Levaquin and aching

Well....an update on my update. Legs aching again. I thought the symptoms were gone. Apparently not. Leg pain and nausea. I am just hoping against hope (and praying!) that these are not permanent. I've been off the Levaquin for 2 weeks+ now after being on it for 12 days. This drug is a nightmare.

I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection six days ago and injected with Levauin, followed up by 500mg/day. The morning after the injection, my legs started aching as though I had run a marathon, particularly my shins, calves, ankles. Today, I woke up in more pain than before and am starting to notice knots in my shins. Every step is becoming more painful than the next, and I don't know how to fix this. I stopped taking Levaquin yesterday, but this problem keeps getting worse. Has anyone else had this experience, and when do the knots go away and the pain cease? Thanks for any info.

OMG, I was on Levaquin for approx 4-5 weeks, 500mg twice a day. I have muscle aches, deep body aching, feel like I ran a marathon, my feet hurt so much that I have to limp when I get up to walk, my legs feel like lead, strange pains throughout my body at any time of day or night, my right foot swelled slightly, and my right hand is stiff and I have to pry it open in the morning. Today I felt so weak, I thought I would pass out.
I've been off this drug for almost two weeks now, with no end in sight from these side effects. Why the heck are doctors still prescribing this drug. Anybody interested in a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer?

Help!
My father who is almost 73 was prescribed Levaquin for a possible sinus infection. He took the last dose of a ten day prescription on April 26 (Today is May 17} Almost a month later he is suffering from many flu-like symptoms(fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, and etc. As well as the typical tendon pain and according to the Dr. - Bronchitis) My question is how typical is it to have the flu, bronchitis symptoms 3 weeks later? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I was diagnosed with bilateral ear infections and was prescribed 500mg Levaquin ( because I am allergic to most penicillin-based products) once a day for one week. On the fourth day I began to experience stiffness and pain in both feet, especially the heels, and also in my calves, and knees. I also had pain in my neck, at the base of my skull.These symptoms proceeded to worsen to the the point that I could barely walk on Sunday and had to go up and down stairs two feet at a time. I worked from home yesterday and took a Naproxen because the pain and stiffness was so debilitating. Today the symptoms have somewhat subsided, but I still feel stiff and can't walk or climb stairs very well. I was so deparate to figure out what was wrong with me and entered all search words that applied to my problem to Google. My search return included numerous sites connecting these symptoms with Levaquin. I found the PI and it is true. I have to say I feel better just knowing why this happened. I never suspected that the antibiotic was responsible. My question is this: has anyone else ever had this happen to them and what were you advised to do to "get back to normal"? I hope that these responses to the medication will go away now that I have finished the prescription. Please advise.
Ruth

was given Levaquin for ear infection to take 10 days about half way thru taking I began to have aching or sore joints. Thought it was from over exercising but didn't go away .Legs began to hurt and knees swelled Have been treated for this with steroid pk and 10 days of antiinflamitory med which has not helped. I have stiffness and pain in my hips and legs and elbows. This has been going on for a month. Have seen dr 3 times .

Ihave been taking levaquin for 9 days for the last week I have experienced severe aching in my feet and up my calves, I have trouble sleeping at night because my feet and legs throb all night! In the morning it is a little better and then it starts all over again all day long. I had one day left of my medicine, when I found this website, I will not take any more. I advise other people do not take this medication!!!! Thanks for all the info from everyone on this website.

I have recently been hospitalized for diverticulitis and was on Leqquin 500 Mg and Metronidazole 500 mg. From the 2nd day of medication I began to have a lot of aching expecially in shoulders and hips. I just thought that my arthritis was acting up as I was in active. Symptoms became worse each day and finally on the 7th day they were intolerable and I looked up info on the computer and was horrified at what I found. I stopped the Rx and after a week was able to see my doctor. She assured me that the Rx was not the problem and it was indeed my arthritis but as time goes by my symptoms have decreased by have not gone away. This goes on my list of Rx not to ever take again. I believe it is very dangerous to some people and I am one of them.

