Levaquin and achilles tendons

I took Levaquin 3 times for 10 days each time over 2 or 3 years. I am not exactly sure as I'd have to backtrack my records. It was for a stubborn sinus infection. (BTW, it didn't help) Is it possible that now, 2 years after taking it, that my tendons are 'tight' and sore from the drug? I have been complaining that they feel like tight springs for months, totally inflexible. I didn't know about this, so I decided to really stretch them. I did 4 squats and the next day, my R knee was blown up. I got an MRI which showed a torn meniscus from doing the squats. Since then, I've discovered what Levaquin does. Could it be that my tendons were so tight, that they didn't give, but the pressure from them being so tight could have put so much pressure on the meniscus, that it tore?

I was “poisoned” by Levaquin -- resulting in acute tendinitis in both Achilles tendons.

Background:
I am a healthy, athletic male in his mid-50s who has never had an Achilles tendon problem. In early July 2008, my doctor (general practitioner) prescribed Levaquin for an infection. I took the medication for 14 days, as prescribed.
Sudden onset of acute tendinitis in my Achilles tendons occurred near the end of the medication period. The tendinitis occurred in both Achilles tendons simultaneously. Nothing related to my lifestyle would have caused the tendinitis.

Symptoms:
Symptoms included the following at one time or another:
1. aching
2. sharp pain
3. feeling of heat/burning
4. tightness
5. pins and needles in small areas (micro tears?)
6. weakness at rear/base of each heal.
7. When I woke-up each morning my tendons and the back of my heal pads felt sore, weak and tight.
At the height of the problems, I had extreme difficultly walking and negotiating stairs, and I thought there was a risk that my tendons would detach from my heal bone.

Doctors’ Advice:

My general practitioner’s and my podiatrist’s advice was to: (a) not run, cycle, hike or otherwise exercise my legs in any manner other than easy walking and swimming, (b) gently stretch, (c) take ibuprofen, (d) ice regularly, and (e) use heal lift shoe inserts made by my podiatrist. Their advice was based on the view that the damage that was done is more like damage cause by an injury than damage caused by an insidious drug. My readings on the subject indicate that little is known about the mechanisms behind this fluoroquinolone-specific toxicity. It is believed that the tendon’s collagen fibers become disorganized and infiltrated with small blood vessels -- resulting in weakness. And there are no specific treatment plans for this problem.

After 2 months of living with these symptoms, I decided to change course.

My Approach to Healing:

Because I never believed my pain was the result of inflammation, I stopped icing and taking ibuprofen. Because stretching seemed to further weaken the tendon and set me back, I stopped stretching. Because I believe that the body heals itself best when used, I started cycling at an easy pace. I then worked-my-way-up to cycling more aggressively, and to walking in the neighborhood. That’s where I am today. Two days ago I had my first day without discomfort in 3 months. Yet, I have a long way to go. I am not yet hiking or running. It’s a slow healing process with occasional setbacks when I push my tendons a bit harder than I should, Given the progress I have made, I am hopeful for a full or nearly-full recovery in another few months.

Other things I have done in the past month:

1. Taken L-Lysine (1000mg daily), which is believed to aid collagen formation.

2. Taken Magnesium (250mg daily), which some believe may help leech the fluoroquinolone molecules from the tissues because of the affinity of these antibiotics for minerals.

3. Taken Fish oil pills (3000mg daily), which improves circulation

4. Used a heating pad, which improves circulation

5. Started regular Acupuncture (first time for me), which improves circulation

What you can do:

1, Be easy on your tendons until you get a handle on the problem. Don’t over-use tendons when they are in a weakened state.

2. “Listen” to your body and take steps you think best to help the healing process.

3. Tell your friends to beware of potential side effects from fluoroquinolones.

4. File a MedWatch report with the FDA at fda.gov.

5. Share your findings/advice on this forum.

Good Luck

I took levaquin for 2 weeks to treat a infection, i am 26 years old and have never had muscle pain for longer than a couple days after working out...now i have moderate pain in my rib area and muscles near the groin area and even upper leg, and have done hardly any physical activity while being treated...i have seen no improvement for a few weeks now, but think my infection is gone... going back to my doctor tomorrow...need help

I have just finished taking Levaquin for a 10day treatment for pneumonia. In the last 5 days or so I have noticed stiffness in my achilles tendon (no pain) until I get moving. I have also notice a tremor in my hands and no muscle weakness and shaking in my triceps and quads. Of course I hadn't read the precautions to this drug before noticing these symptoms. I contacted both my pharmacist and physician and neither seemed concerned and told me if I was really worried to go to the emergency room. I am wondering if these symptoms will disappear since I am no longer on the drug, how long it will take, and how long I should worry about tendon damage----is the possibility of rupture forever???

