I have taken Cipro, another quinolones drug, before without any major side affects. I also was given single treatments of Levaquin by my uro after treatments for IC with no major problems. I was put on Avelox another quinolones drug a couple of weeks ago for a sinus infection and my neck and shoulders became very stiff and sore. I continued the meds. I had been on them a few days when I got a large cyst on my face ( I don't believe this was related to that drug but maybe another one I am on for IC.) The doctor put me on K-FLex and gave me shots of another antibiotic. I still had the shoulder pain but still didn't put it together. I went back for a recheck a couple of days later and the doctor added Levaquin to the mix. The first night I took it I woke up a couple of hours later with my whole right side in pain....worse than when my gallbladder died and had to be removed. I had to sit up to sleep and got little rest. I am on Vicodin for my IC and that helped some. I told my doctor when I went in that day for the recheck and he said it was muscle pain. I took it again that night with the same reaction only worse. I took myself off of the Levaquin as my cyst is getting much better and the K-Flex is working. I still took the Avelox then next night with the same pain result. I have taken myself off of that too. Today my pain is down by about half to the point that the Vicodin is keeping it down to a dull roar. I have a follow up appointment tomorrow before returning to work. I will tell my doctor to never give this to me again and will be getting a medic alert to protect myself for receiving it in the future. I was ready to go to ER thinking my Liver or Appendix was in trouble. I will still have my doctor do another liver function test tomorrow, I had one just before going on this medication for other things and it was normal then.
I know that you can take qunolones one or more times without any major problems because I have. But be aware because the next time you take them it may not be the case.