Denial symptoms and conditions

I am 52 and took levaquin (the doctor described as a very high dose needed for what he felt was a generalized infection he couldn't pinpoint). Within 2 days I began feeling very weak. I also had moved to a new town and couldn't return to the prescribing doctor. I felt so very weak and felt actual pain in my heart I became very scared and went to a friends because I was afraid to be alone. I called the local pharmacist and was instructed to stop taking the levaquin. The following day I went to a new doctor in my new town and my nightmare began.
The new doctor stated "you have a very large heart murmur". I told him no doctor ever told me this before and he insisted they must have, I just don't remember. He decided to do an echo and diagnosed aortic stenosis. He stated it didn't require surgery, yet but would in a few years.
Fast forward to now, 2 moves for my work and changing doctors. Also, to be frank I think a firm denial on my part that I could not have heart trouble diagnosed under the age of 50.
I have received a variety of "borderline" diagnosis'. From COPD, Hepatitis and an inability for my heart to pump proper blood flow to my lungs. While I have had "many" diagnosis there isn't anything concrete and no caused determined or resulting changes to be made to improve my general health.
The one symptom I have, that seems to have worsen as time passes is that what I do seems to build up over time. Energy used and strength used (to carry something while walking) seems to build up to the point of exhaustion and inability to even get out of bed. I have been hospitalized for chest pain 4 times in the last year. The last one being after a business trip, where I took a train and needed to roll and/or carry a very large suitcase. the first night I began to feel weak. The second night my face swelled to a cartoonish state overnight and I began to feel very congested, coughing continually. I didn't go to the hospital because I didn't want to be in the hospital away from home. I Stayed at the conference and returned at the end of the week. A friend took me to the hospital and I was in Congestive Heart Failure. Once released from the hospital, I began to arrange to move back to my home state, to be closer to my family. Now I am here and if I do much of anything (even heavy housework) within days I am too weak to do anything. I am barely managing because I am not working, but I must return to work because I am fast becoming broke. But, how can I take a new job if I know that I can't work long-term. I haven't found a new doctor yet, because most here are not taking new patients and I am just not sure the type of doctor to go to. I am also afraid that they are just stabbing in the dark. Diagnosing borderline "everything" and the treatments for not knowing what is going on could make things worse.
If you have read this far..thank you. If you could reply with suggestions, please do. I feel like my health has been ruined and I don't know what to do to get it back. I only took levaquin for 3 days and all this time later, I still feel pain in my heart. Which is the strangest thing because "before" levaquin I "never" actually felt my heart at all.
Any suggestions , I would be the most grateful.

My Update . . It is hard to imagine my body was able to tolerate Lisinopril for eight years! But when I was overcome I really thought I was going to die. I have been 'clean' for one month. 80% of the severe, weeping rash which I have suffered with for over 9 months is gone from my arms, hands, back, and legs. At first it was very discouraging, After stopping the drug my condition would get better one day then worse the next two days, then better, then worse. Now my fingers are completely healed and the lower back pain I have had for years, with no help from chiropractic adjustment is not only gone, but completely gone! Doctors are in denial. The only way I discovered the Lisinopril link was from this web site for which I am very grateful.

What haunts me is the thought of how many older individuals who may be suffering from Lisinopril and are not aware of how to be helped. Many of the contributors to this site seem to be young and computer/internet aware and are more capable to research a problem.

This drug needs to be investigated and featured on a news show like 20/20 or a Sunday morning program where hopefully many older individuals can be made aware of the dangers of Lisinopril.

i have had all these experiences with hctz and linisiprol i am not on metoprolol, i am returning to doc tomorrow to change this as well, dizzy, foggy leg cramps etc etc. i usually go to the gym 4 x a week in the last 2 weeks since all this has been the most dramatic i have hardly left the house for fear of passing out. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may be the best one? there has to be at least one....!!! I am so sick of all my docs being in denial of any side effects, i am glad that i am reading all of this now i don't feel so CRAZY.

I aged ten years in a month. My legs lost any muscular power and I needed help to get up our 3 steps to the front door. My eyes are sore and my balance is also affected. What I do not know is how long am I going to be affected like this. I began to think that I was starting with either motor
neurone disease or Parkinson's disease.
Muscle weakness, loss of balance, bad dreams,anxiety, irritability.joint pain.sore itchy eyes and difficulty focusing on printed pages.
A., Yorkshire, England.I am 69 years old and prior to Singulaire I was pretty fit for my age.

I am 35 years old and LOVE my Mirena. I have NEVER felt better. All these "side effects" sound so crazy to me. I know 10 women who use this product and not one of the complain about anything. They all love it. Its their word of mouth that inspired me to look into it. I have had mine since March 06. I fear for all of you who are having "side effects" that you might be blaming this product, and ignoring that there can be some thing other than the IUD causing your problems. All of these comments are hell bent on blaming Mirena. I'm not saying that its not causing any of these side effects with some of you, but for some, I am wondering if your too busy blaming it, then finding out if there is really something else wrong. I didn't think it hurt that bad at the insertion, a little crampy, but nothing we as women couldn't handle. After I saw this site, I literally contacted the women that I know use it and they all were shocked that people were having such a hard time with it. You would think 1 out of us 10 would have something to say if there was a problem. The only thing in common that we all have is that we went to the same Dr. So maybe that could be an issue with some of you. I didnt bleed for weeks or months. And the pill NEVER could regulate me . Within 3-6 months I had a 90% decrease in my periods ( just like this product states it would do) i had used the vaginal ring before this and that caused some moodiness and was a bit odd during sex, But Mirena has made me feel free, not moody, no pain, no period, I have a strong sex drive ( mainly because I no longer have the worries such as did I remember my pill? Is the ring still in place or did it fall out?) My boyfriend never feels it or the strings ( and I have a short cervical neck!) Nor have I heard such things from my friends and family who do use it. I think if I was having some problems and stumbled across this website I would panic and blame Mirena as well. But in my opinion all these symptoms are things we as women will have happen due to stress, age or routine ob/gyn issues. i actually read in one of these comments someone asking about a lawsuit.... Are you kidding me??? If I were all you with these problems I would seriously check with your doctors and make sure there is nothing else causing your issues...Don't just blame a product with out making sure you know everything thats going on within your own body. I wouldn't take that chance but I am not the one with any problems. I'm sure this method isn't for everyone but my point is that I hope you don't overlook a more serious or undetected problem. good luck to all.