My husband has COPD and was prescribed Levaquin along with prednisone for bronchitis. He developed acute tendinitis in both achilles tendons and then the right achiiles totally ruptured about 6 weeks later. It has been a nightmare for him.

It is so important that everyone who has suffered an adverse affect report it to the FDA. Unless they receive these reports, they do not know how serious this problem really is and most doctors are totally oblivious.

My 16 year old son took Levaquin 6 months ago and had a bad reaction to it. His symptoms were severe muscle weakness (he would get exhausted walking from the parking lot to a store and back, severe joint pain (in thumbs, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles), dizziness (he felt like the room was moving away from him and would lose balance), and headaches (a severe pressure in the back of his head that was constant and then shooting pains in his his head that would come and go for no reason). I should say he was in top shape before this and wrestling in the 125 pound category. He took Levaquin to prevent an infection after sinus surgery.

Now 6 months later, his joint pain is completely gone except for his knees. They still hurt when he does squats and they are not good enough for him to go back to wrestling, but he can walk around pain free. His dizziness is also gone as well as his muscle weakness. His headaches are still there and still constant, but not as bad as they once were; however, he has had them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months. He is on Lyrica which has helped make the headaches subside.

I have taken him to more than 16 medical doctors of all specialties, had multiple MRIs, CT Scans, blood tests, spinal tap, and an MRA. All come back negative. Thankfully, despite all of this, he still remains happy and positive that he will once again be 100% healthy; it will take lots of time, but he will get better. I know the first three symptoms (joint pain, dizziness, weakness) are clearly Levaquin related, but I haven't heard much about the headaches from people. Anyone else out there that has suffered from a constant headache after Levaquin? I REALLY want to hear about headaches from others!!!!

By the way, we have filed a medwatch already. I also know that Levaquin is not approved for anyone under 18 years old and he never needed such a powerful drug to prevent an infection, but there is nothing I can do about that now except to warn others. One of his UCLA doctors wants to write a case study on him to make this more known to others and I am helping him with that.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. If you have had a headache from Levaquin, please let me know where in the head the pain was, if it is constant, what it feels like (pressure, shooting, throbbing), how long you have had it, and what, if anything, helped. THANKS.

I was put on Levaquin 750 mg. for 7 days for a sinus infection. After a few days, I was soooooooo sore in every muscle and joint of my body, that I didn't even want to get out of bed. Since I am self-employed and the only one that does my job, (custom sewing and alterations of clothing), I had too. One Friday, shortly after taking the Levaquin, I was in the bathroom, and I had to get my husband's attention to help me get up off the commode, my right leg would not let me raise up. I went to the doctor that was on call, and he said that Levaquin is like using a Elephant gun, and that you can tear a tendon, cartilage (sp?). I was put in a brace and sent for an MRI, which showed nothing other than fluid. Then I was sent to an Ortho. He gave me a cort. shot and had me to come back in 2 weeks, well the shot helped for a few days, in 2 weeks he gave me 3 options: 1: another shot, 2: surgery to see what the MRI and x-rays missed, or 3: learn to just live with it. I opted for the surgery and had it on December 31, 2007 and was informed that my cartilage(sp?) was torn in 2 places with 1 place having a "floppy" place that had to be take off. Now I have to take p.t. and get "back" to where I can work, I can't even drive now, it is my right knee, and the pressure to press the pedal is VERY painful.I have to depend on my husband to do for me and I don't like having to do this. I have never had any problems with my right knee and the doctor asked me how I did this and I told him this happened while taking Levaquin, and he was looking straight at me when he asked, when I answered with Levaquin, he just said OOOOOOOOOO, and looked straight at the computer screen. That told me that I'm not the first that he has seen or heard about. While my husband was in the hospital, there was a nurse, that said that she had heard a lot about the terrible side effects of this medicine, but had not yet met anyone that had been affected.
I also have been very moody, and short tempered since taking this medication. I have no patience, and that is not me at all.
I have also got my right ear stopped up and a ringing in it. I have also had this since taking this so called wonderful cure all antibiotic. Someone should have to pay for everything that everyone has had to go through with, PAIN and ALL. If there is a Lawsuit, count me in. I've never been affected this way with any medicine. It should be taken off the market immediately. Thank you for letting me get this off my chest.

