Avelox and sleep

I am a 50 yr old male described by my doctor as healthy and "well developed". I was prescribed this drug (10 days) for a sore throat and minor respiratory problem after a more conventional antibiotic did not render any improvement.
Within 1 day my tongue and lips felt burned and swollen, I sleep lightly and feel as through every joint and most muscles in my body hurt. I feel as if I've been in a gang fight.
Also I believe it has irritated either the prostate or urinary tract resulting in frequent trips to the men's room. I personally have not experienced bowel problems.
I feel this product is marginal at best and not worth the results.

I was prescribed Avelox for a sinus infection that would not go away. After 4 days of taking it I have had severe cramping in my joints around my ankles, knees, shins and calf muscles. I have pain in my fingers too. I feel totally out of it, and dizzy. I have little to no appetite. This is a terrible drug, and should be pulled off the market. I was desperate to get rid of my sinus infection, and now I find myself having bigger problems from the side effects of this drug.
I have had pain now for 4 days. Does anyone know when this pain goes away?

I am 36 year old female and was prescribed Avelox for an ear infection and sinus infection. By day 5 I discontinued taking the drug. I've never had such a bad reaction to a medication. By day 5, I had major dizziness (the room was spinning), my heart was beating fast and I felt like I was going to pass out. I had a burning sensation along the back of my neck and a tightness in the left side of my chest. I had a headache and some nausea but felt completely out of it. My hands and feet jerked by themselves. I felt anxious and didn't know what else to do but go and lay down in bed. I tried to keep calm but then I started sobbing like a kid whose family pet died ( I can't remember the last time I cried). I was afraid to go to bed fearing that I would not wake up. What the heck... I will never take Avelox again.

After experiencing these effects, I looked on-line and found this site. Glad to know I'm not alone. I did go to sleep only to have mega weird dreams about motor vehicle accidents along the highway and eating a live crab/lobster creature only to have to bury it in the garden for a bunny??? Crazy and WTF ?!

i went to the doctor for blood work because i was tired all the time, no energy, cold even when it was 80 degrees, and i had breathing problems, so i thought i was anemic. the doc wanted me to have an xray and i got diagnosed with pneumonia. i didn't even know i was sick! so i got prescribed avelox for 10 days 400mg, i feel worse now then what i did before. im extremely tired, i sleep all day, i feel like a stoner, i get dizzy at times and confused. i cant seem to go to bed and iv have dream after dream i even had one about a potato.last night i just started crying about nothing and could not stop then when it was over i just stared off and it was like i was a crazy person. im on the 8th day and im going back to the doctor. oh and im only 18 and i read tests haven't even been done on this drug for 18 - ppl.

Horrible side effects!!! Was just put on a 7 day of 400 mg. of Avelox for a bad sore throat, sinus infection and bronchitis cough & congestion. After taking the first pill the only good thing the pill did was ease my sore throat so I could swallow without a lot of pain. But I starting itching on my stomach and noticed pink hives but didn't link it yet to the Avelox. So I continued taking them for the next two days and started itching more on my stomach and also now on my shoulder/neck area from these pink pimple like rashes. I also started noticing that I wasn't sleeping and I was waking up through the night to drink water causing me to have incontinence. I also started getting horrible headaches and very high blood pressure. I would wake up during my sleep with this lumpy swollen feeling in the back of my throat. Also, my tongue felt like it was burnt, numb and tingling. After taking the fourth pill and since it was the weekend and my doctor wasn't in and being stupid I continued taking the med. Now by Monday I was on my fifth pill and I noticed that all these symptoms weren't going away. So I called my doctor and told her I wasn't continuing the last two days of the pills because of what was happening. She told me I was having bad side effects to the med and to stop taking them. I will never take Avelox ever again....a horrible med!!!

My local hospital prescribed Avelox for a sinus infection since Amoxicillin wasn't working. My fever jumped up to 102 the first 2 days so I called my family doctor. He told me to keep taking the meds for 2 more days and if my fever persisted to call him back. I experienced the high fever on day 3 and then was in a world of shock when I took the 4th pill. My body went numb, I was speaking but had no idea what I was saying, dizzy, the fever subsided during the day but spiked back up to 102 that night and I was very irritable. I made a doctors appointment the next day and the doctor told me to take the meds at night and I wouldn't have those reactions. After reading these comments and my day 4 episode, I had it in my head that I was not going to take any more pills. Then I called a nurse friend who assured me that it wasn't the antibiotic making me feel that way.....it was the extra strength Tylenol. She advised me to take the pill. I took the pill and not two hours later, my body went numb, I became dizzy, my tendons in my right knee and left foot swelled and I couldn't sleep. After my body went numb, I took the rest of the pills and flushed them down the toilet. I'm still feeling the affects of the pills and it's been 2 days. I've been swallowing gallons of water to flush it out of my system. I lost an entire week of work and pretty much my normal life. I'd much rather have sinus pressure in my head then deal with these side effects.

this is probably the worst thing Avelox caused, besides death, which would have happened without help..

