Levaquin and allergic reaction

I started taking Levaquin on Saturday for preventive measures for knee surgery. I had taken Keflex the week before and had an allergic reaction to it. Extreme itching on my hands, hips, shoulders and feet. I broke out in hives and my lips, eyes, hands and face swelled up. I quit taking Keflex and then a week later, they started me on Levaquin. So this morning, Tuesday, I had been on Levaquin for 3 days, I woke up feeling fine. I was up for about 10 minutes and the back of my head was itchy. I itched it and noticed that my fingers and hands were starting to swell. I took a sip of coffe and my lips were starting to swell. Within 10 min. I was swollen, itchy, in an extreme cold sweat, my throat was swelling and I could not breath very well. I grabbed my phone and called 911 and I could barely remember my address. I told the dispatcher that I was going to pass out and I did. When I came to I could hear the dispatcher trying to get my attention. When I got back on the phone after passing out, she said paramedics were on the way. They showed up about 2 min. later. My blood pressure was 101/53. I ended up going to the hospital and on the way there, they gave me a shot of epipedirine and benadryl. When I got to the hospital there were 8 people working on me. I got a shot of pepcid and a shot for the rash that was covering 90% of my body. I was still having a hard time understanding questions and was having a hard time staying focused to answer questions. I was in the ER for about 4 1/2 hours for anaphylaxis but they finally got it under control. Now I get to have epi pens to carry around with me since this was such a severe reaction. I was told to look into an allergy screening so I think I might see how much the insurance will pay on that and maybe get that done.

I was prescribed Levaquin in my early twenties (about 10yrs ago) for a sinus infection and my throat swelled up after 1 pill. Turns out I had an allergic reaction to it. I was taught that It's in the same family as Penicillin, being that I'm allergic to Penn, why was I prescribed Levaquin?

Ran into friend at grocery store with mystery illness. Docs attribute it to Agent Orange exposure. Been at death's doorstep for a year. Hands were extremely cold and has little energy. Showed up one day at golf course with oxygen bottle! Asked him if he had taken Levaquin. Unfortunately had. Docs again fail to link antibiotic exposure to his ailments.
I wonder how many illnesses and deaths this poison has caused? Why does the FDA allow this crap? Do you people realize that the average person is clueless about the side effects of drugs like this. Put total confidence and their well being in the hands of ignorant docs and profit crazed drug companies.
Ignorant oncologist failed to link my dad's symptoms to Levaquin, instead attributed them to b-cell lymphoma which just happened to suddenly appear. Rituxan and numerous other drugs (Heparin, Lasix, Gamma globulin, Tylenol, antibiotics, Insulin, steroids, Flowmax, etc.) was too much. A fiasco, people think he died of lymphoma. Was walking three miles a day before taking Levaquin, for an undiagnosed lung infection.

Allergy, not side effect.
62 yr. old male. diagnosed with lung infection associated with smoking and was prescribed 5 x 500 mg Levaquin. I took one with water in the parking lot of the pharmacy. With-in 20 minutes I started getting burning, tingling feelings in my throat and mouth. I drove home , by that time I had huge hives on my back and buttocks. I went back to the doctor immediately.
Other than a rapid heartbeat, the only symptom seems to be the hives which were huge and covered my whole body.The Dr. stated that the episode occurred too soon after I took the pill to be an allergic reaction to the pill, however, I had not eaten or drank any thing that morning other than coffee. I also did not eat anything exotic the day before. I was given a steroid injection at the Dr. office and was prescribed a steroid med pak and an antihistamine. With-in 3 hrs. all the hives were gone. It is now 11 hrs later and I am ok except I am drowsy. If I do not recover well, I will post again to advise.

I've experienced a severe allergic reaction that resulted in over 3 weeks of being in and out of the hospital for severe hives, breathing and digestion associated with severe reactions. I am now still hypersensitive with a low level case of hives. ARe there other normal chemicals /food additives that I should stay away from to eliminate that as a possible future reactions?

levaquin intervenously for bladder infection in hospital blistering rash on lips .out of hospital given avelox believe same family : blistering rash on lips between thighs and buttocks. went to dermatologist said allergic reaction to avelox. took blood test do not know name of the tests. doctor's conclusion do not take any medicine in the avelox family :he told me avelox in the levaquin family

I took 4 of the 10, 500 mg daily dose of Levaquin that was prescribed to me. My heart rate was so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack! And now I have this awful rash all over my body. It's been 4 days since I 've had the last dose and it's not getting better. Does anyone have any idea when this itchy rash will go away?

I forgot to mention that along with accelerated heartbeat, I felt chest pains as well. My wife did a quickstep, however, and suggested I take Benadryl since we both believed this to be an allergic reaction, or at least exhibiting those symptoms and to my joy it did work within an hour after taking it. All but the strange taste seemed to be remedied.

I was given Levaquin for a UTI about 2 years ago and ended up in the ER, the side effects were so bad. Thought I was having a allergic reaction,
heart poundings, felt like a just drank 3 cups of coffee, also muscles reacting slowly, like I couldn't move my arms and legs how I wanted to.
Unfortunately I have take Cipro a couple times in the last year, and the last dosage of that did it for me. On the 5th day I all of a sudden had extreme pain in my left knee, could hardly walk. I took a couple Advil and rubbed some icee stuff on it and it went away but that night my lower back and hips became also extremely painful. Severe pain. That was the last dose for me. (The pain was much less the next day and almost completely gone after about 4 days.) I called the Dr. and they told me to stop taking Cipro- which I had already done. What really bothers me though is I mentioned this to my orthopedic Dr. and he said he never heard of Cipro causing joint pain!
I am going to send him some literature, but wow!! couldn't believe that.