I was given seven days worth of Levaquin for a bad strep throat infection. I was frightened reading about some of the side effects, but I've had strep before and had a very hard time getting rid of it. The doctor at urgent care said Levaquin was "primo" for getting rid of infections, so I took a chance.

About the third day on the drug, I started to have minor tingling, burning, and "pins and needles" feeling in my hips and ankles. My knees were also slightly affected. I quit Levaquin after five days. I'm recovering, but my achilles tendons are still stiff and sore. I've definitely lost a step or two on this drug and wish I'd tried something else.

My doctor said joint pain was a "rare" side effect of Levaquin, but it sure doesn't sound like it reading this and other boards on the subject. This is scary stuff and should be avoided if there is any possible alternative.

Who would think an antibiotic would have such effects? I have been experienceing pain in my shoulder for about 3 weeks. This began less than 2 weeks after taking Levaquin for 2 weeks. In addition to that, I experienced side effects during the treatment. This include chest pressure and rapid heartbeat.

Yesterday, I saw an orthpaedist who diagnosed me with a rotator cuff injury.
I have one month of physical therapy to endure 3x per week now. If the pain doesn't improve in 2 weeks, then an MRI will be done. If it is ruptured, there will likely be surgery.

I am a healthy 35 year old woman with no history of shoulder problems. The doctor and others have asked what did I do to hurt myself. My answer is that I made the mistake of taking a drug that shouldn't be on the market. I don't lift weights and I didn't pitch 9 innings before this. So the only connection is a drug whose website states "ruptures of the shoulder, hands, and Achilles tendons have been reported...".

I have woarned all of my friends and co-workers about this drug. I am now on a crusade to prevent others from falling victim to this drug. I understand that the risks to the few outwiegh the rewards to many. However, when you are one of the few who is affected, your viewpoint changes. I am an educated woman and did read the side affects prior to taking the drug. I knew this was a possibility but it was "rare". Who knew an antibiotic could be so helpful and harmful at the same time!

I have been taking 500mg of Levaquin for the past 24 days. Now I have severe pain in both achilles tendons and lower calves of my legs. None of my regular doctors have made any connection between the pain and the Levaquin. I just called a new medical resident on staff at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and he told me to stop the medication immediately because it can, in rare cases, cause the tendons to rupture. He said new research shows that Levaquin can damage tendons in some patients.

I'm posting my comment here on the Levaquin site because I too was poisened by this drug one year ago. I experienced horrible joint and tendon pain and even a year later I am still experiencing problems with both Achilles tendons. What I wanted to talk about today is Levaquin's horrible sibling Cipro. Here it is...the honest facts...In late Dec 2006 my dad was diagnosed with chirrosis of the liver. On Jan 8, 2007 he was admitted into the hospital to have fluid drained from his abdomen as a result of his liver not functioning well. My dad was given 400 mg of Cipro through an IV over the course of one hour. I wasn't there with him at the time because I would have never allowed the doctor/nurse/whomever to administer that to him. He was released from the hospital two days later and was ok by all accounts. On Jan 18, 2007 my dad was rushed to the hospital ER where we were told he was in complete kidney failure (renal failure). His liver was also failing. My 70 year old dad died on Feb 13, 2007 from complete kidney and liver failure. At one point over the weeks he was slowly dying I looked up Cipro on the internet and was horrified to read that Cipro is notorious for causing acute renal and liver failure. Another Flouroquinolone, Tequin, was taken off the market last year for causing the same thing. My dad had a "sick" liver to begin with and I cannot comprehend whay a doctor would prescribe a drug to him that is known to cause liver failure. Yes my dad had a liver problem, but besides that he was in excellent health. I do believe that one day my dad would have died as a result of having liver disease, but I truly believe that the Cipro he was given caused his kidney and liver to fail so soon and so rapidly. Beware my friends....beware. May God bless us all who have been affected in one way or another from this crap that is STILL on the market.