7th day on Avelox for sinusitus - massive pain back of my head, sweating so much my clothes were soaked, threw up 2 times, legs were uncoordinated when trying to walk

Called 911 - paramedics took blood pressure - guess what.. 210/180.. something was definitely wrong. Rushed to hospital - passed out in ER - woke up with wife and family present - CT scan found my brain bleeding and brain surgery was performed to remove the clot..

But wait, it gets better... 2 days in the ICU my brain swelled from the surgery and the fluid stopped circulating.. I was semi conscious in the ICU for probably 4-5 hours and nothing was done. My wife came in early in the morning and thought I was sleeping, but could not wake me.. The nurse said that a doctor was called and will be there later. I'm DYING right before their eyes in the ICU!!! My wife demanded I get a CT scan immediately. If she didn't I would have stopped breathing. Later CT showed my ventricles enlarged with fluid backed up so much that my brain and brainstem was ridiculously squeezed so much, my head was all ventricles and barely any brain showing in the CT. I attribute my current brain damage to this episode.

A shunt was placed in my head for about 3 days.. basically a needle is inserted into my brain and left there to drain the excess fluid.. After my condition stabilized, the shunt was removed.

Spent 1 week in the hospital, then transferred to another hospital to stay in for inpatient PT and treatment. I didn't know left from right, had double vision, was throwing up constantly, was hot, then very cold, my legs hurt, had hallucinations (was believing certain things were happening, that really weren't) was incontinent, had a new catheter inserted every single day, was taught to walk again, had to use a wheelchair.

I had always been healthy, was vegetarian and did not smoke cigarettes.. I exercised regularly, did not use drugs (i.e. - cocaine or methamphetamine which can cause high blood pressure leading to a stroke)

Didn't know what happened to me, but realized I had to be there.. After 1 month, decided to go home (the hospital was becoming too stressful, somebody was always screaming and yelling at night and the daily catheters were uncomfortable), to be back in the lifestyle I knew.. my wife, my granddaughter, my house, my dog, cats, and other pets were sorely missed.

Once home I found that I couldn't do what I used to anymore - could not mow the lawn, drive, speak well, walk properly, had double vision, a tingling on my face, a metallic taste in my mouth so bad that good food tasted bad.

My wife set me up for physical therapy three times a week daily outpatient at the hospital I was at. Vomited regularly from the daily dizziness.

This was most disturbing, I developed a pain in my left hand and left shoulder, to the point where I could not raise my arm above my head and had to sleep with my arm straight down for at least a year. After playing guitar for 30 years, I found myself unable to play my guitar anymore. My left hand had lost all its dexterity and was not usable. I did not realize what happened to me until my wife explained the entire thing to me.

In the next few weeks I spent each day trying to put "2 and 2 together" and figure out why this happened to me. When doing research on strokes, I realized that certain things happened to me that were not consistent with having a stroke. In my brain damaged condition, I remembered taking the antibiotic Avelox, based on a physicians prescription. I researched the adverse effects and to my amazement, the listed side effects were consistent with what happened to me.

I began a quest to file a lawsuit - was unable to find a lawyer willing to tackle such a huge case.. although one lawyer did file before the 2 year time limit expired.. I had MRI's performed on my hand and shoulder which revealed scarring and previous ligament tearing.

During the time of having more outpatient and in home therapy, I regularly visited a psychologist and my physician confirmed that the Avelox most likely caused the brain bleed, tendon tears, and other mysterious symptoms when I presented him with my research. I was unable to work and my only income was from monthly Social Security Disability benefits that didn't begin until 6 months after the incident.. leaving me with no income and unpaid bills for 6 months. The mortgage payments fell behind and soon foreclosure notices arrived. We decided that an alternative would be to sell the house.. it could not be sold after 1 years attempt, so my wife and I moved to an affordable apartment. I put household items in a storage facility. I either sold to pay bills or threw away much of my personal things,since I was devastated by what happened to me, I didn't think I was going to survive long after reading statistics on strokes.

