Hi, Earlier this week, I started taking Levaquin for strep thr...

Hi, Earlier this week, I started taking Levaquin for strep throat. My regular doctor was out of town , so I went to a walk in clinic. Anyway, two later, I woke up with the worst spasms in my left shoulder and arm. I could barely lift my arm without screaming out in pain. The next morning, my right arm and shoulder were affected as well. I have had depression and bouts of sudden tears over the past five days. I read what you wrote after looking up side effects on the internet, and called my own doctor asap, since he had returned to work by then. He said that Levaquin was a very strong drug, and overkill medicine for strep throat. I mentioned my pains and he said that he knew Leva quin caused damage to children and teens, but not to adults. So I took it again, but the next day, the pain increased. It was a Saturday, so I called the covering doctor who said it was probably my Lipitor causing the pain. I told him I had taken Lipitor for three years without difficulty, he said that side effects from it can suddenly crop up. However, he did take me off the Levaquin and gave me the 5 day Z-pack. When I picked up the new prescription at the drug store, I asked the pharmacist about Levaquin, and she said that more and more cases of damaged Achilles tendons and shoulder and arm problems were being reported due to Levicon. She asked if she should put it as a drug I am allergic to on my chart at the pharmacy. I said emphatically to list it. I went home and through out every levicon I had left. Obviously the makers of Levicon have kept this side effect pretty quiet. It is listed as a precaution, but it doesn't seem to stress enough what damage it can do. If doctors aren't aware of this, the general public certainly wouldn't know, and yet so many cases are written up on the internet. I think that it wopn't be too long until there IS a major law suit. I hope my pains don't last, but if they persevere for more than a week, I won't sit back and do nothing. I care too much about others who could be affected adversely by such a dangerous drug.