Levoquin symptoms and conditions

Well, I had foot surgery. Several days later when I returned to doc my foot was obviously infected. He gave me Cipro AND Levaquin at the same time even though they are in the same family of drug. I went home and ate supper then took my first dose. I had a weird feeling like I was about to pass out and was home alone. I unlocked the front door and waited for EMS to arrive.

They checked me out and I was going to go to ER by car. When I stood up, I turned white and fell back on the sofa. I had a rash on neck/chest and felt like someone was squeezing my chest all the way around my body. They said my blood pressure dropped. They gave me epinephrine in ER. I looked at my daughter and said it is happening again. I thought the top of my head would blow off. I turned white and started vomiting everywhere. Turns out the nurse should have given it in the muscle not by IV.

A few months later, I took my first dose of Avelox (also in same family as Levaquin and Cipro) for a sinus infection. (I think it caused palpitations the one other time I took, but I do that occasionally anyway so I didn't connect it to the antibiotic.) Second time I was out at a restaurant with my sons. I felt like I was about to pass out again. I called an ambulance because they aren't old enough to drive. I told them about my reaction to Levaquin, but to my surprise my blood pressure was sky high. Again it felt like pressure in my chest but no difficulty really breathing. Since I had an "atypical" reaction, I had to stay overnight in the ER and be evaluated for a heart attack! I had an EKG, stress test, and cardiac enzymes drawn all night. What a pain! Then the dufus ER doc told me to continue the antibiotic. My daughter, who is a paramedic, said just nod and smile. Then go home and throw it away. Call your regular doc and ask him to change it. That is exactly what I did.

Now I am petrified every time I have to take antibiotics! I have to talk myself through it.

Second time I took it, I felt weird again.

I have been off of Levaquin for three weeks . I am experiencing joint and muscle pain from my thighs to my ankles. Wake up in the middle of the night in agony. Soaking in a hot tub gives minor relief. Has anyone found something to ease the pain and help the healing process I need help!!!

I am a 29 y/o male.this month i got a terrible sinus infection, probably due to a month's struggle with allergies. I was initially prescribed Augmenting but after just 1 pill i was up all night with stomach cramps & diarrhea. I was scared to take another dose so my dr. prescribed me Levaquin as an alternative. After reading the warnings I became very worried due to the fact that I already have lower back/hip and joint pain issues. I also work evening freight at Home Depot. After 1 Levaquin yesterday morning, I went to work ready to take it easy and not hurt my body more than it already does... after about 30 minute of simply opening small boxes and putting light-weight merchandise on the shelves, i began to feel extreme tension/aching in my hands and fingers.I was being very careful with my back & neck, but never even thought this might effect my hands??? I woke up this morning hoping it would be gone... no such luck, even after a full night's rest they still feel like i have arthritis, and no my hips (S.I. joints)are popping out like crazy. i am about to take the 2nd dose, only b/c my ears nose and throat do feel much better. I am just glad I picked up paperwork/and can afford to take a few days of LOA if this gets any worse. It is hard for me just to type this now : (. I'm scared.

Ran into friend at grocery store with mystery illness. Docs attribute it to Agent Orange exposure. Been at death's doorstep for a year. Hands were extremely cold and has little energy. Showed up one day at golf course with oxygen bottle! Asked him if he had taken Levaquin. Unfortunately had. Docs again fail to link antibiotic exposure to his ailments.
I wonder how many illnesses and deaths this poison has caused? Why does the FDA allow this crap? Do you people realize that the average person is clueless about the side effects of drugs like this. Put total confidence and their well being in the hands of ignorant docs and profit crazed drug companies.
Ignorant oncologist failed to link my dad's symptoms to Levaquin, instead attributed them to b-cell lymphoma which just happened to suddenly appear. Rituxan and numerous other drugs (Heparin, Lasix, Gamma globulin, Tylenol, antibiotics, Insulin, steroids, Flowmax, etc.) was too much. A fiasco, people think he died of lymphoma. Was walking three miles a day before taking Levaquin, for an undiagnosed lung infection.

I was put on Levoquin after 4 days of Bronchitis. My body was not responding to the antibiotic so they added Prednisone. I continued on both medications IV for 8 days. After the second day, I developed a severe pain in my groin. I mentioned it to the NP treating me and she said, "we will worry about that once we get the Bronchitis under control". The pain continued as the medication continued. After the Bronchitis was resolved, the pain in my groin was terrible. My doctor sent me for CT scans and and MRI. The next thing I knew I was in the Orthopedic Surgeon's Office talking to him about a total hip replacement. He said the test showed very mild degeneration and he was not sure a total hip replacement for me was the answer. I opted not to have the hip replacement. Diagnostic Testing continued. Finally, my doctor told me that the combination of Levoquin and Prednisone caused a tendon rupture in my groin. He said it would heal but would take a long time. It is now 8 months since I took those medications and my hip is more painful now than ever. I am on pain medication and it does not help. I see my doctor today and we will discuss other options to relieve this awful pain. I walk with a cane and I feel like I will never walk normally again. It has totally disrupted the activities of my life. My doctor tells me to stay off my feet as much as possible to rest the tendon, this is impossible as I am a registered nurse and I am on my feet constantly. This has destroyed my life!