No, I am not a drug rep,I am simply just being honest.Not everyone has a terrible experience from this drug. I am sorry that so many of you have had so many bad reactions,just like any medication it may not be for everyone,but it does work for some.

Today I was prescribed 750Mg of Levaquin for an allergic reaction to something,which I & My doctor don't know what the underlying cause was. I was also given 3 other meds-however I didn't start any but the Levaquin today. It was only 1 hour after taking Leveaquin that my left side of my face went numb,followed by my lips and eyes swelling. I couldn't swallow or breath. My left arm went completely numb,and I started to shake and get very pale. I immediately called my doctor,who said to get to his office right away. He checked my throat,and said it appeared to be fine.He stated hes never heard of any of my reactions to Levaquin,but Gave me a shot of something in my buttocks. I would say in less the 15 min I felt so much better. Also the allergic reaction I had in the first place seem to be somewhat under control. I sure hope this is the end of it, and this medicine levaquin is completely out of my system as soon as is humamly possible.

2 yrs. ago my husband had been on Vancomycin for an infection from a hip operation. He had an allergic reaction and was given Levaquin in the ER. Not long after the dose was given, he was not able to walk at all his fever spiked and he said he was blind at one point. It did not last but since then he had been slowly declining. He has trouble with his inner ear balance and he can hardly lift his right foot to clear the floor. He bearly feels anything from the knee down on both legs. We have been to many specialists/neuros, MRIs, nerve conduction test and there is nothing to show what is the cause. Can anyone tell me how we could find out for sure if Levaquin may be the culprit.

Sue

Hi all, I was amazed to find this site. I too have had a rough life for the past eight years! I am going to be 39 in a few days but this story starts back in August 21, 2000. The day that put me in HELL for the next eight years and still going through it. Prior to this day, I had a lot of UTI's and Pneumonia and several times prescribed both Levaquin and Cipro. I did develop Achillies tendinitis but I thought this was due to my active life style, see I was an LPN and a firefighter. So I went for treatment to fix the Achillies tendinitis. This was a foot Dr that of course gave me a cortizone shot in it. I cant remember how much earlier this was that this took place and I am still not sure if this is what did it but as I am thinking back these are the things that come to mind. On August 21, 2000 I was on a fire call and my right Achillies tendon popped off the bone! They took me away by ambulance. The Dr in the ER said to go home with an air cast on, eat or drink nothing and come back in at 10:00am and they would possibly do surgery. Well, I did just that. The orthopedic Doc said oh yeah it is achillies rupture will have to go in and tie back all the little fibers. So away to the operating room I went. They gave me a spinal and just knocked me out. I was awakened suddenly by my Dr. voice loudly saying " Holy shit it peeled off the bone!" And another nurse saying let me see! I came up on my hands and they grabbed me put me back down and knocked me back out! (I still have night mares over that!) Anyway, I spent the next 3 months in a cast. During this time, I was told from over usuage of my left foot, I now was developing tendinitis in my achillies tendon in the left foot! Which this sent me to a wheel chair. They took the cast off in 3 months then I was still no weight bearing for another month. Then i had physical therapy for about 6-8 months with little improvement. I complained to the Dr about the left achillies tendon and he said he would not do anything about it unless it too popped! So now many Dr later, and many many medications tried and many surgeries later, and now diagnosed with Lupus, Sjogrens, and Fibromyalgia, the most my rheumatoligist says is I have a connective tissue disorder, and taking cancer medication (Methotrexate) I am now disabled at 39! My life taken from me. I have situational depression, panic attacks, sleep trouble, Suffer from post traumatic stress, nightmares, basically my life is a mess and it is over. On July 1, 2008 I had to go to the ER cause I was sick. I had been run down and feeling bad and sleeping a lot, disoriented, couldn't stay awake. They found I had another UTI and a sinus infection. The Dr Says we will put you on Levaquin and that should take care of both problems. So he left, it took me a while for it to sink in that I should stay away from that drug, so I caught him and told him, he said to me that this was only found to be in kids while they are young and developing that it causes tendon rupture, and besides he said, one dose will not hurt you. I took 5 pills, one a day. Since then I have been in so much pain all over my body it is unreal! It still took me days to figure out that it was the Levaquin doing this to me! I feel like at random someone is sticking a knife in different muscles in my body! I felt like I had done Tie bo for 24 hours straight! Even my butt muscles hurt so bad to sit here and write this email! I have days when I cant even use my hands! Write my name with a pen. I am not sure if this is all due to these drugs, but I am most miserable and not a bit better. I may have just made it worse by taking this last round of them. Has anyone else had this kinf of symptoms?

