Tequin symptoms and conditions

Sadly, I am just another case among many it seems. I am a 26 year old female who was prescribed ciprofloxacin for a UTI at my urgent care center. I have health problems to begin with and did not want any more. You know, I’ve had to take all kinds of meds over the years, including harsh ones, but it was never so bad as to prompt me to write comments on the internet about it. What does that say about Cipro? When I got home from the doctor I read the paper before swallowing the pill, which included the description of side effects. Unfortunately, it did not include the truth about what could happen to you while even taking this drug for a short time. If there had been some kind of warning about the strength and potential risk of taking this drug, I most likely would have steered clear from it since I am sensitive to medications and already suffering. The paper led me to believe false information, listing some common antibiotic side effects, and I ended up starting treatment. Some of the negative effects I experienced while on this medication for only 2 days were: severe muscle/overall body weakness, difficulty breathing, fatigue, mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, anxiety/nervousness, restlessness, mild carpal tunnel pain, slight vision change, stiffness, pain, an overall feeling of terrible heaviness, including of the chest, and possible heart palpitations. It felt like the medication was damaging my body; like it was eating away at my muscles or something. I've never had chemotherapy before, but some how that's how I would imagine it. It felt like it was doing damage to every cell in my body. The worst part is the weakness and altered thinking right now. I hope these symptoms go away completely. I felt better after quitting the drug, but not completely. I am just thankful for my hope in Jesus Christ. Even if things don't improve, I am comforted that He cares for me. I am going to be praying for this terrible situation where doctors are just handing this out for common problems without giving proper warning. May fewer and fewer people have to suffer because of Cipro and this class of drugs. I am also going to report this to the FDA and hopefully to my doctor’s office. I would like to see clear and extensive warnings on this drug, if not for it to be taken off the market. My personal advice to any one who is currently on this medicine and experiencing side effects would be to: drink milk or eat other dairy products to lessen the symptoms. It seemed to temporarily help me.

Just a thought to ponder..... if Quinolones are such wonder drugs that save so many lives, why was Tequin pulled from the market?

Also, when Tequin was being sold, did all the reps say "this stuff is really dangerous but you should take it anyway" or did they say "this stuff saves lives"?? I think we know the answer.

I have a new idea.... before a rep sells anything they should take 30 days of a given drug. Before a doctor prescribes it, they should take 60 days. Just a new form of drug trial. That should thin the herd.

I was given levaquin 500 mg 6 days ago for phlebitis. Since I started I have had terrible anxiety, panic attacks, fear of dying, nightmares, crying jags, and very sore neck and shoulders. I called my doctor today and asked about the side effects of this medicine. I am NOT going to finish my 10 day dosage. I'm done. I've never been so miserable. This is strange because all this past summer I took low-dose levaquin, 250 mg 4 days a week because I have bartonellosis, a co-infection of Lyme disease. It didn't bother me beyond some leg pain then, but now it's a whole new story. I am TERRIFIED of this antibiotic and modern Western medicine in general.

Thank you, I will make a report. I also developed very severe lower back pain and it's very difficult to walk when I wake up, or after sitting for a while. I did just discover that ibuprofen helps. I hope these symptoms slowly disappear. It so happened that the symptoms started when I was nearly finished. Happy to say that my tendons seem to be fine. The odd thing is that I was given Tequin about 18 months ago and that was fine--I felt very good with that medication. I'll check back in a few days. Thanks, once again.

I'm posting my comment here on the Levaquin site because I too was poisened by this drug one year ago. I experienced horrible joint and tendon pain and even a year later I am still experiencing problems with both Achilles tendons. What I wanted to talk about today is Levaquin's horrible sibling Cipro. Here it is...the honest facts...In late Dec 2006 my dad was diagnosed with chirrosis of the liver. On Jan 8, 2007 he was admitted into the hospital to have fluid drained from his abdomen as a result of his liver not functioning well. My dad was given 400 mg of Cipro through an IV over the course of one hour. I wasn't there with him at the time because I would have never allowed the doctor/nurse/whomever to administer that to him. He was released from the hospital two days later and was ok by all accounts. On Jan 18, 2007 my dad was rushed to the hospital ER where we were told he was in complete kidney failure (renal failure). His liver was also failing. My 70 year old dad died on Feb 13, 2007 from complete kidney and liver failure. At one point over the weeks he was slowly dying I looked up Cipro on the internet and was horrified to read that Cipro is notorious for causing acute renal and liver failure. Another Flouroquinolone, Tequin, was taken off the market last year for causing the same thing. My dad had a "sick" liver to begin with and I cannot comprehend whay a doctor would prescribe a drug to him that is known to cause liver failure. Yes my dad had a liver problem, but besides that he was in excellent health. I do believe that one day my dad would have died as a result of having liver disease, but I truly believe that the Cipro he was given caused his kidney and liver to fail so soon and so rapidly. Beware my friends....beware. May God bless us all who have been affected in one way or another from this crap that is STILL on the market.

