I've been taking Levaquin for about 3 weeks. Last week, suddenly...

My problems started when I was given a prescription for Levaquin at the ER for treatment of a diverticulitis attack. I was not told of any side effects, just told to drink lots of water when I took the pill. I had been given 2 morphine shos and wasn't in the state of mind to ask questions. Things went downhill from there. This vile tasting medication kept me awake when I had been told to get plenty of rest. When I did sleep I had nightmares and woke myself, and the family, by screaming. My urine turned very dark but I never connected the two. My muscles began to hurt about 2 days before my pills were finished and I blew it off blaming it on rough play with the 3 year old. That was Sunday. By Tuesday I could hardly move my left arm. It was impossible to lift a cup to my mouth and I drank through a straw. By the end of the day both my calves became involved. I asked the Advanced Practice Nurse at work if this could be side effects? She told me that she had ligament problems from a simular medicine and then asked about my urine. A light went on! Yes, it had been almost brown. She said "call your doctor now". It seems that she recognized the possibilty that my liver may have been involved. The liver can be damaged when the muscles begin to breakdown. I called and the doctor's office said come in first thing in the morning. I could hardly move my hips and knees to get to my car, and just steering to get home was troture. Now my prednisone has been doubled and I am told to "push fluids" in hopes the Levaquin will be washed out. I don't think the doctor I saw this morning knew as much about Levaquin as I do. I sit here now with a splitting headache, ringing ears, dry mouth inspite of the amount of water I have ingested and the phrase keeps going through my head; FIRST DO NO HARM!!
By the way one of you writers was going to have Chelation treatment. I would like to know the outcome. Thanks and God have mercy on all us Levaquin targets.

Sorry you have joined us jimmyjam....I hope you stopped taking it immediately! Like you I was a healthy, active physically fit 40yr old who had always been athletic and outdoorsy...camping, hiking, all that good stuff. Now two plus years after taking this poison for 6 days I am left with constant joint, tendon and muscle pain, permanent nerve damage in my R achilles tendon area and hobble around like 90 yr old person. As with okieteapot, I have grown tired of continually educating all of the doctors I have seen while trying to figure out what to do and how long I will be this way. The problem is no one can tell me if it will get better...some have offered to treat me with more drugs...NOT!! Needless to say I am gun shy...I do take pain meds daily and they just help enough to get me through my work day...I am ever watchfull that I don't end up popping 25 pills a day and only allow myself so many per day...if they don't help I simply suffer the pain until the next day when I will take another pain pill. Just make sure that you educate yourself about what could be down the road for you. Take care and stay strong, both of you. I pray for both of you.

My mother in law has experienced similar side affects. She has permanent nerve damage, mostly in her face. What are the doctors tellin you the problem is? I have researched the drug Levaquin and have found a lot of problems with the drug. If you find out any more info about this please email me at gbracer97@msn.com. Thanks!

Mark

I haven't been here in a while, but I'm happy to report that I have begun to feel much better. Thank God! It's taken a couple of months, but most of the joint pain is gone. I still have pretty severe pain in my right thumb, and I don't know if that will ever go away. I take "Joint Care" liquid daily, and that has helped. I have actually begun to run with my dog again. There is still hope. The doctor told me it would go away, but couldn't tell me how long it would take. He asked me to have my PCP do a blood workup for arthiritis. I never did... I pray for everyone dealing with this, and hope you have begun to feel relief as I have.