Levaquin and adverse reactions

I have taken three 500mg doses of Levaquin since Saturday. They were prescribed by my urologist for a "possible" minor prostates that might be affecting my PSA (2.2). The very first night I was unable to sleep, tossing and turning all night. Thought nothing of it, and blamed it on diet or too much sleep the previous day. However, insomnia has continued for three straight nights and last night I woke at 4:30 AM with shortness of breath (had to take long deep breaths to feel like I was getting enough oxygen) that felt like an anxiety attack. Although there was no pain, I felt like my heart was pounding and rapid. Finally got a little more sleep and woke up feeling OK in the morning, but blood pressure was elevated. I continually feel like I'm on a caffeine high. I never associated it, but, I woke up second and third days with a sore throat and have had a few minor muscle twitches in arms, legs and abdomen.

I feel fortunate compared to others on this forum. I have stopped taking the Levaquin and have an appointment with my family doctor tomorrow. As a side note, I had an acute prostates this time last year and took Cipro for over one month with no similar side effects that I can recall. Does anyone know if two drugs from the same group can have such different side effects, or can I expect the same problems if I start taking Cipro again?

I have been prescribed cipro 2x for diverticulitis and has adverse reactions (after completing the recommended prescription) to dairy and fruits (citrus acid). When another bout of diverticulitis occurred, I asked my doctor not to give me cipro. He does some research and prescribes levaquin. I completed the prescription and now more than ever have adverse reactions to dairy and fruits and anything that has whey or citric acid in it. I think this is just the tip of the iceberg of exactly what I am allergic to. I have done extensive research of the adverse reactions from cipro and levaquin which for me once I eat these particular foods is extreme case of hives and skin rash. I have to take benydral. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it does not. I went to my gastroenterologist and allergist with complaints from taking these drugs and they have told me they have never had anyone come to them with complaints. Who are we kidding? With all the reading I have done, these drugs are poison. Although I know I am among the extreme side effect category, I need help and I can't get it anywhere. I have also read that these quinolone antibiotics are given to the animals, foul and fish that we eat. So does that mean we are ingesting extra quinolone into our systems when all we want to do is have it wear off? My wife feels that we should eat organic meats. I tried organic milk and I have reacted to it. I just want a bowl of cereal and a normal cup of coffee. Whey also gives me hives. Whey is in almost everything and so is citric acid as preservatives. If there are anyone of you out there that is or has experience similar to what I am, please let me know. My doctors cannot help me,nor do they seem to really even care. My wife has given them a lot of information she has been downloading from the computer. Hope this wears off soon. Every time I take one step forward, I wind up taking two steps back. Where is the help out there that we need? Since we are the minority who suffers from these drugs, doctors don't care until they have to deal with it. What is wrong with our medical society?

Im sad to find out all the problems people are having from levaquin. But now Im able to put 2 and 2 together because Im realizing whats been compromising my health. This is my second year with bronchitis and my second prescription of levaquin. I now believe its what has caused me horrible nightmares, suicidal thoughts, irritation, mental anguish, stress tendon/muscle pain in my arms and shoulders. I bent over to pick up my dog to help him into the car and I got a terrible pain in my chest. I thought I was dying. And I still have a rattle in my lungs after 2 weeks of levaquin so it has not helped at all. If anything it has caused me more problems that has opened the door for additional medications of unknown origin. I wish I could find a real witch doctor.

