Avelox and allergic reaction

First let me say, i have taken Avelox twice before and had NO side effects whatsoever! It worked great on my pneumonia the last two times (a yr apart) and i recovered very quickly. However, this time was different. I usually only have pneumonia once a yr Jan or Feb time frame, this time i have gotten it thanks to an unthinking oaf (who knew we have 7 little ones at home) and came to visit with a rip roaring sinus infection. I get pneumonia when everyone else gets sinus infections, who knows why? This time my dr. prescribed the usual Avelox for 10 days and the very first dose i was ok for the first hour and after that, wham i was in the bathroom with diarrhea and almost immediately began to vomit to the point where i could not control it, and then my hands and feet turned red and itchy was gone the next morning. I feel lucky compared to some of these people, and i have many drug allergies so i do understand it can be quite aggravating, but any time you have any type of reaction to any meds you should IMMEDIATELY discontinue and then call the doctor. any doctor who tells you anything else should be FIRED!! My husband and i are both EMTs and let me tell you, if your doctor doesn't discontinue use of a medication that causes reaction of any kind--let alone a severe one needs to go back to school. Anxiety attacks, etc. that some of these people have had are NOT minor, they are not side effects, it is an allergic reaction, to a medication. If it were me, i would be firing that doctor immediately or getting a second opinion. Common Sense is so rare these days, if it doesn't sound right, it probably isn't. Do not be afraid to shop around for a new doctor, YOU are their bread and butter, You are still a customer and there are so many out there these days you can find one that IS what he or she should be, concerned about You and YOUR health,
not one who speaks over you or disregards your concerns or symptoms! If your doctor keeps you on a medication that you are allergic to--FIRE him or her and find a new one!

I was prescribed Avelox in March for a suspected minor sinus infection, after having already completed a 14-day course of Augmentin with no side effects. After 3 doses of Avelox I stopped because of these symptoms: fever to 100.5, tingling in feet, blood in urine, dizziness, faintness, vomiting, gastritis. A few days later I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm), which I will now have to contend with for the rest of my life. Because I was formerly very healthy and had no heart problems, I am convinced the stress of the allergic reaction to Avelox caused the A fib. This drug should be avoided at all costs.

OMG. Started taking Avelox and a cough pill at the same time. Thought the shakes were from being tired from not sleeping since I've had a sinus infection and coughing all night. Wondered if it was just in my mind. Went to the doctor. Told me to stop taking the cough pill. Sent me to the hospital for EKG. Called back and wants me to go to a heart specialist a.s.a.p for changes noticed since last EKG. Scared me badly. I'm only 42. Looked this up on the internet. Told pharmacist about problems. He said he never had anyone have any of my symptoms. Said to stop taking Avelox and drink a lot of water to help flush it out. Won't get out of my body for over 24 hours. Don't think our emergency room would have any clue how to help me since it isn't an allergic reaction just a side effect. Evidently most people who had trouble with this horrible drug have survived to write about it which gives me hope that I will too.

I will never take this drug again - I was prescribed it for bronchitis along with prednisone. I have severe asthma and have been taking prednisone for short periods without problems since childhood. My first and only dose caused hives, itching, dry heaves, and severe chest pain and heart palpitations. Ended up going to the hospital by ambulance - Where I was ignored for 5 hours - apparently they thought I was seeking narcotics (overheard one of the nurses) for the chest pain. Ridiculous, I don't suppose my body covered with hives was faked too - I know that some people abuse medications but I am not one of them!!! I didn't even ask for pain meds. Anyway, I still feel pretty shaky today...but relieved that they gave me a different antibiotic - Hopefully the prednisone will help with the allergic reaction. Good luck to all of you and get well!