Hi,
Earlier this week, I started taking Levaquin for strep throat. My regular doctor was out of town , so I went to a walk in clinic. Anyway, two later, I woke up with the worst spasms in my left shoulder and arm. I could barely lift my arm without screaming out in pain. The next morning, my right arm and shoulder were affected as well. I have had depression and bouts of sudden tears over the past five days. I read what you wrote after looking up side effects on the internet, and called my own doctor asap, since he had returned to work by then. He said that Levaquin was a very strong drug, and overkill medicine for strep throat. I mentioned my pains and he said that he knew Leva quin caused damage to children and teens, but not to adults. So I took it again, but the next day, the pain increased. It was a Saturday, so I called the covering doctor who said it was probably my Lipitor causing the pain. I told him I had taken Lipitor for three years without difficulty, he said that side effects from it can suddenly crop up. However, he did take me off the Levaquin and gave me the 5 day Z-pack.
When I picked up the new prescription at the drug store, I asked the pharmacist about Levaquin, and she said that more and more cases of damaged Achilles tendons and shoulder and arm problems were being reported due to Levicon. She asked if she should put it as a drug I am allergic to on my chart at the pharmacy. I said emphatically to list it. I went home and through out every levicon I had left. Obviously the makers of Levicon have kept this side effect pretty quiet. It is listed as a precaution, but it doesn't seem to stress enough what damage it can do.
If doctors aren't aware of this, the general public certainly wouldn't know, and yet so many cases are written up on the internet.
I think that it wopn't be too long until there IS a major law suit.
I hope my pain doesn't last, but if it lasts more than a week, I won't sit back and do nothing. I care too much about others who could be affected adversely by a dangerous drug.

Mary

Hi,
Earlier this week, I started taking Levaquin for strep throat. My regular doctor was out of town , so I went to a walk in clinic. Anyway, two later, I woke up with the worst spasms in my left shoulder and arm. I could barely lift my arm without screaming out in pain. The next morning, my right arm and shoulder were affected as well. I have had depression and bouts of sudden tears over the past five days. I read what you wrote after looking up side effects on the internet, and called my own doctor asap, since he had returned to work by then. He said that Levaquin was a very strong drug, and overkill medicine for strep throat. I mentioned my pains and he said that he knew Leva quin caused damage to children and teens, but not to adults. So I took it again, but the next day, the pain increased. It was a Saturday, so I called the covering doctor who said it was probably my Lipitor causing the pain. I told him I had taken Lipitor for three years without difficulty, he said that side effects from it can suddenly crop up. However, he did take me off the Levaquin and gave me the 5 day Z-pack.
When I picked up the new prescription at the drug store, I asked the pharmacist about Levaquin, and she said that more and more cases of damaged Achilles tendons and shoulder and arm problems were being reported due to Levicon. She asked if she should put it as a drug I am allergic to on my chart at the pharmacy. I said emphatically to list it. I went home and through out every levicon I had left. Obviously the makers of Levicon have kept this side effect pretty quiet. It is listed as a precaution, but it doesn't seem to stress enough what damage it can do.
If doctors aren't aware of this, the general public certainly wouldn't know, and yet so many cases are written up on the internet.
I think that it wopn't be too long until there IS a major law suit.
I hope my pains don't last, but if they persevere for more than a week, I won't sit back and do nothing. I care too much about others who could be affected adversely by such a dangerous drug.

Took Levaquin for 5 days as a prophylactic measure to prevent infection from a prostate biopsy. Experienced severe Achilles tendon pain and itching and swelling in both feet after the 1st 2 days but did not originally attribute it to the Levaquin. The pain has finally subsided after 12 weeks but some swelling remains. Could barely walk in the beginning and still have some balance problems.
I take no other medications and do not jog or exercise strenuously. I had a heart catherization 1 week ago and all is OK (no blockages). I have been to 4 doctors and only one would say that it might have been the Levaquin. Meanwhile I have been left to my own devices. Found some exercises on the internet to strengthen my Achilles tendons which have helped and found that lotion and massage have helped my feet.

I took levaquin for bronchitis. I have been taking it for 7 days not. on the second or third day, I began to have pain in my knee joints, the my achilles tendons began to ache, and then my calf muscles tightened. I was walking like a 90 year old cripple. I now believe all of this was caused by levaquin, especially that my chiropractor could not find any mechanical reasons for all this to happen. I will see my doctor tomorrow to see if I can stop taking thiis medication immediately.

I WAS prescribed 500 milligrams of Levaquin for 21 days. After 14 days on the medication I could barely walk. My achilles tendons felt like someone had hit me with a baseball bAT. That was in January. It is now August and I still have pain. My thighs hurt and I can barely lift my legs to walk up stairs. My knees ache severely, but it is mostly the weakness that is bothering me. I always had strong legs. Now I find it difficult to get up from a sitting position. I can't imagine what it will be like in a few more years. I am under a new doctor's care and am trying to weed out any other causes. I plan to sue if I do not regain the strength in my legs.

