October 8th
2009
11:38 PM
All i can say is WOW! i am so happy i found this website..
I too have suffered side effects and till this day am suffering from Levaquin.
In Feb of 08 i was diagnosed with Prostatitis and was given a 14 day dose of Levaquin. Hours after the first dose i started experiencing pain in my lower extremities,me thinking it was caused by the prostatitis i continued the doses.By the second dose i was in absolute pain in basically all my insides and started having this metal taste in my mouth.Not ever being allergic to any type of medicine i continued the doses only getting sicker and worse.By like the 6th pill i was having anxiety,insomnia,hallucinations,nightmares whenever i was able to close my eyes,partial psychosis,rashes on my face that would get bright red then go away and the skin would peel off.I would be so thirsty water couldn't quench it,suicidal thoughts.I developed a pain in my left calf and behind my left arm in the tricep that till this day bother me.Joint pain,ringing in my ears,excruciating headaches like someone was jabbing a knife in my head,lost 30lbs cause of the colitis it caused,neuropathy,and so much more,it was a total nightmare.
I went in for discomfort of my prostate and doctors couldn't understand why all the other symptoms only a week later,they were completely clueless and told me i was making this stuff up cause i was having an anxiety attack.. I was a perfectly healthy 33yr old before levaquin. The doctors sent me for test after test from HIV to LUPUS only to tell me its all in my head,that i was a healthy man to move on with my life.I would try to sleep and have all these terrible thoughts and would swear i slept for 3 hrs only to see that 20 minutes have gone by,i was gentle to the touch.My family had no clue,they thought i was going nuts.I was pretty bad for months after,the effects started going away little by little,i was back 50% to myself by like June of 08.Since,i still have the pain in my left calf from time to time,tremors,joint pain..I have since joined the gym and have been taking supplements that have helped a lot with my joint pains.
This stuff is poison and should be taken off the market..
May 28th
2009
10:36 PM
I was diagnosed with Chrohn's in February. I am 25 years old. I was put on prednisone and asacol to control my systems. I was on 40mg then down to 20mg and finally last Friday 5/22 after weening off I was off the drug completely. I also had EN (a complication of Chrohn's) with severe pain, swelling and bruising in the feet and legs. In fact that was the only reason I went to the doctor, I was just dealing with everything for years. With Prednisone I experienced a slight moon face but also a huge bloated, pregnant like belly, it's awful. I have to hide it with baggy shirts. I also gained about 20 lbs, I have abdomen pain, hair on my upper lip, my ear clogs and clicks, insomnia, insane amount of energy. Oddly though people have been saying they are moody, the good thing the drug did was put me in an excellent mood all the time and took away my acne.
My Question: When do these side effects go away, I have been off for a week. Primarily the bloated stomach and weight gain. I know it takes a while, but how long???
-- By cxt6117 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
May 6th
2009
5:23 PM
I was given it for a nasty kidney infection, but I swear it made me more sick than the infection ever could. I was lethargic and nauseated off my rocker, fevering, and trembling. I remember while I was recovering from the medication as I lay waiting for its 1 1/2 half life to expire, my room mate said it felt like we had a vibrating couch I was trembling so much. That all passed, but what has stayed with me for two years is a damaged, unpredictable, undesirable digestive tract. I get stomach aches and nausea a lot, and my bowel usually cramps and hurts. It stripped me of all the good flora I had in my tract and though mom gave me acidophiles bacteria (sp?) which has helped a ton, my tract has never ever been the same. People say I just developed IBS over the years, and if a doctor does give me a minute of their time, they just say that or it's stress or it's 'normal' as one doc tried to pass it off as. They just won't listen. Before Cipro my tract was strong and resilient, I took Cipro, then after Cipro it's so sensitive and unpredictable and painful. Thank goodness I found ginger, but this shouldn't have happened in the first place. I hope one day a doctor listens to me so I can find out what the Cipro caused, whether it's Colitis, Chrones, IBS... Ect... I don't even know what is wrong with me but I do know Cipro caused it. No one will believe the Cipro is what caused it... Now I am so anxious about it, which only exaggerates it. I get stressed and I can feel my gut start to spasm. Please someone help me... Please...