About a month ago I took Levaquin for a bacterial infection. It was taken for a painfully infected hair follicle on my face. After 4 days of the med (Levequin) I woke one morning with pain and swelling in my legs and feet, as well as generalized swelling in my entire body. I had a feeling of "brain fog". A year prior to this occurance I had been admitted to the hospital with a bacterial pneumonia at which time I was medicated with Tequin. After that I sufferred with swelling and pain in my joints and tingling and numbness in my hands and arm that lasted approximately 6-7 months. At that time I did not relate it to the drug Tequin. I assumed it was due to age and being over weight (56y/o and 190lb. at 5' 3". However It did get better and I was only left with a loud click in my knee and tingling in my arms and hands. I went to the Chiropractor for some relief of those syptoms, until a month ago when it suddenly returned after using Levaquin for 4 days. I am experiencing pain mostly in my lower extremities. It feel as though the muscles and tendons are very tight at times and at other times they feel unstable with burning and pain alternating from one area to another, sometimes the left side, sometimes the knees sometimes the ankles and feet. I have to be very careful when I stand up to walk to get my balance and stabilize my postion so I don't tear anything with sudden movement or chage of direction. I limp most of the time depending on which extremity it affects at the time. It seems to be affected by the barometric pressure also.

i am 22, and before the levaquin and tequin i was healthy and normal.
Last november while visiting family for thanksgiving, i came down with strepthroat. i couldnt get an appt with tricare so my mother gave me some tequin, she had used it for strep throat. Since then my life has been a living nightmare and it has been the worst year of my life. I took the tequin for 4 days. on the 4day, i left to go back to VA where i live. I got horribly sick that day, but thought nothing of it as my husband and son had gotten the 24 hr bug while we there. pretty soon i started having anxiety attacks and chest pain left and right. The came the stomache PAIN. I thought i was having appendicitis. I ended up going to the er once sometimes 2x a month for things like severe abdominal pain and chest pain, anxiety attacks going out of control, and unbearable migraines (which i had never had before.) i was diagnosed with lots of different things, IBS, Ulcer, pulled muscles, chest wall pain, and once even gall bladder dysfunction. So as a result of all that i have been perscribed all kinds of things for the pain the nausea the headaches the unbearable insomnia etc.
These things caused a major rift in my marriage. My husband has at a few times talked of divorce bc he couldnt stand the hypochondriac *as he put it* that i had become. I have thought i was going crazy, have contemplating hospitalitizing my self etc. Recently my PCM and I decided to try a perscription for depression. One of the major symptoms of depression is"persistand physical symptoms that DO NOT respond to treatment. Such as Headaches, digestive disorders and headaches." so i tryed it. Then a week ago i stepped on something outside and went to get a tetanus shot. They perscribed levaquin 750 mg a day for 5 days, and gave me a 750mg dose at the hospital. That was Monday. it is now 430 am on friday and this week has sucked. My side effects have included insomnia(even with my nightly ambien), nausea, burning/tingling in my entire right arm, chest pain, a sinus infection, knee pain, back pain, shoulder/neck stiffness, headaches, jitters, something kinda like blurred vision..like right on the verge of not being able to focus. Constipation, pain in my hands, and almost overwhelming fatigue.
regretably i had already taken todays dose, and i started feeling bad again so i decided to look up all my current meds online to see if maybe it was an interaction of sorts. I tried the levaquin last, as it is an antibiotic. After reading 9 pages of nothing but negative comments i decided to flush the remainder of the bottle of pills down the toilet. I plan on filing a compaint with the FDA. This is poisin and I cannot belive with all the side effects it is still on the market. I cannot believe that for almost a year my life has been a living, tormenting hell. And all b/c of something that is supposed to make things better? If you read this please stop taking the pills and see your doc about another alternative. I agree that the drug should be taken off the market and soon. i also agree that a class act lawsuit should be filed. These side effects LAST A LONG TIME, they interfere with your ability to function on a daily basis. I am very interested in talking with others about the problems with the side effect, and the longevity of them. My yahoo email/ID is ******* i would appreciate and be thankful for any advice, and i would also like to be in contact with others who have suffered as i have suffered.

i am a 52 year old male with many med. problems. I have taken Tequin twice, with no problems. I am now on Levaquin, 750 mg.X 10 days for an absessed tooth. I have taken 3. I won't take any more. I have had the following side effects: Lightheaded, Shakey, sweating,stomach cramps, dizzy, sore throat, fever, and depression/anxiety. I believe I have become "sensitized" to this family of drugs. Be aware, and tell your Doctor.

