April 20th
2006
10:07 AM
I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection/ear infection. Never heard of it. I took the first pill (of 5) around 4pm in the afternoon. Thirty minutes later I felt disoriented, lightheaded, etc. I was driving!
Took the next pill first thing the next morning, same thing, kind of dizzy, lightheaded, etc. Then the joint pain set in. I have arthritis in both knees. My knee joints were so stiff I could barely walk. I took two more doses before I wised up and called my Dr.s office. Funny thing they had NEVER heard of such side effects with this medication. But, advised me to discontinue the Levaquin.
This drug is very scary. Finally, when I got back home (I was out of town for a holiday.) I went to see a different Dr. at the same practice. He informed me that my joint stiffness and swelling in both knees "was not from the Levaquin, but just my arthritis acting up". For the record, I am 46 years old, my arthritis has NEVER "acted up" like that before.
Never again. I hope they take this drug off the market!!!
-- By cochrangrad | Reply | Private Message me
July 14th
2003
11:33 AM
I am a 33 year old female, about 5'6 and 115 pounds and very athletic and take very good care of myself. On July 1st I went to my Dr. because I was so sick I thought I might have pneumonia. Sure enough, I did and was given 10 days of 500 mg. Levaquin. I took the medicine around 4pm. I woke up the next day with a headache, nausea, and before I even got out of bed, my heart started racing as if I was exercising. This lasted for an hour and a half......then I had to get up because I thought I was going to throw up. By this time I was sweating to death. I went into the bathroom and sweat some more, never threw up and my heart rate returned to normal. I was able to take a shower and then took some Advil and felt much better. I took my second dose later that afternoon. The next day I woke up with many aches and pains including swollen achilles tendons, a swollen elbow, hip pain, and very sore knees. I also noticed 5 hives on my arms, chest and neck. I compare them to mosquito bites, only bigger. I was a little slow on the up-take and took Levaquin until 7/8. It is now 7/14 and my joints and tendons are still VERY sore......I can't get through a day without taking Advil 2 or 3 times. I still have the hives and am ready to kill someone! I have taken a lot of medication throughout my life as I am asthmatic and I have never experienced a side effect. I called the pharmaceutical company to complain and to report my side effects to the FDA. My quality of life has been seriously tampered with and I am pretty resentful. My kids are small and active, not to mention I have a full time job. This drug is ridiculous, and in my opinion, should be taken off the market. What ever happened to good old Amoxicillin?
-- By cnjbuck | Reply | Private Message me
April 2th
2003
1:07 PM
I took my first dose at 9am this morning. By noon, my hands were shaking. By 1pm I felt like my skin was crawling and I was completely unable to think clearly. It is now 4pm and I just located this website. I am finally able to type fairly well and I might be able to drive home today. Fed the rest of the medication to the disposal. Other side effects include severe diarrea, bloated stomach. Fun medication
-- By guest204 | Reply | Private Message me
December 21th
2006
12:49 AM
Thanks for all this info. Took one 500mg pill at 4pm today,had severe pain in right lower leg about 4 hours later.Thought it was varicose vein problem,even though the pain was differrent.I will never again get a prescription filled unless i look it up on the net first.Usually i do not even take any meds, but i was so sick( or so i thought ). The side effects can be worse than the problem. Thanks to this site and all you who told your stories, may you all find some relieve, you saved me and many others i am sure.
-- By trudys | Reply | Private Message me