This is my third posting. At this URL thousands of people have recounted how they were were poisoned by medicine that was supposed to make them well. Reading these accounts is like watching a science fiction horror film. One after another over the course of five years since medicines.com began posting their respective experiences, another hapless victim falls headlong into the levaquin trap. It's like watching cars crash on a fog-filled highway. Suggestible doctors rely upon marketing representations by pharmaceutical reps. Doe-eyed patients fill with confidence their doctors' prescriptions. A small percentage of these presciptees --- what % we likely will never know --- suffers severe adverse reactions that change their lives forever. There are several thousand accounts of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) re: levaquin on this website alone. There must be ten times that number of computer illiterates or incurious who experienced ADRs but who never posted their stories on medicines.com. Insofar as Levequin poisoning can appear many months after the prescription-taker discontinued taking his/her prescription, one wonders separately how many people became blind-sided by symptoms which the ADR sufferer never remotely traced back to quinolones. Suddenly out-of-the-blue a hapless victim is felled by symptoms that require exhaustive medical testing. No-one intended this DNA-changing drug to create full employment for medical personnel. Ironically Levaquin poisoning has created a pharmaceutical aftermarket for medical professionals who occupy a no-lose proposition: Either Levaquin will cure what ails you now, or consequent Levaquin poisoning will put you at the head of the line for additional testing. The right hand unwittingly prescribes a poison while the left hand tests you and treats you for a possible antidote! It's really a half-wit's delight with possibly deadly consequences. The FDA bows to the invisible hand of deregulation and social Darwinism: What doesn't kill you makes you better. If enough people complain about their ADRs, the FDA might or might not post a black box warning about the prescription drug's adverse effect. But unaddressed is the crucial link between commission-incented pharmaceutical marketing reps and their prey ---- harried doctors who are too busy to read the contraindications' fine print. Big pharmacy knows well the drill, and has earmarked a percentage of company profits and set them aside to cover the inevitable lawsuits from crippled Levqauin consumers and/or their heirs. Big pharma's profits exceed big pharma's court-mandated awards. The hubaballo dies-down about the time the FDA has weighed-in with warnings and after big pharma has retired its belatedly discredited antibiotic in favor of marketing a **miracle** new generation replacement. It's Sisyphus (look it up) all over! It's hard not to be cynical and bitter. This is the equivalent of taking incoming "friendly fire" in the medical profession. With ADRs like these who needs illness? Just take the medicine and proceed right to sick.

I am a healthy female with little to no history of adverse reactions to medications. I was prescribed a 10 day dose of Levequin (500 mg) for a minor but stubborn skin abscess. After the third day, I woke up with significant joint soreness in my fingers. Progressively the soreness spread daily to my wrists, elbows, ankles, knees, hips, etc. I did not suspect the antibiotic at first, but I know my body, and I know something was WRONG.
After my 8th dose I decided to look online...it is at least good to know that what I'm experiencing is definitely from Levequin. Thank you all for sharing your stories.

I especially found MERCEDESLANE posting on April 15th interesting. I guess this person works in the health care system. Considering this uncompassionate individual, who apparently wants everythone to know he has a Mercedes, can't spell (whine), and does not have basic grammar skills. Wow...my faith in the our health care system is stronger than ever. But what do I know, I'm just an "IDIOT" with shingles that needs to have a couple of glasses of whine while I pop my remaining Levequin.

I took Levaquin as a treatment for pneumonia. After 3 days on the drug, all my joints were stiff and I had difficulty breathing. I called my doctor and I was told to continue the medicine. After a week, the reaction continued to get worse, I could hardly move, my breathing got worse and I had to be put on oxygen. My hands were like clubs and I couldn't open anything. I sat in a chair all day. It took me a half hour to get out of the chair to go to the bathroom. My hands were so swollen that I could not flush the toilet with my hands. I had to use my elbow to flush it. I saw doctors thinking I had rheumatoid arthritis. I saw pulmonary specialist and my lung capacity was at 48%. They sent me for many blood tests, cat scans, and I even had an MRI to try to find the cause. Finally, my heart doctor found out that some people were having adverse reactions to Levaquin. She found out that it caused severe anemia, breathing problems, and joint pain. She dosed me iron and within a week I was finally beginning to see the swelling in my hands start to decrease. I was out of work for 3 months.

For all of you suffering on this board I strongly suggest you log unto www.fqresearch.org where you will find over 4000 medical journal entries, case reports, etc., that detail the horrendous damage these drugs are capable of. You will also find a link there for a support forum hosted by yahoo that everyone here is invited to join.