I started taking Levaquin on a Friday for an upper respiratory infection and by Saturday night both my knees and right hip were aching. I could not sleep and I would lie awake at night thinking awful things; dying, being mugged, going bankrupt, etc.... I am the kind if person that needs to sleep a lot in order to get well and Levaquin was depriving me of that.

I was always queasy, no matter what I ate of if I went hungry. By Tuesday, my symptoms had not improved at all so I called the doc and told him I wanted something different. I had never had an antibiotic not work plus, being a three tier drug at $35.00, I was pissed off that I wasted my money. My doc prescribed Augmentin and I am 10 times better now.

My doctor gave me Levaquin for an infection.
I noticed soon after taking my hands were getting very numb.
I thought it was maybe carpal tunnel doing this.
I finished the medicine on a 6 day course.
I started having numbness in my neck,legs hurting and aching very badly .
I have feelings of suicide and going crazy.
I have had panic attacks in the past but this was different much more intense in nature.
I also am light headed and really feel out of sorts with my body.
I will never again take this medicine.
I would love to know how to get this out of my system and what foods to avoid.
Please if anyone knows for sure some help email me with the answers.I am a single parent and do not enjoy my daughter seeing me this way.
It is very frightful for us both.

This morning (17Feb07) I was prescribed Levaquin at the US Army Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany, for a slightly enlarged prostate due to over-exertion. Approximately eight hours later I felt like CRAP! I didn't feel bad prior to that. My experience was severe nausea, every muscle and joint in my body was aching; my legs ached like nothing I've ever known; I felt I had to vomit, but didn't; my eyes 'made noises' when I moved them to their limits left and right. My temperature was normal (98.6) but for no apparent reason, sweat was rolling off me as though I was in a suana; my knees were hurting. So, I went on line and googled 'Levaquin Side Affects' and was absolutely floored with the results! Are we all FDA guinea pigs? How does this product gain the label 'FDA Approved'? I contacted the Army Hospital and told them I will NOT take another pill; that I will be in tomorrow for a substitute antibiotic. I'll google that one before I take the pill, though. Had I checked the side affects first, I would have refused the medication. I was NOT provided a fact sheet with the medication. If you or your friends of family are ever prescribed Levaquin, tell the doctor you refuse and that you want a substitute. If you're on it, get off of it. If you're not on it, don't start. What are the long-term effects, if any? Do you think they would tell us that either? After all, you are paying for the product, you should be able to dictate something. I'm smarter now than I was this morning. Thank you all for posting to this site.

I started taking Levaquin for a Strep infection that didn't go away on another antibiotic. The second day on it, I noticed a tightening in the backs of my legs, and my fingers felt funny when I woke up. I hobbled through that day, thinking that maybe the Strep had gotten into my system and was doing damage. By day 4, the bottoms of my feet burned when I tried to walk on them, and using my hands for leverage when getting up caused burning in the palms of my hands, too. By day 5, I needed help getting in and out of the car, and needed help getting up the TWO steps from my garage into my house. By day 6, I wasn't able to sleep because of the deep aching in every joint, muscle and tendon in my body - and when up, needed support to get from place to place. Heat helped some, so used an electric throw when sitting in my den, and the electric blanket at night. I didn't take anymore Levaquin after the sixth day when my daughter looked up my symptoms, and it all came down to the Levaquin. I don't have any swelling, but the pain is almost unbearable at times - heat still helps somewhat. I have been off the Levaquin for two months now, and no relief in sight. I still wake from sleeping unable to use my hands for the first 5-10 minutes - and the pain in my ring fingers and pinkies are not describable. I am on Ultracet for the pain, and though it doesn't stop the pain, it seems to make it a bit more manageable. I still have to pull myself up the stairs one at a time, I can't squat without pain behind my knees severe enough to nauseate me and I almost pass out. I can't straighten my arms because of the pain in the tendons, I think, in my forearm and around my elbow. I can't lift my arms over my head without pain. I am more concerned now that I've been on this site because it sounds like this may not go away, or if it does, it will take a long, long time. That's scary to me!!

