| Posted at 1:47 AM on Nov 28, 2007 by martinsmom, #25285 |
Doctors need to warn you about side effects.My son was 12 when he was given levaquin.before that he had spent the summer as a Junior Lifeguard in the ocean.He was strong and vibrant.After the Cipro,he was in so much pain he had to crawl to get to the bathroom.He had to be homeschooled the rest fo the school year.He eventually did completely recover..That was 5 years ago.I reported it to his doctor,but for all I know ,doctors don't have to report any drug side effects to anyone.
I took Levaquin in January 2006 for a sinus infection. Though I had taken it once before, within three days of this treatment I was feeling light-headed and could not get my thoughts together. I felt 99.9% sure it was the medication because the reaction was so extreme and I was not taking any other medication. For two years I have been suffering with joint pain, pain in my spine and neck (so bad my husband had to help me out of bed some mornings), numbness and pain in my hands (used to be so bad I couldn't write, type, or hold a book for more than a few minutes), vibrating in my lower spine and legs, and (at the beginning) very confused thoughts for several months. MRIs, spinal taps, and blood tests all came back normal. I was a very healthy 35 year old that suddenly felt 90. I had trouble walking because of a pressure in my lower spine. My endurance was very low, and I missed a lot of work. Physicians will not say that it could be Levaquin (though one ER doctor did say it looks "like a toxic reaction to Levaquin"). I think they fear a lawsuit when all most people want is relief! I don't want money; I want my health! To all of you out there suffering from this medication I can only tell my personal story and hope that you find some relief soon. After three months of intense pain, I found a neurologist that was willing to listen to treat my symptoms (did not say it was Levaquin, but I did not care at that point. I know what it is, and my husband knows that his wife of 9 years didn't just change from energetic to "crippled up" overnight, for no reason) starting a low dose of Klonopin, many of my symptoms decreased. I had to add Neurontin almost a year later because some of the symptoms (which cycle - some good days or weeks and then a bad few days or a week) worsened. I am now having less pain and mostly good days. Some days I am back to where I was before taking the medication. There is hope. It's been almost two years, but I am walking three miles a day, and recently hiked up a small mountain. Excersize, a good neurologist (keep searching if you're not satisfied), Klonopin and Neurontin (never wanted to take them, but it's made such a difference), and a supportive husband have made all the difference. Don't give up hope. We who have suffered (not those who haven't and have NO idea what it's like to live with the pain) are behind you!!!
This registry is a place to share positive or negative side effects of using Levaquin. If you directly experienced a side effect while using Levaquin, then we encourage you to enter it here. Please note that entries here are the experiences of individual users, and in no way means that you or anyone else will experience the same side effect, since the same medication affects people in different ways. Please always contact your physician.
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