthritis, which affects the joint itself rather than the tendon.
Where you may see it
- Boxed warnings on fluoroquinolone antibiotic labels
- Medication guides under 'Tendon problems'
- Physiotherapy and sports medicine notes
📄 How it looks on a report
Discontinue immediately if the patient experiences pain, swelling, inflammation or rupture of a tendon.
🙅 What it does not mean
- Tendon pain on this medicine is not just a normal ache to push through.
- It does not mean the tendon is torn.
- It does not mean you should keep exercising the sore area; rest is usually advised until you are checked.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Tendinitis”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Tendinitis”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Ciprofloxacin
a fluoroquinolone antibacterial medicine
- Levofloxacin
an antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone type
- Naproxen
a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is a medicine that reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Tendinitis” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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