-- By bre22 | Reply | Private Message me
March 24th
2009
11:13 AM
My experience with levaquin has been a nightmare, n a few other drugs as well. It all began last year in August. Went on vacation came back with a bad kidney infection, strep, and bug bites. Doctor gave me lev. n within mins. I was feeling the drug it was awful. I was climbing out of my skin, anxiety I guess, could not sleep but an hr. mind was racing. next day the body pains began, headache, calf, muscles all over ached, not sure if i took another pill or not, but was sent to ER. That Dr. gave me Keflex 500mg 4X a day, Now mind you I have been for the past 10 years having reactions to penicillin and other meds, so i did inform theses drs. of this as my father n siblings have also, but mine seems to be severe NOW! Then all heck broke loose. Now during the time of the keflex i still was not sleeping and the pains in muscles did not stop. everything from the lev, was still there n the keflex just added. It gave me gastritis, vaginititis, n colitis, n the dr. put me back on until the burning was unreal. Have had 7 months of pains,anxiety,numbness, tingles, acid reflux, weight lose, n reactions to every pill made. can not take zantac swelled my throat,use to take it yrs. ago. omeprazole bad to thats where the numbness has come after taking, prednisone took 2 days n my throat became inflamed n more muscles went crazy. can not take Tylenol or Ibuprofen. I have been so sick mind in a fog can barely function,Xmas was tough had to have my mother who is 75. come take care of my family n me n to take me to dr. appt. which there has been a ton, NO answers they were telling my family it was me, I was feeling like giving up crying all the time because i did not know how to let people know or how to make them see that this was not me.Finding this web site has help me keep my sanity, and show my family look this is me, I am slowly having better days as my body detoxes, but scared when i will need meds. trying to find natural ways but is slow n not sure where to go or trust. I tried to get an allergist immunologist to test me n he said these things can not happen, and refused to test me. I am on a quest to find other ways, as 2 of my children are reacting like me and it will be just a matter of time before something does this to them. My 28 yr. old has helped me alot she knew what was going on. So now she is worried what is down the road for her, my 13 got sick while i have been and received a penicillin and she started having anxiety n heart palps, n still now she gets heart palps. As i said it is in the family but it is more severe in me n my kids are having reactions sooner. So if any one has any other options for me to look into please let me know. I am about 50% back to where i was, but it has been life changing, diet has changed, no more bad stuff, coffee, quit smoking, etc. its not hard to do when you hurt n feel so bad u try anything. Try this is so long but something has got to be done about these drugs. Mainly antibiotics, My research has come up with numbers of 150,000 people die from these types of drugs, That the drug companies put drs. thru school, That mainly women this happen to, Now i know that the drugs are important and have help millions of people i just don't like the fact that they know that some of us this will happen or even kill us, They need to find solutions for us, the ones that they have harmed permanently, and not deny the drugs caused these problems. Thanks for letting me express myself.
-- By timberswife | Reply | Private Message me
February 22th
2009
7:27 PM
I have had 2 Remicade infusions - (I'm also taking prednisone) for colitis - I have come down with a bad lung infection that has been going for at least three weeks, I've had to delay my next remicade-- not sure if it is the cause or what. Has anyone had this? Can I continue with the Remicade - because it has greatly help my colitis.