After taking a "leave of Absence" from this site, I see that Singulair is still up and thriving. I still see ads for it on TV, over and over again. They haven't been altered at all. Makes me sick. I wish there was away to get to other people whose children have died by suicide and investigate as to whether or not they were ever on singulair. Keep fighting. We'll get there! Kate K

Comment: What is behind the ignorance and denial found within the medical community regarding the true safety profile of the fluoroquinolones?

An editorial in response to the FDA's recent addition of "Black Box Warnings" to the fluoroquinolone class.

Written by the Director of the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation, Mr. David T. Fuller.

The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation continues to collect post-marketing reports regarding the non-abating nature of the severe and crippling adverse drug reactions associated with fluoroquinolone therapy via the Internet. Ever since the research forum went on line, the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Forum hosted by Yahoo has received thousands of reports, including numerous associated fatalities. The homepage for the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation, www.fqresearch.org has accumulated over 4000 medical journal entries, newspaper articles, post marketing reports, lawsuits and other such supporting data the clearly shows the rampant ignorance and denial within the medical community regarding the non-abating nature of such events.

For more than forty years, since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, the victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity have been denied the medical care they so desperately need as their physicians have routinely failed to recognize, treat and report such events. Peripheral Neuropathy, spontaneous tendon rupture, severe and non abating joint and tendon damage, resulting from such toxicity, are all known, listed and published adverse drug reactions to these chemotherapeutic agents, commonly referred to as fluoroquinolones or quinolones. Yet the victims continue to be told by their physicians "it cannot be the drug".

Numerous news stories since the anthrax scare back in 2001 have documented such injuries, with the most recent being the death of the daughter of one member of the research forum, whose death was the direct result of such careless scripting of these toxic and dangerous drugs. Another forum, the quinolone adverse drug reaction forum, hosted by Yahoo since February 14, 1999, has accumulated over 57,000 such post regarding the damage this class of chemotherapeutic agents can and will do. The law firm of Sheller, Ludwig and Badey, one of the largest class action and medical malpractice firm in the Northeast, had filed a class action lawsuit against Bayer AG, the manufacturer of Cipro. This suit was filed on behalf of all those who have suffered such damage including the Capitol Hill Staff, the Washington Postal Workers, and the employees of the American Media who were exposed to Ciprofloxacin as a result of the Anthrax Scare. This suit was later withdrawn alleged to be the result of the astronomical cost of such litigation.

In spite of the overwhelming evidence of the non-abating nature of such injuries, the FDA continues to approve new drugs within this class together with new indications for those already on the market. Ignoring the 9,711 reports that include 806 associated deaths and 39,128 total reactions found within the AERS reports for Levofloxacin. (Levaquin Nov. 1997 - May 30, 2007) In 2004 these numbers were 5,276 reports, 473 associated deaths and 19,792 total reactions respectively. Together with the 8,766 reports which include 837 associated deaths and 40,395 total reactions for Ciprofloxacin found within the AERS reports as well. (Nov. 1, 1997 - June 5, 2007) Where as these numbers were 4,995 reports, 480 associated deaths and 20,890 total reactions in 2004. As well as the following:

Floxin: Nov. 1997 - May 30, 2007

Total reactions: 13,495

Total death outcomes by case: 311

Total individual safety reports: 2,962

Proquin (ciprofloxacin) Nov. 1, 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 40,151

Total death outcomes by case: 831

Total individual safety reports: 8,688

Tequin: Nov. 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 15,494

Total death outcomes by case: 196

Total individual safety reports: 5,307

Factive: Nov. 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 1,979

Total death outcomes by case: 7

Total individual safety reports: 1,108

Avelox: Nov. 1997 - June 5, 2007

Total reactions: 30,160

Total death outcomes by case: 337

Total individual safety reports: 7,391

Almost fifty percent of such chemotherapeutic agents have been removed from clinical practice or their use severely curtailed, due to toxicity issues. Yet, Mr. MacCarthy, the 2001 Vice President of U.S. Medical Science at Bayer's West Haven facility stated in 2001"If you are telling me that someone had these effects and they were persisting, long term, months to years after treatment I would be surprised."

The members of the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation had been telling Mr. MacCarthy's employer exactly that for years prior to him making such a statement to the press. Those within the media who have an interest in interviewing those who "had these effects and they were persisting, long term, months to years after treatment" are welcomed to visit our website and forum. For we state unequivocally that Mr. MacCarthy was being less than forthright in the statements he had made back in 2001. Such documentation has been made available to the firm he works for year after year. The adverse reactions experienced by the members have shown to be both persistent and non-abating, "year after year", contrary to what Mr. MacCarthy had stated publicly. As one member of the forum so eloquently stated, "Mr. MacCarthy is mistakened"(sic) as we have the documentation as well as hundreds of such victims to prove all that we state here which is available for public scrutiny.”

Those within the media who have an interest in interviewing those who “had these effects and they were persisting, long term, months to years after treatment” are welcomed to visit this any one of the thousands of such websites found on the Internet as well. Mr. MacCarthy apparently could not be bothered to take the time to do so prior to making the comments that he had in 2001, in my humble opinion.

