Avelox and medications

I was prescribed 7 days of Avelox 400 mg for bronchitis. On my fourth day of taking this medication, I began to suffer from severe abdominal pain, cramps and debilitating diarrhea. These symptoms were so bad that I missed a whole week of work. I was taking each pill with dinner in the evening and then I was up all night back and forth to the bathroom. I took 6 of the 7 pills and then refused to take the last one when it became obvious that Avelox was the cause of these symptoms (the only side effect listed on the bottle was dizziness, which I did not experience). I have now been off Avelox for 2 days and I am still suffering from severe abdominal pain and diarrhea. I am afraid to eat anything because it goes right through me and it is very painful.

I am taking probiotics now to regain the good bacteria in my digestive tract, but I am still in a lot of pain. My sister, who is a physician assistant, told me that it should take from 48 hours to a week for this to flush out of my system. She said that Avelox is an extremely strong antibiotic that she only prescribes for confirmed pneumonia.

I am otherwise a very healthy 42 year-old woman with no allergic reactions to any medications which is why it took me so long to make the connection. I would not recommend this medication to anyone and have told my sister that she should not prescribe it either.

These postings have really helped me. I feel lucky that I did not suffer more severe symptoms.

Warning to Avelox users

As I am reading all these posts I am very alarmed. I just got out of the hospital because of an allergic reaction to Avelox. I developed a potentially fatal reaction called Stephan Johnson Syndrome. Please google this, as it might save your life. From what my doctors said, Avelox is a major offender of this syndrome. After reading the posts I see that a great many of you have the same symptoms I did. Even if the side effects don't seem that serious, stop taking the medication right away and consult your doctor. People who are most in danger are people with low immune systems and people who are allergic to other medications. PLEASE, I beg all of you to check this out, it can cause death in a matter of days. Fortunately for me we got to it early. Best of luck to all :)

I recently had a severe Drug Reation to Avelox in April 2009. Within 5 minutes after taking it, I started with heart palpitations, very similar to an anxiety attack. My thinking started to get out control, my breathing became shortened and rapid, much like a panic attack. I started to itch, couldn't think and felt like I was losing control of everything. Within 10 minutes I knew it was getting worse. I had my husband call 911 and the operator told me to take benadryl while I was waiting for the squad, and I did. The squad was there in a reasonable amount of time. However, at this point I was so short of breath, I could barely walk & talk. I just collapsed as soon as I reached my porch steps. It nearly took me 1/2 hr before I could walk to the squad, only taking a few steps at a time and waiting about 5 minutes or more, before walking again. I hardly remember walking out to the squad and the ride to hospital. I remember being totally limp, and was
carried down my porch steps. I barely remember getting into the squad. I had to answer questions in short phrases, pausing several times to get enough breath to do so. I was told by the time I got to the hospital I was purple. After about an hour things started to calm down. I came very close to "buying the farm" that night and never want to experience anything like it again. I spent the next 7 days in the hospital, on oxygen and several medications to help me breath and clear the tracheal bronchitis.

Today is the 10th and last day of Avelox for me. My heart is racing and pounding, I am very jittery and anxious, I have little appetite, and have extreme fatigue. I have also been on 6 days of prednisone, so I don't know if one or both of these medications is causing my symptoms. All I know is I will be glad to be off both of them and hope and pray my sinus infection doesn't come back!

My husband developed a bad, really red rash on arms, legs, back chest and face after 3 days of being on Avelox. I did not know what this was from as he takes several medications, but this was a new one prescribed for chest congestion so I decided to look it up on the internet. Lo and behold, lots of other people have had this problem as well. He took another Avelox today before I found out this info.... hope he does not get worse! Looks like this is a common side effect of this drug. He won't take another one ever again!

Wow, who should I believe? Placebo controlled studies which suggest Avelox is a perfectly safe drug or a bunch of crazy people who like to TYPE every OTHER word IN all CAPS who are probably all middle aged women with psychological problems and/or fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, or other made up diagnoses.

Here's a hint morons: The reason why every drug in existence now lists every possible side effect is because of crazies like you. This way, the drug company can protect themselves from litigious idiots like the poster below who wants to join a class action lawsuit. This only compounds the problem, though, because then more crazies look at the side effect profile and when they see that "Oh my gosh, it says right here it causes x, y, and z" it just validates in there mind that this is somehow a dangerous drug.

I swear, if all of the pampered babies in this country were put to work in a rice field in Cambodia, there would be a lot less nonsense in the world. You would see what true pain and suffering is about.