We have been fighting with the FDA since 1999 to get "Black Box" warnings as well as "Dear Doctor" letters sent. Had this been done I doubt that most of you would be suffering like this. This class is a drug of LAST RESORT, and it is not approved as a first line agent for ANY disease state.

It is both shocking and appalling that we see people coming on this site promoting the use of these drugs and chasing you for suffering a reaction. I can assure you this is not "in your head" by any means. These severe adverse reactions have been documented since 1982 within ALL of the leading medical journals. They are THE most toxic and dangerous antibiotic in clinical use today.

But the FDA refuses to provide adequate warnings within the package inserts and Public Citizen has had to SUE them in Federal Court to even have them review their petitions seeking, once again, "Black Box Warnings and Dear Doctor Letters."

Recently Bayer issued a "Dear Doctor" letter in Europe regarding the severe adrs to Avelox. But we find no such letters being written here in the United States.

Anyhow, just a brief note to let you know that you are no alone, your name is "Legions", and we have been fighting on your behalf since 1999.

Regards,

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
www.fqresearch.org

I was prescribed Levaquin for Chronic Sinusitis and ended up with gout like symptoms in my left big toe. It has made it very difficult to walk and carry out everyday responsibilities.I am only 29 years old and have two young children to tend to and this has made it very difficult. It is very difficult to walk and stand and I am unable to wear shoes due to the inflammation and swelling. Does it get better?

Struggling with a sinus infection that threatened to bore into my brain, resulting, ultimately, in seizures and death, I've been taking Levaquin now for three days. I'm experiencing anxiety and sleeplessness, however, it's not from the medication. It's from all the hyperbole on the internet.

Look, I understand that many have had adverse reactions to this medication. One dose of penicillin can kill you without warning. At anytime. No warning. I suspect that few of those labellings Levaquin "poison" would ever bother to consider that - or anything else. All wrapped up in your misery, you spout off with rhetoric that is really better left to lawyers and politicians.

If you were uninformed of the possible side-effects of this medication, blame your doctor. I see that the last post here is dated November 2007, and the bottom of this first page takes us to October 2006. Perhaps one could take a bit of responsibility for oneself and do some research on one's own before popping a pill handed out by a disinterested physician. This information is out there - and yes, your doctor could have seen it, too. But he didn't bother, did he? Neither did you.

So, yes, with my first dose, and despite the impact drill driving through my eye-socket, I waited for the seizures, swelling and signs of imminent demise. Nothing. Sorry. Oh, my sinuses feel better, I don't have a brain infection, and so I won't die frothing at the mouth on my living room floor.

I'm sorry you feel bad - and if you hadn't run off at the mouth calling what may be one of the last effective antibiotics "poison", I might mean that with some sincerity. Oh, and lest you forget, antibiotics are poison by definition - the idea being that they affect/poison/kill the source more than they do the host.

So let's stop the hyperbole, and simply say you had a bad reaction to this medication. Not everyone does. Your option might have been to skip the doctor and the meds altogether, and see how you'd fare. But that would leave the responsibility, and the blame, all on you, then, wouldn't it? Far better to spread it around some.

My son is 14 years old and was given two rounds of this drug for an infection (two weeks and one week respectively). Last round in the middle of September. The pain started with the first round and got worse the second time. Real bad. We had him tested for a multitude of diseases and x-rayed the knees - all came back normal. We finally stumbled onto the fact that the joint pain coincided with the drug - WE WERE NEVER WARNED!

Well, he's a heck of an athlete/student/good kid...and has been wrestling since he's 5 years old, has competed nationally and this sport is "his thing." Well, now he's finally in high school and can barely make it through practice - can't go live at all. The pain and stiffness ain't going away even though he's been off it since September!

What in the world can we do to treat this effectively (or t all)? Doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory meds and they did nothing. Physical therapy is doing nothing. Ultrasound treatment on knees is doing nothing.