Here we are SEVEN years later, and we still continue to hear such denials from the manufacturers and the medical community even though these numbers have increased dramatically. Levaquin has been reported as having the most numerous, non-abating and severe adverse drug reactions associated with its use on Mediciations.com

A review of the online adverse drug reaction reporting forum: www.Medications.com (October 2002 – February 2004) revealed that Levaquin was associated with approximately 17% of ALL adverse drug reactions being reported to this site, irregardless of the drug being reported upon. Medications.com started receiving such reports as of October of 2002. Medications.com is an Internet community that allows people interested in commonly prescribed drugs to interact so that they can discuss the implications -- both positive and negative of using these important tools in modern medicine. Medications.com list over 4,500 drugs in common use to date, users have posted thousands of side effects and messages about many of these drugs.

The total number of adverse reactions, regardless of the drug mentioned, as of 2-11-2004, totals approximately 4,469. Levaquin, by far, received more such post than ANY other fluoroquinolone drug listed on this site. Of the 774 adverse reactions reported for all of the fluoroquinolones listed, 752 were for Levaquin. The only fatality listed for a fluoroquinolone was for Levaquin. 97.5% of all adverse reactions to the fluoroquinolones were reported for Levaquin. As such reports are received anonymously the verification of such reports was not feasible nor did we attempt this. But one can assume that receiving this many reports over a sixteen-month period that the majority of such reports are indeed valid. This study also lacks the necessary controls required to present the above as fact and as such should be viewed for debating purposes only.

A review of the side effects posted on Medications.com (October 2002 – February 2004) for the fluoroquinolones used in clinical practice in the United States revealed the following:

Avelox 8 post

Ciprofloxacin 7 post

Floxin 5 post

Levaquin 752 post w/(1) fatality

Tequin 2 post

The predominate adverse reactions reported for Levaquin are as follows:

Nuerotoxicity

Tendon Damage and or rupture

Insomnia

Non abating injury (multiskeletical)

Peripheral Neuropathy

Gastrointestinal

Anxiety and Panic attacks

Vision Problems

Rash, sweats, taste perversions, hearing loss

ALL of which those who suffer such reactions are being told by the treating physician to have no association with fluoroquinolone therapy. This trend is repeated on a number of adverse drug reaction forums dealing with the adverse drug reactions as they relate to the Fluoroquinolones. As the above data has not been verified other than visiting this site and doing a physical count the absolute accuracy has not been determined.

Since the time that this analysis was performed the numbers have increased so dramatically to the point that it is no longer feasible to even attempt such a comparison today. And yet the NUMBER ONE drug with the most adverse reactions, as well as the most severe adverse reactions, continues to be levaquin on that site.

In spite of the overwhelming evidence presented at that 62 Meeting of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee that the fluoroquinolones cause irreversible joint damage in the pediatric population the FDA has recently added the use of Ciprofloxacin in the pediatric population, Treating children as young as one years of age. We are currently faced with a clear and present danger regarding these drugs as the FDA, ignoring the tragic results of such careless scripting, has now authorized this use knowing full well that the physician will continue to abuse their discretion.

I challenge the FDA to explain to me how they expect a child who cannot even walk or talk yet to register a complaint of joint and tendon pain. Numerous studies have indicated that such use in a pediatric patient runs the risk of crippling the child for life. One such patient has undergone numerous surgeries to repair this damage and remains crippled to this day. Yet additional clinical trials continue aided and abetted by the FDA, for other drugs in this class other than Ciprofloxacin. A disaster that is detailed within the 62nd meeting of the Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee where it was so eloquently stated:

“…when we talk about the issue of arthropathy that potentially includes a number of things, ranging from simple effusion, for instance, of a knee joint, which might rapidly resolve after the conclusion of therapy, to a more permanent disability. ..” (sic)

“…in September of 1997 there is now a ciprofloxacin suspension which is available, and although it continues to have the same warning statements about arthropathy in juvenile animals and the potential concern in pediatric populations, obviously, the issue of off label use will extend over to pediatric populations in this formulation….”(sic)

“…An important safety question is, what adverse events should be monitored, and Doctor Goldberger alluded to this earlier. This is some of the examples I present. One is permanent lameness, reversible lameness, joint effusion, joint pain, and even latent articular disease or damage that may occur months or years following drug exposure, and there may be others….”(sic)

“…And, data submitted to the Agency, as well as data from the scientific literature, indicate that these lesions don't appear to be reversible…”(sic)

“…Doctor Stahlmann in Berlin is working on an idea that it may be an effect between the endocrines, the magnesium and the matrix and the quinolone. And that data is just coming out now. But as to the exact mechanism, I think you're right. I don't think we have a handle, as far as I know, on the exact mechanism. If there's anybody else that does, I'd sure like to hear it…”(sic)

“… Relating your personal experience, I was wondering about the potential for a delayed effect that in fact one might have a patient who had some histologic changes that would not be manifest clinically for many years. Is that a potential?” (sic)

“… I think it is a potential…”(sic)

“… In trying to assess toxicity with a very sensitive assay, obviously you've got tissue that you can look at in your animal models. There is some human data that were collected by Doctor Urs Schaad using MRI scanning in children and I'm wondering if you can correlate some of your histopathologic findings with MR in the animal model to give us an idea of how sensitive it would be sort of as a follow-up to Doctor Klein's question is the MR something that will be able to predict long-term outcomes, even if there are no clinical symptoms during therapy….”(sic)

“… That I don't know. I'll just be perfectly frank. I don't know. But on the slides I've seen from the animals from the chronic study, the repaired articular cartilage that is there is principally fibrocartilage yet it will provide the same joint margin and it has a calcified base and when we stain it with safrain O screen there's no proteoglycans there so it's going to make it an extremely chondromalaistic area and beyond the one year I can't tell you what the results will be…”(sic)

“…Anyway, it was by a group in Vienna where they looked at the articular cartilage of postmortem specimens of articular cartilage from kids with cystic fibrosis that had been on quinolones for a period of time and they found that there was damage in the chondrocytes….”(sic)

