Levaquin and antibiotics

I was prescribed this medicine for a breast abscess. I have a bad reaction to penicillin and levaquin was given to me as an alternative. I took the first pill at 11:00 pm. I woke up about every 30 minutes drenched in sweat until 2:00 and then could not go back to sleep. I took drinks of water when I woke up in order to keep hydrated. I have a lap band, and I noticed that the water wasn’t going down easily which let me know the medicine had made my stomach swell. I finally fell asleep around 3:30 and had evil nightmares until 5am. I was afraid to go back to sleep so I decided I'd just stay awake until time for me to get up for work. I will be calling my doctor's office as soon as they open to let her know this medicine is not for me. After reading your stories, I refuse to take it another day.

I was give Levaquin when I had a Prostate Biopsy and had a reaction to it , Hives, muscle pain oral thrush ,I told the doctor about it so he gave me another anti biotic,CIPRO which made things worse, then I find out they are both from the same family of antibiotics, these doctors don't know what they are giving you and he said all that I should have gotten from them was a little stomach problem, Its two years now and I still have skin
problems, joint pain and pain in my neck amd the doctors say it can't be from the Levaquin, Well how come I was healthy until I took it

I have been on Levaquin 750mg for an infection in the bone of my toe. I am also on a daily IV drip of antibiotics. Since I have been taking the Levaquin, I ache all over. Every joint aches from my hands to my ankles.
I'm wondering if this is all a side effect of the Levaquin. I have nothing else to blame the aches upon.

I started taking levaquin about a week ago. At first, I was doing fine but then I started to get fevers. Next thing I know, I have full blown flu systems and break out in a crazy rash. I have to go to urgent care. I kept calling the nurse and asking her if it was the antibiotics. She indicated that levaquin was very well tolerated and that she did not think it was the pills. After reading these posts I am confident it is the pills.

I had a lung infection for 7 months when I was living in Australia. It was hurting my lungs significantly. I tried a number of antibiotics in Australia but they didn't seem to help. I came back to the U.S. and my doctor prescribed 750mg of Levaquin for two days followed by 10 days of Levaquin 500mg. At the end of the 12th day my lungs were clear as a bell and I could take full breaths without feeling pressure or pain. It was amazing. I did notice that my heels were hurting while I was taking Levaquin and then for about 8-9 days subsequent. I had trouble walking down steep stairs without going sideways. However now I am fine. On balance, I would say that it was more than worth the ankle problem.

I suffered cardiac arrest in 2006 with the only change in my 51 y/o basically healthy lifestyle was i started taking 500 mg/day of levaquin four days prior to my collapse in front of my students in the classroom. I am a 4th grade teacher - I had suffered cardiac arrest at least three times before I was treated with Arctic Sun therapy to help recover. The heart catheterization afterwards showed no blockage in my heart. There was a good chance, in my opinion, that levaquin could have caused my cardiac arrest. Although not conclusive because I had a tooth infection which was the reason I was prescribed the levaquin and i was taking an said for the discomfort, the back of my mind always comes back to levaquin because i suffered the joint weakness i read in articles of other users of the medication. I also was reminded after the accident that a young person we knew of had died unexpectedly in her sleep a and she was taking levaquin. It makes you think it may have been the levaquin, but no actual proof could be determined by my doctors. However, I will never take this medication again, knowing there are so many other antibiotics on the market to help me.