Im only 16 years old and ive been on levaquin for about 3 days now. My doctor told me off the bat that the only thing wrong with the drug were some "theories" on cartilidge damage, how ever, now i see for myself, and for many other people that is not the only side effect. He told me that no one under 18 is supposed to have it but i caught a severe case of sinutitus, and a uti which ive had for 2 months and nothing was working, so he put me on levaquin, once a day for 7 days. Ive now been having the following symptoms and im extremely scared!!
1. Constant fatigue
2. Extreme Migraines
3. Nausea, vomiting
4. Rapid heart beat (and chest pain)
5. Stiffness in joints and horrible pain...
6. Constant anxiousness, to where i cant get to sleep
7. Dizziness

Is there anyone i can talk to who's had these same problems? please email me or something im scared and i don't know what to do my mother doesn't believe me and she says its just a head cold....

******

Please help me!!

I was prescribed Levaquin for a bout of diverticulitis six weeks ago. About a half hour after taking it each morning, I felt completely unwell--dizziness, fatigue, overall weakness, odd sensations of pressure in my head, chest, and bladder, weird bouts of sudden joint pain. The worst side effect was terrible insomnia. I'd go to sleep OK, but wake up after 3 hours and not be able to get back to sleep, sometimes for the rest of the night. Instead of getting the rest I needed to get better, I was getting more and more exhausted. Now, a month after stopping the medication, my sleep hasn't returned to normal. I'm still awake in the middle of the night for two or more hours. Is this a residual side effect from Levaquin? Has anyone else experienced it? When can I expect my sleep to improve? Is there a way to detoxify from this drug?

this is my second day on levaquin. the first night the sleep was pretty bad, but i took the pill late at night, so today i took it early morning , ill see if that helps. no other issues so far. still coughing up a storm though, hopefully i don't have pneamounia.

I took levaquin, cipro and avalox in a 4 month period due to a severe sinus infection, back in Jan to april of 2006. I had tolerated it most of my life, but at that time, I had had 'neck surgery due to 2 pinched nerves, left shoulder operated on, major tears, due to extreme 'flat roof roofing repair' for 6 months trying to save our 'dream home from satan'. (we lost it, foreclosure)
I complained to my dr the next day, (and most every week) he ignored my halluciations, (actually "snickered" in my face), mood altered, ignored my complaints of feeling like a hot rake tearing my muscle and tendons apart. pain, told me to continue taking it:(, blame me for listening and NOT doing research soon enough, I learned later the dr is supposed to STOP the drugs immediately to rule out tendonitist to prevent pernanent irreverable damage AND it's not to be given to 'muscle challanged people'). after that 3rd round in a 4 month period, I told him I'd rather die than to take them again. mom always told me I was allergic to pennicilin, I wasnt, it helped clear my infection.

I now have hodgkins lyphoma, (affects men mostly, i'm female, 51 yrs of age), I shouldnt have 'this cancer'. My face started breaking out w/2 types of skin cancer, basal cell, and precancer A. keratosis eveywhere. I was 120 lbs, cut muscles, always had been physical. Now, flab, lost mucle strength everywhere. Every day now is filled w/severe pain and NO dr will listen, I've been called crazy so many times, I could puke. The dr's dont WANT TO KNOW because of the extensive lawsuits that will exist due to them NOT knowing side effects and stopping meds, it's their 'brotherhood', protect each other no matter what the patients 'cost' is, as in mine, complete mind and body destruction:(
To MOST people, this drug is okay. To many of us, it's a life destroying slow death. Cant work, cant get disability. Have reached for 'help to heaven' so many times, but never followed through:(. I still HOPE for some dr to listen and do necessary tests so I can sue the crap out of my previous g.p. He should have known . HOPE is a forbidden 4 letter word, yet I cuss like a sailor.
Peace my fellow quin sufferers, Sandie in S.C.

It has been three weeks since my daughter and I have taken our last pills of Levaquin. She still has terrible pain in her hands and has suffered from severe headaches. I have all of the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke in fact, I spent several hours at the ER and went through many tests. No heart attack or stroke and sent me home. My son and his wife did research and found out all of my symptoms are from taking levaquin. My heart rate regularly is never over 65 and it jumped to 117. My blood pressure went up to 209/106. The top of my head went numb from front to back and also numb in the back on the bottom half. So bad at times I thought I was going to faint. I have word recall problems, diarrhea, strange taste, vision problems, had an irregular heart beat, extreme anxiety, upset stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, fear of dying, heels on my feet hurt bad, sweats, muscles twitching, swelling in my throat and made me hoarse, can't sleep.
Levoquin is not for me!!!!! I am so thankful to my kids for looking it up so I know what I am fighting against. I am also thankful to all of you for writing it here so that we can try to help each other.