“…There were no deaths reported in U.S. pediatric zero to 18 year old cases where a flouroquinolone was reported as the suspect drug. However, there are eight deaths in the whole cohort of suspect and concomitant flouroquinolone drug reports in the system. Five of these deaths reported ciprofloxacin as a concomitant drug and not the suspect drug. These five were U.S. cases with ages ranging from seven months to six years. The remaining three deaths were all foreign, all 18 year old patients with either ofloxacin or norfloxacin reported as the suspect drug….”(sic)

“…There are 14 reports of arthropathy or arthralgia in the pediatric zero to 18 year old flouroquinolone reports. One report of a 14 year old girl had both ofloxacin and lomefloxacin as the suspect drug so there is an extra count because of the two flouroquinolones on this one report. This particular report indicates that a pediatric orthopedic surgeon diagnosed femoral anteversion as the cause for the girl's arthralgia, therefore you see it listed twice, and not the flouroquinolones. Most of the reports indicated that either an involved knee or elbow with or without other joints was involved….”(sic)

“…One interesting case which is not included on this slide for arthralgias was a 15 year old boy who received ofloxacin IV for an emergency appendectomy and had not grown more than his 70 inches in height over the last year. The 15th percentile for height for a 15 year old boy however is 66.5 inches and the expected growth rate is about two inches per year…”(sic)

“…Three patients had their seizure after the first dose of flouroquinolone, one on ciprofloxacin and the other two on ofloxacin, one of which had received ofloxacin several months earlier…”(sic)

“…The 15 psychiatric reports are a loose grouping of reports which include events ranging from euphoria to psychosis. The ages range from five to 18 years with the median at 15 years. There were two suicide attempts, one on ofloxacin and the other on norfloxacin, three reports of hallucination, one each on ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin, and one report of aggressive behavior with confusion in a patient who had a psychiatric history and was on norfloxacin. The seven cases of photosensitivity were reported with lomefloxacin with one case on ciprofloxacin and two cases on ofloxacin. …”(sic)

“…I will mention that there were 152 U.S. cases aged zero to 18 years in the U.S. AERS system suspect flouroquinolones in the WHO line listing. The country with the most pediatric reports in the WHO foreign reports is the United Kingdom with 177 reports followed by Germany with 72 and France with 71. The rest of the countries had 20 or fewer reports….”(sic)

“…And with regards to muscular-skeletal events, 21 percent of the patients had an event in ciprofloxacin…”(sic)

“…We have focused our analysis on joint disorders and pefloxacin. 79 cases were reported and consist mainly of arthralgia. I don't know the pronunciation of hydrarthrosis -- 49 persons. It involved the knee in 52 cases, the wrist in 20 cases, the elbow in 20 cases, the shoulder in 6 cases, the ankle in 5 cases, and the hip once. It is associated with a functional discomfort in all cases, and when the duration of this discomfort is known, it can persist more than one month in 61 percent of these cases. But the outcome was favorable in 58 cases without discontinuation in two cases. …”(sic)

“…There have been sequelae in three cases with knee effusions persisting one year later in one case with discomfort following 8 months later in the second case. The third case is articular. It is a 17-year-old patient who experienced arthropathy and the drug was not suspected and the treatment was continued two following months. It leads to destructive arthropathy of the knees and the hip and prothesis was performed three years later. He was treated for a cerebral abscess. The outcome was unknown in 18 cases. In 9 cases, there was no follow-up. In the 9 last cases, we had a follow-up three months later and patients were not -- were still with disabilities and after we have no evolution….” (sic)

“… It is my understanding that one of the children had a joint replacement, is that correct?”

“ Pardon me?”

“ One of the children with the complications had an artificial joint replacement?”

“Yes.”

“…If an irreversible cartilaginous lesion can occur, it is very likely that is going to cause problems down the line and we can't even anticipate what they are like…” (sic)

In spite of the following proven horrendous side effects:

Permanent disability

Permanent lameness

Joint effusion

Joint pain

Latent articular disease or damage that may occur months or years following drug exposure

Lesions that don't appear to be reversible

Potential for a delayed effect that would not be manifest clinically for many years

Damage in the chondrocytes

Eight deaths (five of which involved Ciprofloxacin)

14 reports of arthropathy

Seizures

Stunted growth

Suicide attempts

Hallucinations

Photosensitivity

Knee effusions persisting one year later with destructive arthropathy of the knees and the hip

(And with regards to muscular-skeletal events, 21 percent of the patients had an event in

Ciprofloxacin)

As one member of this advisory committee stated “…If an irreversible cartilaginous lesion can occur, it is very likely that is going to cause problems down the line and we can't even anticipate what they are like…”

As such the FDA has no idea what risk these children face nor how to treat such events once they occur.

Yet in conclusion this committee stated “…We clearly want to encourage development of these drug for use in pediatrics…”.

Within the newest package insert for Ciprofloxacin we find peripheral neuropathy being added as a severe, non-abating adverse drug reaction. A disease state in which the peripheral nerves are so badly damaged the patient will spend the rest of their natural life in severe, non-abating pain for there is no treatment protocol available for such a disease state that offers any relief. But we see no “Black Box Warning” concerning this. Of additional concern is the fact that there are also ongoing clinical trials regarding the use of other chemotherapeutic agents within this class involving pediatric patients as young as six months of age.

For more than forty years since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, severe and permanent injury to the patient has been documented. Not one year in the past twenty six has gone by without additional articles being published in the leading medical journals documenting the horrendous damage these drugs can and will do since the introduction of Nalidixic Acic. Now the FDA has given their blessing on the use of chemotherapeutic agents within the pediatric population.