How long will it last?

Help please anybody with any information - we're disparate.

Prayers are welcome too.

Thanks.

Craig V. (Dustins Dad)

Daughter's ear infection was not responding well to prescribed antibiotic. Dr called in levaquin as replacement. Within THREE MINUTES, daughter was having reaction to levaquin. Within thirty minutes of taking levaquin, I had her in the ER. She is 15 years old, 5'5" 115 lbs, active healthy teen. Heart rate was 130. BP 130/88. She couldn't stop shaking, difficulty breathing, lips/tongue swelling, face, hands and feet numb.

I was given Levaquin in the ER via IV Push which should never have occurred. It should have been infused over 60-90 minutes. Almost immediately I had a strong metallic taste in my mouth, my face and head felt hot and throbbing and I told the nurse I was having a reaction. Her response was that I could not have reaction that fast. I immediately stood up and began pacing and felt a burning sensation travel down my arms, to my legs and up the center of my body. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON FIRE. Then it was if a heavy brick was dropped on the center of my chest. The last thing I recall is seeing the ER doctor's face and hearing him say, "Pupils dilated. She's gone". When awoke I was in CCU on a ventilator. Since this experience I have had intermittant chest pain in one area only, EXTREME fatigue, and tinnitus. Most days are spent in a haze. I am so tired all of the time, but have difficulty falling asleep because of the ringing in my ears. I have not had one moment of quiet. There is no peace or quality left to my life. NO ONE SHOULD EVER TAKE LEVAQUIN. Many other antibiotics are available without the potential devastating, permanent adverse reactions of this one.

I wish I had seen this page BEFORE I finished 5 days of Levaquin 500. The meds were prescribed for a post-upper-respiratory infection hacking dry cough that had been going on for nearly 3 weeks. I finished the meds 4 days ago and still feel super crummy. Levaquin did nothing for the cough (acunpuncturist stopped it with with several well-placed needles in my outer ear) and - before I saw this page - thought of asking the doctor for another round since I was still sick and seem to be getting worse. I have intermittent headaches, a racing heart, blurred vision, am so tired I never want to get out of bed. I'm also having a recurrence of sciatica in one hip and thigh and - new symptom! - the foot on that side is so sore it's hard to put my weight on it. I was told to report any joint or tendon pains but, according to the doctor, "they are very rare." I'm sure he told me about the symptom to protect himself "just in case" but it was clear he really didn't believe there would be problems. I took the medicine for three days, then stopped for a day because I didn't feel well. Then I thought, "Suck it in - there's only 2 pills to go and then you won't infect anyone. You don't want to be Typhoid Mary for the next antibiotic-resistant killer strain of some bug or another, do you?" I am devastated to think these symptoms will persist as long as people on this site say they will. I keep thinking I can sleep this off, or that I'm really sick with something that requires a different antibiotic. ( And how stupid is THAT?) But, from what I've read here, that's not likely to be the case. I'm 67 years old and already have compromised immune system plus sleep apnea, high blood pressure, narcolepsy, and asthma. Is there anyone out there who has been able to resolve these symptoms in less than three months? I refuse to believe I have to feel this way for the foreseeable future. And boy, am I mad! At myself as well as at the doctor. I usually research everything before I take it, but this one just slipped under the wire.

I am a physician and have prescribed levaquin to many people. I have had some of them complain of what they thought were serious and variable side effects but mostly I attributed their problems to anxiety and hypochondiasis. I now know differently. I took levaquin, and for over a year I have had serious CNS anxiety, insomnia, joint and tendon pain, and widespread peripheral neuropathy. It has been an awful time and since realizing that the effects are often long term I have been able to identify many other patients who have developed serious long term problems with anxiety, depression, arthropathy and tendonopathy, neuropathy and possibly endocrine effects like gonadal failure and worsening of diabetes. There are no long term studies done post marketing to identify these effects and to unify all of these problems into one syndrom of fluoroquinolone toxicity. This is a big problem and I believe thousands of patients have been adversely affected by the use and misuse of levaquin and probably the other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. I have other colleagues who are beginning to recognize the long term consequences of levaquin and the fluoroquinolones. More research and study needs to be done. In the mean time I am sure that Johnson and Johnson, Ortho- Mcneil, will continue to refute that the incidence of serious adverse reactions is much higher than they report.