Hi my name is Julie,
I started taking Levaquin for a bacterial infection on Monday Jan 1st. Within 48 hours I felt better.The third day Wednesday the 3rd on Levaquin, I noticed my neck was strained. I thought I slept wrong. The 4th day I had shoulder pain on the same side of the neck pain. The fifth day my arms were aching terribly. I was still taking the levaquin, it was my last day of levaquin 750 mg. I did not associate the pains I was having until it was too late. The last day of Levaquin in the evening, my arms and shoulders were in severe pain. Then my arms went numb, burning and tingling and severe pain. I could not move from the elbow to the shoulder. It lasted for 5 hours. Today is Jan, Saturday the 13th and my arms are moving slightly, however their is great pains in them. Especially in the shoulder. How long will this last? I seriously can't take much more of this. This 750mg of Leviquin for 5 days may of cured my bacterial infection, however it has caused other severe muscularskeletal problems.

January 2, 2007
In August of 2005 I was given my third prescription for Levaquin for an infection. (The other two in previous year for Sinus infection.) This time the pain in the knee joints was so sever I though that I was going crazy. I could not get up from a seated position without assistance. I have had a weakness in the legs as well and had tests for MS but the Dr. said it there was something affecting the nerve connections but not sure why. I have had physical therapy twice in the last year which does take away the worst of the pain but to this day cannot increase activity or the aching in tendons around the knees gets to be unbearable. I heard of Levaquin as possiblity of my troubles and it sure does make sense to me. I have found no cure tho and no real hope for relief of pain or getting back to normal exercise to increase strength in knees.
I did fill out form on FDA wedbsite tho so perhaps more info to them will get them to alert physicians that side affects are more comon then we are led to believe by the drug manufacurers.

I was given Levaquin in August 2004 for a sinus infection. I have had joint pain, muscle pain, headaches, and other strange, unexplainable aching. I have had severe aching in my lower back, knees and legs, causing extreme pain to walk or bend. Sometimes it is almost impossible to get out of bed. The pain seems to move around my body. The doctor could not give me any explanation for this. It has been over two years now and I'm not any better, in fact, it is worse. If I try to exercise, walk for any distance, or do any small project, it leaves me in agony the next several days.

After a bout of bronchitis, I continued to experience respiratory difficulties. I scheduled an appointment with my allergy physician, and due to continued wheezing in my lungs and persistent coughing, she prescribed Levaquin, 750 MG, one time daily. I read the possible side affects and did not realize the full array of possible complications associated with administration of this medication. After one dosage, I began experiencing insomnia, extreme aching and swelling of my ankles and knees, extreme hot flashes/cold chills. Yesterday, I fell when geting out of bed due to the tightness and swelling of my legs. I have slept only a few hours during the past seven days. After reading the documentation on the website of the complications reported by over 1200 individuals, I have discontinued taking the medication with only one pill left. I am extremely concerned about the possible long term damage to my body. I have a daughter with disabilities who requires my care and assistance.

I just took 750 mg of Levaquin for 5 days. About a day or two after taking it, i noticed my calves and legs were aching and pretty stiff. I didn't associate it with the medicine until i started reading on this site. In the mornings especially they are so tight and sore that it takes a little time to get moving. I am also noticing that my fingers are getting stiff and sore. I just thought it was from going up and down the stairs all day, but it must be a side effect from this drug. Hopefully it goes away soon.

This medicine is a nightmare, literally. I've been having nightmares that defy description since I started taking this drug. Not to mention aching ALL OVER MY BODY, my shoulders, ankles, and feet the worst. On the 2nd week, I could barely get out of bed and decided to go online. Thank god I found this site. Thank you all so much for sharing. I stopped the drug immediately. Not to mention the doctor who prescribed this.