The use of these drugs will NOT be restricted to the approved indications either. The FDA has stated “…obviously, the issue of off label use will extend over to pediatric populations …” So now a child with a minor ear ache or sore throat will risk being crippled for the rest of their lives and the FDA will continue to turn a blind eye to such abuse for it is NOT within the legal rights of the FDA to control how such drugs are used once they have been approved. The FDA has no say in the manner in which a physician chooses to utilized a drug once it has been approved.

As such we now look forward to a whole generation of pediatric patients being destroyed by the careless manner in which such drugs are utilized and the treating physician will continue to fail to recognize, treat and report such events. Just as they have been doing for the past forty six years. Numerous forums now exist on the Internet in which the adult patients have been reporting such severe reactions since 1999. We can all now look forward to the distraught parents of these children joining such forums as a direct result of this total and complete failure of the FDA to protect the health and welfare of the pediatric population. Ignoring their own research and the findings of their advisory committee, they have approved a proven dangerous and toxic drug for the use in children.

The Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation continues to collect post-marketing reports regarding the non-abating nature of the severe and crippling (and at times fatal) adverse drug reactions associated with fluoroquinolone therapy via the Internet. Since one of the first such forums went on line back in 1999, over nine years worth of horror stories regarding the damage these drugs can and will do have been forwarded to the FDA. In spite of the overwhelming evidence of such severe and at times fatal adverse reactions, the FDA continues to refuse to take action. In a letter we received from the FDA, (circa 2004) Frances T. Gipson, FACHE Office of Executive Programs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, stated that “…we will weigh all risks and benefits associated with Fluoroquinolone Class Drugs prior to taking any additional action…We will continue to monitor future adverse events reported to us.” To add insult to injury regarding such inaction by the FDA, Gipson also states “…It was also noted that the majority of those adverse events reported are well-known side effects of the Fluoroquinolone class of drugs…” Three years later (circa 2007) Public Citizen received a reply from the FDA to their petition seeking Black Box Warnings stating the very same thing almost word for word. So did the Attorney General of the State of Illinois in response to their petition filed a year earlier.

For more than forty six years, since the introduction of Nalidixic Acid in 1962, the victims of fluoroquinolone toxicity have been reporting such “well-known side effects”, only to be denied the medical care they so desperately need as their physicians have routinely failed to recognize, treat and report such events. Peripheral Neuropathy, spontaneous tendon rupture, severe and non abating joint and tendon damage, as well as fatalities resulting from such toxicity, are all known, listed and published adverse drug reactions to these chemotherapeutic agents, commonly referred to as fluoroquinolones or quinolones. Yet the victims continue to be told by their physicians “it cannot be the drug” and the FDA continues to “monitor future adverse events.” It surely does not get any sicker than this.

Numerous sites continue to be added to the Internet dealing with these reactions in an effort to draw media attention to those of us who are left outside the city gates, like lepers to be pitied and ignored. On any one of these sites you will find tens of thousands of case histories, posted in the very words of the victims themselves, which describe the horrific suffering they or their loved ones have endured as a direct result of the FDA’s failure to prevent such carnage. You will also find postings regarding those who have forfeited their lives due to the rampant ignorance regarding the adverse reactions associated with these chemotherapeutic agents.

The recent addition of this frivolous “Black Box Warning” only emphasizes the fact that such adverse reactions experienced by such victims have shown to be both persistent and non-abating, “year after year”, contrary to what Mr. MacCarthy had stated publicly seven years ago. The comments made within the video presented by the good doctor from John Hopkins emphasizes the fact that NOTHING has changed since then either when it comes to the rampant ignorance found within the medical community.

Since 1999, over nine years ago, we now have added over fifteen different sites to the Internet that deals with these issues. All dealing with what Mr. MacCarthy claimed to have no knowledge of. Perhaps he may wish to read the postings under “In Fond Memory Of” on the fqvictims site. It has been stated that “dead men tell no tales” but thanks to the efforts of those involved with bringing this new site on line; they have been given a chance to do exactly that. For you will find post after post detailing the horrendous manner in which such fatalities related to the careless and thoughtless use of these dangerous drugs, have occurred. No doubt Mr. MacCarthy has no knowledge of the permanent nature of such reactions either. Over a thousand documented fatalities, forty thousand severe adverse reactions, four thousand medical journal entries, fifteen new adverse reaction websites, nine years worth of post marketing reports, and the FDA continues to state that they intend to “continue to monitor future adverse events reported to us”. The victims continue to report the carnage, yet no one is listening. Perhaps with this “new” warning, somebody, somewhere, will. But somehow I rather doubt that we will find that they work at the FDA.

You would also note that Internet sites that published this new warning and allowed people to post a comment have been overwhelmed with patient’s complaints. I rather doubt that this would be taking place unless the drug in question is truly defective. People have far better things to do with their time I would imagine.

Mr. David T. Fuller

Director

Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

www.fqreseach.org

fqresearch@aol.com

davidtfull@aol.com

About the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation

The foundation is a non profit organization consisting of those who have suffered irreversible and non-abating injury as a direct result of fluoroquinolone therapy. The foundation is dedicated to presenting the research regarding these issues in the hope of preventing such injury to others and to make such research readily available to those who have shown a prior interest. We strive to present accurate and up to date information to the victims of such scripting abuse so that they may be in a position to receive the medical care such rampant ignorance has denied them. Such documentation is readily available via the forum or the homepage www.fqresearch.org

The author of this Editorial has NO financial ties whatsoever with anyone found within the legal or medical field. There are no known conflicts of interest to disclose, and the Foundation has never accepted any donations, of any kind, from any person, corporation, or special interest group since it's inception.

Levaquin is a wonderful drug and one of a very few that help men with prostatitis. If you have ever suffered with a prostatitis infection you know what i mean. No problems here with Leviquin.

