Unsuspecting patients symptoms and conditions

I took Kenolog 80mg injections back in 05-06. Towards the end of 06 I noticed a nickle sized crater on my right butt cheek. I am brown skin and the crater is pink/beige in color. I get sick and sad every time I look at it. I was never told of this side effect. It is shocking to read that so many others have experienced the same misfortune. Someone needs to be held accountable for unleashing this dangerous drug on unsuspecting patients.

I am a 36 year-old female, and in very good physical condition. I have been a runner for 15 years. I was prescribed levaquin for a recurrent sinus infection, 500mg x 7 days. On the second day I developed severe carpal tunnel syndrome (tendonitis of the forearms & hands); I could barely hold a pen in my hand, much less write. I refused to take the 3rd dose. On the 5th day (even though I am not taking it anymore) I woke up with severe hip pain (both hips). I can barely walk, much less run. I am a full-time physician and have a small child. I am not sure what will happen to my favorite hobby, running. This drug is extremely dangerous, and I will never prescribe it to anyone. It should be removed from the market!!

I was diagnosed as having Bronchitis. I have cardio vascular disease; have had 4 heart attacks. A doctor prescribed Levaquin 500mg for seven days. I started getting pain in my left leg about the 4th day of taking the Levaquin. I started having difficulty breathing and found myself gasping for air especially at night. I just thought the infection was getting worse and I finished the 7 day of pills. After that time I got a rash on my body, shortness of breath continued, my eyes were swelling up, had little urine flow, got cramps in my feet, thighs, neck and arms and I gained 20 pounds of fluid even though I was not eating much and swelled up like a water balloon in my abdomen and down to my feet. I went back to the doctors office, had a different doctor which she said I was having heart problems. She ran blood tests to check the heart and liver, took another x-ray, gave me a drug to test my urine flow and when the results of the blood test came back I was told I had an enlarged heart, fluid in my heart cavity and referred to schedule an appointment in two weeks with a cardiologist.

Then the doctor asked me if the previous doctor knew I had heart disease and I said yes. This doctor informed me it looks like you had an allergic reaction to something. She then prescribed a blood pressure and diuretic for me to relive fluid and released me, I took the diuretic one day did not relieve any additional fluid became constipated and I immediately stopped taking the water pill.

I then went to a third doctor four days later since I got no help from the first or second doctor for the shortness of breath, fluid retention,swelling and shortness of breath.
This doctor asked me what medication I had taken I informed him Levaquin and he proceeded to tell me they were having trouble and bad effects in some people taking Levaquin. I felt relieved because I had read the warnings that came with the medication and I confirmed I had certain allergic effects from the drug. The doctor then took a blood and urine test told me to come back in four days until the blood test results come in. I am extremely angry at the medical profession and the treatment I have received for their failure to treat the side effects of the prescribed medication I was given, I even read Lefaquin has caused cardiac collapse in some patients so why on earth would a doctor prescribe this medicine to a person with cardio vascular disease? I am sitting here suffering the side effects and they are out of the office not having a concern to my suffering just lining their pockets Monday through Friday with cash, Our medical and drug systems are broken and no one is attempting to repair them to my knowledge.

I went back to my PCP today. Yes the one that gave me the Levaquin. He was very nice and even agreed it was the Levaquin I took back in December. He said that these types of side effects we all are describing are RARE (I would have kicked him for all of us, but my legs hurt to bad).

But he did acknowledge pain and my symptoms (listed in my December post) and prescribed me Prednisone for my ligaments and Lyrica for my nerve pain. He also said it was going to be a long haul. I know that some of you are dying to telling why these meds are bad too, but I am going to try it because I haven't really been out of my bed for two weeks.

I just wanted to let you all know, that maybe some doctors are starting to listen... and that we should keep speaking out and warning others about the HIGH risk of our side effects.

Just an update! First off, PLEASE I implore you, CONTACT the mfg! They need to submit these side effects to the FDA which can alert and prevent this from happening to other unsuspecting patients like ourselves!

Okay just got back from the dr's (rhumotologist) Good News, Bad News and Good News! First she knew IMMEDIATELY what was going on and this is what happens with this drug (to those who get the burning of the knees and muscle pains) you get tendonitits from the medicine and it works so rapidly it breaks down all your muscles in your legs, joint areas ect. Your arms and hands bounce back easily because they're not weight baring joints for the most part, however, the legs, knees, ankles are not so easy to build back up. The bad news is that this did happen and it is going to take 3 to 6 months of aggressive therapy (my choice on aggressive, I could have done low impact, but I don't have the patience, would rather brave the pain and get it over with!) to build your muscles back to where the medication broke them all down. The other good news is that it will go away (according to dr.) So I am VERY optimistic and have a great outlook now!

To the poster who asked about gaining weight, I lost weight, had nightmare, sleeplessness, tremors and nausia, all that disappeared (tremors being the longest lasting out of them) pretty much after I stopped the medication. The knees, ankles and thigh muscle contractions, are still going strong but I am being careful where I was not before I knew what was going on and now I am looking forward to getting back to the gym and therapy and get this over and done with!

Okay PLEASE again EVERYONE www.levaquin.com will give you the manufacturer's information, PLEASE contact them, PLEASE if they are forced to put warnings on the lables, then someone else will know when to stop taking the medication if they start to feel muscle pain and burning. Thanks everyone and I hope everyone is feeling better!!

My husband had a 102 degree fever after taking Zithromax for 5 days. We went to an immediate care facility where the young medic sent us to the emergency room for a chest X-ray. He prescribed this awful drug. The side affects include the nasty metal taste, extreme exhaustion, trembling, nightmares, cold sweats and now, on day 10, thrush with swollen tongue and feeling just plain horrible. It is outrageous that drug companies are allowed to promote their new products without regard to the consequences. My husband has other really significant health problems and 1 year ago finished radiation therapy. He did not need this exposure to a toxic drug! Plus it has not cleared up his respiratory infection. If his symptoms from this drug remain long term, I will certainly persue this legally.

I agree with the statement that another poster listed below: "Pharmaceutical companies are out of control, pushing new and expensive medications on doctors and then onto unsuspecting patients."

A curse on the drug companies!