I took one Avelox on Friday March 21, 2008 to treat a sinus infection and within 5 minutes my face, back and arms turned beat red. As I looked in the mirror I could see that my lips were very swollen. Within 10 minutes my entire body was beat red and I was extremely itchy especially my head and back. I figured I was having a reaction to the medication so I took a Benadryl which did not seem to work until I took the second dose. I ended up feeling sick the entire day and really achy from head to toe. I had terrible pains in my stomach and every time I stood up I felt as if I were going to fall back down. I was very dizzy and felt just out of it. I was also sneezing nonstop. I went to the doctor and was told that this medication works well for a sinus infection but one of the side effects is an allergic reaction. I have not taken another one since Friday but today is Sunday and I am still a bit red, still itchy (especially my head), still dizzy and still feel out of it.

I have just posted about my experience with Avelox on 11 Mar 08 but forgot to mention that my blood pressure dropped to 80/40 in the ambulance on the way and I kept blacking out and have also experienced extreme urination about every 15 minutes but thought that was from the catheter the ER used that night while treating allergic reaction to same.
I had to return to family physican Wed for shot Depramedrol as the Avelox was still in my system and the hospital also told me to use Benadryl to couneract same. I am glad to find this site as I was doing some research to see what in the world happened but my throat totally closed up as stated in previious post so could not talk!!

I took Avelox for the 1st time 3 days ago for a sinus infection. After the 1st pill I began sneezing uncontrollably. I didn't sleep a wink that night. I took my 2nd and 3rd dose the next few days and literally had not slept for 3 days straight-total INSOMNIA. My hands and legs felt so tingly I had no idea what was happening. I felt faint. Then my mouth became so dry. I couldn't breathe-all I kept thinking was my throat was closing up. It was horrible. My teeth hurt, my lips were swollen and dry,my vision was blurry,vomiting,loose stool.... My eyes were sore and swollen and I had no idea I was having an allergic reaction to the Avelox. Today is the 1st day I haven't taken a dose and I'm still feeling funky. Tight chest and blurred vision bad.I am severely fatigued. I just wonder how long this medicine stays in your system.

I am a 43 year old female who, until I found this site, thought I was dying of bone cancer - I am not even kidding. I just finished the last of my 10 day prescription for Avelox (for bronchitis and sinusitis). And I feel like I have been beaten about the head and body. Honestly, every part of my body aches and I can barely walk. I have absolutely no energy; throbbing and shooting pains up and down my arms and legs. Not to mention sharp pains in my chest area periodically. I have very clouded and unclear thinking abilities; and my neck and head hurt so bad not even an 800 mg ibuprofen helps. Oh and let's not forget the chills which are right down to the bone - I cannot get warm and I have yucky night sweats to boot. I would most certainly be interested in a class action lawsuit. I really hate that I took 10 days worth and wonder when I will start feeling better. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE AVELOX - it is not worth the painful side effects! The prescription flyer I received with the medication did not mention any of the side effects I encountered.

I was given Avelox for a sinus infection and bronchitis 2 days ago.
I have COPD, CNS, STROKE, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY and other health conditions and wasn't feeling well at all.
My first pill made me feel out of it and then my lips started to tingle and felt numb.
I asked my brother to look at them and he said they looked ok to him.
I also have pill a phobia so I thought maybe it's just my imagination? But...
I got on the net and seen all the post's and though I was told these side affects were rare ...I seen they aren't that rare!!!!!
I tried calling my doctor to get a different medication but could not get a hold of him.
I was sick and not able to get a hold of my doctor ,so I took the pill the next day and my lips did the same thing but worse....this time they swelled up and the inside of my lips are raw.
I called the pharmacy and they said to stop taking them I was having an allergic reaction to them and I need to take Prednisone and Benadryl right away.
I called the doctor again and still no response!!!!
It took the pharmacy all day to reach him themselves to help me!!
Finally, they got a hold of him at 8:30PM.
Today I am now taking amoxicillin, Prednisone and Benadryl.
The swelling has gone done, but my lip's are still raw and I feel very shaky.
I will never take this medication AGAIN!
With all my health conditions I do not no why my doctor gave me this medication!!!
I find that doctor's love to hand out all these new medications like candy.......when they don't know anything more about them than what pharmaceutical companies tell them.
They do no research on them themselves!!!