While in the apartment, I needed an income and was forced to take what was in the scpoe of my limited ability. I accepted an early morning paper route and then made deliveries for a courier company using my own vehicle.. That was a 12 hour work day. Being completely upset over what happened, losing everything including my house.. I decided to attempt to escape the overwhelming things that happened and were still happening. I found a house for rent that was less than the apartments rent, except it was in North Carolina. At the time that seemed perfect, a 3 bedroom house located in a far away place where I could forget everything that happened and make a fresh start. Only problem is my wife not want to go, but I was adamant upon doing it. She helped me move everything, including all storage items.. I had moved to North Carolina, but soon found being alone and unable to find suitable employment unbearable. I was being contacted for back rent owed, but could not do everything alone - I became more depressed to the point of feeling suicidal, so I called my aunt in NY and she said just leave everything and get myself to her house. I did, leaving everything behind, and stayed with her for a month until my cousin invited me to stay with him.. which I did. I stayed with him for 3 months, all the while searching for employment.

With help from my family I moved back to my familiar area in NJ in the summer of 2008. I had lost everything..unable to be physical with my wife and being seperated for 18 months, she has requested a divorce. Currently I live by myself and am still slowly recovering, yet my left arm and hand are uncoordinated, my talking is difficult, slurred and gravely (diagnosed with dysarthria), my balance is bad and am dizzy every single day for the past 4 years.. Although brain damaged, I am attempting to rejoin the computer support business again.

My entire past, everything I knew and did, everyone I knew, who I was, etc.. is all a strange hazy memory. If I don't take a sleep aid, I wake up around 4am with racing thoughts, unable to sleep.. My depression and anxiety are so bad, it is difficult to function and interact with others. My psychiatrist has diagnosed me with post-traumatic stress disorder and prescribed Zoloft and Xanax.

Upon proper research, I have to blame the prescription and subsequent use of Avelox for causing the brain bleed which led to my life being completely and utterly destroyed. My intentions are to file suit against the manufacturer Bayer and/or the hospital for allowing me to die in the ICU

I took Avelox, on the second day i woke up with red itchy spots all over my legs,,, they started to spread and became so swollen,,, for the 4 days i walked with my legs being in so much pain and burning sensation around those spots,, then spots turned more like stones,, they harden so bad ,, i couldn't even sleep,, by accident i forgot to take my 4th dose and on the next day i noticed that swelling came down a little ,,, i still went to doctor and she said to me ooooo i am so sorry,, this is so rare but it is a side affect to Avelox, and obviously i stopped the medication,, I have checked with Nutritionist and Natural Care doctors,, and i was told that the best way to flash this antibiotic out of your system would be drinking a lot of water and also get Natural Aloe juice,, in Organic Health stores, and drink 8 oz,, 4 times a day...!!!!! Try it,,, it works

I just finished my last pill of Avelox today. I take the generic form of prozac each day. I was taking the meds at the same time because no one told me different. For the last 3 night I cannot go to sleep. When i do finally fall asleep i am worked by a panic attack that can last for a couple of hours. Stomach very upset and very nauseated. I also feel very sad and depressed. Had no idea it could be from this RX until tonight when I looked it up! Will never take again. Just wish I knew how long it will take to get out of my system????

I had bronchitis, beginnings of pneumonia so the Dr. gave me seven samples ov Avelox. Around day 4 I woke up and my left heel was in enormous pain. I could not put weight on it and I have been hobbling around for a week. If you pressed on the outside part of my heel near the achiles tendon it would send sharp pain through my foot. I believe it was a direct result of avelox because I had done no strenuous activity. All I had done was sleep and lay in bed trying to get better. Then I wake up and have this to deal with. I will not ever take this drug again.

