Anthrax symptoms and conditions

My 3 1/2 year old was given Levaquin in a Children's hospital complained of a feeling of bugs crawling all over him, red mottled rash, tiny red bumps on neck and stomach that worsened with every dose, hives, heaviness in chest, itchy, and complained of his ankles hurting..........

after taking cipro for a few year for prostrate infection I have developed a
reacurring cyst on my wrist. Has anyone experienced this sort of problem?

Cipro is a chemotherapeutic agent that is stored in fat cells and is reabsorbed into the bloodstream when burned and can potentially damage any system it comes in contact with. I took this for two weeks.and had horrible pains and kept having what could best be described as partial seizures and heart palpitations as well as peripheral neuropathies. As the drug recycles every few months back into my blood the symptoms start over and sometimes new ones occur. I am currently experiencing floaters, brain fog, vision problems, burning sensations, panic attacks, partial seizures, dizziness, depersonalization and extreme fatigue even nine months after taking 27 pills over the course of two weeks. Cipro is used to kill anthrax and should not be used on people even though Bayer is making a killing in its sales. You don't have to look far to find thousands of people who have had their lives destroyed by this drug. Remove from the market ASAP.

Started a 5 day 750mg Leva-pak on Sunday after amoxicillin didn't touch my bacterial throat infection of unknown origin. My husband mentioned these boards full of complaints, but I was so miserable that I said I would be fine--never had a problem with a drug before.

Sunday brought swollen, painful knuckles. Monday had palpitations and painful sensitivity to light. Tuesday night I was wired and couldn't sleep at all, my heart was racing, and I had asthmatic wheezing and serious shortness of breath and borrowed my husband's inhaler. The pharmacy said insomnia wasn't a side-effect (which was misinformation) and I'd be fine as long as I didn't have a rash (more misinformation). I was finally feeling on the mend as the fever had broken Tue night and I attributed the symptoms to the infection. Then I took my next dose of levaquin.

Within 10 minutes of taking it, I was considering a trip to the ER. My head was splitting, I was extremely sensitive to the slightest motion, sound, or light, my heart was racing again, and I felt violently ill to my stomach all within 30 minutes. My throat swelled to the point I could hardly breathe or swallow my spit. My temp that had been normal since the early morning hours also shot up to 101. It was so drastic and sudden that there is no possibility the symptoms came from anything but the medicine. Short of contracting anthrax, I won't ever take this again.

AND my throat is worse! They put me on augmenting now. Wish I'd gone on it in the first place.

Prescribed 500mg of Levaquin for sinus infection, along w Medrol Pak steroids. Although steroids can cause restlessness, they do NOT cause COMPLETE anxiety, nightmares insomnia and aphasia. I took only 4 pills, 1 each day, and it's like i boarded THE CRAZY TRAIN. Fluoroquinolones are apparently known for their intense and dangerous side effects, and if it is true that this is also an antidote for anthrax poisoning, it's probably something that should not be prescribed for sinus infections. SEVERE side effects, chest tightness, etc. No wonder they will not rx it for teenagers-I am a healthy 42 yr old woman and would NEVER take it AGAIN,.

I am a 36 year old male who was prescribed Levaquin for a urinary tract infection related to some bacteria in my prostate, most likely E-coli. I was prescribed 500mg for 14 days. I have not taken antibiotics in about 8 years as I am a firm believer that they are toxic and do more harm than good in the long run. However this was the first time I had something like this and was worried about something serious developing, so I agreed. The side effects started mildly and got worse and 11 days into them I could barely go to work. Incredible dehydration and light headedness accompanied with soreness in my muscles and tendons and trouble sleeping. (I was in possibly the best physical shape you can be in and worked out regularly). I'm not taking them anymore and hoping for the best. If the infection returns I will go see an Eastern medicine doctor and go the natural route with herbal remedies. I have heard doctors make commissions (kick backs) by prescribing certain drugs and don't pay attention to the horrible side effects their patients describe. Some of the stories related to this drug are very scary and people should be very cautious. Something else of interest, Levaquin is prescribed for anthrax inhalation and cancer as well, I think that says a lot.