I was given Avelox after sinus surgery in August. I called the doctor told them I felt awful sick and nauseated. He switched me to another antibiotic. Here I am in December still not better been on at least two other antibiotics since the bought in August. I started Augmentin 3 weeks ago and had horrible itching after about a week being on it. Went back to my Doctor who out put me back on Avelox. Took the first dose at about 9 am within 30 minutes my throat was itchy and I was breaking out in hives and went into a panic attack. Took Benadryl as well as was prescribed Xanax for anxiety attacks still going on. I don't know if it is the fear of my throat closing but my pharmacy now has warnings for me for Penicillins as well as Avelox related drugs. Never had drug reactions before ever now . Went back to ENT put me on Medro pak which after seeing an allergist recommended. He also wanted me on Biaxin but I am not taking it at this point. There are allergy tests for drugs I would recommend and anyone experiencing any side effects to be checked after reactions to Avelox after reading this board I realize I was having an allergic reaction the first time in August and never should have been on it again.

DO NOT TAKE THIS MED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!
I have been on this for 5 days and I feel horrible. My doctor prescribed fifteen (YES 15) days of this crap to me for sinusitis. The first couple of days I felt...ODD. Then I started having some tingling sensations and felt groggy. Thinking my doctor knew what he was doing, I plowed on to day 5. Today was the worst. Disorientation, lethargy, headache, tingling under my skin. I will NOT continue this and I am heading into the doctor tomorrow. After reading this and other sites....I have no idea why this would be prescribed for such a relatively minor problem. There are OTHER less threatening antibiotics in the arsenal to try first. I had no idea what I was getting into, but only if I could go back and say NO...... I just hope I haven't done permanent damage.
Robert - 12-31-2007

I was percribed Avelox on Sept. 25, 2006 for a sinus infection. I'm used to these because I get them frequently due to my high allergies. I know that people have different reactions and I know that my sever reaction was suppose to be rare as the side effects section says, however, what I experienced I pray to God I never experence again and consider myself lucky to be alive.
I took the first pill (10 day perscription) at 3:35 on my way to pick up my son from school. Within 5 minutes of taking it my crotch felt like it was on fire, and itched bad! My first thought was "I didn't use a publlic restroom, so I can't have crabs" Things only got worse for me. I was at my son's school five minutes later, and by then my ear lobes were burning, and my vision was a little blurred, my hands were very shaky, and they were so swollen that my finger tips were white and I could barely bend them. I walked into the school to get my son and told him something is not right and mommy needs to go to the hospital, so I was going to get back in the car and try to drive myself, but as I pasted to office again, I peeked in to see if the school nurse was still there, her light was off so I told my son she is already gone. How she heard me I don't know, but she said no I'm still here. Two minutes later I started vomiting, and shaking even more. When she took my blood pressure it had already dropped below 80 or 90 over 40 or 50, and my heart rate was above 125. This was all within 15 minutes of the first dose. She gave me medication for an allergic reaction. The I felt like my stomach was being eaten from the inside out, and I was itching hororably. So bad infact that I made myself bleed a couple of times. The nurse watched over me and kept taking my blood pressure and pulse for close to an hour and a half. She let me go home when it was back above 100's over 60's. She was somewhat discusted with the doctor's office reaction that the medication should not have effected me that quickly, but it did. Like I said my reaction is suppose to be rare. It is just another thing to add to my allergy list. I pray others don't react the same.

One hour after taking the first dose, I woke up in panick, with a horrible pressure on my neck and back of my head. I felt my heart was rushing, then stopping , I couldn't breath and I almost blacked out. We rushed to the ER and was given some shots for an allergic reaction, but I don't think it was an allergy, just some plain and nasty side effects from a really awful antibiotic.
I don't recommend it!!!!