Saw Levaquin on the news yesterday. I was very pleased to see that they are putting a warning on this med. I thought it was just me with a problem with Levaquin. I have allergies to antibiotics anyways so I attributed my problems to just another allergic reaction to an antibiotic. Wow!
I took Levaquin in April 3 years ago for a respiratory infection of some kind. I then had the same experience I have with allergies where my tongue felt swollen. I called the nurse and she told me to take the next dose anyway. I did so and my chest/esophagus felt like it was on fire. I couldn't breathe. I went into the Emergency room and they gave me a lidocaine/maalox combo that would take the pain away for a while and diagnosed me with reflux.
I went on some reflux medications later that caused more problems for digestion. The more we tried to solve it the more my system reacted. I ended up in the emergency room about 5 times that year. Two were for chest pain from the esophagus and two were from severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). I became allergic to many categories of food and lost down to 110 lbs. I went to naturopaths and other specialists and none of them could pinpoint any problems. I was tested for Celiac and had two upper GI and one lower GI that year alone, My Dr. bills totalled more than $5,000 for that year.
The next year I had given up. The only doctor that I would go to was the allergist and the new GI doctor I had found. I still worked but was in such severe pain that I did nothing but sleep when I got home. I cried and begged God for death or healing all night long. I was losing my hair in great handfuls. They put me on ativan and I became addicted to the stuff. I was allergic to most foods. I had a diet of about 6-10 foods that I would cook homemade and I would never eat out unless I knew what and how the food was prepared. I took vitamin c in very high doses and that took the pain away.
I slowly re-introduced food back to my system. Now I have a less restrictive diet but it still is limited. I am now allergic to all nuts, rice, sunflower seeds (sunflower oil is used in most potato chips), some other grains, and melons. I still have problems with legumes and some other foods.
It took 2 years for the pain to subside and I still have digestive problems with diarrhea on and off. I am fine just as long as the pain stays away. I don't mind being limited on my diet.
I had noticed that my legs and joints hurt during that time too- but the other pain was so severe and my diet was so limited that I attributed that to diet.
If there is a class action lawsuit on this stuff I would like to be involved.

My doctor prescribed Cipro for a UTI I had. My symptoms were minor. Within 2 doses of Cipro though, my symptoms got worse. Fever, excruciating lower back pain, shakes, all over pain. Thank God my boyfriend was aware of what was happening (because I wasn't). He gave me Cipro 2 more times and had been keeping track. Within 15 minutes of me taking it, all the symptoms would flare up. Finally he said we need to call the doctor, this drug is making you ill. We called the doctor and he said, "no way is it the drug, just continue taking it" So I did 2 more times. And then my boyfriend demanded and threatened the doctor to reconsider. And you know what, I went in to the doctor they gave me a shot of something else, and within 10 minutes I had no fever, no pain, no nothing. And they said I must've had an allergic reaction. It's interesting now to hear how we all MUST HAVE had an allergic reaction. Or that the drug is unsafe. My input here is to just remind people to pay attention to how their bodies respond to any drug. Keep track. No one knows our bodies better than we do.

People we need to do something: SOMEHOW
I m adding to my first post. Have not taken the 750 mg since Friday 2nd. Now my right knee is swollen, numbness in elbow joints, and light headed of mornings. I called doctor about all of these symptoms, and he put in on my chart as a ALLERGIC REACTION, I told him this is not a reaction it is a severe side effect. We discussed what I had located on comments on med and he said that millions have taken it just finel. Also there has been some reports that it did rupture tendons, but out of millions.
I told him this is bad stuff and I wanted it documented, (never happened).
My symptoms change. I wish could get this out of my system. If any ideas, please reply. My knee is almost unbearable, I put it up of a night and try to be easy of a day. I still have trouble eating and now my bowels are quite right after my stomach episode with the levaquin.

I have actually been prescriped Levaquin a few times for sinus infection. My experience has been good. No side effects, quick relief of sinus pain and pressure. I have taken each prescription exactly as directed with great results. At the advice of my doctor I always eat yogurt each day and for a few days following taking any antibitic. I would like to add that some of the symptoms described here (emotional trouble, severe headaches, mood etc.) remind me of what my daughter experienced when she had an undiagnosed (therefore untreated) severe sinus infection. I am not a doctor, and do not mean to minimize the seriousness at all, but maybe some of them are due to the infection not being cleared.

Wow, I had no idea that Levaquin affected so many people. My daughter had knee surgery a couple of years ago. They gave her vancomycin before the surgery. She had an allergic reaction to the stuff. She also found out from one of the nurses that levaquin is related to vancomycin.

I had a total hip replacement 3 years ago and they gave me vancomycin just before the surgery. I was laid up in the hospital for a week. When I arrived home I noticed that my skin was really itchy (mostly my arms). Whenever I scratched it left whelps and turned extremely red. Now after 3 years my skin is still itchy, but not as frequent as it used to be. Has anyone had this problem with their skin?

I wanted everyone to be aware of the relation between vancomycin and levaquin.

Good luck to all.

my Dad took a 750 mg tablet of Levaquin on 2/12/08, went into immediate allergic shock - couldn't breathe, face and mouth swollen. He was gasping in his last breaths to me "the pill, the pill" - I asked him "you are having a reaction to the pill?" and he nodded "yes"
His heart stopped on the way to the hospital and he died.

I was put on Avelox and went on a cruise. Well on the third day of taking it I broke out in hives, had difficulty breathing, could not walk, the pain in my legs were so bad and had a burning sensation from my nose to my pelvis. I felt like I was on fire inside my body. Well, the doctor on the cruise ship gave me many medications to combat the allergic reaction and thankfully I was fine after that. I still to this day have severe joint and muscle pain. I didn't realize until I read all this that it could have been due to the Avelox. I was on Avelox, Cipro, and Levaquin also for a sinus infection. That was Aug. 2006 and quess what still feel like crap with the pain in my legs and feet.