Yes, Peggy, it's the same except Tequin has been pulled off the market. Fluoroquinolones come in different names; avelox, cipro, levaquin etc. etc. get on www.fqvictims.org for some help

I HAVE BEEN ON 875 MG AMOXICILLIN FOR 8 DAYS FOR EAR - THROAT & SINUS INFECTION - STILL WASN'T QUITE WORKING- SO MY ENT DR GAVE ME LEVAQIN 750 FOR 5 DAYS - AM ON DAY 2 - AND FEEL AWFUL- WEAKNESS- INSOMNIA & QUEASY - AM NOT TAKING ANY MORE OF THIS GARBAGE! THE FEELING I GET IS HOW I'VE HEARD CHEMO DRUGS MAKE YOU FEEL! THANKS BUT NO THANKS! I THINK WE ARE ALL JUST GUINEA PIGS FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES! MY MOTHER ALMOST PASSED OUT- AND TEMPORARILY LOST HER VISION FROM TAKING TEQUIN - IS IT THE SAME AS LEVAQUIN?

Hello. I am in the US, but I though I would add to this list in hopes of helping somebody else avoid what i hope isn't to be my fate.

I am a 30 year old male who has chronic sinusitis and have had either no insurance or low-quality health insurance from my younger years till September 2004. I have gotten into the habit NOT consulting a doctor when I was slightly ill and have no fever because It was all out of pocket and I could not afford it. (before you comment, have you ever been sued for medical bills?) I have been lucky to only get sick once a year or less with a sinus infection that usually turns into an ear problem. I was given samples of Tequin several years ago and had a horrific reaction to sunlight which was witnessed by several medical professionals after less than two hours in direct sunlight and more than two weeks after I had discontinued use of the antibiotic and developed a good tan. This experience caused me to avoid medical treatment for the infections (very mild in nature) for the past 4 years.

I was persuaded to see a GP by my fiance because we both had very bad upper respiratory infections (similar to the one that I had when I took Tequin before). She is a hypochondriac; I'm the exact opposite in every way. I made an appointment with her physician, explained my medical history including the Tequin, and received 5 x 750mg Levaquin and was told to take one a day. I took it immediately after leaving his office at 2:30 PM. I was not warned that there were any signs to look for, such as muscle aches and pains, and I had none at the time.

The first day after, (Wednesday, March 22 2006), I awoke around an hour early around 6:00 AM. While I wasn't alarmed, I did have some muscle and joint pain getting out of bed. I attributed this to the fact that I only had 5-6 hours of sleep. I noticed some unusual but mild stiffness and aching while getting up from my desk and that my hands were seemingly more sensitive to cold air; they became numb as I typed (I am a software engineer for the #1 ranked LIS in the U.S.) and have a fairly in-depth medical background as I had initially sighted a career in pharmacy and then nursing and worked in the field as a C.N.A. and Q.M.A. for several years. I am fluent in medical-speak for the most part. I attributed the symptoms to my illness and the decongestant that I had been taking (and have always taken since the age of 14) Benadryl Severe Sinus Headache. I took my dose of antibiotic without question at 2:30 and went home sore and stiff.

On the second day (Thursday, March 23rd 2006), I awoke at 5:30 which alarmed me as I had only slept between 4.5 and 5 hours. I was very stiff and the balls of my feet, backs of my hands and feet, great-toes, and thumbs were extremely sensitive to pressure which caused very bad pain. I have a herniated disc with sciatic nerve-induced leg and hip pain, several broken bones, severe sinus pain, and know what having a ruptured appendix feel like; so please don't call me a sissy. I had a lot of difficulty due to weakness and pain while getting out of bed. I have used one sick day in the two years that I have worked for this employer and was considering using a sick day to recoup but went into work anyway... which was a stroke of luck because I looked at the side effects. I found it difficult to lift myself onto my toes and the backs of my legs at the ankle and knee felt inflamed. I went to work and had increasing difficulty typing (shooting pain and numbness like sudden carpal-tunnel to my elbows) also, standing up and walking to use the restroom or get a beverage was a chore as others saw me staggering down the hall and asked if my foot was asleep. I took two 325mg aspirin for the pain which seemed to help a little and took my next dose of Levaquin at 2:30. The symptoms worsened and I became shaky and confused as if I were in shock at 5:00 or just before. I called my brother who is a Pharm D. and asked him for advice. He first said that I must have another infection because of the pain and then hours later called back asking me if I had tremors and told me to stop the Levaquin and call the Dr. the next day if I didn't feel better. I searched Yahoo! for "Levaquin and Joint Pain" and found hundreds of websites like this one. I can relate to nearly everyone here, this drug is trouble and I wish that I had never gone to the doctor and just stuck it out because I was already feeling better at the time and went at the insistence of somebody else.

