Who would think an antibiotic would have such effects? I have bee...

"Who knew an antibiotic could be so helpful and harmful at the same time!"

The FDA, since 1982. The only problem is that they refuse to provide adequate warnings; either for the patient of the physician. More than half of the drugs in this class have been removed from clinical use due to severe toxicity issues including death.

But the FDA does not care. Currently there are two petitions pending with the FDA seeking black box warnings, one filed by an Attorney General. These petitions have been sitting for over two years now, while the FDA does nothing but approve new drugs in this class, as well as new indications for those already in use, absent of the black box warnings.

"I knew this was a possibility but it was "rare"."

Wrong again. The NUMBER ONE adverse drug reaction to the fluoroquinolones is spontaneous tendon rupture. First reported in 1982 (Bailey et al) and every single year since in the leading medical journals. The actual incident rate is about 12% not 1% as you find listed in the label. You are far from alone, your name is legions. Just log unto www.fqresearch.org and read the 4000 medical journals entries that support all that I state here.

The total number of people who have suffered such a reaction I would estimate to be in the millions. The number of physicians and patients who recognize this association? In the hundreds, if that.

Now, didn't know this - i have taken Levaquin and Cipro many times (was on Cipro for 2 year straight with Prednisone/Solumedrol for crohn's) I was even on Cipto and Levaquin concurrently at times (this was 98 to 2000) Been on them numerous times since.

I just had surgery for a ruptured rotator cuff (all 3 tendons were pulled off the bone). I had a car wreck in Jan 01 that started a process of constant disloactions (till I had ti fixed Sept 06). My surgeon even gave me an IV dose of Levaquin before surgery - due to the fact that I was on 2 immune suppressants at the time (only on 1 now).

Maybe the levaquin weakened the muscles.

I will be watching this in the coming days.