-- By dodge08 | Reply | Private Message me
February 11th
2009
7:46 PM
I am being treated for ulcertive colitis. I have been on prednisone since Sept of 08. I started out on 40 mg. In late Oct. my doctor started tapering me off 5mg per month. Each month following the tapering date, I would get sick. As I look back, all the signs of withdrawal were there. This Jan. I tapered once again, but the window was only 3 weeks. I hit rock bottom. If there was a symptom, I have it. Nausea, burning in my digestive tract, diarrhea every time I eat, muscle ache, numbness in my legs, swollen feet, sore bones and joints. ( The worst was in my feet. I ended up seeing a podiatrist. He thought plantar faciaitis until I told him about being on prednisone. The small bones in my foot were swelling, The muscles in my calf were buning they were so sore. That was last week. Today my other foot started. I can hardly walk. In addition to that, I am lightheaded, have elevated blood pressure, and fatigue. I also had some vision problems that sent me to the doctor. I went through a ton of testing which all were negative. It seems that pseudotumor is another symptom of withdrawal. I have a history of that. It would have been nice to know that. As I look back each month, I had different muscle and joint pain that lasted about a week. I was put on an acid reducer in Dec. to help my stomach, but in all of this time, I was not told that these all may be withdrawal symptoms. I have been off work for two weeks now in addition to the days I missed each month. My physician is now controlling the tapering procedure. They up the dose to 10 mg again. They plan on weaning me by 1mg doses. This has been a terrible experience for me. I have only been severely sick one other time in my life. This pain is awful. It is chronic. This drug may be beneficial, but it is like poison too. Anyone who takes this should really ask a lot of questions, and be careful..
-- By houbiecat | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
November 18th
2008
7:20 PM
After being treated for two major crohn's flares since 2005, I have had all the regular treatments for crohn's. Remicade gave me a liver abscess so the only choice left for Mass General Dr. I see from the MGH Crohn's and Colitis Center was Humira. It is helping to keep me in remission after a long bout early spring, but since Humira Pens were added to my treatments and medications I have had short term memory loss, lack of concentration and foggy head. I have been off and on Prednisone without the memory loss, but have had a bit of a fog due to it. This has been bad enough that after attempting over a month to get back to my teaching job, I have had to ask for a leave. Has anyone else complained about this problem with Humira?
-- By capthugh | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
November 2th
2008
12:48 PM
I have been on Prednisolone about 4 times in recent years. the highest dose was last year when i was on 80mg reducing weekly by 5mg. I have had most of the side affects you all talk about above. I have severe colitis so the side-effects of this drug are something i have to put up with. at the moment i have all the classic side-effects i usually get, rapid hunger, swelling to my face (moon face), neck has layer of fat, swollen back (buffalo hump), bruising easily, horrible taste in my mouth, swollen stomach. the one good side effect is it gives me lovely smooth skin lol. anyway the point of my post isn't to rip this drug appart as i have to say for me its a wonder drug and this time has prevented me from having my bowel removed! from personal experience once you finish the steroid treatment after a few weeks you'll notice the swelling go, my hunger usually fizzles out quite quickly (altho i have a large appetite in the first place!!) none of the side effects are permanent, so please all rest assured you will go back to normal just try not to put on too much weight while on the drug.
-- By shrinkinviolet | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
October 17th
2008
11:18 PM
What exactly do we need for a class action suit, guys?
Side effects: Severe disorientation as if very drunk (vertigo, dizziness, feeling "out-of-body" or high), hallucinations (including feeling things crawling on me), overwhelming fatigue (as if I hadn't slept for days), muscle soreness (as if I'd exercised for hours), joint and tendon pain (especially in hands, wrists and ankles), insomnia, nausea (lost 8lbs in a few days), racing heartbeat, dehydration, ringing in ears, stomach cramps, yeast infection and spotting.
The drug immediately made me sick but I thought it was just the sinus infection, and unfortunately kept on taking it. The side effects were actually worse AFTER I stopped taking it (I got much worse before I got better).
If you're on this stuff, STOP IMMEDIATELY. If you're scared and experiencing side effects as I did, PLEASE KNOW that they are real (you're not imagining things) but they WILL go away. Listen to your body, rest as much as you can, and drink plenty (and I mean PLENTY) of fluids. Despite the nausea, eat SOMETHING (toast, bananas, applesauce).