24 yr old relativly healthy Male. I developed a Urinary Tract infection and was prescribed by an ER doctor 8 days worth of Levaquin (500mg) within days I was so depressed, anxious, couldn't keep any food down. its been 6 days and I've lost 14 lbs. I stopped after the 4th dose and refuse to take it again. I threw up after just about every meal and was only able to keep the broth portion of Chicken Noodle soup down. I experienced several panic attacks, numbess in all my extremities, and my heart was racing. My blood pressure was normal but I felt as if it was beating out of my chest and the pulse could be felt in various portions of my body. I remember by the 4th day of taking it that I wanted my Urinary Tract Infection back as the side effects were much worse than a UTI. Its been 3 days since I've been off it and I'm still experiencing some nervousness, tingling in arms and feet. my body is aching. I am still exhausted and still trying to gain my appetite back. I can eat solid foods agian but only so much and I find I'm turned off by foods I would normally be craving. I experienced confusion, loss of concentration and cold sweats. I remember waking up in the middle of the night freezing but within minutes of wrapping up in a blanket I felt I was in a Sauna. This Drug has no place on the market and I'm scared to find people on here who have been off it for months and still feeling side effects. I am also relieved that I figured out the cause. If the side effects linger for long than a couple of weeks, you can add me to the list of people who will look into a lawsuit!

I'm 65, have take 4 daily doses of Levaquin sinus infection; feeling depressed, cry all the time, sweating, headaches, hot flashes, joints and muscles aching.

I was taking Levaquin 750mg for a sinus infection. I developed aching calfs. I also had severe pain in my finger joints, making it difficult to write, pain in my ankles and knees, pain in the muscles of my thighs and upper arms. I have been off of the medicine for over a week and still do not feel any better.

More.. I forgot about the other side effects I had; the aching calves in my legs when trying to fall asleep, dry mouth with difficulty swallowing, tongue feeling funny, food and taste not right, light headiness, almost fainting when I reached to the ground to pick up something, makes me feel like I'm going to pass out when I stand upright. Will never take this damn stuff again. Besides what ever happen to the other anitbiotics. They cant make as much money.... you know the deal.

I took levaquin for a bladder infection and now my bladder feels "heavy" and I can't be on my feet for the aching. The infection is gone but burning and pain still there. How long will this side effect last. Still have wrist pain that started with the drug too. How long should side effects hang on!

Took Levaquin for chronic prostatitis. After a a few weeks experienceds intense pain in feet, calves and thighs. General feeling of maliase, fatique and depression. Inability to sleep. Sense of taste has diminished though sense of smell has been heightened. Fingers and wrists aching on and off. Fealt extremely dizzy and nauseous for several days. Nausea has diminished, but the feet, calf and leg pain remain. Have called doctor and recommendation is to cease taking Levaquin and see if syptoms abate after a few days. In the mean time he told me not to do any physical exertion as muscles and tendons are weakened when side effect occurs. Prescribed mild OTC anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen) and pain-killer (Tylenol) for a few dayswhile we wait to see the progression and/or abatement of symptoms.

I just read these articles about taking Levaquin. I too just took this month ago for an UTI infection. The 3rd day I started to feel awful, I started out feeling lightheaded, dizzy, chills, nauseated, then the 4th day started with feeling really tired, and like I was going faint, the depression set in. By the 5th day, I have started with this awful burning aching sensation in BOTH of my arms. Needless to say, stopped taking this awful medicine after the 6 th day, was suppose to take it for a total of 10 days. I have been back and forth to the doctors getting shots, medicine and nothing seems to help. I know I got this from taking Levaquin and I too have had these awful side affects. NOW I may have to go to a specialist about my arms. Some of the side affects have gone away, except for my arms. bouts with chills, and being nauseated. Its been 3 weeks and still no improvement. I just wondered how if any of the posts have improved. You read all these about the side affects BUT no after affects of improvemen, and is there any hope at all to feeling better . I hope others will respond back to these who have gone through the same side affects. BARB

I went to the doctor last week for a UTI, he prescribed me bactrim. I took 2 a day for 7 seven days, it didn't cure it. So went back to the doctor yesterday and my UTI was worse that last week. Dr. prescribed Levaquin, I took my first one yesterday afternoon. After about 30 minutes I started feeling nausea but I didn't vomit. Then the left side of my face started aching right at the joint in my jaw. I didn't have trouble sleeping, and I felt ok when I woke up. Then this morning I took #2, about 30-45 minutes later I started feeling really nausea and I couldn't hold back, then my face started hurting in the same area and now it hurts to chew or swallow.
These side affects were not listed on my information leaflet.