I took my first Levaquin pill at 8:30 at night. A short time later, I felt kind of funny, like my mind was separate from my body. I figured that I was just sleepy. Then, my bottom lip felt slightly itchy & swollen. I told my husband I might be having an allergic reaction, but he couldn't tell any difference in my appearance. Next, my bottom gum started to feel swollen. When I went to the restroom, I noticed a red bump on my upper thigh. I was becoming suspicious, but tried not to worry about it. Then, I felt my face flushing, but it didn't appear red enough for my husband to be concerned about. I checked on my legs a few more times & after seeing more red dots appearing, I knew I was having an allergic reaction. I popped 2 Benadryl pills & yelled at my husband to take me to ER. My face was burning so badly, I had to open the windows on the way too cool off. I calmed myself down by telling myself that it was just my adrenaline. When I got to ER, it was 10:30, but it felt like only an hour had passed since I took the Levaquin. I told the ER staff I was having a mild allergic reaction, but in reality, it was worse than that. I waited patiently until I looked in the mirror & saw that my neck was pink & covered with hives & welts. It came on so suddenly that I freaked out & ran for help. They quickly administered steroids & said it was good that I took Benadryl. By then, more hives started to appear on my body. I noticed red patches on my hands, too. Although I could breathe alright, my throat was real dry & I was having a hard time swallowing. The doctor said the Benadryl was making my throat dry. I gradually started to feel better & my head started to feel more clear. Two hours later, most of the hives disappeared & I was dismissed. The next day, however, I woke up with tightness & dull tingling in my knee joints & areas above my wrists. I figured it was due to dehydration. By the end of the day, the tightness went away in those areas, but traveled to the areas above my thumbs. That finally went away, too. After reading the side effects, I now know that Levaquin was to blame for those uncomfortable sensations.

How long will my pain last knees, legs, feet arms all my joints,,,, I feel like I am 100 years old! How long will it take to get better, my doctor took blood Friday to see what was going on but I haven't heard anything yet

I have experienced an allergic reaction to Levofloxacin:
face swelled up, strong heart arythmia, throat was closing and about 24 hrs later my skin burnt leaving a dark necrotyzed patch that fortunately turned normal after a couple of days. After more than 1 year my body seems to react to any kind of medicine that i used to bare, even if taken in small quantaties. I suffer of liver pain if i eat food containing a bit of fat, regular stomach pains and now suffer of arythmia. I have a child and am scared that i couldt pass on any kind of consequence on a second one.

I went on levaquin-2 rounds of it, due to pneumonia. I felt very out of sorts and discombobulated. Dizzyness, word recall problems, insomnia, diahrrea. My tongue was coated with a thick white film. One night my tongue and my hand felt very disconnected to me, and I had a strange but familiar taste or sensation in my mouth but I couldn't name it. It lasted 3 or 4 minutes. I think I may have had a petit mal seizure. I have been having trouble with my vision, things I read are blurry now, and I have never worn glasses, or had vision problems before. I have been off of this medication for 6 days now, and I am still feeling some of these side effects. I rarely have any side effects from medications. I will never take this again.

I'm so glad that I found this page. I injured my back 3 years ago and have been taking prescribed opiods for the pain. Recently got a bad UTI that lasted 3 months and they thought it spread to my kidneys, so they put me on Levaquin. The first 2 days nothing but soreness,I felt like I had been held down and beat with a bat. The 3rd day I noticed some swelling on my ankles and attributed it to working and standing on my feet all day. By the 6th day(this past Saturday) I can barely stand my knees and hips hurt so bad that I cut short my training with my Thoroughbred Shelby. I even had to ask my husband to come with me so that I could at least get him brushed out and groomed. I couldn't even hold a large groom brush. I literlly have to roll out of bed and try to prop myself up. My hands and wrists are so swollen that it's hard to just sit up on the side of the bed, and my lower legs, ankles and feet are all pitting edema with pain in every joint and difficulty just standing and walking is even harder. Thank God I have a cane that I use intermittently for my back. Here I was worried that my kidney's had shut down. I also have been looking on the net and found all my symptoms related to Levaquin. I'm not taking this any more.
This drug is dangerous, like others here, not 1 doctor even said a word about this side effect/ allergic reaction I could have. Not even the pharmacist. Sickening. All for a buck in their pocket.

Unfortunately I also experienced such side effects from Levaquin to the degree that I feel I was poisoned. I was prescribed Levaquin April 2004 and a week later developed a 2" x 1" oval rash on my front hip area and had severe muscle aches and joint pain. My doctor prescribed a fungus cream for the rash (what???) and ran extensive blood and urine tests. The rash began multiplying daily until it covered half my entire body.
More tests (scared me to death -testing for Lupis, HIV, Hepatitis, etc.)
After all negative, he suggested I see a dermatologist and an allergist.
Rash worsened, could not sleep at all, not sure if it was from constant itch?? Non of the prescriptions from the dermatologist worked but a sample packet of "sarna or sarno?" helped dull the itch. Now it was a month since I started the Levaquin. A friend drags me to the ER. They actually get a cop in there to ask me if I have been beaten...um, no...I did it to my self..All the itching has caused me to scratch myself to the point of bruising all over. They ran a few tests and came running in with 2 doses of benedryl shots...said my eosinophils level was off the charts and that I had been having an alergic reaction to "something". Ah!! (duh!!) So I go home and search the internet... severe red rash, itching, insomnia, muscle aches, joint pain, allergic reaction....what comes up...levaquin levaquin and more levaquin. How did my own doctor who prescribed this to me not realize that this was an allergic reaction??? Most of my symtoms subsided 6 weeks later (after filling the scrips from the er for benadryl, prednisone and something else) but it was truly 6 weeks of hell and for a while there, I did not think it was ever going to end. Hope this info helps anyone who thinks they may be having a reaction to levaquin.

