Athletes beware; The FDA recently warned that antibiotics can cause tendon damage according to Runners World Magazine. While there is a major concern regarding the effect antibiotics and their overuse has caused us including resistant strains, as well as problems with obesity, one additional concern has just been raised by the FDA. If you are an athlete, antibiotics may affect the strength of muscle tendons.A class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones"”and side effects that could prove devastating to runners. While running injuries may be a part of training, taking a substance that can increase the likelihood of an injury without understanding that tendon weakness is a possible side effect can ruin your goals to both train and complete a race. Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antibiotics: They kill a wide range of harmful bacteria and often work against infections resistant to other drugs, said Houston Methodist primary-care sports-medicine physician Vijay Jotwani, M.D. Doctors frequently prescribe them for kidney infections, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and sinus infections. You can read more about the FDA's warnings here, courtesy of Runners World Magazine FDA Warns of Tendon Damage Linked to Antibiotics Runners can be vulnerable to injuries months"”even years"”after taking fluoroquinolones. By Cindy Kuzma FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016 You might not think a drug you take to treat a sinus problem or urinary-tract infection would have anything to do with your running. But just last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued stronger warnings about a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones"”and side effects that could prove devastating to runners. John Saylor had barely missed a day of running in 30 years when he learned about these complications the hard way. In September 2008, at age 61, the runner from Dryden, New York, had a prostate biopsy. He took an antibiotic called Levaquin for three days afterward to prevent infection. His first run back was interrupted by pains in his calves and hamstrings so strange and severe he thought his muscles might rip off. "œI"™ve never felt anything like it," he told Newswire. Read more