I took levaquin 750mg for UTI and had side effects of painful wrist, aching and fatigue, heart palpations, etc. Now my bladder will not empty and the infection is still here after 1 month. I am thinking the medicine has ruined my bladder response to empty. Anyone else out there with this and does it clear up? I am scheduled for ultrasound on Monday.

When I began taking 750 mg. Levaquin every joint I had began aching; I was advised by my pharmacist to stop taking it. All the joints improved with the exception of my right knee. I have surgery scheduled for it in three days for the three torn menisci in it.
I had never had any problem with the knee; it was actually quite strong before taking the drug.

Warning!- Don't take this antibiotic! I went to the Dr. for sinus infection. The first day I stared feeling worse; achy,tired, nasuea, headache. Second day I had severe shooting pains in my head, loss of appetite, general weakness, aching allover like feverpain. then periods of high anexiety and nervousness, my stomache was cramping,alot of gas. Third day severe oains in head increased,general felling bad and weakness, While sitting and writing I developed severe shoulder pain. the tendons cramped and I could barely extend my arm. The pain the went to the tendons on either sid of my elbow and weakness down into my hand, my grip was affected. I know the Lord woke me up in the middle of the night to reveal my symptoms were a result of the Leviquin. I am a hairdresser/stylist and this is serious! I will put upa sign in my shop warning people about this Dangerous drug! When I red all the other warnings, I'm so mad this is still on the market! I hope the side effects leave Quickly!

I had severe aching in my knees......

I am a 31 year old male. I was told by the doctor that I had prostatitis. I sit at my job all day and he thinks this could have been the cause. I was prescribed 750 mg for 2 weeks. The problem seemed to only get worse and I was referred to a urologist. The NP put me on another 2 weeks of Levaquin. I told him that I was having soreness in my shoulders (joints) and pain in my butt and upper back of my thighs. I have taken the prescription now for almost a full 4 weeks. I now have all the pain described above and also joint pain in my ankles, tendons of my feet, hands, and the joints in my fingers, as well as my knees. I have had a stiff neck from time to time and piercing and dull pain that I thought was deferred pain. I typed in "aching due to levaquin" and found this site and many others with people who have the EXACT same symtoms as myself. I then looked up "alternatives to levaquin", and I found these drugs and keyed in "side effects and aching due to...Bactrim, etc..." None of these drugs had the severity of symptoms as leviquin. I called my doctor and told him I refuse to take anymore of this drug. He is putting me on Bactrim. I also have been taking 800mg of Motrin 3 times a day. It does little for the pain. I have been taking Ultracet which helps some. I cannot take narcotics due to addictive personality and my recovering from alcoholism. It is a scary thing when you can hardly get out of bed, can hardly walk, can't lay on your back due to leg aching, can't lay on your sides due to joint problems in your shoulders, and can't get a good night's sleep. The part that makes me even more upset is that I paid a pretty penny to feel this way. I am now worried about the side effects not going away. I have never felt this way in my life, and if I had to live for the rest of my life feeling the way I have been for the last 3 weeks since the levaquin kicked in, I would rather be dead. That should be enough to make you think twice before taking this drug. If anyone has any advise on how to clear up the adverse symptoms from this drug, I would be more than appreciative.

I am almost finished with a 10 day course of Lecaquin. Since the first day I have experienced nausea, a bitter taste in my mouth, insomnia, and some agitation and anxiety. This morning, after my 7th dose yesterday evening, I found myself wide awake at 4:45 with my arms and legs aching as if I had the flu. The doctors at my Family Physician won't see the problems as side effects, they attribute them to my already present hypothyroidism. Never, ever again will I or anyone in my family take this drug, unless there are absolutely no other options.