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?

I am normally a very physically fit specimen, working outside every day. One 500 mg. tab of this poisencompletely debilitated me. Within six hours of taking levaquin I experienced excruciation soreness in my arms and shoulders. My throat swelled up and I could barely breath. I was perscribed steroids to stop the swelling - I took only ONE 500 mg time release tab 7 days ago and today I am still experiencing incredible pain.I am so sore I can't sleep. If anyone wants to start a call action suit I am in - I have NEVER sued anyone - but I am furious.Any advise out there as to how I can flush this poisen out of my system?
Chris

TO Guest #41844
Who do you work for a drug rep.?

I began taking the drug three days ago due to severe sinusitis. 750mg. for 5 days. I stopped today due to severe weakness, nausea, pain in lower back, diarrhea, blurred vision. sleeplessness and lack of appetite. A coworker told me the same day I started taking it that her son had a severe allergic reaction to the same drug within half an hour of taking the first pill. Since then 3 other co-workers have told me they have experienced very similar reactions to the drug and my mother as well.
After picking up the drug at the pharmacy I asked the pharmacist if there had been any complaints about the drug since I had never taken it, heard of it and the doctor said it was very strong. The pharmacist indicated that no problems had been reported. As many antibiotics as there are on the market I would certainly ask for something else........
BTW I reported it to my pharmacist and my doctor today.

I added a side effect several days ago. I would like to respond to the people who are asking if this ever goes away. I suppose it is an individual thing but I am feeling better every day. I've been off the Levaquin for over a week now and no more pain in feet, elbow is much better, fatigue is lessening. The funny thing is my husband went to the doctor for pink eye yesterday and the doc prescribed Levaquin, as well as eye drops. He has taken it in the past with no side effects so he went ahead and got the prescription filled. He asked the doctor about my reaction to it and he said he'd never heard of such a thing! I find that hard to believe. Anyway, my doctor said she'd heard of it but that it was rare and noted it on my chart as an "allergic reaction". So good luck everyone. You can fill out an adverse reaction form at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report/consumer/consumer.htm Hopefully, if enough people complain they will at least inform patients that such drastic side effects are possible for some people.

I was prescribed Levaquin for bronchitis and I took it for 6
days but had to stop because I had developed a severe
allergic reaction to the pills. Almost every part of my body is covered in hives, does anyone know how long it will take for this to go away. I was also prescribed Prednisone and a shot of Depo to counteract this allergic reaction. Any info is greatlt appreciated. Thanks.

Severe headache- close to a migraine, lump in throa which made me believe I was having an allergic reaction to the antibiotics, unable to sleep while full of anxiety. A basketcase of emotions- for example: my dad called to see how I was recovering from my kidney infection. I broke down and started crying to him. The night before I was up and cooking dinner for my boyfriend...It's like I morphed into whole new person overnight. Odd. Taking 500mlg x10days.

I had acid reflux for about 4 weeks with no relief. My doctor checked my liver, pancreas, and gallbladder and all were fine. She thought perhaps I had an infection so she gave me a 7 day course of Levaquin. I questioned her nurse and the pharmacist if the medication was safe to take or if it had side effects that I should worry about. Both said it was safe and that there were no known "bad" side effects. Both failed to warn me of the dangers of this medication. On the fifth day I noticed a "hives" like rash on both my arms. At the time, I didn't connect them to the Levaquin. After the 7th day (yesterday) I began to wonder if it could be a reaction to the drug. Last night the rash got worse, and this morning I had a very difficult time getting out of bed. I took a Benadryl last night thinking that perhaps I was having an allergic reaction to something I had eaten. This morning when the rash was worse I came on line and did a "Goggle" search on Levaquin and rashes... OMG, how could the doctor and pharmacist not told me about the problems associated with this drug??? They both were totally negligent about warning me about possible side effects. The worse part is that I was trying to be a knowledgeable patient, I asked the right questions and got the wrong answers!

What do I do now and will this rash go away and the pain in my legs go away without permanent damage???

This is a total lack of responsibility from the medical community and the drug company!

