September 30th
2008
6:57 PM
Hi All,
In addition to what I wrote earlier if you do have a history of hypokalemia (low K+ or potassium) that is very serious for that electrolyte controls cardiac and renal function. However, it is quite simple while you are on this antibiotic to increase K+ rich foods such as bananas, baked potato, OJ, whole milk, avocado (which has more K+ than 5 bananas) and do so judiciously during your therapy for infection.
It is also significant to alert anyone that infection (bacterial) causes some fairly significant physiologic issues from fever, to myalgia, vomiting and loss of fluids, and organ impairment. This antibiotic like Ciprofloxacin has a huge ability to permeate bone infection and non circulatory areas that most antibiotics never reach. It is important to understand that if you are feeling that ill to require that antibiotic you may not be getting around to feeling "normal" until you are past taking the medication, follow up with your provider and rid yourself of the infection.
When you end an antibiotic early or play games with such a drug you can rebound to a super infection that is not treatable by the same antibiotic or even anything more powerful and after this drug you are talking IV antibiotics in a hospital setting.
I would strongly suggest if you are handling secondary side effects then continue onward for the result of an infection out of control is anything but desirable.
I do run low on K+ either and find that Cipro is more K+ wasting then Levaquin. I also am on the smallest dosage (250 mg. QD) and having a positive result but yes, the lovely side effects. In another few days though when done those will be gone and I might feel 100% human again.
K. BS,RN,UM,QC,DON
-- By karengeorgebsrn | Reply | Private Message me
September 30th
2008
12:47 PM
I am a professional nurse with extreme allergies; however, please for you own benefit consult your physician but do not stop taking it unless he or she states adverse or of course, you have some reaction requiring emergency medical assistance (911).
Yes I am dizzy, weak, very nauseated (and with my emaciated body frame due to other health issues cannot afford to not eat), and the first 2 days of therapy got a whopper headache. However, I had a UTI that likely moved into the kidneys and also look to have stones and after 8 days am passing urine properly and not up every hour not passing urine; hence it is killing an infection that might kill me.
Early on with this drug we did prescribe higher dosages then perhaps necessary they have now cut back quantity and instead of doing BID dosing do QD dosing. You might require a lower dosage at my body weight they prescribed only 250 mg. a day and this has given me some side effects but is treating an infection that could be fatal...
K. BS,RN,UM,QC,DON
-- By karengeorgebsrn | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
August 14th
2008
4:55 PM
My wife is experiencing severe muscle pain in the back and rib area after taking this drug. Has anyone gotten better after they stopped taking the medication or is everyone still suffering?
-- By waxman | Reply | (10) replies | Private Message me
Levaquin Leva-Pak (2) Lactaid (1) Levaquin (1) Pancrease MT 4 (1)
November 10th
2009
9:20 PM
There are actually two components of milk that one can be allergic to - the protein (casein) or the sugar (lactose). My daughter was allergic to the protein at birth, and we (pediatrician & I) knew it was the protein not the sugar, b/c mother's milk is super high in lactose, albeit human lactose and not cow but still is lactose. All babies born into the world have lactase to break down lactose in mother's milk. But some of us must have stopped producing lactase. Wanting my kid to be normal and eat Goldfish, mac 'n cheese as other kids, I tested my daughter at 12 months with Lactaid milk. Diarrhea right away, just like with infant formula. Same thing at 18 months, and at two, I tested her with cheese and organic whole milk. Again, diarrhea. HOWEVER, the only thing she can eat is RAW CHEESE. I would test her on raw milk too if it was legal in my state, but it's not. So my conclusion is this: those who cannot tolerate dairy products or Lactaid may be allergic to casein or milk protein as well. From what I've read, cow milk proteins are very hard to digest, not truly meant for human consumption as much as for cows and calves not only drink the milk raw from mama-cow replete with enzymes but they have four stomachs to help them digest the milk, proteins and sugar and all. This is why some of us have better luck with raw milk (even without 4 stomachs) and why many of us eventually have problems with commercially sold milk from the supermarket that's pasteurized even if we didn't always have problems with it.
-- By amcramer | Reply | Private Message me