I am a 41 year old female in DENIAL about my high blood pressure as I don't drink, smoke and I am a fitness instructor. My BP averaged 145-95 daily. The DR explained TOPROL was designed for someone like me. The med will not be fighting my life style, just the blood pressure. There are no life style changes I can make, it's my dads fault! It's my 4th day, the first being the worst. I had a terrible headache and was wiped out. I am a bit tired today, but not too bad. Better today than yesterday! My BP is 114-71 on average. I have been a migraine sufferer my whole life, the last 3 years being the worst. I'm looking for brighter days! Hang in there. More women die from Heart disease than breast cancer.

I'm sorry to hear all the bad side effects you all had with lamictal. I was on lamictal for depression for about a month and a half. I started low, 25mg. But when I got up to 100mg I started to itch! No rash, just itch, about a half hour after I took it! I was in denial, of course, because I had been feeling on top of the world! I had a loss of appetite, which I needed due to the fact my migraine meds had me gain 40 lbs over the last 2 yrs and NOTHING would take it off. My energy level had come back....something the Abilify had taken away a year ago....I'm getting off that very soon. I hate it. It takes away mania for bipolar disorder, so they say, but I'm slightly different....borderline bipolar II,so it takes away my personality, my get up and go, my motivation, you name it. I'm only on 5mg. When I was on 10mg, it knocked me out....I'd get the kids to school, come home and sleep, and be in and out like a drug addict all day til it wore off in the afternoon. Anyway.....lamictal.....I'm back on it.........starting at 12.5mg a day, then 12.5mg 2x a day, etc up to about 50 or 75mg, no more than that. It was a great help to me so I'm not going to let myself get those darn itches again. I did notice a little bit of intestinal irritation in the beginning last time, but that was only for a few days. I take Wellbutrin and also take Topamax 250mg.....and have a ton of hair falling out....and acne, so i feel for those of you with those symptoms. And yes, I still get migraines and still am depressed. But life goes on....I have kids to raise. I just cry in the shower and in the car. The best to all of you....good luck with your meds! Keep on trying!

I just started using Singulair a few days ago. I am 54 years old and just started coughing at night only. I would be fine during the day and then never failed, at night I started to cough keeping me awake. I was given antibiotics, narcotic cough syrups but it only helped temporarily and then I went back to coughing nights only again. So as I mentioned, I started taking Singulair a few days ago because my physician thinks I have developed allergies and Singulair is noted to help night coughs. It is helping my night coughs but I still cough a few times at night and now I cough quite a few times in the day when I never use to cough in the daytime. Wondering if Singulair is worth taking as the symptoms are becoming opposite? I hate taking drugs and don't know if I should find a safer alternative? Help, anyone? Thank you

If people would stop referring to this poison as just another antibiotic, we would be much further ahead. This is not just another z-pak or even a penecillian or sulfa based antibiotic. It is poison. The side effects are MUCH greater than people want to admit (especially those making a buck on it). That is why there are lawsuits and sooo many complaints. Look people, let's stop with the "you can have side effects from Tylenol" crap and get to the heart of the matter. I believe this drug serves a purpose.... for those that are not responding to anything else, for those that need to take tremendous risks to save their life, for those that might die otherwise. I DO NOT believe it should be a "Drug of choice" or a larger market share for some drug rep. My bicep meant much more to me than that. Yes I'm angry. Not just for the lack of information I was provided but for the denial that I was fed while it was going on. Perhaps I could be just as cold as some of these remarks if I said.... "go ahead, if you feel that way take it I hope you suffer too." Is that what you want? We need to stop this before others keep getting hurt. Please.

Is it just me or does anyone else on here think biokid1130 works for Merck?? LOL Always has to be one bad apple in denial.

I have been off of this drug Lisinopril for about 2.5 months and am still havening side effects not as bad but elevated heart rate and dizziness, tired all the time not back to myself yet. DOES ANYBODY know how long this takes to get past and what can be done to help it out of the body am getting sick of this. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Tom

I have been taking Synthroid for about 10 years. I have had different issues; but it was not because of the hormone itself. There were times, when I was just in denial and would stop taking it all together and I felt great, too! But, then, eventually I would feel bad again. Here are some things that I have learned throughout the years:

Your levels need to be checked on a regular basis because your levels are constantly changing.

Sometimes the dosage of Synthroid is correct for you, but the dye (whatever color that dosage pill comes in) could be causing certain symptoms. Example: headaches, stomach aches.

You must take your pill at the same exact time everyday! I usually take mine 45 minutes before I get up for the day. Put a bottle of water and your pills by your bed and roll over and take one each morning 30-45 minutes before you actually get up and start your day.

Never use generic!!!!! The chemicals are the same, but the recipe is not.

As always, eat right and exercise.

It is important to know that some people will never stop losing their hair; Some people's goiter will never go down; and some days you will be more tired than others. That is the nature of the disease.

Last but not least, change doctors if you feel that your current doctor is not trust worthy. I have had 3 different endocinologists and they each had different philosophies. Using your OBGYN or Main Doctor is okay for your initial test, but only a specialist can help you maintain this disease. The specialist also test on more levels, unlike your OBGYN.

Hope this helps!!!!

After prolonged use, my spouse seemed to loose all feelings and emotions. It was as if he didn't care about anything. Has anybody else had this happen?

My daughter is 5 years old and has been on singulair for 1 week. i have already noticed a dramatic change in her behavior. she has become irritable, mean, nasty, and emotional. she has had me in tears on a daily basis. she has turned into a monster. we will be calling the doctor in the morning!

