Antibiotic resistant symptoms and conditions

I wish I had seen this page BEFORE I finished 5 days of Levaquin 500. The meds were prescribed for a post-upper-respiratory infection hacking dry cough that had been going on for nearly 3 weeks. I finished the meds 4 days ago and still feel super crummy. Levaquin did nothing for the cough (acunpuncturist stopped it with with several well-placed needles in my outer ear) and - before I saw this page - thought of asking the doctor for another round since I was still sick and seem to be getting worse. I have intermittent headaches, a racing heart, blurred vision, am so tired I never want to get out of bed. I'm also having a recurrence of sciatica in one hip and thigh and - new symptom! - the foot on that side is so sore it's hard to put my weight on it. I was told to report any joint or tendon pains but, according to the doctor, "they are very rare." I'm sure he told me about the symptom to protect himself "just in case" but it was clear he really didn't believe there would be problems. I took the medicine for three days, then stopped for a day because I didn't feel well. Then I thought, "Suck it in - there's only 2 pills to go and then you won't infect anyone. You don't want to be Typhoid Mary for the next antibiotic-resistant killer strain of some bug or another, do you?" I am devastated to think these symptoms will persist as long as people on this site say they will. I keep thinking I can sleep this off, or that I'm really sick with something that requires a different antibiotic. ( And how stupid is THAT?) But, from what I've read here, that's not likely to be the case. I'm 67 years old and already have compromised immune system plus sleep apnea, high blood pressure, narcolepsy, and asthma. Is there anyone out there who has been able to resolve these symptoms in less than three months? I refuse to believe I have to feel this way for the foreseeable future. And boy, am I mad! At myself as well as at the doctor. I usually research everything before I take it, but this one just slipped under the wire.

What most people don't read, is that if you are taking Levaquin or any of the quinine based antibiotics you are NOT supposed to ingest caffeine. No tea, no coffee, no chocolate. I was getting major rushes off of it. It was kinda neat :) But not when the heart started racing like crazy. It also contributed to a lot of other icky symptoms. Stopped the caffeine as opposed to the antibiotics and the infection is getting better. Now I just have to kill the caffeine deficiency headache :) Oh, and if you go off caffeine, you're going to sleep like the dead for a couple days.

I have an MRSA (antibiotic resistant staph infection) did a round of Zithro, a round of Cipro and now on a round of Clindamycin. Infection is finally being held at bay from getting worse. Now I have to convince it to die and go away.

What fun

Kat

I was prescribed Levaquin at 500Mg, 10 days duration, for an acute inner ear infection. I am a 44 year old male with a history of heart problems including arythmia. I am experiencing dizzyness, headache, lethargy, and muscle soreness as well as sore ankles. On a very positive note, my ear infection has improved dramatically a few hours after taking the first dose. I have had a recurring problem with ear and sinus infections. Two years ago I took Levaquin intravenously for the same problem after three other antibiotics failed to work. One thing I find to be very disturbing is the reactions of some people who have posted here. Levaquin was developed to combat the newer virulent forms of antibiotic resistant super bugs (bacteria). These "bugs" gain their resistance to antibiotics because people do not finish taking their medication. The bactetria become exposed to the new antibiotics but are not completely erradicated and some modify and become resistant. The people who stop taking their medication without first going to see their doctors are the cause of all the new resistant superbugs. Smarten up people. I have to use Levaquin now because of people like you.