In the fall of 2004 I was given levaquin to treat an infection in my colon -- this was as a follow up to hospitalization where I was given 2 other antibiotics (don't recall the names)

After I was discharged for the hospital I came home feeling great--seems that the infection in colon had been there for some time and had definitely ran me down.

I was taking the Levaquin daily as instructed and wanted to complete the treatment as recommended with Antibiotics. During this time, my stomach was giving me fits...I literally had an upset stomach continuously while on the Levaquin.

Aside from the stomach problems, I felt great--until one day all of a sudden it was like something snapped in my head. I began feeling a steady pressure and it felt like I was underwater.

My nerves literally went haywire...I could not sleep, I could not eat anything without having extreme nausea. I paced the floor for 5 solid days and nights without any sleep. I was hearing things...and the worst experiences was the panic attack like symptoms. I ended up going to the emergency room 5 times thinking I was having a heart attack.

My heart would race and my BP was so high in some cases the auto-cuffs would blow off my arm.

All that stuff started in 2004 and since then I have been under treatment for depression and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks. I have lost feeling in my hands..down the side of my legs, and I still experience either constipation or explosive diarrhea-- It is usually one or the other--there doesn't seem to be a normal BM anymore.

If I do not take the anti-anxiety drugs I have been given then I will experience large muscle tremors.

I don't know that Levaquin did this to me but I find it highly unlikely that I could feel great and then all of a sudden I'm in an advanced state of clinical depression-- In one day's time???

I have also noticed that I can't concentrate like I used to do...I have actually been eating and will ask my Girlfriend what we are having for dinner. My gosh--I'm sitting there eating the stuff and don't even realize it.

I'm 42 years old and ever since I took Levaquin my life has been a constant living hell.

"Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God I Am Free at Last" - That was my first thought as after two months, the horrible effects of Levaquin finally left my body. Don't give up hope, although with no support for doctors, it is hard not to! I just don't know why they are not interested in how bad the side effects can be with this drug - I received the same story - "out of the millions of prescriptions written, how many people have had adverse reactions"........well, with as severe as a reaction as I had with every joint, muscle and tendon in my body aching as though I had been hit with rheumatoid arthritis, and from all the other testimonials I have read, someone ought to be doing something about the toxic reactions to Levaquin. I was prescribed 750mg for 20 days and threw it in the trash after the 10th day. Honestly, after reading all the postings with people with similar symptoms, I cried not knowing how long this was going to last. I have posted previously that I don't know if it was a time coincidence or the fact that I went to a health food specialty store and was told to take Zyflamend A.M. & P.M, liquid magnesium and another liquid Cal/Mag/Zinc drink. I also took the largest dosage of Fish Oil (Omega 3) that I could find. I did this religiously for at least 3 weeks, so you may want to give it a try - one of my doctors said that it has to "work out of your system", but I can't think that the magnesium based products did help and they are godd for you also.

I am not a person inclined to sue anyone, but if there is a class action suit ever instituted against Levaquin, I would happily participate in the suit - this drug does things that I would never imagine an antibiotic would do.

Make sure to get on all you medical charts that you are allergic to Levaquin and related drugs in this category.

I also thank the day that I found this website as it relieved my mind to find out what was ailing me - I guarantee you that it would be a rare instance to have a doctor concur with the side effects!