I have had 7 injections of Kenalog, and if I knew of all the problems I would have I would have never agreed to it. I am having them for pain management all recommended by my workmans comp nurse. I never questioned the treatment as we have sought others witn no success. I first was miserable with stomach and menstral cramps I believed brought on by the first series of shots. My "pain doctor" said that it was not from the medicine and to keep taking my medicine. I am also taking Baclofen a muscle relaxer to help with the cramping the injections may cause. I am so miserable with leg cramps, dizziness, tiredness, arm cramps, stomach cramps, feelings of disorientation, and now a never ending period (I am on day 15). Again the doctor denies any of this relating to the injections. I am going to see my family doctor just to rule out anything else, but after reading this site I am sure that I am right assuming it is from the injections. I am 37, so the pain doctor said I could be starting my "change". I am sooo tired of the denial and as I notice my doctor is not the only one in denial. I am glad I started doing research I just hope it is not too late. I could really use some legal help now.

Swelling of legs, metallic taste in mouth with burning feeling of the tongue, hive like rash that itches and goes away, dry throate, and tiredness.

January 18,2007 I took my first of a seven day dosage of 500 mg. of Leviquin as a 2nd tier anti biotic. By the second day I couldn't get out of bed to get to the bathroom without help from my wife. When I did finally get there I had severe diahria for the first couple of days. Like a fool I trusted my doctor and stayed the course for the full seven day dosage. I finally called my doctor after I couldn't walk and scheduled another appointment that following week. He probed and prodded me , ordered some blood tests and scheduled an appointment with a rhuemotologist. In the mean time my wife Googled -"adverse reaction Leviquin". Well the fear of the unknown was solved BUT now I realise I'm stuck with something I might never get rid of , much less walk normally again.Well we armed with this information that was ALL over the internet and headed to see the Rheumatoligist. Some of you probably see where this is going. I was diagnosed with rheumotoid athritis. I insisted it was leviquin poisoning which he replied that he never heard of it. TOTAL DENIAL ! I was hoping for a cure, some answers, some hope that I would be normal again ---- but no , I get total denial from a professional. I'm guessing if there was ever a conspiracy in the medical profession , this was definately one. Well I needed a second opinion so I scheduled with a different clinic. I wound up getting more blood tests that only showed severe inflammation. All my joints in my hands, feet, knees,elbows, & shoulder were swollen. I love modern medicine. Anyway the diagnosis was that he was 95% sure it was "severe rheumotoid athritis" but ---- he would not rule out Leviquin because of experience with some of his other patients. At Last! Some ray of hope, not much, but enough to know I wasn't crazy for thinking that Leviquin was involved. Not that it mattered except for peace of mind because I was stilled treated for SRA. Its three months now and my kitchen counter looks like a drug store btween the meds and the vitamins. I've been on 25 mg's of methotrexate once a week, 10 mgs of prednisone 6 days a week with folic acid. For the first two months I was also taking 2400 mgs of Ibuprofin to help with the swelling. The last month I have cut that in less than half. Now I'm walking again although always having been a long strider my pace is quite a bit slower but nonetheless encouraging. But the intriguing part of all of this healing was I had also changed my diet drastically. I took (still taking) any vitamin, mineral, antioxident,(fresh from a juicer) that in any way shape or form was advertised in alleviating SRA. A two week vacation to Roatan was also squeased in where I partook in fresh fruit, fresh noni & fresh seafood . I combined this with daily snorkeling excursions. To make sense of this, I was being pushed around the Miami airport in a wheel chair (thanks American Airlines) on the way down. On the way back I was walking a decent pace while pulling my carry on luggage. So the big question is , was it the lifestyle change, the meds, or just time that has gotten me to this point. Don't really know and only kind of care. I'm just happy to be able to walk again , crumble crackers in my soup, take the cap off of a milk carton & open a beer can (I own a bar & resort). I have a ways to go yet but I'm encouraged by my progress. I had no idea three months ago how I was going to run my business when the season started. I hope everyone has as good of a spouse and friends as I have to help me when I was down for the 9 count. I hope this helps all the victims out there. I've also talked to nurse friend's and my pharmiscist and it's amazing how much of this drug is prescribed without adverse reactions. We're just in the minority, luck of the draw. Good Luck!

The company that manufactures Levaquin is called ORTHO-McNEIL. They have a main website.

I have entered here before also.

I can't believe that so many of us are telling the world here what happened to us taking Levaquin...and NOBODY...is doing anything about this !

These stories are not made up or exaggerated. These stories are telling us that we are being given a poison!

If someone just printed out all of the stories on this board and put them in a book form and mailed it to "all" the newspapers in the country...maybe then this insane denial and non-concern would end! Maybe then the nation would see and acknowledge the massive damage this drug is doing to thousands!

Just read these stories...what more does our FDA have to see before they shut down the administering of this toxic substance?

It's been a year since I took 7 days worth of Levaquin.

I did "not" have the swollen throat and hives and red skin "immediate" reaction to Levaquin. Therefore, my doctors say it didn't damage me. They get angry if I bring up this possibility.

But within 24 hours of taking this drug I awoke at home in the night with burning pain in my shoulders, arms and hands so bad I was calling out. I was so confused. I had never felt anything like this before. My hands would also get cold and go numb.

My insides went haywire this first time too. My bladder would feel the urge and then not. I was feeling wincing sharp pains all over. I could not sleep except for a short nightmare type thing. I was anxiety ridden. Shaking inside and out. My legs felt weird. My sensitivity to cold became unbelievablely extreme. I was freezing.

Next morning my stomach went into literal shock with pain and I had to call an ambulance to go back to the ER as I was seconds away from passing out. The weakness? So bad....let me repeat that...SO BAD that I could not lift my hands while laying down! My entire body felt like it was going to die.

I could not walk, legs so weak and body shakey, and feeling so unbalanced. Crying with pain and anxiety and just unbelievable crashing of everything. Lost 35 pounds in 2+ months! Couldn't eat. Metallic taste in throat. Still have most of these symptoms after 1 year! Sorry to tell you all this last point.

Since all my tests "supposedly" haven't shown anything that would explain these most extreme conditions...I have been relegated to the psychiatric area almost totally.