I first took avelox last december for cellulitis. I also took levoquin for the same condition. I had a recurrence and took Avelox again this week. On the 3rd day I noticed brief "sticking" pains that would come and go. It felt like someone was poking me, first on the leg, then my back, then an arm. They lasted briefly, and then came back a few hours later. About the same time I noticed my shoulder was hurting, and my forearm and some of my fingers. I thought the infection was spreading and I went back to the doctor, who offered to Xray my shoulder. That seemed pointless, so I said forget it and refered to the package insert, where i found tendon rupture as a side effect. I searched more and found that Avelox, and other quinolones are TOXIC to the TENDONS and may cause muscle and tendon pain. I discontinued the medicine and now am using ceflex to treat the infection. I will wait a while for the pains to resolve, and pray I do not blow a tendon, esp. in my shoulder. I am pretty pissed that the doctor was unaware of this side effect, and when I informed him of my experience he said he would not use Avelox for cellulitis in the future.
KB

I was prescribed 750mg of levaquin 9/11/07. I read all the side effects but also read in many scientific studies that the odds of these side effects occurring were slim. I believe the exact figures were around 1-3%. I have my bachelor's of science in biology and am planning to attend graduate school next year, so I thought I was educated enough in the realm of how drugs interact with the body. "1-3%" is such a low probability, right?

I took one pill at approximately 9pm then around 11pm I began to feel dizzy and light headed. I had been drinking water all day and continued to do so after taking the first dose so I decided to go to bed. I awoke the next morning still dizzy and my muscles ached. Then, while walking to the bathroom to put my contacts in, I began to hear ringing in my ears until it was all I could hear around me, I developed tunnel vision, then completely blacked out. The only way my vision returned is when I sat on the ground with my head between my knees barely moving. I remembered reading that levaquin could cause hypoglycemia so I literally crawled to the kitchen and poured a plethora of sugar into a cup of gatorade and drank it as quickly as I could. I've never been more thankful to be an athlete and keep that in my refridgerator constantly...well... I WAS an athlete. I haven't been able to walk, let alone run, without my head throbbing with each step.

It is now 9/19/07 and I still have a pounding headache that won't go away. It is as if my optic nerve is on fire. I've tried vitamins, flushing my body with constant fluid, sleep, massage, and an optometrist examination for new contact lenses in case the headaches were due to eye strain. Nothing has seemed to work. My sinus infection that the levaquin was initially prescribed for has subsided but I can only hope that this headache will subside as well.

Has anyone else experienced an on-going headache as well? And if so... what have you found provides relief?

Has anyone experienced bilateral achilles tendon tears on Levaquin therapy?

Severe insomnia and nausea. Already have arthritis and muscle/joint painso don't know if this is occuring due to Levoquin.

During the first 4 days of Levoquin for treatment of pneumonia started feeling very tired with some aching muscles. It continued to worsen until it became severe pain in my joints (especially hips, knees, shoulders,elbows and hands). I became unable to rise from a sitting to standing position; someone had to lift me up, still with excruciating pain in knee joints. Also had nightmares and started talking in my sleep. Refused to take any more and MD ordered a Z-pack which I am just starting. What an awful drug Levoquin is!!!!!!!

I've been taking Levoquin for a bad sinus/URI. I'm finally starting to feel better (I've been sick for a month). I'm not experiencing any side effects other than massive hyper salivation!!! Anyone else have this?

on day 4 of a 5-day dose of 750mg....I experienced intense shoulder pain in both shoulders---later diagnosed as impingement syndrome for which I need to do physical therapy in hopes of getting back to normal again! Also, weakness and pain in my hands and upper thighs...I cannnot unscrew a jar or open a door without pain. I am normally very active --aerobics, swimming(up to a mile 3x weekly), step, and walking....I can do none of the above!...I told my doctor to add to my chart ---no Levoquin!....the cure for my flu has been worse than the flu!....they should remove from market and/or highlight the muscular problems associated with the drug.

I posted on 7/28 regarding an allergic reaction to Levoquin. Despite being off the drug now for over a week, I continue to have severe muscle pain especially in my thighs and calves, but general muscle pain as well. It feels as if my muscle fibers are about ready to shred into pieces, as if I just yesterday ran a marathon and today my muscles are extremely sore. How long after discontinuing Levoquin do these type of symptoms linger? What course of action can be taken to facilitate some improvement?