I was given 2 doses of 750mg IV Levaquin in my local emergency room for a UTI, then sent homw with a RX for 750mg oral. I went back to the emergency room 2 days later with a temp of 101 and complaints of leg pain and numb feet. The emergency again gave me 750mg Levaquin IV admited me into a observation ward when they continued to give me three additional does 750mg Levaquin IV, and sent me home. I went back to the emergency for the third time, severe pain in feet, numbness in feet and swollen and red, burning, elevated temp and this time elevated liver and pancreases enzymes. Admitted into the hospital, they proceed to do a spinal tap to see if I had Guillian Bria Symdrome. I was concluded that I had acute sensoury neuropathy induces by Levaquin toxicity. It is four weeks past, I still have numbness and buring in my feet. I must have had my allergic reaction after the second does because as we look back, I experienced a rash around my abdomen, a sever headache and elevated temp as I received the third does. Because the temp kept stayed elevated and the leg pain got worse, they kept giving me the Levaquin, which resulted in the overdoes toxicity, that was escentially casuing the elevated liver and pancreas enzymes, which was causing the high temp and leg pain. The temp, and elevated enzymes started to decrease when the Levaquin was stopped. As for the nueopathy in the feet and lower legs, only time will tell. If you have never taken this drup before, DON"T. They are other drugs out there that can be used.

After 4 days of Macrobid didn't help my UTI, I was prescribed 750mg of Levaquin per day. On the first day, the doctor had me take a double dose. That night, my left arm was tingling and numb no matter what I did. I woke up suddenly after only an hour of sleep. I tried to stumble to the restroom but could barely stand. My legs were completely weak, my anxiety was through the roof, my heart was pounding and the room was spinning out of control. I couldn't tell if the bedroom was upside down or sideways.

After a trip to the ER, they told me I was reacting to the high does of Levaquin but it wasn't an allergic reaction. They gave me a lot of fluids and sent me home and told me to still take the Levaquin since I had to get rid of the UTI.

The next day, the UTI was much better. I took a 1/2 dose of Levaquin. I had some side effects (weak all over, anxiety, feeling hot, slightly dizzy) but not terrible. I hate to take this stuff but I know it is working. The half dose seems to be enough.

In February, 2005, I had a severe allergic reaction to Levaquin. The day I received the prescription for Levaquin. I took my first dose at 5pm. As soon as I took the pill, I became very sleepy, so I went to bed. At 520pm, I awoke suddenly because my ears felt as if they were on fire. When I went to the bathroom mirror to look at my ears, they were both firey red and ringing. I then experienced some tightness in my throat and my tongue began to swell. So I ask my daughter to go with me to the emergency room. So we left to go to the emergency room. When I got there, which we only lived about 2and 1/2 miles away, my lips had begun to turn blue and my tongue was getting thick feeling. The triage nurse put me in a wheelchair and brought me back to urgent care. I sat down on a wood table and was talking to my daughter trying not to worry. Then a nurse arrived with a shot of ephinephrine and gave it to me in my stomach. As soon as the nurse left and was out of sight I started to lay back onto the table, as I was telling my daughter to get a doctor something was wrong. Then when I came to I had an oxygen mask over my mouth and all the doctors and nurses surrounding me, telling me to remain calm they are going to put me asleep so that they can intabate me, (stick a tube down my throat to breath for me). The next time I woke up, I had been on a "vent" for 3 days and they had to supply me with 10 liters of fluid after they got me on the 'vent'. I stayed a week in the hospital before I was discharged. My body swelled up so badly, I looked like I was a pumpkin about to pop open. I had small little dots all over my body for weeks after this episode. I can now take no antibotics. I am allergic to all antibotics so If I get an infection, I am out of luck!

Update: I went to the ER last night and was pretty surprised when I received the results from my labs and the doctor's interpretation (diagnosis). My X-rays were completely normal and free of alignment problems or visible fractures which was expected. But, my blood work told the entire story... General inflammation indicator was slightly elevated and my uric acid concentration was through the roof. This indicates that I have developed Gouty Arthritis over a period of three-four days and have inflammation in my joints, the latter of which is improving or not severe enough to scare anybody.

I am just wondering if anybody else with sore, numb, and weak feet, ankles, wrists, and hands after/during the course of Levaquin has had a similar diagnosis? I have never experienced anything like this before, but hate to think that I may have aggravated it by drinking in order to alleviate some of the pain over the weekend.

There is no family or personal history of Gout for me. I must note that potassium deficiency and dehydration are side effects/warning conditions of Levaquin and am wondering if I was just dehydrated to begin with and my muscles were in pretty bad shape from coughing and aching for 5-6 days, then the antibiotic worsened it to this point. Either way, I will never take one of these drugs again and plan on considering this as an allergic reaction in the future.

FYI: The ER Dr. recommended Ibuprofen for the pain because the aspirin that i was taking could have been aggravating the condition. I also awoke just before four again this morning after having only slept 4.5 hours and experienced very vivid dreams and was unable to return to sleep. I'm beginning to believe that this is never going to end.

I posted on 7/28 regarding an allergic reaction to Levoquin. Despite being off the drug now for over a week, I continue to have severe muscle pain especially in my thighs and calves, but general muscle pain as well. It feels as if my muscle fibers are about ready to shred into pieces, as if I just yesterday ran a marathon and today my muscles are extremely sore. How long after discontinuing Levoquin do these type of symptoms linger? What course of action can be taken to facilitate some improvement?