READ THE PAST POSTS, YOU WILL SEE INFORMATION LEADING YOU TO WWW.FQRESEARCH.ORG AND WWW.FQVICTIMS.ORG AND YOU WILL SEE HOW LONG PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING WITH THESSE HORRIBLE ADVERSE REACTIONS. I PERSONALLY HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR ALMOST 3 YEARS NOW. PLEASE SEND A MEDWATCH REPORT IN AT WWW.FDA.GOV. WE NEED TO GET THIS POISON OFF THE MARKET.

PLEASE REGISTER A MEDWATCH REPORT REGARDING YOUR ADVERSE REACTIONS. THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL HELP TO KEEP THESE POISONOUS DRUGS FROM HURTING OTHERS. THEY ARE EVEN TESTING IT ON CHILDREN. GO TO WWW.FDA.GOV AND YOU WILL FIND THE LINK FOR THE MEDWATCH REPORT.

I am 26 yrs old, my doctor prescribed levaquin 750mg for ten days before gallbladder surgery. I took this for three days and now I have muscle pain, I can hardly walk my arms back and legs hurt. I didn't have this before I took the medication. I looked it up on the computer to find that others are affected by this medication in simular ways. I am disgusted that they continue to prescribe this to others knowing the adverse reactions people have reported. When I read there have been fatalies in some that scared me. I feel this needs to be removed from the market, Look at what happened to the people that took Vioxx it is time for us to take a stand together. It is obvious that the Pharmacutical companies are not looking out for us nor our doctors if they know the side affects and continue to prescribe it.

I think guest @ 12832 must work for the makers of levaquin. To go so far as to call this "mob mentality" and "group think" is a real indication that the pharmaceutical companies watch these forums. You can't possibly think that we are that stupid that we couldn't figure that out. I'm sure there are many that have been helped by flouoquinolones, however, the adverse reactions are mostly irreversible. Why would anyone want to take a chance? There are safer drugs available.

Though I have posted this information a couple of dozen times on this site I am posting it again for the benefit of the new victims. Fluoroquinolones, to which levaquin is but one such drug, has been associated with IRREVERSIBLE PERIPHERIAL NUEROPATHY, SPONTANEOUS TENDON RUPTURES, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, Liver and Kidney damage, vision and hearing damage and about 14 pages worth of serious and non abating adverse reactions. If you are experiencing unusual symptoms while on this drug chances are very good that you are having one of these reactions. Please report your experiences to MedWatch as well as your physician and if at all possible try to have him or her change your medication to a safer alternative. Fluoroquinolones are a drug of LAST RESORT and are NOT to be used as a first line agent. For further information regarding the adverse drug reactions associated with this toxic chemotherapuetic agent log unto www.fqresearch.org or if you prefer to hear others described their living hell after being on these drugs check out the quinolone adverse drug reaction forum hosted by Yahoo. Currently there are over 1200 victims registered at that forum. As well as www.fqvictims.org which also has detailed reports from others whose lives have been destroyed by the careless scripting of these drugs from hell.

Male, 24 Years Old, Healthy, Active. Have never had any adverse reactions from any medication. No known allergies. Was prescribed Levaquin on Friday, March 18th, 2005 for a minor throat infection. 500mg tablet once daily. Took first dose on Saturday, March 19th, 2005. Over the course of the next 6 days I have been getting progressively worse. Have been experiencing flu-like symptoms including; Fever, chills, muscle aches/pains, joint pain, headaches, muscle spasms, sleeplessness, mood swings, severe coughing(feeling like I have bronchitis), pain in eyesockets when moving eyes, general feeling of being tired/washed out, depression, anxiety, cotton mouth, loss of concentration, vivid dreams(whatever, I can deal with that, no biggie), and just a general feeling of being disconnected from my surroundings like there is this cloud around my head. I have taken the medication for 6 days thus far. I am now on the seventh day and have decided to discontinue use. The Levaquin failed to clear up my throat infection and it has only gotten worse. I have scheduled an appointment with my doctor for Monday, March 28th, 2005. I am also going to start taking two tablespoons of Milk of Magnesium daily starting tomorrow, Saturday, March 26th, 2005. I will post again in a few days to update you all on my condition and wether or not the Milk of Magnesium is working. I sincerely hope that the effects of this drug can be reversed. This site is a godsend. Had I never found it I would have continued to take this "poison". - John