I was on my second round of a 10 day courses of Levoquin for diverticulitis. 5 days into my second round, I started to have an allergic reaction every evening from 8:30 ish to midnight-ish. It would start with a tingly painful tongue, then tongue feeling slightly swollen ,then slighlty swollen and numb, itchy lips and gums, then to the back of my throat and up my ears. My salvatory gland production increased, was slighlty nauseated and had a headache. Then 2 hours into the reaction, I began to get short of breathe and had a racing heart and palpiations. I currently take prendisone for Lupus so I'm sure this masked the allergy to some extent. I continued on the drug for another 5 days of these nightly reactions, elimainating other meds and foods I was eating in an attempt to figrer out what I allergic to, until I finally saw my doctor who immediately discontinued my leviquin. Because of my Lupus, I am always in chronic pain but since taking the levoquin, every single muslce in my body is extremely sore and tender, even my scalp. I've been off it for 3 days and on high doses of prednisone and my lips are still a bit sore and puffy feeling and my muscles still hurt but seems to be improving a little bit but not as much as I would have expected being on such high prednisone.

I received Levoquin for a bad sinus /respitory infection. I've taken full doses in the past, but no more. I took one 500mg Levoquin pill and within 1 hour I had a fever, uncontrolled chills, aching legs/feet and swollen hands. After finally falling asleep I woke up feeling better. I at that time didn't associate the two (have taken without side effects in the past). I just thought that I probably came down with some strange 24hr bug. I took my morning dose and wouldn't you know it the whole cycle started again. I haven't had a dose in 24hrs and just started taking Benedryl for some relief. My hands and feet are still swollen, red and painful. It hurts to walk b/c the soles of my feet are so sore and now I have signs of thrush. It is a nightmare. I will never, ever take this medication again!!!!

My wife took Levoquin 500MG for five days and it ruined both of her achillies tendons, one ruptured, the other frayed. After 6-8 weeks in bed or a wheel chair, there are weeks if not months of thearpy to go through before she can walk again. It has turned our lives upside down and the manufacturers of this poison must be called 5to account and compensate

I, too, am a recent "victim" of Levoquin. Went to the doctors on January 14th with swollen neck glands and generalized physical weakness. Thought that I had mono but a quick culture revealed a strep infection. A RX was written for Keflex. I insisted on a 24/48 hr. culture and sensitivity. Thirteen days later my doctor phoned me at work (without a doubt I should be looking for another Practice!!) and said that the strep would not respond to Keflex but that it would respond to Levoquin. My lucky day! This was the beginning of the end. So, for the first ten days of this infection I was on Keflex. Then seven days of Levoquin 500 mg. daily. A repeat culture done on February 10th still revealed Strep. Way to go Levoquin! Now I am on a twenty day course of Levoquin 500 mg. daily (the doctor refers to it as a nuclear bomb). No kidding, Dick Tracy! Shoulder pain is unrelenting, joint pains all over, glands are still swollen, throat is swollen, ears ache, do not sleep.... even with the aid of Ambien, AND, my eyelids are scalded. A new side effect for this medication? This is day seven of this round. I don't know if I will make it to day twenty. I am still waiting for a return call from my doctor. Help! How in the world can a medication that causes so much harm be good for you? I would love to see the test study data on product.

This isnt necessarily a new side affect, but wanted to post anyway. I have been on levoquin 500 mg for 2 days nows. I feel completely "out of it" . i cant concentrate at all! My back is aching, and CANT sleep the least little bit. Will not continue with this medication thanks to everyones posts!!!!

I had a very serious kidney infection and was prescribed to take 500mg of Levoquin a day, during 10 days. I had horrible stomach ache and nauseas. Now in my 8th day I started having a lot of pain in my left calf. I am scared after reading all this. I am afraid this pain will not go away... does someone know about this kind of side effect?

Thanks in advance!

My name is Evie Brien-Wells. I was prescribed Levoquin 750 q day for a breast abscess and swollen nodes in my left axilla. I took the medication, but didn't feel much better, in fact the infection seemed to be getting worse. Days 4-6 spanned a weekend, by day 7 I was so miserable I went to the ER, where they found by doing bloodwork that my bone marrow had been so completely suppressed, that my body was unable to help fight the infection. The result was a two week stay in hospital with IV antibiotics, need for incision and drainage of the areas in question x 2, and a lengthy recovery. It is now 5 weeks past my first hospital day, and my white blood cell count is still less than half of what it should be. I can't work with an immune system still that compromised. I am an RN, age 54, never been sick a day in my life before this episode. I still feel weak, altho' that is getting better every day. I still find I need to nap during the day, and that alone is very unusual for me, as I worked 12-hour shifts before this little episode. I am going to have to find a job that is less demanding, as I doubt that I will be able to do 12-hour shifts any time soon.