Avelox 400 MG was prescribed for me after treating a severe upper
respiratory infection and a terrible coughing that was unproductive.
I was exhausted from the coughing and had gone to the Dr. for 3 days
in a row for a penicillin injection, while also taking a milder antibiotic. He took me off of it and prescribed the Avelox when I was not responding to treatment. .
I took the first pill at 6:30 in the evening ( one per day for 7 days ) was
the script. In reading the pamphlet that came with the script, I was
already frightened of the side effects, before coming online to read the horror stories. I am a strong person mentally, and physically I do not
generally have side effects with medication. About 6 hours after taking the first pill, I went to bed hoping I would not have hallucinations as others said they had. Somehow I went right to sleep and slept for nearly 8 hours. No hallucinations.
I was fine all the next day, even beginning to cough up some of the phlegm etc that was down there. I figured the medicine was working to break it up a bit and was glad. I took the second pill at 6:30 that evening and went to bed around 12:30. I found it harder to get to sleep, and woke up several times with my throat very dry, and drank some more water. I wound up a total of about 4 hours sleep and was up at 5:AM. Around 9:00 AM I sat down to watch some news on TV and within a few seconds of having turned the TV on, a horrible panic came over me which I had never experienced in my life. My hands were shaking, and my legs had turned to rubber, and my MIND, it was as if I were someone else and could not think clearly at all. The feeling worsened until I thought I would not be able to return to my normal self. Tried to be calm so as not to add to the situation, but found I had no control over it. This episode lasted about and hour and a half. It was now 3 hours ago that it happened, and my legs are still a bit rubbery, hands still a bit shaky, but my mind is clearing up. I called the doctor and told him I wouldn't be taking any more of these pills. I don't mind a few mild side effects if that were the case, but certainly nothing that plays with my mind. I am now terrified of these pills and would not recommend them to anyone. I pray I will be able to get better on another antibiotic that has worked for me in the past.
M. 05/16/09

Avelox! :-(
I don't no where to start.. I initially went in to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis and was prescribed Avelox. I had been on antibiotics before but never this one. Well I took my 1st dose and with in 30 minutes my mouth was consumed with a very bitter acrid taste. As I continued on taking 1 pill once a day, by pill 2 and 3; I was waking up in the middle of the night in a pool of sweat shaking the glads under my neck aching. It seemed that the floor and room was spinning. Pill 4 and 5, I experienced burning head ache, it felt like acid was slowly being poured over my brain and the diarrhea that I initially had in the beginning got worse not just watery but now slimy and mucusy along with the burning head ache that I'm having trouble even typing this comment, I have extreme heart burn even spiting up bial in my sleep. I have all of this going on while trying to make it to the bathroom room, room spinning and my heart is pounding and my legs are shaking so bad I can barley let my self down on the toilette. Pill 6 and 7, I have slurred speech and I can barely complete a sentence much less write this comment so please for give my typos. I've been lying in my bed thinking that I'm dieing trying to figure out witch one on my family members I should contact because something bad can happen and I don't know how bad it will get. As of right now 6:30pm central standard time May 7th I'm considering going to the emergency room! I just hope there is no permanent damage. I will have since discontinued my prescription and will let you know how it goes.

My mother started on Avelox, along with a steroid nasal spray. After 3 days, she started having severe anxiety attacks, with hallucinations at night. We blamed the steroid spray, and continued with the Avelox. Big mistake. After 2 trips to the ER, which proved that her heart, lungs, and bloodwork were all OK, we investigated the Avelox, and immediately stopped the treatment. Benadryl seemed to quell the anxiety, and allowed her to sleep. The drug company downplays the side effect of anxiety, and hallucinations. Be on the lookout!!! This drug is dangerous!

I was given Avelox by my Allergist three weeks ago because I had yet another sinus infection, she had me come in and pick up some samples she had with 5 days worth of 400 strength Avelox.
The night of the third dose I was awakened by numbing and tingling and pain in my right arm from the elbow down to my hand, I had never had this before. I called the nurse the next day and she said to stop taking the drug which I did. I figured now that I stopped taking the drug the symptoms would go away.
A few days later I was out shopping and within a few hours of walking around I began to have so much pain in my right foot/ankle/heel that I had to come home, I could not put my foot down.
Then within the next few days my knees began to hurt, behind the knee and in the side. It has been 3 weeks now and the foot pain is better but my hand,elbow and knees are bothering me so much I can't sleep. The other symptom feels like nerve pain in my legs, hands and fingers. I am really troubled by this, I am a very active healthy 62 year old Woman, I have not been able to exercise all of this time.
I went to see my Allergist who prescribed the Avelox and informed her of all of these symptoms. She said that this was a rare side effect and that I was particularly sensitive. I asked her if the symptoms would go away soon and she gently said that it would take time.
Then she said that she had prescribed Avelox to her husband a few months ago, she said he had the same reaction as me (how does this translate to a rare occurrence?) and that he was slowly improving. She thought I should go to a Physical Therapist or a Rheumatologist, I told her I can't afford that.
At this point I am scared I won't get back to how I was before. I have had knee surgery in the past but my knees were doing fine until this.
Have other people slowly recovered as my doc has suggested will happen?
I don;t know what I should be doing at this point. Help!
S.