Was prescribed Levaquin for UTI. 8th day, knee swelling and severe pain in tendons in back of knees, had to stay off my feet. If it weren't for the computer, I wouldn't have known that tendonitis was one of the adverse reactions to this medication. I stopped medication immediately. 1 wk later tendons in hands very painful. I'm glad I found this web site. By reading people's experiences, it helped me cope with the pain and gave me hope that this will eventually disappear. I seem to be more fortunate then some, its 5 wks since I stopped medication and knees seem to be alot better, only hurt if I stand or walk too long. Left hand is the problem, still very painful, have to stop and rest it often. Sometimes I am lulled into a false sense of security and think everything is back to normal, then pain returns. Pharmacy, doctors have been no help, very evasive. Filed a report with Drug Co. In the meantime, I will have to REST and drink plenty of water and hope this will all disappear eventually. Good luck to all who are suffering. I have prayed more often.

PS: Comment for the wise guy who made light of people's pain from these side effects. From what I read, Levaquin side effects may not appear until after you've had taken them several times. So watch out, you may be eating those words.

To pleezhaveteeth:

Your "side effect" for Levaquin really isn't one, so I shall take this forum to lower myself to your level and say.....

Your feeble attempt at empathy is left without merit. The people who have taken this medication and had adverse reactions are telling their stories here to help others who may be in the first stages of possible life threatening distress.

How sad that you are unable to just come to this site and read their stories without feeling like you must place your diatribe for all to read.....I guess it's called having to have the spotlight?....wanting to be "noticed" instead of ignored?....whatever. If you had stopped after your first sentence, all would have been good. I feel sorry for you.

I encourage those who are here to read about the side effects to drugs to:

pleezeignorethispersonastheyarefulloflevaquin...perhaps that's a side effect? Ya think?

I have not had any adverse reactions to Levaquin. After age 30 I suddenly became allergic to penicillan AND erythromycin,clarithromycin,azithromycin-- making prescribing antibiotics very difficult, especially since I was already allergic to sulfa drugs, too. I have taken Levaquin approx 5 times for various upper-respiratory infections, ear infections, etc---works great, but very expensive.

I am an extremely healthy 27 year old male and was prescribed Levaquin for an abscessed tooth that had broken off. I requested Zythromax as I had had great success with it before, but was told by the doc that this was much better at treating what I had. So of course I took his word for it and got the medicine. I actually left the pharmacy and had almost decided not to buy it because it was so expensive, but I really wanted to get rid of the abscess. I went back and shelled out the 110 dollars for 10 pills and started day one. Had very minimal side effects and thought that it was just maybe the infection which had brought several adverse reactions itself. After sleeping way into the next night, I woke up at 4am and took my second pill. Needless to say, the next day was probably one of the top three worst days of my life as far as health goes. I had the worst headache of my life, VERY nautious, extreme sweats followed by chills, even in a hot house-with no fever, and my only relief was to sleep which brought on very bad dreams. When I would wake back up I literally thought I was going to die and even hoped to at one point I felt so bad. Maybe this doesn't happen to everybody, but I wanted to let SOMEBODY out there know that they ARE NOT crazy if they experience any of this. Dont be scared by the "you have to take them all" phrase you hear from your doc. STOP immediately if you experience this.

I was given samples of Levaquin 500mg. for a case of pneumonia that I am suffering from. My doctor gave me enough for a 10-day treatment. I am have now taken the first 4 doses, and am experiencing zero side effects from it at all. I feel bad for those people that are experiencing adverse reactions, but personally i feel that this drug is working and I would recomend that if you are prescribed this medication to talk to your doctor about any concerns that you may have, and if they still believe that you should try it, I would at least give it a chance. Plus there are many web sites out there that allow you to list all medications that you may be taking and will report back if there is a possibility of any adverse interactions between them. Sometimes there may be a synergistic effect between different medications and your doctor may not be up to speed about all of them, so you will have to do some homework of your own.
My belief-----levaquin works, and I will continue to take it.