Yes, my nervous system has been effected...damaged.
Yes, I get so anxious and depressed and scared and frantic at times with my suffering and non-treatment and adversarial treatment. Have lost my self-confidence of my body.

My regular doctors have found ways to dump me or schedule me so infrequently they are really out of this situation.

It is like living in cold war Russia. I have made too much protests against my regular doctors refusal to consider levaquin...and now my record is full of psych visits. Once you have these on your record. Let me tell you...most new doctors eyes get real big when they first see these. They label you immediately and silently to themselves as a "problem" case. Your care is different because of this. It's an incredible injustice and almost Kafka'n in it's implications.

But that's just one of the "levaquin" poisoning problems. A medical community refusing to acknowledging it...and if you protest to much to their view...you will be sent off to the psych ward.

54 years and I never saw a psychiatrist in my life. 54 years and I never ever had a problem with drugs, alcohol, the law or even in my first and still on-going 25 year long marriage. I have raised two responsible kids...both working and in college. I had a wonderfully social job as a hotel concierge that I loved for 5 years previous to this "levaquin" poisoning.

But with this case, my normal past means nothing. I am just all of a sudden a nut case for complaining too much about my belief that Levaquin did this to me. That Levaquin destroyed me. Especially since the doctors say they can't explain why I got so sick and I am still so sick. I still feel like I am going to die almost every other day! And it's been a year.

Also, my statute-of-limitations one year period to sue the hospital that gave me this drug ( and never ever told me to quit taking it even after I came rushing back to them with these incredible, unprecedented symptoms just 1 or 2 days after they prescribed it to me and were told it was the only medicine I was taking ) and the drug company that manufactures Levaquin ( Ortho-McNeil ) are almost up.

Not one lawyer I have contacted out of maybe 50 will even consider taking this case. They say it's too hard to prove, drug companes can ruin them they are so rich and powerful and that Bush has limited suit awards to 250,000 dollars and they would need a lot of this to prove you have been damaged!

They say if my liver failed and I died and I had never had liver problems before I took Levaquin...that they would then "consider" taking on a case like mine. But as long as I am alive I haven't got a chance.

I wrote to Ortho-McNeil and told them their product Levaquin has destroyed me and I asked for their financial help with my tens of thousands of dollars I owe in medical bills as financially I am also ruined. I also asked them to help me finanically get more specific, technical tests done beyond my small ton area. Never a word back.

My just recently found out my mother is taking adderal. She has been acting very strange latley. She has pretty much cut of all ties with her family. She has been acting irrational and just not herself. Could this really be the medication doing this to her? What can i do to help her and is anti-social behavior a side effect of this medication

I used Tazorac YEARS ago for bad acne. After starting it (along with Doxycycline), I started feeling "spaced out." I can't really explain it... it felt like I was "floating in a fog." I also was having visual disturbances... kind of "snowy" vision. I discontinued the antibiotics, thinking they were the culprit, but the neurological symptoms continued. When I stopped the Tazorac, the symptoms stopped as well. I had even made an appointment with a neurologist, but didn't actually see the doctor since the nurse assured me that something I used topically could indeed cause me to have neurological symptoms. I was in denial though... thinking that maybe the Doxycycline just needed a while to get out of my system. So I tried the Tazorac again and once again the neurological symptoms reappeared. Needless to say, I got rid of it.

OMG!!! I have PCOS and my doctor suggested this "GREAT NEW B/C that really seems to help those with PCOS" I was on yasmin last spring for about 5 months...hated all the nasty side effects, racng heart, anxiety, moodiness, you name it i had it including IBS. Finally in July I couldn't take any more and quit, with out letting my dr. know, because I wasn't ready to try something else.

My husband and I liked how it helped me to loose weight and the spontanity we could have (granted with 2 little kids in the house - things aren't all that spontaneous) without having to fumble with condoms and or inserts, but the 2 little pros were not worth the way I was feeling. I hated it and it wasn't me!

Well, seeing as how I had no period in Nov. and have tested negative on 4 hpt's I figured great, my body is back to it's usual - I better get back on the pill again to try and regulate my cycle before I get more ovarian cysts. So I refilled my yasmin, figuring ok I'll give it another shot...big mistake!!!!

Today is Wednesday, I started this pack on Sunday - I have only been on the damn things for 4 days and I feel like HELL!!! I have the racing heart again, my anxiety level is way up there (my poor husband had his head bitten off last night for no reason what so ever - I'm surprised he talked to me this morning!) and to top it all off now I have the diarhea and nausea again. This is so not worth it, I can't believe that I can feel this way after only 4 days! Actually, myhusband said to me this morning, "honey I don't think you should take those pills any more - they aren't good for you and make you someone else completely."

So I called my doc. to see what my options are - I can't start on anything else until I have my annual exam on 12/15 - there is no way I'm staying on the Yasmin until I see her again!!!!

I'm throwing that pack away as soon as I'm done typing this! God I was soo stupid for thinking it would be better the second time around....I'd rather deal with my PCOS than feel like I'm feeling now.

Thanks for letting me share! Please think twice before you take Yasmin.

Shawna

OMG! I'm NOT crazy! I'm 43 been on yasmin a little over a year for ovarian cysts.... I've had 3 migraines already this year. Daily headaches....even chest pain. I'm a nurse and been in denial I'm having any kind of cardiac problems. It didn't occur to me the yasmin could be causing chest pain. I've been living on Motrin, Aleve, Tylenol and Claritin for the headaches....they aren't working anymore....then it suddenly occured to me... BCP's! DUH!!!! My husband is a doc and when I suggested it to him he totally blew me off. I'd just started a new pack and discontinued them 2 days into the cycle. Already I can tell a difference in the vaginal dryness. I'm hoping my libido will increase too....since Yasmin I could give a rats *ss about sex! HA!
I find it fascinating how everyone's OB/GYN's think we're all nuts! That really annoys me!

thanks,
TKG