I am a 60 year old male who was prescribed Levaquin for a bad sinus and brnchitis infection after the Zithromax didn't knsok out the infection. After day 10, my legs and feet swelled up and my achilles tendons were so sore I could hardly walk. Called my Dr who said to get off the Levaquin. That night my right Achilles tendon ruptured completely. I had to have surgey, was in a cast and now an aircast. Out of work for 2 months now and just returned to work. My life has been turned upside dwn and I feel like a victim. The pharmacy leaflet didn't say anything more than "if you have any paid in muscles or tendson call your dr" Went on to Mfg website and only after I made the connection and had ruptured my Achilles. The drug company should be held responsible for this. This drug should be taken off the market . It is very dangerous.

HOLY COW there's alot of Levaquin joint pain happening...
I don't usually experience medicine side effects so this is scary and confusing, and I'm so glad to have found this forum.
My experience with Levaquin started with a Lupus flare two weeks ago, for which I was put on prednisone, and diltiazem for pulmonary hypertension, and a diuretic to decrease edema. The prednisone left me vulnerable to some crud that whipped up a big pneumonia 6 days ago, so I got to spend a couple of nights in the hospital... Having cultured the bacteria from the pneumonia my doc decided to prescribe Levaquin 500mg/day and the joint pain began less than 48 hours after my first dose. EXCRUCIATING bilateral knee pain radiating upward from the feet, at 4am... I was crawling down the stairs to get to the Tylenol and it took forever.
So I asked him about it this morning and he said it usually just affects Achilles tendons. Hmm. I should have asked for a new antibiotic but I thought I'd tough it out with Tylenol - so - tonight I did just that, had 1000mg Tylenol before bed and yet still had some severe foot pain.
Now, I think I'll stop this Levaquin adventure altogether and get some new med, hoping the side effects will GO AWAY!!!!

I took Levaquin for about 2 weeks December 2004 for ear/sinus infections. When the infection recurred in January, my doctor told me to double the dosage and take it for another week. 2 days into it, my achilles tendons started hurting badly enough that I couldn't walk. I got off the Levaquin but have had tendinitis for 6 months now. An MRI found that I have fluid filled cysts on the both tendons, and I need surgery. Don't take Levaquin unless you have no other choice.

If you are a runner, do not take Levaquin without doing some serious research into its side effects. I was prescribed Levaquin after not being able to shake a sinus infection for over three months (it would go away and then come back). My doctor (who is also a runner) said he had seen a lot of resistance to antibiotics, and so wanted to give me something stronger. He prescribed a 5-day, 750 mg dose of Levaquin, and I have taken all 5 pills. I felt better almost immediately after taking the first dose. After taking 2 doses, I felt good enough to go for a run, which I did, and didn't notice any discomfort. However, two days after (4th day of medication), I went running in the morning and felt severe pain in both of my Achilles tendons. All through the day my lower legs were killing me, and when I woke up the next morning, I could barely walk (I took Naprosyn, a prescription anti-inflammatory, which did nothing). I did notice that it gradually got better, even though I was doing a lot of walking, so after taking two days off, I went running again. Only to feel the same pain, but even worse. Runners are stubborn, and will typically run through pain (you could call it stupid), but I couldn't do it because the pain was so severe. I began to worry that I had done some sort of serious damage to my Achilles tendons; when I rubbed them, they made a weird, "gristly" noise. 3 days after my last dose, I notice that I had visible swelling in the back of both of my lower calves (Achilles), and they were still fairly sore and tight to the touch. 5 days after the last does, the swelling *seems* to be going down a bit (maybe I'm just being optimistic), and I have been able to walk the dogs and such, but after reading all these posts, I will not run again until I talk to my doctor. I began suspecting that it was caused by the Levaquin because it happened to *both* legs; I've had lots of minor injuries, but it's usually to one leg or knee or foot; not both. So I was suspicious, and came to this site. After reading the post about the man whose wife ruptured both of her Achilles tendons, I got pretty scared, and feel terrible for her, and feel fortunate that hasn't happened to me, because I honestly felt that it was going to at one point. Without really knowing what's going on physiologically, it seems to me that in some people, Levaquin deteriorates muscle and tendon mass, causing weakness, possibly to the point of rupture.