I was on my second round of a 10 day courses of Levoquin for diverticulitis. 5 days into my second round, I started to have an allergic reaction every evening from 8:30 ish to midnight-ish. It would start with a tingly painful tongue, then tongue feeling slightly swollen ,then slighlty swollen and numb, itchy lips and gums, then to the back of my throat and up my ears. My salvatory gland production increased, was slighlty nauseated and had a headache. Then 2 hours into the reaction, I began to get short of breathe and had a racing heart and palpiations. I currently take prendisone for Lupus so I'm sure this masked the allergy to some extent. I continued on the drug for another 5 days of these nightly reactions, elimainating other meds and foods I was eating in an attempt to figrer out what I allergic to, until I finally saw my doctor who immediately discontinued my leviquin. Because of my Lupus, I am always in chronic pain but since taking the levoquin, every single muslce in my body is extremely sore and tender, even my scalp. I've been off it for 3 days and on high doses of prednisone and my lips are still a bit sore and puffy feeling and my muscles still hurt but seems to be improving a little bit but not as much as I would have expected being on such high prednisone.

My 63yr. old father had hip replacement surgery and was in rehab when he developed a sore throat. The doctor prescibed Levaquin and within 8 hours he was incoherent and developed a severe allergic reaction. He had to be rushed to the hospital because his tongue was so swollen he had trouble breathing. It is 30 hours later and his tongue is still swollen but not as severe and they have a tracheotomy tray nearby just in case. He has muscle pain in both arms and it hurts him if you barely touch his arm. He indicated that on a scale of 1-10, the muscle pain is a 10.

I've been on Levaquin for a throat infection for 12 days, taking the pill at bedtime. On the morning after the 12th dose, i noticed lots of red dots that were slightly itchy on the palms and fingers of both hands. Later in the day, i noticed its concentrating on my ankles and legs and a few are scattered on my torso. It rings back to an allergic reaction I had to penicillin (amoxacillin) about 20 years ago but without as much itching. Thus it dawned on me that it must be the Levaquin. I will not take another dose of Levaquin and I will go see my doctor in the morning.

I did spend some time in the sun (with 40spf sunblock) this weekend, so that may have aggravated the reaction.

I have also had the metallic taste in my mouth but did not think much about it. Otherwise, i have had no other effects.

Thank you to those who wrote me with words of advice. I'm now 14 days out from levaquin and am feeling a bit better. I have had a complete physical and blood workup. I've also seen an allergist, a rhematologist, two ER doctors and my primary care. My primary care and one ER were at the Cleveland Clinic and advise that it's the levaquin. I have yet to run across a doc who didn't say it's the levaquin. I was sure it was MS, ALS or something worse than an allergic reaction. I am getting a little better and hope I continue on this path. I wanted to share the list of meds the allergist told me to NEVER TAKE and even suggested that I get a med alert braclet. It appears that if you have a bad reacation and take the offending agent again, next time will be worse including shock. My daughter who is an RN also agrees with the medic alert braclet. She said that if I were ever in a car wreck, one of the first things they would do in the ER was start an antioboitic IV.

The meds in the same family to avoid are:

Cipro, avelox, faxtive, levaquin, varoxin, tequin and trovan.

This same Dr. (the allregy immunology doc) says that I have had nerve damage, that I should fully recover and that it will not get worse.

My symptoms were mostly pain in my limbs, if you have had the pain in your limbs at the least please put a note in your wallet that says that you can not take the above listed drugs.

Hope this helps. God bless

Taunda

******

My mother-in-law was recently hospitalized for a kidney infection. She is 79 years old. She has had allergic reactions to a number of antibiotics in the past few years, including Cipro which is in the same "family" as Levaquin. Since her infection was severe (temperature went to 104.7), the doctors decided to try a half-dose of Levaquin because she had had an allergic reaction at least one in every "type" of antibiotic. The first 3 days, she had mild leg spasms resembling restless leg syndrome. Since that is common in elderly people, especially those who have been very ill with little movement, we were not concerned about it. On the 4th day, after she had come home from the hospital, she began to have leg pain. At first, it was more of a burning sensation under the skin, but, as the days went by, it became unbearable pain. What had been helped by 2 mg of Valium and some tylenol, became barely tolerable with Darvon every 4 hours, Valium every 6 hours and 600 mg of Ibuprofen every 4-6 hours. The pain became so severe that she could not walk, and within a week, she was hospitalized for 9 more days with pain so bad that she could not sleep or walk. They finally put her on Vicodin for pain, which made it tolerable. They tested for everything but, by process of elimination, the Doctor decided that it must have been the Levaquin. It took over a week after they discontinued the Levaquin for the pain to lessen enough to leave off the Vicodin at night. Even after she came home, she had to take the pain medication round the clock to be able to bear it. She is now learning to walk again and still taking Vicodin at night for pain (2 weeks after she stopped taking the Levaquin).

I was perscribed levaquin when I started experiencing yet another sinus infection. I also had an extremely sore throat and my ear hurt really bad. I know it was all do to the sinus infection. I took the medication for about 2 to 3 days and then I started feeling sick to my stomach, my stomach would hurt so bad I could not operate. I had an emotional break down, anxiety, depression, light head, extremely dizzy, I sweat so much that I was sweating the antibiotic (very stinky), and I had the worst headache of my entire life.

I went back to the doctor and she suggested I go to the hospital and get a spinal tap. I said I don't think so. So she gave me a shot for a migraine. I slept and slept, but my headache did subside substantially. I was sick for 1 whole week. I have never been that sick in my entire life.

My doctor told me that she was never perscribing that medicine to me again. I don't know if it was a side effect or an allergic reaction, but I didn't like it at all.