I had a 103 fever Thursday went to my doctor Friday she prescribed this to me and I started taking it same day - that day - hardly any side effects until later that night...took a shower and I looked like I had spider webs all over me - then the real fun started...I started to swell up, I have not slept since that first night and needless to say, I have stopped taking the Avelox now. My fingers are so swollen they are like coctail weenies and it is hard to type - my legs are so swollen it hurts to wear shoes and I have bright red dots all over from my knees down. Is this permanent???? I'd rather not have this look for summer. : ( I feel like I am all "craked out" for lack of a better term but I am exhausted form the no sleep, etc. Oh yeah and the best part of this whole thing, I am so itchy I want to peel my skin OFF. Who the h*** lets this remain on the market?? Better yet - why do doctors keep prescribing it knowing all this - oh yeah I forgot MONEY...
I really hope all of this goes away? I am terrified cause most of the posts I have read thus far say most people deal with this for weeks +!!!!

Prescribed Avelox after previous antibiotic could not clear up sinusitis. Avelox cleared it up within three days, but I feel worse now. Extreme agitation/anxiety, tremors, twitches, no appetite, boughts of depression, dizzy, lack of coordination, accelerated heart rate, leg shake, cold extremities, very strange, vivid dreams. Doctor told me to stop taking and side effects should clear up in a few days ( I hope). This is nuts. I feel like I am going insane. I could not go to work for three days due to side effects.

I never ever read side effects listings, and I didn't when I took this medication, either. One hour after I took this medication, I felt hot and became very irritable, then my face turned bright red, and my blood pressure went so high I could feel every heartbeat, and heard ringing in my ears. I had complete brain fog, and barely remember the evening. I became angry and snapped at everyone. I was jittery and anxious and barely able to sleep. Two days later, I am still feeling some of the jittery, foggy feelings.

I have read soo many negative responses in regard to this medication you would think these people are all in the medical profession and could diagnose their symptoms as being avelox triggered.For a few of these people that could be true but unlikely.People have this tendency to read about side affects and believe they are having them.For a minority of people thats true,thats why they are called side effects.I have been taking this drug for 4 days now and I am feeling great!!! I started out with body aches,fever,severe sore throat and sinuses that would not stop.By day 3 only minor sore throat remains.

I've recently had a staph infection on my right knee, and my regular dr. was closed so I decided to go to a nurse practitioner. She decided to give me samples of Avelox and actually had me take one of them in the office. Little did I know I was about to experience hell on earth!! After taking the first dose, I began to get extremely dizzy and disoriented but I slept well the first night. I thought I just felt bad from the staph infection and figured I would take another dose of the Avelox. Big mistake!!!! After that second dose I started having uncontrollable anxiety, depression, extreme confusion, and even became paranoid that I had some type of serious illness. I couldn't eat or function well at all and I have 3 small children to care for. When I tried to sleep I felt like I was passing out rather than falling asleep. I saw weird images in front of my eyes and jumped out of bed at 2:30 am panic-stricken. I found this site and saw what so many others have been through and was convinced it was the Avelox. But I've been off of it for 2 days and I still feel out of it, unable to think clearly, and have an odd detached feeling. I'm hoping this is not permanent damage. I just want to feel like my old self again! And I agree with so many others- Avelox should be taken off the market!! It is a horrible drug!!!!!