I read the postings on this board when I was first prescribed 21 days of Levaquin, 500 mgs. I was scared to death after reading the postings here.

However, for those that are doing the same, I would like to say: I haven't had any severe adverse reactions. I do not have a metallic taste in my mouth, nor do I have any digestion problems. I do not ache any more than usual ... I have no problems sleeping. The first day or two I may have been a bit more anxious than usual, but not anymore.

Additionally I was on a Caribbean cruise last week and had no extreme reactions from the sun. I did not lay out in the sun, but of course it was impossible to totally avoid it since I was outside most of the day in the 90 degree weather.

As far as the effectiveness .... I'm not quite sure it's been as effective for me as other antibiotics. I am taking it for the onset of a sinus infection which I caught pretty early. One of my glands is still somewhat swollen -- but I am going to the doctor after my prescription runs out for a check-up.
The doctors are reluctant to prescribe any med from the 'cillin family because I am allergic to cephalosporins.

Just thought I'd add my two cents.

After being prescribed Cipro by an emergency room doctor while we were on vacation, my husband reacted with dizzyness and anxiety. He quit taking it on the third day. We came home and he saw his usual physician who prescribed a sulfa drug (Roy's problem was a feeling of rawness in his urinary tract, though no urine test EVER confirmed any bladder or unrinary tract infection). Roy had side effects from the sulfa drug.
Then he saw a third doctor, a urologist, who perscribed levaquin. (The doctor told him his symptoms were caused by "Prostatitus" - a psa test was normal.) Roy reminded the doctor that he had dizzyness with Cipro, and levaquin is a "relative" of Cipro. Roy took one tablet and felt the dizzyness come back. He phoned his doctor who encouraged him to "put up with the side effects" because levaquin would help his condition - whatever that was. It is now the third day of levaquin and Roy's dizzyness is unabated, his blood pressure is 156/97 and sometimes higher, (very unusual for him as his bp is usually low) and he had diarrea. He had vowed to take no more levaquin.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE Doctor's oath "First DO NO HARM. In reading these letters on the internet it seems 5 out of 6 people have adverse reactions to this drug. Certainly the people in the studies the drug company (hopefully) did before releasing this drug to the general public had adverse reactions in the same number. SO WHY DID THE FDA approve it? It is really scarry when you cannot trust your doctor, the pharmacists, or the FDA. Merilly

To Guest MD: I cannot believe your audacity in stating that Levaquin could not be the cause of our problems, and I think you are a coward for not leaving your name. I was given Levaquin in June of last year, and within 3 days began to experience pain in my joints and muscles. By day 5 I was in so much pain, I literally could not get out of my bed. I also experienced severe headaches, insomnia, and tremors. In the following 3 months, I developed tendonitis with no preceding injury, elevated white blood counts with no infection, so many complications that they are too numerous to mention. Prior to taking Levaquin, I lead an active and fulfilling life. Now that life is nothing but a memory, and my doctor said IT WAS THE LEVAQUIN. The sheer volume of the research material documenting fluoroquinolone adverse reactions simply highlights your inadequacy as an MD. I sincerely hope that none of your patients have been harmed because of your ignorance and lack of compassion and understanding of adverse drug events. How you manage to maintain your license and patient base is beyond my comprehension! All I can say is I am truly grateful that you are not my physician!

For anyone just experiencing adverse reactions to Levaquin: My wife had, and after 4 months continues to have, a bad reaction from Levaquin. Symptoms include very sore and swollen joints (still here), tingling in her extremities (gone after about 3 months) and mood swings (mostly gone). The doctors she is seeing were very emphatic - stop taking Levaquin at the first sign of any adverse symptoms - it can only get worse.