Sinus infection and chest congestion: doctor knew I was on HCTZ, a diuretic, as well as Zyrtec and Nasonex. The HCTZ I now known is an agent that should have triggered a modification of the treatment protocol. First night on the 400 mg Avelox, during conversation at the supper table, a black cloud of depression suddenly descended upon me like a curtain. Then I became extremely irritable and short-tempered. (Hard to blame on a drug, except that this came out of the blue right when I was feeling mentally and emotionally happy and relaxed, enjoying my husband's companionship. No reason for depression, irritability and short temper, especially to such an uncharacteristic degree. This was severe!) No sleep whatsoever that night due to shivering without getting warm, feeling like my whole body was crawling, feeling terrible frustration and anxiety and depression. Had taken the Avelox with my supper. Second night: unable to breathe through nose at all. Nasal passages so dry they hurt. I decided to abandon Nasonex and Zyrtic but never thought about stopping the HCTZ (the info insert from the drugstore never mentioned that). Insomnia and feeling electrified. Again, the feeling of total body crawling and restlessness. Irritable to the max. Frustration. Wound up sitting up most of the night to avoid waking loved one with my tossing and turning and misery. Third night, I took the Avelox early, at 5 p.m. Had been having to turn on the shower and steam up the bathroom to moisturize my nasal passages enough to bear the painful dryness. Also began using Ocean Mist to ease the pain. Despite the dryness, my nose was still too stopped up to breathe. Heavy sinus congestion and pain not any improved yet. Dozed some that night but a phone call came at midnight for my husband and after that I was wired awake again. I am desperate for rest. This is the fourth day and finally I'm coughing less and the congestion is coming up. But my sinuses are harder than ever to empty. Mucus extremely thick and sticky (sorry for the graphic quality of this post). One very severe side effect is that I am now incontinent. I never make it to the bathroom in time to urinate and so am wearing pads. Having to change them every time my bladder begins to fill. Leaking, dribbling and now gushing urine without any control whatsoever. I have just read the full prescribing info and wonder why on earth was I not given a safe antibiotic (I realize everything has some risks and side effects, but why was I exposed in this way to such a dangerous drug without a life-threatening disease to require its use?) This is an outrage. Now I"m stuck finishing the script or else my infection will be back worse than ever and then I'll be given yet another bad drug. I have only one clue to this question: I was asked what my Insurance company was just before the script was written. I cannot help wondering: what if I'd had no insurance, or another insurance? Would I then have been given a less-expensive and much safer, even safe drug? If you are ever asked just before the script is written what your insurance company is, ASK WHY THEY NEED TO KNOW. They will probably tell you it's so they can pick a Preferred drug. That would be a bogus answer, because after I told them what my insurance company was, they never went and looked for a list of preferred drugs! They simply swiftly wrote for Avelox! I was never told any of the bad effects. Now I fear getting the colitis, the tendonitis (no one told me not to exercise!). I even fear permanent incontinence. I also think that this depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and the horrible restlessness and whole body crawling sensation could be lasting and that really makes me feel very depressed. My husband has had to suffer with days and nights of my irritability and temper -- and he has cancer and I never wanted to ever be cross or complaining or to worry or burden him. This medicine is not worth it. THere are safer better options. DEMAND BETTER OPTIONS. I also wonder if the HCTC or Zyrtec or Nasonex taken on the same days could have damaged my kidneys or liver. I really think that antibiotic resistance is the ultimate bad side effect of this drug. What could be worse? Why is this being used for garden-variety sinus infections? Why is it not an option only for those who must have it or probably die of some life-threatening illness? This medicine needs more than a black box. This medicine should be available only to doctors treating patients who are in danger of dying of an illness. I have had doctors give me black box medicines before and I was spineless enough (and ill enough with severe, recurrent sinus infection) that I took the medicine. But from now on, never again. There are still better options and I deserve the safer options just as much as the next person -- no matter what my insurance coverage is! Doctors don't hesitate to use black box medicines anymore. Why do they hesitate so long to prescribe medicines without black boxes? They say it's because of the new resistance to antibiotics and the super bugs. Well now I'm susceptible to super bugs PLUS all these other severe side effects have to be endured. If anything else goes wrong, I'll come back and add another post. Meanwhile, I'm praying for each of you to make a full and speedy recovery.