so, I was prescribed Avelox a week ago to clear up an infection caused by a ruptured ovarian cyst. I went on-line tonight because each night since I've started the medicine, I sleep less. I have turned into a total insomniac. I remembered the name AVELOX when my doctor prescribed it but I couldn't remember if I had any issues with it when I took it last, or when I even took it last. After reading your posts...it came back to me. About a year and half ago, I was prescribed Avelox for a kidney infection. Within a couple of days after taking the medicine, my right arm became completely inmobile and it was painful to even try to move it. I also had terrible abdominal pain. I went to the ER, only to have them ask me if my "home life was OK" or was I "depressed". They checked for the kidney infection but found no trace of one. I left the ER with no diagnosis...except they thought I was crazy. Gradually, after a week on Avelox, my arm pain went away but the abdominal and lower back pain became so bad that my doctor admitted me into the hospital. He feared the kidney infection (which the ER couldn't find) had gotten very bad. I was there for 3 days and they couldn't find anything wrong with me.They again couldn't even find any trace of a kidney infection. I was not eating, not sleeping, feeling constantly sick to my stomach and dizzy...and the abdominal and lower back pain was incredible. The doctors again were talking to me like I was a crazy person. They couldn't find one thing wrong besides a little dehydration.
I stopped the Avelox while in the hospital after no kidney infection was found. After a few days off the medicine I gradually felt better. Two days after leaving the hospital my doctor called and said that one of the tests they did said I could have possibly been exposed to Mono, so they chalked the who experience to being a possible case of Mono. That never made sense to me...but after reading your experiences, I'm sure it was the medicine. Now after remembering that I had taken this medicine before, I also remember sitting in the hospital drinking coffee! The prescription on the bottle I got last week reads "avoid caffeine". I know I drank coffee when I was on it before and I don't recall any warning about caffeine with Avelox last time. That said, I tried drinking a little coffee the 2nd day I was on it this time (I need my coffee, even though it said no caffeine). I was sooo jumpy, hands shaking, heart racing and lightheaded - like you feel if you drink many cups of coffee with no food - but I had only had a couple of sips. I haven't had any coffee for the rest of the days I had been on the medicine and I haven't felt that way again. I have also been drinking tons of water because the Avelox is making me so damn thirsty. My hands, lips and even my eyes are dry. The issue I am having with Avelox this round is flushes. One minute I'm fine, the next I'm flushed and my face is hot like I was running a marathon, but I was sitting still. Maybe with no caffeine and tons of water, you might feel better while you are waiting for this Avelox poison to get out of your system. Hope that helps. I'm going back to not sleeping...(It's 1:30 am ~aaarrrggghhh)

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!

I went to a walk-in clinic with ear pain...was told I had an ear infection and prescribed Avelox. Took the first pill about 6pm with dinner and an hour later felt very cold..could not get warm, dry mouth, tremors in my lips, then the left side of my face started to lose feeling...not all the way numb but not as sensitive to touch as the right side of my face. Worse than all of that was the "detached, out of bodish" feeling and the mounting anxiety. I went to bed hoping to sleep it off and no better this morning. I woke up with muscle soreness and weakness in my left arm. My heartrate is sitting about 90-100 bpm and I feel so jittery. I went to my regular doc who said I didn't even have an ear infection. When does this go away?! I hate this feeling of not being normal, being so anxious. And I am so mad because I didn't even need this antibiotic!!

I was put on Cipro for 10 days for a sinus infection and it did nothing so I went back to the doctor and was prescribed Avelox. I took my prescribed dose of 1 400 mg tablet once daily and after the third dose began to feel some very strange sensations. I started cramping and hurting from my elbows to my finger tips as well as I started having night sweats, tremors/jerking when trying to go to sleep which is another story in itself. I may have gotten 9 hours sleep in 4 days. All of this over a sinus infection. I guess we are simply being lab rats for the Rx companies.

Took my first dose on Wednesday 11/12/08, and felt amazing. I could not believe how much better I felt when I got up Thursday morning. Took my second dose around lunch time, and noticed that by Thursday night I wasn't feeling too well. Had a hard time sleeping Thursday night as my legs were bothering me. Called the Dr. this morning, as I felt like I might be having some side effects. Wants to see me tomorrow to make sure I'm not having tendon problems. Legs feel weird...just a rubbery feeling, and some mild pain. Makes me feel like I have to move them. Also, felt jittery upon waking this morning. Can't sleep...wake up at 4:30am - 5:30am and can not get back to sleep. I just want to get well, and they give me a medicine that should not be prescribed unless other antibiotics have not worked, and then be supervised the entire time on the medicine. I am so mad, I can't see straight! Now I have to waste more time, going back to the Dr. (not my usual Dr. BTW...I had to go to a "walk in" clinic because I couldn't get into see my normal Dr. soon enough), so that he can tell me my legs are fine, and write me another stupid presciption! I've been dealing with trying to get some meds for almost a week now! CRAZY! Not to mention this crap is really expensive! $60 for 10 stinkin' pills. Would of been $160 if I didn't have insurance. That's a lot of money down the drain! Guess I'm glad I never took my 3rd dose of this stuff, or I might of done some serious damage! DO NOT TAKE THIS...IT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK!!!!!!!!

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!