I started taking Levaquin for UTI on June 25th. I've had recurring UTIs since 1998 and since then have been on macrobid, bactrim, and cipro. I still had some macrobid and bactrim left, so I took a dose before I went to the ER on June 25th. I waited four hours before they saw me, and when I told the doctor about the antibiotics I've been on, he concluded that they probably weren't working for me anymore. So he prescribed a 7-day round of Levaquin, once a day. It's now the 29th, and just yesterday I woke up with my feet aching and today I woke up with aching hands. I've also experienced the frequent urination, but assumed it was due to the UTI until I saw this site. I have three more pills left, and am having a hard time deciding whether I should finish them or not. I'm frustrated and desperate to end my recurring UTIs, as I've had issues with them for MANY years, but at the same time, I don't want to have more health problems added by taking Levaquin. It's like being a cancer patient, suffering the consequences of chemo/radiation. Sure, it'll kill some cancer cells, but it'll also damage your other organs. I lost my father that way. I don't want to go through the same thing with this UTI issue and the antibiotics I've been taking for years. Sometimes I just want to stop them altogether, and look for natural cures instead. I feel like it's done a lot of damage to me already. And every doctor I see (and I've seen about 12 by now) tells me the same thing, and just gives me a bottle of pills to "shut me up." I wish they would actually do tests that look internally (ultrasounds, cystoscopy) to determine what the actual problem is instead of stuffing me full of antibiotics. No one should be getting recurring UTIs this often.

Oops! Excuse the entry below. I goofed & hit the wrong key.
Anyhoo, here is my Levaquin story. I am 51 & was diagnosed with cellulitis on Jan. 19th of this year. I was given an IV drug, (Daptomyacin) & 500 mg of Levaquin for 16 days. Towards the end of the treatment, my joints became very achy. (mostly in my knees) I was having burning, tingling sesations throughout my body & my calves were cramping. One week after treatment, I could barely walk through our house. I normally am active, with daily walks & short jogs. Within days, I had to have knee surgery. It is now almost 5 weeks past my surgery. The achy joints, burning, cramping & tingling are still present off & on throughout my body. Although the orthopaedic surgeon did find trauma in my knee, (past fractures, etc.) I am convinced the Levaquin sped up & exacerbated the damage. Now my other knee is hurting so bad, I am starting to think that one will need surgery as well. Both my orthopaedic surgeon the infectious disease Dr. that prescribed the Levaquin dismiss the notion that Levaquin had anything to do with it or that my joints are aching because of the drug. I am thrilled I find this site, because I realize that I haven't imagined these symptoms. But the reality of these reactions is quite sobering. I have never had a bad reaction to a drug in my lifetime. This one was so sudden & severe, I had to add my account to this list. I've just started trying the Milk of Magnesia & hope it works. I too have been drinking lots of water. God bless each of you out there suffering with this & may we find some solutions soon.

I began taking levaquin on February 16, 2005 and took 500 mg/day for 4 days for bronchitis. The first night I woke up hurting in my hips and elbows. The next two nights I woke up with severe aching in joints and bones and a throbbing head ache, the last night I woke up with severe aching. When running errands on Saturday my feet and legs throbbed and cramped. It felt like the flu, only worse and I had to force myself to eat. This is a horrible drug and I will never take it again. It helped clear my chest some, still a little wheezing, but my head is still not clear from the sinus. What's wrong with a good old z-pac? Today is Tuesday, I did rest better the last two nights but still do not feel well, still achy and just don't feel like things are right with my body.

This isnt necessarily a new side affect, but wanted to post anyway. I have been on levoquin 500 mg for 2 days nows. I feel completely "out of it" . i cant concentrate at all! My back is aching, and CANT sleep the least little bit. Will not continue with this medication thanks to everyones posts!!!!

I can't believe this !!! My sister has had a sinus infection and her doctor gave her 750mg levaquin, she has only taken 1 at 9:pm. 3:00 am she called and woke me up telling something is wrong, She can't sleep, shes having nightmares but she awake, feels shaking, body is aching, and has a great fear of death. Shes says her chest feels heavy and can't take a deep breath. So I made her call the hospital and they said it is this pill. ALL THIS FROM 1 DOSE, FOR A STUPID SINUS INFECTION. PLEASE DON'T TAKE THESE PILLS / $185.00 FOR 7 LITTLE PILLS THAT MAY MAKE MY WORSE.!!