I've never been allergic to any medications. Within 30 minutes of taking this pill, a huge bubble formed in my mouth on the inside of my lip, I started sneezing like crazy, my throat was itching and my skin was very tingly. I called my pharmacist, he instructed me to take Benadryl. I did and about an hour later the effects had subsided with the exception of my skin still feeling a little strange. This was very scary to me! Today I was telling my m-i-l about it because she too had an allergic reaction to a medication about 3 weeks ago and come to find out - the medicine she reacted to was Avelox! Her reaction was SEVERE, requiring an overnight stay in the hospital. She couldn't breathe and passed out. This seems like a drug that is way too dangerous to be on the market. I've never reacted like this to anything and my mother-in-law almost DIED because of it. What is going on?!

I suffer from chronic sinusitis and rhinitis. When I develop severe sinus pain and headaches, I break down and get antibiotics from doctor. I had an allergic reaction to Levaquin (hives), so the doctor put me on Avelox. It worked well and I've probably had it 4-5 times in the past 2-3 years. I had one round of it a couple of weeks ago and was fine. However, yesterday I was suffering from the pain, nausea, etc again so the doctor gave me another round of Avelox. Within 15 minutes my ears and throat started itching, then the palms of my hands started itching like crazy and turned bright red. Itching and rash spread to my underarms, then to my chest and back. I was feeling a little tipsy too. I knew what it was so I took Benadryl right away and called the doctor. He confirmed the allergic reaction and took me off the drug, said to take the Benadryl, drink a lot of water and no meds until this is out of my system. Bottom line: an allergic reaction can occur at any time, even if you've had the drug before. I keep Benadryl on hand at all times, just for that reason.

My 20 yr old daughter was given Avelox 400mg to take one per day for 7 days for a sinus infection. Two hours after taking the first pill last night she became very drowsy and extremely nauseous and vomited several times. Her heart was racing and she felt unexplained anxiety as if she was having a panic attack, and couldn't sleep most of the night. Why don't doctors think before giving out medications!? Or at least warn the patient of these side effects which appear to be VERY common!

Today I went to the minor emergency clinic locally and I was given 10 day samples of Avalox. My throat is very raw and I was sick, but didn't have a fever and I was welcoming the medications given to me, because I felt so sick. BUT... after leaving the doctor's office we went through a drive through to get lunch and continued across the street to go shopping for winter coats when I decided to take my new medicine with my food and water. Immediately, in less than five minutes I felt like throwing up, and I felt very very dizzy and weak. I almost couldn't get out of the car my head felt so thick and foggy. When we walked in the store, my husband had to hold onto me because I felt as if my equilibrium was off. I just felt so dizzy, we didn't even get to do the shopping. When we got back in the car I fell asleep right away and I remember thinking to myself in my sleep that I felt a huge tremendous pressure around my skull as if someone was squeezing it. But I was so tired I thought, well if my head explodes, that's ok I'm too tired to tell my husband. Now that sounds downright nuts, who thinks like that in their sleep? I was basically too drained to cry for help. I called the doctor's office to tell them about my reaction and they said that was definitely the antibiotic, not the allergy medicine and that if it continues when I take the pill tomorrow to call them.I'm asking for a Z Pack. I am glad I found this website, I feel it could have saved my life! I would have probably followed their advise. I am going to give them this link so they can read for themselves!

I'm a 46-year old male and went to my family physician 10/20/08 and was prescribed Avelox for an ear/sinus infection. Like others I've read about I also was given a (free) coupon/voucher for 10 pills redeemable at my local pharmacy. I ingested one 400mg tablet and went to work, within 1-hour I began feeling oddly all over having numbness passing across my arms and shoulders and had to leave work remainder of day. 10/21/08 I ingested pill #2 and that was the back breaker...within hours of taking the pill I began having numerous complications consisting of numbness in chest and arms, numbness in legs, I lost control of my muscles having wobbly legs and weakness in arms, I experienced neck fatigue, had weird receptor flashes, pain in my knee joints, continually thirsty...all these symptom generated panic attacks and paranoia and I was frightened thinking that something more medically severe was wrong with me. I began to think the only thing different is my ingesting Avelox, that's when I began researching the side affects and bingo the testimonials from others whom have taken this antibiotic have experienced same or similar complications indicating Avelox is at fault. Avelox is bad news period and I am so bummed that I was prescribed this devil antibiotic....this drug(antibiotic) must be taken off the market and I will support any cause that supports removal of this evil drug and I strongly urge that no person accept Avelox. My only regret is that I did not research this drugs potential side affects prior to ingesting. I have always felt reasonably safe taking medication prescribed my my family doctor but I now doubt my doctors competence in terms of awareness as it related to the consequences and/or endangerments the medications prescribed may have on any patients health.