Also, I concur with many other posts about frequent urination (for a time, I was getting up about every half hour during the night), and also with complaints about joint pain. I had been taking Naprosyn for pain in my hip, and it was really helping. Now, after taking the Levaquin, my hip hurts as much or more than it ever did, and the Naprosyn won't touch it.

If I had read these postings, I never would have taken this drug. I would rather put up with a sinus infection than contemplate the inability to run again. But after reading other things on this site, I suppose that should be the least of my concerns. I am worried about how long these side effects will last, and concerned about permanent damage, or things that haven't even surfaced yet. I am going to call my doctor first-thing tomorrow and tell him what's going on. Thanks to those who have posted and offered insight and remedies.

I took levaquin almost 4 years ago for a period of a couple of weeks. I noticed joint pain in my elbows, hips, knees, and wrists. I stopped taking the pills when I did a search for side effects because I knew something had suddenly changed with my health. With no particular warning a year after stopping the levaquin I started having lower back pain that lasted for almost two years constantly and now comes every month or so. I have recently suffered tendon damage and joint pain in my right thumb, and after 9 weeks I am healing very slowly. My right knee is very tight, with pain in/under the knee cap. I have very stiff/ painful achilles tendons on both feet. I know levauin caused joint pain wile I was taking it and I believe I am still suffering from it's ill effects. I am a slim 36 year old, otherwise healthy male. I think levaquin may have aged my joints 30 years in just a couple of weeks.

I took Levaquin for 14 days in January of 2004, and a month later, I took Avelox for 15 days. My ADR appeared on day 13 of the Avelox (a drug in the same family). It first started as lower leg pain in the calves and shins. Then I had sharp pains in my wrists. The next day, I developed carpal-tunnel like symptoms in the hands (pins and needles). I went off the medication, but a couple days later, a burning rash appeared on my palms, and I began having pains in my solar plexis.

5 weeks later and I still have sore legs, Achilles tendons, numbness in my toes, carpal tunnel syndrome, bilateral unlnar neuritis, runaway anxiety, and termination insomnia. The hands have improved a bit during the day, and the rash has diminished about 95%, but I still wake up with numbness. Both my GP and neurologist suspect the medication to be the cause of this, but it is difficult to prove.

My quality of life has been affected, since I can no longer exercise or type for lengthy periods of time.

I began taking levaguin on Wednesday. Thursday morning, upon awaking, I noticed tht my achilles tendons seem tight and sore, Friday moring, 10 minutes into my typical 3 mile jog, I pulled up with pain in the back of my thigh that was a either a strain, pull, tear or cramp. At any rate I could not continue to run. Saturday afternoon, getting off the couch, I felt the same sensations in the back of my leg, behind the right knee. Today, Sunday, these pains have now extended to my right calf.

After reading the experiences of other Levquin users, I believe that these muscle and tendon problems stem from taking the drug. Because I must cure the condition for which the drug is perscribed, I will continue with the recommended dosage for a while and hope that the side effects go away.

However, I would caution others, particularly those who are acustom to regular, stenous exercise, that this medicine may lead to damage of their muscles and tendons.

I was given Levaquin for a toxic spider bite. I was given Levaquin & Clindamycin to remove the toxins from my body. I have a wonderful doctor. She would have NEVER given me this drug, had she known about the possible side effects. For over two weeks, every muscle & joint in my entire body has put me through agony everytime that I moved. Please, let's get drugs such as this off the market. When I finally found information on the drug, it stated: During & even after you are taking this medication you run a risk of tearing tendons in your body. The main ones being in your shoulder & your achilles tendons. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO WARN ALL PHYSICIANS OF THESE SIDE EFFECTS!! Some of us are already in enough pain without adding to it with an antibiotic that is SUPPOSED to help you. WHAT A JOKE!!

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?

After taking Levaquin for over 2 weeks, I ran in a 10k
race. Afterwards I had ankle and foot pains, and severe
tendinitis in both of my achilles tendons. It's only now
improving a month after the long run. Possibly patients
should be warned against great physical exertion.

I took Levaquin for urinary tract infection. After several days both Achilles tendons were so sore I could hardly walk. Also severe pain in both kidneys. That was about one year ago. Great quantities of cranberry juice cleared up the kidney pain. But there is still some pain in left Achilles tendon. An MRI indicated "moderate to severe damage". The doctor is not recommending surgery.