I can't believe it. I am someone who jokes she can fall asleep on a rock, but I was awake ALL night last night. I am on my 4th day of a SECOND 14 day stint on this medication 500 mg. Also, my joints and muscles have been aching!! I actually came on this sight to see if anyone had suffered a lingering bad taste in their mouth while on this medication.....

I found this site back in September 2003 when I became so ill from this drug that I was searching for information on side effects. I was trying to find out if what I was experiencing was normal. I was prescribed a 15 day round of the drug for a bit of inflamation in my salivary glands. I immediately lost my appetite, had stomach problems and had dizzy spells. After 12 days my neck began aching and when I cleaned the windows on my car I ended up in the ER and then a week in the hospital. Six weeks of intravenous antibiotics (that I had to administer through a PIC line in my left arm) was all that saved my life. When I first went to the ER the doctor told me that he had never seen this kind of reaction from the drug but spontaneous rupture of tendons was quite common. Yikes! This is a really scary drug. Why is it still on the market? I am wondering if we have any recourse. I still have joint pain but am happy to be alive.

I took Levacquin in APril & thought it was my imagination that my hip began aching. I now have severe tendonitis & cannot drive. I am thin, an athlete & never had such a prblem. Then my kness swelled up, my neck spasms constantly & I looked this up here.

My dr. told me not to work out when taking this & I did not BUT this still happened. A small case of tendonitis is what she said might happen! Not swelled knees, bruising, fatigue like I am 90 years old. As for the idiots saying this is "whining"? I work 70 hours a week as a project manager in the FDA field. I have no time or desire to whine. Perhaps 100 plus entries does not hit you as odd but it actually is, for we educated people. DId I mention that I work in an FDA related field? I just had a sinus infection that would not clear up & I did not bargain for this ...nor was I told. I am going to go to the fda.gov website & ask for their "adverse events" reporting information (based on the drugs clinical trials) which they have to release by law. I advise that you all do as well ..... uh, except for those that have too much tome on thier hands and just don't get it.

Hello everyone,

I was on Effexor 150 mg's for about a year and I just recently decided to try and get off of the medication. People kept telling me that I wasn't acting like myself, that I was showing no emotion, like there was a lid on my brain. So, since I'm at the age where I'm starting to want a family (children) I decided to try and get off of Effexor. WOW, I had no idea what I was in for. I seriously thought about putting myself in a mental institution but, I didn't. It seemed like I'd just be sitting there laughing and having a great time and then all of a sudden I'd be bawling and drenched with tears. I had an aching in my stomach that was unbarable and my head felt like it wasn't even on my shoulders. I went to the doctor 3 times in 2 weeks insisting something was wrong with me. Come to find out it was just the withdrawal symptoms from Effexor. As others have said, nobody seemed to let me know all of the withdrawal symptoms when prescribing me this medication, if that's even what you want to call it. I wouldn't wish that feeling on my worst enemy. It's been almost a month since I've been completely off of Effexor and I'm emotionally better (for the most part), I still cry out of the blue occasionally. My stomach is still a mess, not a day goes by that I don't feel like I need to just crawl into bed until the cramping pain goes away. And my head, wow, I feel like I'm in another world sometimes. I even feel my head jerking every once in awhile, like I'm having tremors or something. I'm 26 years old and I feel like I'm 60, since getting off of Effexor I feel like my whole body is falling apart, and it's not because the drug was so good, it's because the withdrawal is sooooo bad. I wouldn't reccomend this drug to anybody, no matter how bad your anxiety or depression, do NOT let your doctor prescribe you Effexor!!! I only hope that these withdrawal symptoms eventually go away. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

VABeach

I started taking Levaquin three days ago for a chest infection and felt better within the first day and a half. Yesterday morning my arm hurt as if I had a major work-out and wasn't careful. Then last night my whole body started aching. This morning the pain is still very uncomfortable, I have the shakes and I am considering stopping the treatment. People have observed that I am "cranky" and "grouchy".