Was prescribed Avelox 400 mg tablets for a sinus infections (second one in a row.) Became severely depressed, crying in public places (and I am not a crier), couldn't sleep, headache and just felt disconnected all together. By day four couldn't take it any more and called the doctor. Was prescribed Azithromycin pack to clear things up.

I am glad I found this website to see that other people were having these same side effects because I was starting to think I was losing my mind.

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 too have recently been taking Avelox...prescribed for inner ear...I usually have no problems with antibiotics....I have taken Cipro for skin trouble with no problem...I get strep thought at least twice a year, so i have resistance to lots of meds....I am on day 5 of this medication and I feel as if I have the flu...I am extremely nauseas and my legs feel like they weigh 100lbs each...I have
no motivation to do any thing....I am so tired but due to this crap I can not sleep....my boyfriend thinks Im a hypochondriac...I my self was starting to think i was a bit crazy until I found this site... Thank you all for sharing your stories....I now realize that I am not crazy but this drug in fact can make you feel sicker than you were to begin with...Thank you all so much!!!

Sinus infection and chest congestion: doctor knew I was on HCTZ, a diuretic, as well as Zyrtec and Nasonex. The HCTZ I now known is an agent that should have triggered a modification of the treatment protocol. First night on the 400 mg Avelox, during conversation at the supper table, a black cloud of depression suddenly descended upon me like a curtain. Then I became extremely irritable and short-tempered. (Hard to blame on a drug, except that this came out of the blue right when I was feeling mentally and emotionally happy and relaxed, enjoying my husband's companionship. No reason for depression, irritability and short temper, especially to such an uncharacteristic degree. This was severe!) No sleep whatsoever that night due to shivering without getting warm, feeling like my whole body was crawling, feeling terrible frustration and anxiety and depression. Had taken the Avelox with my supper. Second night: unable to breathe through nose at all. Nasal passages so dry they hurt. I decided to abandon Nasonex and Zyrtic but never thought about stopping the HCTZ (the info insert from the drugstore never mentioned that). Insomnia and feeling electrified. Again, the feeling of total body crawling and restlessness. Irritable to the max. Frustration. Wound up sitting up most of the night to avoid waking loved one with my tossing and turning and misery. Third night, I took the Avelox early, at 5 p.m. Had been having to turn on the shower and steam up the bathroom to moisturize my nasal passages enough to bear the painful dryness. Also began using Ocean Mist to ease the pain. Despite the dryness, my nose was still too stopped up to breathe. Heavy sinus congestion and pain not any improved yet. Dozed some that night but a phone call came at midnight for my husband and after that I was wired awake again. I am desperate for rest. This is the fourth day and finally I'm coughing less and the congestion is coming up. But my sinuses are harder than ever to empty. Mucus extremely thick and sticky (sorry for the graphic quality of this post). One very severe side effect is that I am now incontinent. I never make it to the bathroom in time to urinate and so am wearing pads. Having to change them every time my bladder begins to fill. Leaking, dribbling and now gushing urine without any control whatsoever. I have just read the full prescribing info and wonder why on earth was I not given a safe antibiotic (I realize everything has some risks and side effects, but why was I exposed in this way to such a dangerous drug without a life-threatening disease to require its use?) This is an outrage. Now I"m stuck finishing the script or else my infection will be back worse than ever and then I'll be given yet another bad drug. I have only one clue to this question: I was asked what my Insurance company was just before the script was written. I cannot help wondering: what if I'd had no insurance, or another insurance? Would I then have been given a less-expensive and much safer, even safe drug? If you are ever asked just before the script is written what your insurance company is, ASK WHY THEY NEED TO KNOW. They will probably tell you it's so they can pick a Preferred drug. That would be a bogus answer, because after I told them what my insurance company was, they never went and looked for a list of preferred drugs! They simply swiftly wrote for Avelox! I was never told any of the bad effects. Now I fear getting the colitis, the tendonitis (no one told me not to exercise!). I even fear permanent incontinence. I also think that this depression, anxiety, and insomnia, and the horrible restlessness and whole body crawling sensation could be lasting and that really makes me feel very depressed. My husband has had to suffer with days and nights of my irritability and temper -- and he has cancer and I never wanted to ever be cross or complaining or to worry or burden him. This medicine is not worth it. THere are safer better options. DEMAND BETTER OPTIONS. I also wonder if the HCTC or Zyrtec or Nasonex taken on the same days could have damaged my kidneys or liver. I really think that antibiotic resistance is the ultimate bad side effect of this drug. What could be worse? Why is this being used for garden-variety sinus infections? Why is it not an option only for those who must have it or probably die of some life-threatening illness? This medicine needs more than a black box. This medicine should be available only to doctors treating patients who are in danger of dying of an illness. I have had doctors give me black box medicines before and I was spineless enough (and ill enough with severe, recurrent sinus infection) that I took the medicine. But from now on, never again. There are still better options and I deserve the safer options just as much as the next person -- no matter what my insurance coverage is! Doctors don't hesitate to use black box medicines anymore. Why do they hesitate so long to prescribe medicines without black boxes? They say it's because of the new resistance to antibiotics and the super bugs. Well now I'm susceptible to super bugs PLUS all these other severe side effects have to be endured. If anything else goes wrong, I'll come back and add another post. Meanwhile, I'm praying for each of you to make a full and speedy recovery.

