Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibiotics used to treat certain bacterial infections. Common examples include **ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and ofloxacin**.
These medicines can be very effective when they are truly needed, but they also carry important safety warnings. Regulators such as the FDA have warned that fluoroquinolones can, in some cases, cause serious side effects involving the **tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system**. ([Santé Nutrition][1])
That does **not** mean these antibiotics will “destroy” everyone who takes them. The original article uses language that is far more dramatic than the evidence supports. The safer and more accurate message is that these drugs have real risks that should be weighed against their benefits.
## What Are Fluoroquinolones?
Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics that interfere with enzymes bacteria need to copy and repair their DNA.
They may be prescribed for certain:
* Urinary tract infections
* Respiratory infections
* Gastrointestinal infections
* Bone and joint infections
* Prostate infections
* Serious bacterial infections when alternatives are limited
They are not the best choice for every infection, and doctors are encouraged to avoid them for some uncomplicated infections when safer effective alternatives are available. ([Santé Nutrition][1])
## 1. Tendon Pain and Tendon Rupture
One of the best-known fluoroquinolone risks