My question is; can you and I count on the FDA to protect us? No we can't and that's disturbing because this is another case where another of our Federally controlled agencies has failed miserably, don't be mislead thinking that because it's federally controlled that We or all drugs prescribed are safe. What's the problem? The problem is there are to many powerful drug companies pushing new drugs daily/yearly and the FDA has no possible manpower means to keep up and thoroughly test and time evaluate each drug, large caliber drug companies are aware of this having millions invested in development of drugs therefore pressure for FDA releasement and the FDA crumbles allowing unproven and/or toxic drugs such as Avelox and others to pass into our pharmacy markets. Fact is not only does the FDA miss the boat but so do physicians, arguably many physicians spend little to zero effort actually researching the drugs the powerful drug company reps are pushing on them, as a result we have far to many doctors over medicating and/or prescribing dangerous and sometimes deadly drugs to their patients.

In closing many people have stated they have taken Avelox having no side effects, later these same people claimed they now are experiencing side affects. This invites curiosity; curiosity such as; what has changed? Why no previous side affects and suddenly the drug causes side affects leaved one wondering did the drug manufacture change the drugs chemistry components thus the once affective drug has now become a health risk. Lastly one must question who is chemically auditing/testing and how often are drug manufacturers audited to insure that a drug that passed FDA approval standards still meets health and safety requirements months and years later.

Well, this is obviously a very strong antibiotic. I had a raging sinus infection and was in a lot of pain. The doc prescribed this along with prednisone. I think I tolerated it quite well. I did get side effects though. I didn't have insomnia. I had just the opposite. I was soooo tired that I had to take naps every day that I was on it. I also had heart palpitations where it felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. It would take my breath away. It made me feel depressed also. I wouldn't take this again unless I really needed something strong. On the plus side, after 6 hours of taking it, I could feel my sinuses start to improve.

My grandfather at 86-years-old was prescribed Avelox for bronchitis. The warning on the medication listed by Bayer, the company that makes the drug, states that extreme caution should be used when administering to the elderly. He was also prescribed prednisone, which is a drug that is listed that should NEVER be mixed with Avelox. My grandfather took his own life on April 22, 2008, with no warning signs. He was fine when my grandmother left to go to the store and when she returned, she found him. No other family should have to go through what ours has been through in the past nine days!!!! Do not take AVELOX!!!! We just want to prevent one family from going through what we have been through by warning people about this horrible drug. Doctors need to pay more attention to warning labels and drug interaction- someone needs to stand-up and take some responsibility for medications that harm rather then help!

I am very scared right now and concerned, but recently I have been sick for the last 3 weeks or 4 weeks. I went to the doctor about 2 weeks ago and he prescribed some Amoxicillin for my sickness. He said he couldn't identify what I had so he gave me a broad based anti biotic. For about a week I took it and didn't get any better. The medicine caused me to get dizzy spells after sleep and before sleep. So this week I went back to the doctor and he said the medicine wasn't helping me and my white blood cell count had gone up. So I had to get some blood taken . Then the nurse couldn't find my vain easily. She managed to get a little blood though and took it for lab samples. The doctor came back and said I needed to take some Avelox and gave it to me. So for about two days I took it and I felt ok, but later the second day I started having a panic attack for no reason. I told my dad I needed to lay down.

After that, my dad made me some food and I laid down and watched TV and the feeling soon left. I was really feeling sick so I got a cold rag and put it on my forehead. I was looking forward to my mom coming home from Wednesday night church. I fell asleep for about 30 minutes. Then my mom came home and woke me up and we talked for a bit and then I went back to sleep.

Well, today I got curious about my medicine and looked it up and found out some terrible news. The medicine I am taking has actually landed people in the hospital. I found a site where people who had taken it posted what the side affects were. They all had reports about having anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and muscle aches.It was then I realized that my medicine is what caused the panic attack the day before. I called my dad instantly and told him about the bad side affects. He didn't really seem to care that much. He listened to me though, which is a step up from my mom. Then I called my mom and explained to her. She just ignored me and didn't care. I was crying and I felt so terrible and frustrated. I was just trying to explain to her that my medicine caused very bad side affects and even thoughts of suicide. She didn't really seem concerned though, she said she'd call my doctor and talk to him about it.

Right now my parents and I are just really stressed about this whole thing. I refuse to take my medicine because of it's dangerous side affects... but if I don't have any medication at all I won't get better. I'm just in a really bad situation and I am just so depressed I feel as if I could burst!! Everyday I feel like utter crap and my vision is screwed up and I don't have an appetite so I have to make myself eat. Also, my white blood cell count keeps getting higher and if something isn't done soon what I have could be very dangerous.