Levaquin actually worked great when I took it. I was diagnosed with epididymitis after a urine culture was analyzed and the doc gave me a 10 day supply of Levaquin to take once a day. The side effects I felt were pain in the abdominal area, headaches, anxiety, confusion, and dizziness. Those I could live with, because the epididymitis problem had more side effects than the drug. The trade off was worth it. I'm on my 7th day of Levaquin and I feel a whole lot better than without it. But do beware some people do react badly to the Levaquin family of drugs including cipro. This is some powerful stuff not to be messed around with, it is also used to treat HIV patients and people who had post inhalation of Anthrax. Yes it is powerful enough to treat those dangerous conditions. When you take Levaquin just get plenty of rest drink lots of water AND Cranberry juice which prevents unitary tract infections. Do not exercise while on this medicine for it will cause tendon damage, just take it easy for the whole time you are on it with plenty of fluids. Get better and stay healthy.

We took our 16 year old son to Urgent Care as he was very sick and a high fever. The Urgent Care doctor prescribed Levaquin 500 mg. After the 2nd pill my son could not speak clearly, his jaw was very strangely crooked and he could not hold it in place, his face muscles were twitching, I was so scared I thought he was having a stroke!!! I rushed him to ER and the doctor said they could not believe that a doctor prescribed this to a minor as that is illegal without a parent consent!!!! This drug is NOT to be give to minors and I cant believe that the Urgent Care doctor did not tell us that along with any side effects it may have. I know I should be informed myself, but when we rush our child to the Urgent Care because he is sick, we trust the doctor when he prescribes just an antibiotic!!!! I am wayyyyyyyy more upset and mad that the doctor did not mention AT ALL that this drug IS NOT TO BE GIVEN TO MINORS WITHOUT A PARENT CONSENT. If we had knows this we would not take a chance on it. I would want a normal antibiotic that my son has taken before. If it is harmful to kids, I don't recommend an adult take it. Children are not done gowning and all kinds of things could have happend to my son. I was never more scared of anything in my entire life, my son was crying cause all the SUDDEN he could not talk and his face was all distorted.... so scary. PRAISE GOD that my son is all better now except for a cold, still and he is very athletic and seems to be getting better with no aches or pains. The ER doctor did recommend Benadryl and when my son took this his symptoms went down and the drug was out of his system in 2 days. I know he will be great as that is what we PRAY for but I thought this was very good info to pass along. If anyone experiences these symptoms you now know someone who has been through it and what the ER doctor recommend for us. Take care, please be healthy....

side effect: bleeding at urethra

For a long-term sinus infection that has drained my energy, I took my first pill in the Leva-pak about noon today with a large glass of water. Ate lunch. Planned to vacuum, but it was difficult to get into and around in our garage (we made a space for a car to go in now that mornings bring frost outside.) So I ended up moving things around in the garage. Major moving around, some stuff heavy. I was thrilled to have energy and strength to actually do something at last and to think of how long I had been listlessly surviving and at times even bedridden before this magical pill.

About 8:30 I came in to pee and found my undies bloody. Bravo, I said to myself, 10 years post menopause and I got my period again. This is the drug of youthfulness: energy and menstruation. Fortunately I still have a few sanitary items around for female friends who visit, so I got to be one of my friends.

But it seems that the blood is coming from the urethra, not from the vagina. And I have some discomfort there. So I recalled that the drug pakage said to drink plenty of water and realized that I hadn't had any more drinks since about noon or 1. I drank another glass of water and headed back to the garage.

I finished up the garage (who said I'm obsessive?) about 9:30 and came in to find out more about the new drug. I saw that the pack said right on it that drinking plenty of liquids PREVENTS THE FORMATION OF CRYSTALS IN THE URINE. So I drank 2 more glasses of water, thinking maybe crystals have formed in my urine and are cutting into the tissues of my bladder and urethra making them bleed. Guess these crystals must be softer than kidney stones or maybe much much smaller, because I've seen the pain folks get with kidney stones, and I would not be sitting here reading your experiences and now typing up my own to share with y'all if I had as much pain as kidney stones cause!

Anyway, with those two more glasses of water, I came online to see the deal with urethral bleeding caused by Leva-pak, and what do I see. Well, the first website I went to said about reading the pharmacist's paper that came with the L-pak. (My doc calls it L-pak, and I hope it's not gonna be L for me as it has been for most of y'all.) Now I wondered if the pharmacist had even put one in. Went and looked and sure enough, there it was, and it said to drink plenty of water "to prevent the formation of crystals in the urine." No further info about those crystals or their side effects. Some words about bleeding but totally vague, like does drinking water cure bleeding?? Who knows?

