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

Posted at 8:31 AM on Jun 13, 2007 by noholds, #21769
Who would think an antibiotic would have such effects? I have been experienceing pain in my shoulder for about 3 weeks. This began less than 2 weeks after taking Levaquin for 2 weeks. In addition to that, I experienced side effects during the treatment. This include chest pressure and rapid heartbeat. Yesterday, I saw an orthpaedist who diagnosed me with a rotator cuff injury. I have one month of physical therapy to endure 3x per week now. If the pain doesn't improve in 2 weeks, then an MRI will be done. If it is ruptured, there will likely be surgery. I am a healthy 35 year old woman with no history of shoulder problems. The doctor and others have asked what did I do to hurt myself. My answer is that I made the mistake of taking a drug that shouldn't be on the market. I don't lift weights and I didn't pitch 9 innings before this. So the only connection is a drug whose website states "ruptures of the shoulder, hands, and Achilles tendons have been reported...". I have woarned all of my friends and co-workers about this drug. I am now on a crusade to prevent others from falling victim to this drug. I understand that the risks to the few outwiegh the rewards to many. However, when you are one of the few who is affected, your viewpoint changes. I am an educated woman and did read the side affects prior to taking the drug. I knew this was a possibility but it was "rare". Who knew an antibiotic could be so helpful and harmful at the same time!
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Reply over 2 years ago on Jun 14, 2007 by davidtfull, #421

"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.

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Reply over 2 years ago on Jun 14, 2007 by davidtfull, #422

"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.

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Reply over 2 years ago on Jul 17, 2007 by joykw, #763

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.

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