On the Third day (Friday, March 24th 2006), I called in to work and contacted the physician's office, as I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't return to sleep and my symptoms had made it impossible to hold onto the steering wheel of the car or even motivate myself past the pain of getting up and taking a shower. I only got up once before noon to soak in a hot bath (which helped slightly with more aspirin). The physician's office called back in two hours saying that they had a prescription for another antibiotic, this time the penicillin-derivative (Augmentin), ordered for me and wanted a pharmacy to call. I assumed that there were no permanent problems that were to result from the side-affects because they didn't mention anything to alarm me and continued to rest. I noticed that I had severe difficulty even holding open a book with my thumb while laying on my back and that my arm became numb and then pain-stricken when holding the book over my face to read within just a few minutes. I do not know how many times I had switched hands before noticing this. I then contacted my brother again to ask about the "Seek immediate medical attention" portion of the warning for liver problems and joint pain, etc from the internet site "drugs.com" for Levaquin. He said that it should pass when the drug began to leave my body and that things would begin to become normal again by Saturday (now Friday afternoon). I proceeded to spend the rest of the day laying around and noticed that when pouring my coffee that I had to hold the decanter with both hands because my wrists and fingers were weak.

The weekend of March 25-26th 2006 were far worse than anything I have ever experienced up until the afternoon of Sunday, the 26th when I began taking an increased dose of aspirin at my brother's advice (four every four hours this time). I also drank an entire bottle of Riesling out of desparation, which may have helped dull the pain a little. :-)

I am currently experiencing a numb and weak feeling in my hands and feet, mostly in my thumbs, great toes, and Achilles tendon (mostly in my right heel). I cannot lift myself with my right foot and have extreme difficulty rotating my hands and grabbing things. Today is Monday, March 27, 2006 and I have no improvement to report other than the pain is less intense but still present. I have contacted my physician with no response and am going to the ER tonight. I doubt that they will do anything other than waste 5 hours of my time and bill my insurance company liberally. I hope that I have inflammation and not ruptured tendons but am prepared for the worse. Thank you all for your words of warning. I wish that I had done my research before trusting the physician with another drug in this category.

Thank you to those who wrote me with words of advice. I'm now 14 days out from levaquin and am feeling a bit better. I have had a complete physical and blood workup. I've also seen an allergist, a rhematologist, two ER doctors and my primary care. My primary care and one ER were at the Cleveland Clinic and advise that it's the levaquin. I have yet to run across a doc who didn't say it's the levaquin. I was sure it was MS, ALS or something worse than an allergic reaction. I am getting a little better and hope I continue on this path. I wanted to share the list of meds the allergist told me to NEVER TAKE and even suggested that I get a med alert braclet. It appears that if you have a bad reacation and take the offending agent again, next time will be worse including shock. My daughter who is an RN also agrees with the medic alert braclet. She said that if I were ever in a car wreck, one of the first things they would do in the ER was start an antioboitic IV.

The meds in the same family to avoid are:

Cipro, avelox, faxtive, levaquin, varoxin, tequin and trovan.

This same Dr. (the allregy immunology doc) says that I have had nerve damage, that I should fully recover and that it will not get worse.

My symptoms were mostly pain in my limbs, if you have had the pain in your limbs at the least please put a note in your wallet that says that you can not take the above listed drugs.

Hope this helps. God bless

Taunda

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I have had sinusitis(es) for 12 years, and been prescribed most of the different
antibiotics. Sometimes, they do a culture and sensitivity, but usually not.
They just roll the dice, and pick their favorite one.
I have had confirmed sinusitis that responded only to Levaquin (or Tequin), and some
that didn't, but did get cured under Augmentin (amoxicillin +), or one of the others:
Biaxin, penicillin, Cipro, you name it.
The side effect I noticed most with Levaquin, though, is the stomach upset.
When I remember to eat yogurt everyday, though, I am fine.
Why don't Americans know about yogurt?
In Europe, I am told, the pharmacist "prescribes" some pills that have the same
cultures as yogurt, when you get antibiotics.