My Dr. gave me a 5 day sample of Levaquin 250mg for a UTI 4 days ago. I took the 1st dose & almost immediately began experiencing a headache over my eyes. I figured it was just stress. I took my second dose & began feeling lightheaded & kind of dopey & my headache was still going strong. On day 3, I woke up with a golfball sized lump in the center or my forehead. I called the Dr. immediately but he could not be reached for 3 hours. In these 3 hours the swelling in my forhead continued to spread. I rushed to his office yesterday afternoon & he was amazed. He siad hes never heard or a reaction like mine but told me to NEVER take Levaquin or any similar drug ever again. He prescribed me another antibiotic & a 7-day pack of prednisone for the allergic reaction. Today I woke up and my forhead is not as swollen. The golf ball is gone but the swelling is travelling down my face. The bridge of my nose & under my eyes are now swollen. I'm very emotionally sensitive and my headache is still present. Levaquin is an evil evil drug! Take with caution!!!! I'll update when I'm feeling better.....hopefully real soon!

I am on Levaquin, but my side effect is from reading these posts, not taking the drug. I have no patience with people that have no common sense. Yes, doctors should tell you about the drugs they prescribe, but it is your responsibility to ask about potential side effects, interactions with other drugs you are taking, etc. It is also your responsibility to read the detailed informa tion that comes with every prescription from a pharmacy that lists possible side effects, which ones are likely to go away after a dose or two, and which ones you should contact a doctor about. If you get the drug as a sample at your doctor's office, stop in at a pharmacy and ask for the information sheet or get on the internet and find it.

All antibiotics cause dstomach upset and sometimes diarrhea because they kill all the bacteria they find, the bad ones causing your infection as well as the good ones living in your digestive system that keep you healthy. All antibiotics can cause yeast infections for the same reason. As some smart European posters to this list suggested, eating yogurt with live acidophilus cultures or taking acidophilus pills from the healthfood store may mediate this effect.

Lastly, even if your doctors don't have common sense about the symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should know the signs, because severe reactions can lead to anaphylactic shock and even death. Rashes, hives, itching, dizziness, and shortness of breath ARE NOT SIDE EFFECTS! They are warning signs of an allergic reaction. You can become allergic to any drug at any time, even if you have taken it with no problem many times before, antibiotic allergies are very common, and it is vitally important for you to know what drugs you are allergic to because not every doctor reads every word in your medical file. I am allergic to sulfa drugs (which I learned from a severe case of hives while taking Bactrim), yet a doctor prescribed Celebrex for a knee injury, and if I hadn't known that Celebrex contained sulfa I would have been in trouble instead of safely taking sulfa-free Vioxx.

Bottom line, you are responsible for your own health, no one else. Know the difference between signs of an allergic reaction, standard side effects, and rare side effects that should cause concern. If you're concerned, CALL YOUR DOCTOR, HEALTH PLAN, or PHARMACIST rather than posting on an online newsgroup. It could save your life.

In June I was prescribed Levaquin for a urinary tract infection. Didn't have any problems at that time, but two weeks later my UTI was back, so they prescribed me Levaquin again. The day after I started taking it, I was experiencing sharp pains in the palms of my hands and the arches and heels of my feet. Since I've been on Levaquin many times before, it didn't even occur to me. By the third day my feet hurt so bad it was painful to walk, and I started breaking out in hives ALL over my body, and I experience some nausea. I obviously had developed an allergic reaction to Levaquin. I was able to look online at my pharmacy's website and track all the times I've been on levaquin. Six times in eight months for ear infections, UTIs and sinus infections. Wow-do you think maybe the doctors rely a little too much on this drug? I'm thinking my body had had so much of it that it finally rejected it. And now I just want to crawl out of my skin-four days of prednizone plus a shot and the hives will NOT go away. It's been a week since I've been off the Levaquin. How long does it take to get it out of my system already????

I was 500 mg Levaquin daily for 7 days started June 12, 2003, skipped the 19th and took my last dose 20th for sinus infection. I quickly developed an irregular heart beat and chest pains. I am already am on medication for these symptoms so I continued to take the Levaquin. Toward the end of my 7days I had wild dreams at nite, moderate to extreme joint and muscle pains, neck pains, stomach pains, a rash on both my arms up to my clothing line that is still getting worse at this writing July 12th, 2003. I have dizziness, incoordnation, and my mouth clamped so hard shut one nite that it woke me up and and I chipped a tooth!
I am so exhausted that I can barely get around! It has effected everything I am doing!
I returnrd from the doctor yesterday and he agrees is severe allergic reaction to the medication. It feels more like toxicity to me. This stuff needs to be taken off the market!

Anaphylactic Shock- My mother was given an IV prior to surgery and after receiving only 1/20th of prescribed amount had a very severe allergic reaction, felt dizzy, passed out, had a seizure, turned brilliant red, drastic drop in blood pressure, she could have died. (Surgery is being postponed, but she will be in I.C.U. for a while)

I would suggest that all of you eeking help on the subject of "Any" antibotics go to the link.
iknowthecause.com-The book "The Fungus Link Author-Doug Kaufmann.A great source of information.I recieved Levaquin pre-surgery and had an allergic reaction to it.Which delayed my surgery. The Doc again tried to prescribe it to me after surgery. I'm like "DUGH?" What do these Dr.'s do all day. I was prescribed Biaxin XL instead. Please do a fungal search on your conditions----YOU WILL BE SHOCKED.