Levofloxacin may cause Achilles tendon rupture? The risk is low, but these groups of people should be careful.

According to the information from the "Shanghai Internet Rumor Refutation" public account, the topic of "eating levofloxacin may cause Achilles tendon rupture" has sparked discussion recently. Levofloxacin is a commonly used antibiotic in clinical practice, which can accurately destroy the DNA replication of bacteria, with advantages such as a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity and strong antibacterial effects. Due to some structural similarities between collagen proteins in the human body tendons and bacterial DNA, there is a possibility of tendon tissue damage during drug action. However, the general incidence rate is not high, so the public should not worry too much. According to relevant literature reports, the incidence rate of levofloxacin-induced Achilles tendon rupture is 3-5 cases per ten thousand people. As long as the medication is used properly, it can be effectively prevented. Specifically, the side effects of levofloxacin on tendons are closely related to its dosage and concentration in the body. The higher the dosage, the higher the concentration in the body, and the greater the risk. Different routes of administration will result in different concentration distributions and levels of risk. For example, when used locally such as in eye drops or ear drops, the absorption of levofloxacin into the blood is minimal and almost does not cause tendon damage; when taken orally in tablet form, there is a certain risk of tendon damage with high doses and long-term administration; with intravenous injection, the whole body concentration is highest, and the risk of tendon damage is greatest. It is worth noting that some people belong to the high-risk population for levofloxacin use, and if drug use is necessary, special caution should be exercised. For example, individuals under 18 years old, pregnant and lactating women, and patients with a history of tendon disease are prohibited from using levofloxacin. In addition, tendons naturally age and repair abilities decrease in people over 60 years old; athletes, dancers, sports students, and other people engaged in high-intensity physical exercise are under greater tendon stress and are more susceptible to injury. Therefore, these populations should be particularly cautious when using levofloxacin.