That paper the pharmacist put in my bag also said that one of the side effects can be "excitement". I thought, that's my side effect, and I am very happy about that. Garage is too. Hubby is too. Life is good. Leva-pack is good for me, for us for the world.

Anyway, back at the puter, eventually I found y'all and your many stories of pain and suffering caused by Levaquil. But, lo and behold, NOT A ONE OF YOU HAS MENTIONED MY BLOODY SIDE EFFECT. That goes to show what drinking plenty of liquids can spare you. Save ya a quarter wasted on sanitary pads you coulda given your female guests. Save ya from washing blood out of your undies again. Save ya from worrying about whether to call the doc (pharmacist is home in bed by now and tomorrow is Sunday. It figures.) And whether to take another pill.

Sheesh, it's a slow business trying to type up my story for ya, now 11 and time for more water, I figure. Be right back again...ok. I see the bleeding continues but it's a LIGHT DAY.

Well, now I've read this whole webpage top to bottom, and I feel pretty worried about taking enough of this Levaquil stuff to get exploding tendons and total nerve damage and pain and suffering and crippling and insanity and death by anaphylactic shock if I take another one.

I probably will take another one, just being sure to drink plenty a water too. Excuse me a sec while I go get another, as it is now after 10....okay I'm back now.We'll see as time goes along about taking any more. And if I am a good scout, I should come back and provide the REST OF MY STORY in a few days.

I saw that someone here said that Cipro is a fluoxosomethingorother too. I don't know why the doc didn't pick Cipro for me today instead of the Leva-pak. Maybe the last drug rep in his office gave him some good lines about the advantages of L as opposed to C, who knows? Anyway, if Cip and Lev are in the same family, I must say that as a postal employee, I am ready to take Cipro at the drop of a hat if our new machines spot anthrax in the air where we work. Sounds like those postal employees who died would have survived if the docs had recognized what was wrong with them and given them the Cipro early on. At least, other people who showed up sick afterwards with anthrax exposure got Cipro, and most of them survived, I heard.

The upshot is that I hope we don't take away the fluoxisomethingorothers until we find somthing better. Law suit perhaps, but not to deny the life-saving drug from EVERYBODY because some folks have bad side effects. Instead, we should find out how to test each person for having trouble taking it. You know, put a little drug in with some of their hair and a little in some of their blood and a little in some of their pee and see if it curdles or grows sprouts or something to show how each patient will react to it. Then tell each one what to expect from the various drugs available for that person's ailment. Then the patient can decide which side effects he wants to sign up for or if he just wants to stick with his original ailment.

I have not decided whether I will take any more of these pills. I will observe my crochety side effect and watch for any new ones that may pop up before I make my decision each day. I am very very concerned about long lasting muscle and tendon pains. I have not been able to hike now for about 3 months due to loss of energy, strength, and confidence. And I sure don't want to miss 3 more months trying to get over exploded achilles, burning knees, seizures, or nerve damage etc.

As a postal employee, I never do any research into cures for ailments. I am fairly experienced with ailments. I cannot provide you with any good excuses for not seeking to find cures for our health troubles.

I feel lucky to have been born when and where I was. I waited until central heat, air conditioning, cushioned seats in heated, air-conditioned autos(spare me from buckboards on unpaved "roads"), and penicillan. That penicillan brought me through pneumonia in 1947. Had I arrived 5 years sooner, I doubt it would have been available to me. Hmmm, I wouldn't a been available to share my story with you folks this evening either. So I must say a blessing for all those who try to improve my health when I go to them for help with my various complaints. Sure, money may be highly motivating for some of them, but Donald Trump and Bill Gates found ways to make money without going into medicine or research and drug development or doctoring.

So far, that's my story, my red flag today.

May THE FORCE be with each of you as you search for the best solutions for your ever-new mind and body problems. May we seek wisdom widely and recognize that what used to work for us often won't work any more because our bodies keep changing. We are along for the ride and hope to make it as pleasurable as possible as we round each curve and surmount each hill.

God bless us all, each and every one.
Christmas is coming...Tiny Tim's words echo through the years.