I have bronchitis and my doctor prescribed Avelox. I have never been allergic to anything so I thought that I would be fine. So, took it for the first time yesterday and by 7pm I was having tingling all in my arms. I really didn't know which meds would have caused it. I am also on Prednisone and Hydro -PC for cough. Went to the doctor this morning they wanted to see me....he assumed that it was the cough medicine and took me off of it. Took my antibiotic this afternoon and guess who has tingling in arms and legs...Yeah, I am coming off of this. I have been talking my self through a panic attack, can't sleep and my eyes are kinda droopy. My face feels weird.....I will never take this again.

I was prescribed this drug on a Wednesday for a sinus infection. By Saturday I could not stand up, was disoriented, dizzy, fatigued, and in general felt like crap. I did not take one on Sunday. I went back to the Doctor on Monday who told me I had fluid on my ear and that was why I was having those symptoms and it was not the medication. He gave me another round which I took around 3:00 p.m. on Monday. By 10:00 p.m. I had the dry heaves, could not stand up, was extremely dizzy, nauseated, fatigued again. I did not sleep any on Monday night. Tuesday morning I flushed remaining drug down the toilet. I has taken me 4 weeks to get to feeling some better. But, for the past several days, I have been having a crushing pain in my chest and upper body. I'm convinced it was from the Avelox. Something needs to be done to get this stuff off the market. I will never take this stuff again.

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 was prescribed Avelox for a sinus for 14 days, and have been taking it for 9 days now. I couldn't figure out why I'm so exhausted, dizzy, not sleeping, having heart palpitations, and aching joints until I found this site. I will not take any more of the pills, and have a call into my Doctor. I'm not sure I trust him to prescribe another drug after he gave this to me.

The first night wasn't too bad just some mild insomnia. The second night I tried to go to sleep but was having trouble breathing, heart palpitations and enough anxiety and fear that I wouldn't let go of my wife for most of the night. When I finally fell asleep I was still very groggy and had to miss some work and catch up. Last night I still had anxiety and weird breathing patterns and I've never had any problems with antibiotics before. I started taking them because I have been suffering from a cold for more than a week and finally started to get an ear infection. The sourness went away quick but the side affects are enough that I will discontinue my meds. The one post I read on here about suicidal tendecies had me concerned.

I took Avelox 2 months ago for 7 days and experienced dizziness and fatigue, my sinus infection cleared up but for the next 2 months the dizziness and fatigue did not go away. I couldn't figure out what it was until I got another sinus infection and was prescribed it again... This time I have had crazy anxiety attacks, it feels like a thousand pound person is crushing my chest, my heart is racing, my neck is stiff, my joints hurt, my head has constant pressure on it. I feel like I am going to go to sleep and not wake up. I have had psychological issues and emotional outbursts. I have lost complete function and control of my body. My arms jumped while I was trying to eat, and couldn't even grab a fork. I feel like I am dieing or going to die. Its just crazy... I wouldn't recommend anyone to take it.

I am 24 year old male. The doctor said I have fluid in my ears. About on day 4 of taking the Avelox pill, I had a horrible attack. My pupils dilated and my heart began to race. My parents convinced me I was just having a panic attack or anxiety attack WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I cannot sleep I wake up feeling like I am in a nightmare. I am short of breath, I feel so absolutely horrible, I wish I stopped taking it sooner! I just finished my last pill, day 10. I find myself asking god to help me and I am not even religious. I pray that my heart and body start feeling normal again in a few days. I know tomorrow I will not feel better, I have been taking the pill at 7 pm every night for the past 10 days. So I know I am in for a few more hellish days and nights. Email me if you have any advice or if we can sue anyone for this.