This is a 24-hour drug, so (verified by my pharmacist) due to its half life, it takes a MINIMUM of four days to leave your system. I only started feeling non-drugged a full 7 days after I stopped taking it. The fatigue lingered (kind of like getting over the worst bout of flu EVER) but now it's slowly going away, too. This stuff was an overwhelming blow to my physical health (I've NEVER been this sick), but I'm getting better. YOU WILL, TOO!
-- By tracy123456 | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
September 18th
2008
11:04 PM
I have Crohns and had a flare up so I'm back on 40mg of Prednisone. I've been on 40mg now for 3 weeks and I start to tapper off in another 3 weeks. Well every time I start the prednisone again I get new side effects. This time, my gum are bleeding all the time and the pain in my knees are horrible! I still get the regular side effects, ie: Mood swings, joint pain, sleeplessness, sweating, swelling of my legs and hands, wanting to eat everything under the sun, moon face and my hair falls out! I wish the drug manufactures could develop a drug that would not be so hard on our bodies. I have to struggle with the pros and cons with every flare up. Do I want the weight gain, mood swings and hair loss or do I want to look good and be very sick! I'm 37 and was 16 when I found out I had Crohns.
-- By col71387 | Reply | (7) replies | Private Message me
August 14th
2008
11:29 AM
I am so glad that I found this website, because I thought all of this was just me! Nine days ago, I was prescribed 750mg of Levaquin/once a day for 14 days. I was just about to take today's dose but after reading only page 1 on this site, will NOT be taking the 9th dose, nor will I be taking any more of this stuff at all! Mine all started with a toothache a few weeks ago, and ended up in the ENT's office with the above prescription with a CT-Sinus scan after 14 days of being on Levaquin. I always read the side effects of any prescription that I'm given, and I was aware that Levaquin could cause ruptured tendons so I've been very methodical with every move that I make...my husband had a ruptured achilles tendon a couple of years ago and that's the LAST thing I want to go through. However, after reading this site, I now understand that all of the other symptoms that I've been experiencing over the last several days are most definitely side effects of Levaquin that they aren't admitting to. Plus, it doesn't seem to appear that being cautious about how you move makes much of a difference when you're taking this stuff. Metallic taste in my mouth; Thrush and a lack of having full taste; swollen knees, extremely sore and aching legs, hips, and back/neck area; nausea; jittery spells very shortly after taking the medicine; hot, then cold spells...everything listed here! Why are doctor's continuing to prescribe this stuff left and right?? I'd rather just have a sinus infection!
-- By klneilson | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 30th
2008
12:18 PM
I have been diagnosed with Ulceritive Colitis as well. I am about to be put on 30mg of prednisone and am terrified of these effects. I've gathered a lot of useful information from this forum and am thankful for that. Imuran, azothioprine, and remecade seem to be the most successful drugs as alternatives to prednisone. I'll ask my doctor about all three and hopefully I can avoid the prednisone. I'll be sure to post my results soon.
-- By pate727 | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 3th
2008
7:14 PM
I really like the Zpak. I have taken it several times from things like sinus infections to lung infections. I never experienced any side effects but this time I am experiencing severe smelly gas. I don't know why but I never have such smelly bad gas before. I stink!!!!!!!!!! sure you all wanted to know that. But maybe you all have had gas from this also
-- By tinkerbellphat | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
March 31th
2008
9:09 PM
i have used it for 12 years off and on, and recently had a reaction. I had worsening of my colitis, and a lot of abdomen pain and cramping.
-- By chellyjarek | Reply | Private Message me
March 11th
2008
11:51 PM
I have been on Warfarin since the end of Aug. 2007 when I had my mitral valve replaced with a mechanical valve. I will be on it for the rest of my life. My doctor.'s all assured me there were no side effects other than the bleeding risks. I now know this is not true. The side effects I am dealing with make me sometimes wish I had chosen a tissue (pig) valve, even though I would be guaranteed another heart surgery within ten years. I am 39 years old and a mother of two young kids. Since being on Warfarin I have experienced various body aches that come on suddenly but don't stay long; extreme hot and cold; itchy hands and feet; dry hair and hair loss; seeing "spots" usually followed by a headache; very thirsty; ongoing bowel troubles, possibly developed colitis; but the worst side effect for me is the fatigue and depression. I feel like I traded in my old self for my mechanical valve. Like I said, I'd have to have a tissue valve replaced eventually, and as bad as heart surgery is, I'd rather have 10 happy years w/out Warfarin than this struggle I deal with almost everyday. My brother is a surgeon and even he buys into the "no side effects" b.s. I work out as much as I can, which used to make me feel great, now I feel like it helps me get by but not the positive effect it used to have on me mentally.
-- By hrg39 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 10th
2008
9:06 PM
I was on Prednisone for a year and weened myself off because of the side effects.I'm back on it now and can't wait to be off again.Not that i felt that much better off of it.They started giving it to me through my i.v. in the hospital about 2 weeks ago.I was admitted for a Crohn's Colitis flare up and dehydration.The first 3 days were ok but then i felt the Prednisone kick in.It wasn't that bad until i left the hospital and started 40 mgs by mouth.I couldnt really sleep at all.Really bad panic attacks.Crazy dreams, hearing voices.I'd wake up every 20 min. dripping with sweat.I'd panic all day and night.Now I'm being weened off and am taking 20 mgs.I'm really weak.Can hardly type this.Its hard to walk.My arms and legs feel so weird.I'm having a really hard time concentrating.I feel like I'm on drugs all the time.Really dizzy,every things funny looking.Its like a really bad panic attack that never goes away.I have 2 more days then I'm down to 10mgs.Then another 7 days then I'm off.Hopefully this will all pass and i can be normal again.I can't live like this.I don't even know if any of this is making sense.I hope all is well with everyone of you and will keep you in my prayers.Hopefully we'll all be normal again soon.God bless,Carl
-- By staind373717 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 2th
2008
5:00 PM
I have been on Warfarin for 6 months, and have had a lot of the side effects that I have been reading here since I found it. I thought I would chime in now. I was on Prednisone for Colitis when I was rushed to ER with a clot in between my eyes. I was started on Warfarin when I left the hospital and within a couple of days my legs swelled up really bad. I had to go buy slipper 2 1/2 sizes bigger than normal just so I could walk around. I have lived with them since. My Doctor says it is the Prednisone, but I was on that about a year before the swelling started.
I have a lot of weakness, and feel I cant get anything done home or work due to no energy. I have gained a lot of weight. The thing that bothers me the most is the pain in my legs and arms. I cant take anything for the pain due to the Colitis.
I have to say I went in for extreme headache and that is when they found the clot. I am a long time Migraine sufferer, and when I told my Headache Doctor that I was having headaches again they up my meds for that. I have not even had a Migraine since I started the Warfarin. My Wife is even surprised. I usually have at least one a month.
I was told to stop the Warfarin on Friday and am wanting to know more about if the side effects are going to go way. I would like to get my weight down, and the pain to go away. Guess time will tell.
-- By dryeriii | Reply | Private Message me
February 22th
2008
10:27 PM
I was on Entocort and I have such bad anxiety, racing heart, that the doctor has put me on anti-anxiety medicine just so I can function and had to stop Entocort cold turkey due to side effects. Also they took me off Entocort because colonoscopy showed no crohns or colitis.
-- By ilovemarc1 | Reply | Private Message me
January 14th
2008
9:32 AM
Hi!
I have ulcerative Colitis. I had a bad flare up since Thanksgiving 07.I have been on Prednisone since the beginning of Dec.07. The first 3 days it was giving to me by IV every 6 hrs.I was hospitalized due to tremendous blood lost. After this my doctor put me on 60 MG a day. 6 pills of Asacol and I also was on ennama with Cortisone which totally almost killed me. The side effects were sooooooooooooo bad,let say I had them all.Right now I'm dealing with the side effects of the evil Pill " Prednisone" Moon face and this awful bloating in my upper abdomen, tiredness, no energies, heavy legs. It makes it really hard for me to get out & around.I hope my doctor will get me off this Prednisone. Not only messes it up your normal living no it also makes you look like a ugly bulldog! I hate it!
September 24th
2007
7:03 PM
weight GAIN (25lbs in 1 year) - I am an Army Doctor - work out every day and work very hard... and healthy diet. Despite all that i GAINED weight.
abdominal distention - marked.
severe constipation - myxedematous pseudomemranous colitis is now suspected.
BUYER BEWARE!!!
-- By leighea | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
September 15th
2007
2:14 PM
I am 65, suufering from ulcerate colitis. Imuran kills my lever, I had to take a strong dose of prednisone.up to 60 mg. now after ten days I am on 30 mg.
it helps for colitis but I am not sleeping. I took sleeping pills, I can sleep about 2-3 hours in 24h.
Who could help me to be able to sleep again ? What kaind of sleeping pills or tranquilisers are recommended ?
Thank for answering also directly to my Email ******
Thank you.
-- By politschki | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
May 1th
2007
2:10 PM
I was diagnosed with Colitis just over two years ago. At the time, I was having severe symptoms and my doctor put me on 40 mg of Prednisone for 3 days, 30 mg for 3 days, 20 mg for 7 and 10mg indefinitely. The 40mg dosage caused me to not sleep at night, severe nevousness and basically feeling like I was on drugs. I felt this way until I got down to 20mg. Initially, I had swollen ankles and overall swollen feeling in my body. After I had been on this drug for more than a few months, I began to notice my hair falling out, my finger nails breaking and a severe tooth sensitivity to cold (never had this before). Over the last two years, I have been on and off of Prednisone and have had the exact same side effects each time. Right now I have been on 20mg for the last 6 months. I am meeting with my doctor this week to discuss some naturopathic solutions to get off of this horrid drug. Any one heard of using ingestible aloe vera as an alternative to Prednisone?
-- By jp | Reply | Private Message me
December 30th
2006
11:57 PM
Originally diagnosed with PMR and was taking prednisone in high doses for 2 years with ok results, except that as I lowered the mg of prednisone the PMR symptoms returned. New doctor diagnosed RA instead and put me on Remicade. After 4 infusions I am having severe muscle pain in my upper right leg. And on occasion the beginning of the same problem in my upper left leg. Affectsmy mobility and I am taking large doses of tylinol & motrin for the pain. Doctor says this is not a side effect of the Remicade. At first I believed him, but now am having doubts. Anyone else have this side effect?
-- By eugilio1 | Reply | (5) replies | Private Message me
October 23th
2006
9:04 AM
I've had 4 remicade treatments on my 2 treatment they had to stop it after bumping it up to 20 cc cause it started respitory problems and made my blood pressure go up. now when I go for treatments I have to take 75 mg of benedril and 30 mg of prednisone, now i'm noticing leg cramps, muscle pain, joint pain, my hair is falling out more than it ever did before. I'm not sure if this is related. Now i'm having bruises that don't heel up and, i'm getting sick with a respitory infection and i get frequuent migrains I also noticed tooth aches , i try to stay away from sick kids but for my crohns and ulcerates colitis i'm eather bound up or running for the restroom.
-- By tamara452 | Reply | Private Message me
November 2th
2009
3:45 PM
I am looking for any information anyone has about the possibility that Singulair causes colitis or that it can lead to inflamed colon and bleeding colon. My daughter is 4 years old and has never been a sick child. In September, she started bleeding from her colon, and a month later, she was finally diagnosed with colitis after having a colonoscopy. The doctor prescribed Prednisone (steriod) and Phlagyll (antibiotic) (spelling?). I decided to stop giving her the Singulair that she had previously been taking because I didn;t want her to have so many drugs in her system as one time. After a few days of the steriods and antibiotics, she was well, with no signs of problems. Everything was going great for a few weeks, but last week I started giving her the Singulair again, and her colits symptoms have come back. Has anyone else experienced this in relation to Singulair?
-- By bamabelle621 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me