I keep praying to God... but it doesn't feel like he hears me. I am in great emotional pain, my parents are never home and I'm lonely the majority of the day to , and being sick doesn't help. I am starting to experience a bit of the thoughts of suicide.I keep convincing myself I need to live and I'll get better and I don't need to die. It's hard though I am fighting with all my might to keep it away.

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'm on day 12 of a 14 day course of Avelox.

I usually have problems with antibiotics that are of the Quinilone or Floxin family so I was worried about taking this medication.

I've hung in there so far. I seem to have had a middle ear infection caused by my sinusitis problems.

I have noticed some nausea, increased urination and tiredness. I haven't had any joint pain; maybe a bit of stiffness.

I never had antibiotic problems till the newer forms of the old antibiotics became popular. I know I'm allergic to sulfa drugs but never had problems with any other medications till recently.

Now I can't decide if it's worth the pain and misery to take the antibiotics that are now available.

I was prescribed Avelox for diverticulitis. I have been taking it for 6 days. After taking it I feel nausea, light-headed and shaky. I have not left the house in 3 days. I have 2 pills left but I am not going to take them. I had cataract surgery in one eye 5 months ago - turned out great. Now, however, I feel blurry in that eye, plus trouble focusing. I don't know if it is a reaction to the medication but will see my eye doctor. I sure hope it does not do damage to the eyes as well. I read all the postings here and no one said anything about their eye vision. I have to go to a CAT scan for the diverticulitis but won't go until the nausea goes away as I have to drink 2 bottles of medication for the CAT. I will add this medication to the other medications that I cannot take. I am so sorry I did not know about it sooner - but will not take it again that is for sure. I just hope that the side effects that this medication has caused will go away soon!!!

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 am a 51 year-old female. Started taking Avelox 12 days ago...finished the 10 day dose and am in great pain...have had problems for the past three years...since my first dosage...didn't know what it could do to me and I consider myself to be a well-informed, educated woman. How could I be so trusting to take a medication that I had read about in a book about "good" and "bad" medications? I have had terrible problems with pain in my hips, knees, and now it has traveled to my feet with tingling feelings. Also, since taking the med. have developed pain and swelling in one of my fingers. Have seen a chiropractor and gotten some relief, for the hips. Until tonight, I didn't realize that this drug is so very toxic! I am so upset that I cannot take Penicillin. DO NOT TAKE this drug! I sometimes feel like a cripple. Have seen an orthopedist for the previous knee problems: surgery is not necessary, don't even show signs of severe osteo-arthritis, but have much pain. How can I ever trust the two physicians that have prescribed this to me? Can I find help for my pain and discomfort? I teach small children, and sometimes I can barely walk.

I went to my doctor this past Thursday because I was experiencing ringing in my ears for about a month. No other symptoms other than the ringing - and it was just quite annoying. Doc put me on Avelox and Prednisone for a sinus infection. Took the first dose Thursday and the second Friday morning. Within and hour, the back of my head and neck were so full of intense pressure and pain. I felt dizzy, unsteady, sweaty and panicky. Called the doc who said that I wouldn't react that fast, and it was probably just part of the sinus infection. Continued to take both drugs all weekend, but still felt the intense pain and pressure after taking the Avelox. Last night, woke up around midnight with severe panic attack, disorientation, pain and pressure in the back of my head and neck - Scary! I called my doc and I told him I'm not taking it anymore. I had NO symptoms when I went to see him and left with more "stuff" going on in my head now! I'm going to see an ENT now.

I have been taking Avelox for five days after being diagnossed with pneumonia. I was prescribed other drugs as well and has since stopped taking those because of adverse side affect.Since the Avelox has been my only medication, and I have experienced an array of side affects. I have been having trouble sleeping, vomitting, stomach pains, dry mouth,headaches, muscle fatigue, and other abnormalities that have been a nuisance throughout. I understand medications affect people in a variety of ways, but to cure one problem and create numerous more is ludicrous. Has To Be A Better Way!!!!!!

Those who continue to suffer the adverse side effects of this drug may find the following to be of some help:

The following is the link to the quinolone adverse drug reaction discussion forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones

The following is the link to the fluoroquinolone research forum:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fqresearch

The following is the link for the database forum maintained by the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation for reporting such events:

groups.yahoo.com/group/fq_adr_reports

The following is the link to the homepage of the fluoroquinolone toxicity research foundation where you will find over 4000 articles documenting the damage these drugs can and will do.

fqresearch.org

I do hope that you will find some answers to all of your questions by using these links. You are far from being alone for your name is \"Legions\". These sites are independent of medications.com and have no relationship what so ever with medications.com

David T Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation