Fluroquinolone symptoms and conditions

Allergy, not side effect.
62 yr. old male. diagnosed with lung infection associated with smoking and was prescribed 5 x 500 mg Levaquin. I took one with water in the parking lot of the pharmacy. With-in 20 minutes I started getting burning, tingling feelings in my throat and mouth. I drove home , by that time I had huge hives on my back and buttocks. I went back to the doctor immediately.
Other than a rapid heartbeat, the only symptom seems to be the hives which were huge and covered my whole body.The Dr. stated that the episode occurred too soon after I took the pill to be an allergic reaction to the pill, however, I had not eaten or drank any thing that morning other than coffee. I also did not eat anything exotic the day before. I was given a steroid injection at the Dr. office and was prescribed a steroid med pak and an antihistamine. With-in 3 hrs. all the hives were gone. It is now 11 hrs later and I am ok except I am drowsy. If I do not recover well, I will post again to advise.

I am 35 and I took Levaquin about 3 months ago when I experienced pain in my hands and achilles tendon. Fortunately I figured out what was going on before I had a rupture. In an effort to repair the damage one of the things I did was take a few joint and tendon supplements. I took Ligaplex I, Super Cissus RX, Fish Oil, Glucosamin, Condroitin, and MSN. I believe these supplements where a big help in my recovery. If you are going to use these supplements make sure you take them as directed because each has it's own recommended schedule.

I have taken three 500mg doses of Levaquin since Saturday. They were prescribed by my urologist for a "possible" minor prostates that might be affecting my PSA (2.2). The very first night I was unable to sleep, tossing and turning all night. Thought nothing of it, and blamed it on diet or too much sleep the previous day. However, insomnia has continued for three straight nights and last night I woke at 4:30 AM with shortness of breath (had to take long deep breaths to feel like I was getting enough oxygen) that felt like an anxiety attack. Although there was no pain, I felt like my heart was pounding and rapid. Finally got a little more sleep and woke up feeling OK in the morning, but blood pressure was elevated. I continually feel like I'm on a caffeine high. I never associated it, but, I woke up second and third days with a sore throat and have had a few minor muscle twitches in arms, legs and abdomen.

I feel fortunate compared to others on this forum. I have stopped taking the Levaquin and have an appointment with my family doctor tomorrow. As a side note, I had an acute prostates this time last year and took Cipro for over one month with no similar side effects that I can recall. Does anyone know if two drugs from the same group can have such different side effects, or can I expect the same problems if I start taking Cipro again?

I have been on Levaquin over 6 times in the past 2 years for upper respiratory infections. I just came off another levapak 750mg for 10 days and my biceps were feeling really tight. I mentioned this to my doctor but he said it was a common side effect. After researching this today I am shocked about the tendon damage. I have had distal bicep tendon surgery on each arm on separate occasions in the past two years. Now I am terrified this is going to happen again. None of the surgeons could figure out why someone my age (41) could do this twice in under 2 years. Has anyone found a way to reverse this? I am terrified to go back to the gym or even lift anything. My biceps are so sore and I have been off the Levapak for 3 days and my biceps seem to be getting more tight and sore each day. I can't face having another surgery. This drug should be taken off the market.

I not sure that what I am experiencing is related to my 9 month course of 750 mg Levaquin, or my simultaneous 9 month course of 300 mg Rifampin, or my 6 week course of IV Vancomyocin twice a day........You all are talking about days and weeks....I have been on these hardcore meds for substantially longer. I became infected with Staph Epidermidis in the disc space of L 4-5 during surgery to correct degeneration in my spine. I am now left with joint pain from head to toe, Uveitis, a scaly rash all over my trunk and arms, stomach pain, further degeneration in my spine, insomnia, severe fatigue, depression, and what I call "brain fog." I have been told by the team of Doctors caring for me that the only symptom that relates to my medication is possibly the Uveitis. I would like to know how you all are attributing the medications to your ailments? (insomnia, depression, fatigue, joint pain... for example) Are you sure that they are not symptomatic of another disease process? After stopping the medications has your health become normal? I have to remain on this medication for the remainder of the year. I do not have the option of just flushing it down the toilet, as someone previously posted. There are only a few medication that can combat my illness, but I would like to know that they are not harming me in the long run.

I am a very healthy 21 yr old. I have always had a slight problem with urinary tract infections, nothing major tho. Doctors in the past always prescribed an antibiotic, usually Macrobid. I went in to see a doctor at MEA that gave me 3 samples of LEVAQUIN. They were each 750 mg. Within 3 days of taking the pills I was unable to get out of bed. My stomach pains were so severe I had to constantly bend over to relieve some of the pain. I had no appetite. My chest hurt so bad I couldn't talk loud, laugh or cough without crying from the pain. My fingers began to swell and became numb. I could barely sleep and when I did it was a very restless sleep. I woke up during the night one night and couldn't feel anything in my left shoulder. It has been close to 8 months since I took LEVAQUIN. I still have problems with my joints hurting horribly. I see spots like you would see after a camera flash in my eyes all day everyday. The bottoms of my feet still hurt if I stand still for a long time. LEVAQUIN is so dangerous. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!

I went to my doctor on Monday December 17, 2007, because I was experiencing a fever, chest congestion, with an extremely painful cough. He gave me 7 sample blister packs of Levaquin 500mg, and a sample Pulmicort Flexhaler 180mcg. He also prescribed a cough medicine for night time if I needed it. He said I had bronchitis or a possible pneumonia he couldn’t hear. I also used a nebulizer with Abutrual.

On December 23, 2007 I awoke with the most intense pain I have ever experienced. My wrists, finger, toe, elbows, knees and ankle joints all hurt. My muscles in my legs and back burned. My hands, fingers, feet, toes, and shins felt like they were “asleep” or the worst pins and needles ever.

My husband went online and found out that is was most likely caused by the Levaquin. And thankful I was taking TWO steroids! So when I called the company that makes Levaquin they told me to stay in bed! When I asked them how long this could last they said 1 week to two months.

As of today, the pain in my fingers, toes, wrists, elbows, ankles and knees, which is like tendinitis is mild to moderate. The burning in my muscles in my legs and back is still intense. The “pins and needles” is affecting mostly my hands and feet and my left leg from the knee down. I also still have a deep pain under booth knees. I have also experienced a periodic facial twitch on the left side, below the eye about 1.5 inches.

I am weak, and completely unable to get around do to the pain in my legs and feet. I am furious that my doctor prescribed a medication that could cause these problems without warning me, as samples do not come with warnings. I feel disabled, angry, and would like to know what I am supposed to do now!! Has anyone found anything that helps with the pain?

In my case, Cipro tablets were prescribed for a potential prostate infection. The first dose was taken on 12/12/07. While taking this medication, I experienced "pens and needles" and shooting pains all over my body, leg pains behind my knees, right groin swelling to the point I could barely walk, and chest discomfort just below the sternum. The chest discomfort started after the second dose. My use of this drug was discontinued on about 12/17/07 (after 6 doses). I threw it away. Read the label BEFORE you start this medication. It's quite alarming after the fact.

I let my physician know about my problems with the Cipro and he then prescribed Levaquin, 500 mg, which is the same class of antibiotic. This was confusing to me later since I told them about the problems with Cipro. The doctor knows best...right- so I took 1 Levaquin per day from 12/21/07 until 12/26/07, again about 6 doses. My symptoms re-appeared after about the third day. Pen and needle pains re-occurred although they never entirely went away from the Cipro, severe swelling and tendon pain behind knees- especially the left knee, some chest discomfort, swelling in the armpits, and groin area. Swelling sensations were most prevalent behind both knees and the armpits. Shooting pains also occurred everywhere in my body, especially in the arms and legs. Shooting pains also occurred in my head and jaw with no warning but were less severe. The bottoms of my feet also hurt at times. Sleep was difficult to come by so extreme fatigue set in. I have been off the Levaquin now since 12/26/07 (5 days) and still have some shooting pains but some of the swelling has subsided. The symptoms have reduced but not disappeared entirely. I will never take a quinolone antibiotic again. My suggestion to others is to file an Adverse Drug Reaction report with FDA on their Medwatch website.

I again saw the physician on 12/27/07 and he said that it's "possible" I could be having a rare side effect. Another physician I know said I was having some type of hypersensitivity to the medication but that he had never come across such a case in his practice. Just my luck.