This was the worst experience! I started taking Doxy to rid myself of infection that might be caused due to a vaginal procedure. I started taking the med on Monday afternoon, by Thursday night my legs and arms were on fire it seemed. The tingly feeling you are talking about. I completely lost my appetite. I was tired, weak, lightheaded, nauseated. Here it is five days after I have stopped the med and I still feel the burning, tingly skin. Also, I had muscle pain that caused my skin to be sore to even touch. I cringed at the thought of someone touching me for two days. NEVER AGAIN will I take this. I mean, after all, it's strong enough to be used for ANTHRAX, how strong does that have to be?

WHAT!!!??? ANTHRAX TREATMENT??? NO WAY!!!
I have never had so many side effects from any pill!!!
I just did a little online research on my twice a day 100mg Doxycycline, and I didn't see hardly any side affects listed.(I think asprin had more.lol) Anyways, I'm taking the med for a possible bacteria infection in which I kinda complained to my wife about alot. Now, I know i'm driving her crazy after I've been complaning about HEART BURN, DIZZINESS, CRAMPS IN SIDES AND LOWER BACK(bed time hours), APPETITE LOSS, LOSS OF ENERGY, SHORTNESS OF BREATH, CONFUSION. This is only my 3rd day on the medication. The crazy part for me about taking the pill is thinking it's the illness that is causing the problems, not the pill. Now for the positives- (1)Hopefully getting rid of my bacteria.(2) Regular bowl movements that I am very proud of!!!
REMEMBER TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS TO A TEE. THIS STUFF IS NO JOKE, IT'S GIVEN TO SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPOSED TO ANTHRAX.

I took one Levaquin pill for an infection and within 30-45 minutes I was begging my husband to commit me because I felt crazy. I finally fell asleep about 4 hours later. I took the pill around 9:30 pm. I have severe TMJD, which has been aggrivated due to this. I woke up with a horriffic headache and completely green with nausea. It is slowly subsiding, thank goodness. I asked my father-in-law if he has heard of Levaquin. He told me that it is used by the military to treat anthrax poisioning. Why is this suff available by perscription to the general public? Shouldn't it be more highly regulated? I am so glad I found this site. I really thought I was going crazy. These are horrible side effects for simply having taken one pill.

WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO TAKE A DRUG THAT CAN DO THIS MUCH DAMAGE WHEN THERE ARE OTHER DRUGS AVAILABLE THAT ARE MUCH SAFER? THIS DRUG IS SUPPOSED TO BE USED ONLY FOR BACTERIAL INFECTIONS AND ONLY USED WHEN NOTHING ELSE WORKS. ASK THE POSTAL WORKERS THAT WERE GIVEN FLOUROQUINOLONES FOR EXPOSURE TO ANTHRAX. I'M SURE THAT THOSE THAT CAN'T WORK ANYMORE WISH THAT THEIR DOCTORS HAD READ THE FACTS ABOUT THESE DRUGS BEFORE MAKING THEM TAKE IT.

I am male, 54 years old, do not drink alcohol in any amount or use any form of tobacco, and WAS in very good health until taking doxycycline hyclate on June 13th, 2004. I have used doxycycline hyclate four times since 1979. On June 13, I was prescribed doxycycline hyclate for two small boil-like infections on my forehead. I was not warned about avoiding taking the pill before going to bed and it burned my esophagus terribly. On the 14th I took the second dose and in addition to terrible esophageal spasms and cramps I developed a terrible headache that hurt so bad I could not move, followed a few hours later with the addition to the esophageal spasms, cramps, and violent throbbing headache a case of nausea and vomiting so bad I was regurgitating duodenal contents for hours. This lasted over 24 hours. I knew it was the medicine causing the trouble and did not take another pill. Today is June 16th and my stomach, chest, right lobe of my liver are so sore I can't take a deep breath. My urine is brown but I don't have juandice, yet. All this from two pills. I never had a reaction to this medicine before anything like this, just a little acceptable heartburn. The first time I took it I was 29 years old, I am now 54. With violent reactions like this there should be some kind of pre-screening test developed to prevent doxycycline hyclate sensitive people from going through the pure hell I did for over 24 hours. I hope I don't get exposed to anthrax because I don't want to go through this again! Oh yeah, the two little boils are starting to get better.