I found it interesting that I am not the only one to experience these same symptoms with Levaquin!!!!! I wonder if they did enough testing...

I have taken Levaquin for 10 days for prostatitis. I have developed aching in multiple joints during that time period. It has been about 2 days since I stopped the prescription. I still am experienciing these symptoms. Is this a known problem. Should it have stopped by now?

I started taking Cyprofloacin on a Saturday evening when I went to the hospital for a severe bladder infection. The doctor gave me one dose of it to last me until I could make it to the pharmacy in the morning. That night I experienced horrible joint aches and had a very hard time sleeping. In the morning when I woke up most of my muscles were aching and I could barely pull myself out of bed. When I went to the pharmacy in the morning they substitutided Levaquin. I hoped that the side effects would be less severe, but they are not. Most of the mucsles in my body are aching and I feel very out of it, almost like I drank ten cups of coffee. I have never been sensitive to any medications (I've been perscribed many kinds for various things) and I have no known allergies, so for me to have these kind of side effects is highly unusual.

I only went on this drug because it seems the allergy season
has caused a sinus problem. I have the foul odour when
i rub the tip of my nose. Very dry green discharge if I blow
my nose hard. Usually sinuses too hard..not running.
I have dull aching in my head and sinus and teeth sometimes
ache. Symptoms been going on for about two months. Flonase
decongestants don't completely fix so doc prescriped
levofloxacin...as I said took one pill yesterday at 7..10 day
dosage. These stories have my head spinning..but like I said
so for I feel no worse than I did before. Usually anti biotics
work well for me if I need them...always try to rough it out
first.

Was being treated with daily 500 mg of Levaquin for bad sinusitis by ENT Dr. Metallic taste started day 2; but was helping infection. After day 5 I noticed a rash on my body and severe aching of my joints and muscles. Stopped taking medication. Now, 48+ hours after stopping, the joints in my hands are so tight and achy I can't sleep! I have pains in my neck and knees. Muscles are tight all over. How long does it take for this med. to wear off and does any body have any treatment ideas? It's now 1:45am ET... and I can't sleep. I have 2 young children at home and it's summertime and I'm dead on my feet! HELP!

After being diagnosed as possibly having pneumonia, Levaquin was prescribed for a 10-day period. I took the medication for 5 days until I noticed severe aching & jolts of pain through my left leg & hip. I have NEVER had problems like this before taking this medication and have since been placed into physical therapy for bursitis in my left hip. I'm still having trouble walking great distances, quickly or sitting for longer than 30 minutes. Needless to say, I did not finish the Levaquin prescription.

I have a broncial infection to which I was give Levaqqil to solve. After a couple of days I had ringing ears, couldn't sleep, aching stomach, severe head aches and anxiety. I went back to the doctor, but he told me to finish the drugs. after 6 days I stopped as I couldn't get any sleep, and the ear ringing is driving me crazy. I stopped a yesterday and I still feel bad and have ringing ears. This is a scary experience.

Just started Levaquin yesterday. 500mg. 1x a day. I can hardly walk today. I feel like I can't straighten out my legs. The tightness and pain in the back of my knees is just terrible. Tonight I just noticed my heels are aching so badly, I can hardly put my feet on the ground. I will call my doctor tomorrow, to tell him I am NOT taking this anymore.

What an awful day! I went to ER thinking I was having a heart attack because of the severe pain in my chest, neck and expecially right arm. After all the testing they sent me home saying it "might" be a reaction to the Levaquin I have been taking for five days (for a colon infection). I was convinced it was the levaquin since I am a very healthy 50 year old woman, hiker, runner ,ect and I have not taken an anitbiotic for over five years (for a tooth problem). Now all of a sudden I have this horrible aching and pain in my upper body. Needless to say, I am getting off the drug and will pursue this with my doctor on Monday. After reading all of this, I am hoping that the symptoms will leave and not cause permanent damage. I willalso contact the FDC and drug company. Thank all of you for writing this or I would have not known what happened to me.