I am a 45 yr old Triple A+ female (allergies, asthma, arthritis and GERD). Meds that I am already taking are Allegra, Flonase, Prevacid and Lodine.

I went to my clinic on July 2 and after many tests and an overnight stay in the hospital in was discovered that I had pneumonia. I was being released from the hospital with a prescrition for Tequin. My released instructions were not to take my Lodine while on Tequin.
When I talked with my pharmacist my insurance would not cover Tequin but did cover Levaquin. I asked the pharmacist on duty if I could take my Lodine with Levaquin because with Tequin the doctor said not to and she knows of no drug reaction but I should not since the Dr said not to and it is from the same family.
I received a sheet called Human Link from my pharmacy with every prescription that lists:
common uses
how to use
cautions
possible side effects
contact your Dr. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if.......IMMEDIATELY if you experience........
of the drug being prescribed.
I always read these papers.
I have been on Levaquin 500mg since July 3 and have a 10 day prescription.
I am happy to report that I have had no side affects at all.
I did call the doctor and asked about taking the Lodine and was told that taking any anti-inflammatory drug even Advil or Motrin causes severe nerous system problems.
I always research medications I take online and that is how I came to this website.
All the symptoms I have read on this site were listed on the sheet I received from the pharmacy.

See the following.

SIDE EFFECTS: nausea, trouble sleeping, diarrhea, vomiting, change in taste, headache, or dizziness if bothersome contact your Dr.

CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE if:
experience tendon, joint, or muscle pain or swelling, "sunburn" ( sun sensitivity), vaginal discomfort, abdominal pain, or vision changes.

CONTACT DR. IMMEDIATELY if:
seizures, mental/mood changes, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, restlessness, confusion, change in the amount of urine, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.

This is not intented to cover all precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects.

You should always contact your doctor if you are concerned about any reaction or symptom to any medication you may be taking.

I hope this will help.

I was on Levaquin 2 years & Tequin 6 months for prostate infection. Off several months and on Levaquin 1 week late January 2003. Had doctor's treatment on a Hako Pain Machine (like giant TENS unit) and afterwards had tingling & walking-on-springs feeling in right foot. Later felt like I was vibrating in the crotch. Week later had tingling/vibrating all over my body. In legs/feet most of the time but other times all over. It can be terrifying. Local doctors no help so went to Mayo Clinic where diagnosed "small fiber neuropathy" and "diffuse vibratory sensation". I KNOW this is result of the fluoroquinolones. Drugs I have been on either don't work or give side effects too much to tolerate. Doctors I've seen feel it "may" be result of the antibiotics. I am trying low carbohydrate diet and absolutely no sugar as that triggers the vibrating sensation bigtime. So far I have not found anyone with quite similar symptoms to mine.

Levaquin was prescribed for me 7 days ago. I previously had a reaction to Tequin which caused confusion and a diabetic episode, so was concerned and asked my pharmacist about this medication. She said if I noticed any of the same reactions, to stop levaquin immediately. It took only 2 days before I began to experience muscle cramps & tendon stiffness, which I had also experienced from Tequin. Do not take any Quinolones without discussing it with your physician and pharmacist!

I took Tequin for a sinus infection. My heasr rate went up to 130 and I thought I was going to die. I stopped taking it. The infection is back so I paid $90.00 for 7 Levaqin tabs yesterday. My heart did not race with this drug, but I had extreme weakness and lots of diarrhea. I have not had any trouble sleeping. I will continue taking it as I have been sick all month with this sinus infection. I knew the risks as I am a nurse. This drug seems to be the "drug of choice" where I work.....

I have had the side effect of severe confusion and a diabetic episode which resulted in a hospitalization from Tequin. I started Levaquin a week ago, but had stiff muscles, tendon & joints, muscle weakness and ringing in the ears. I was prescribed Cipro Friday and am suffering aches, joint & back pain and joint stiffness. My throat is getting sore and stiff and possibly swelling. I am stopping the Cipro immediately and calling my doctor tomorrow. I have taken it successfully once in the past. I am a multiple organ transplant recipient, and know my body and how I feel. The so called "M.D." who so facetiously posted that "As a matter of fact maybe this whole Iraq thing is all levaquin's fault. Maybe you people need to realise that just because you have a symptom, and it happened after you took a drug, the two aren't necessarily related" needs to get a better bedside manner and do some research in the PDR.