I was given Levaquin for a kidney infection. It seemed to help break my fever but after only one dose, I broke out in rash and later that night had tingling in my legs. My hand felt numb. When I called the oncall doctor she told attributed to anxiety. I told her I was anxious because all of a sudden my hand had gone numb and knowing that was a danger sign I refused to take anymore. Later that night, I could not walk or stand or bear weight on my legs. My shins and Achilles tendons were burning and only because of the internet did I know what was happening to me. Only 1 out of three doctors would agree I was having a drug reaction. For some odd reason, the doctors REFUSE to believe or acknowledge this was caused by Levaquin. No wonder the side effects are "rare" if no doctor will acknowledge the pain their patients are going through....how can the drug companies get any real feedback. Funny thing is only after I sent an email out to my team essentially warning them about this drug did I find out my coworker who had been on medical leave had suffered the same fate of torn achilles tendon and only after 3 months of PT is finally walking without pain. WHAT IS WRONG WITH our world when no one will listen to us. Thank God for the internet. I can walk now and have no pain standing (lasted only 2 and half days) but I am scared about the future as I know the results are lingering. I have been exhausted this whole weekend and wonder if its just me recovering as my PCP had me quit all antibiotics even at the risk of getting my kidney infection back. Well nice to know our stories are the same...and its not in our heads. BTW, my ER doctor told me it was a good drug and very unlikely the cause of my leg pains. They rather believed I had pneumonia or lyme's disease before they would believe it was caused by their beloved drug. All I can think now is I hope one day they are given this drug and it cripples them like it has so many others. Sometimes that is the only way they will acknowledge the truth. It has to happen to them or someone they love.

I've been on a 7 day regime of Levaquin 500mg for an a infection that wasn't cured by other antibiotics and I can say it's worked. Yea I had a some muscle craps in the legs and some leg pain and a first day bout of nausea but overall, it's worked great for me.

I'd suggest that anyone on it do as my doctor said and either eat at least 1 cup of yogurt a day and/or take a Probiotics pill. The antibiotic/any antibiotic kills the "good germs" that help raise your bodies immune system and helps with digestion and the Yogurt/Probitic pills help grow the "good bacteria" back and ease the side effects while on it. Good luck to all

I was 54 at the time (2007) and in good physical health, however, after having my first round of chemotherapy as a result of breast cancer, I developed a severe throat yeast infection and my white blood count plummeted. I had ceased taking my many vitamins that have kept me in reasonably good health for the past 25 years because of nausea and generally just not feeling good. The doctors prescribed Levaquin.

Almost immediately, I developed heart palpitations and continued to have fever, nausea, and a rushing feeling throughout my body that was draining me of all energy. I could tell I was fading fast. Upon calling the doctors I said then that I thought it was the Levaquin but they insisted I stay on it otherwise they would put me in the hospital.

After the 4th day on it and with my blood pressure sinking (80/30) my husband called the doctor and they said to go to the ER. I again said to the ER doctor that I thought it was the Levaquin and he scoffed at that. After several hours and many tests, the ER doctor released me and said I could stop taking the Levaquin and he prescribed something to help me to sleep.

By the next day, I already started feeling better and within 3 days I was back taking my vitamins and feeling much better. I never took chemo again after this experience. Unfortunately since then, I have experienced severe ankle and leg cramps in the middle of the night, muscle spasms in my legs. I don't trust my ankles, they feel weak. I assumed it was linked to the chemo and never guessed it could be tied to Levaquin.

I went to my internist doctor who prescribed Flexeril which has helped with the cramps. My massage therapist has noted many times that my tendons and ligaments seem twisted and she has to really work on them which ultimately feels better. I never thought any of these symptoms were tied to Levaquin until last night when I saw the ad on TV regarding Levaquin and tendinitis. I will show this info to my Internist the next time I see him. How does one know if what I am experiencing is linked to Levaquin.

My girlfriend is 36 she had a kidney infection and got Levaquin IV in the hospital. Her legs were going numb and she could hardly get up to go to the bathroom in the hospital. She thought it was her infection. They sent her home two days later with 5 pill containers. One of them was Levaquin. She called me today and said she is having terrible pains in her hands, wrists, hips, and knees. She says she cant make a fist or hold a bag of groceries and her hands have swollen up so that she cant get her rings off. I told her I would do a search on the net to see if it might be one of the drugs she was taking. Slowly but surely I made it to the Levaquin. The drug maker fairly non chalantly refers to tendon rupture as a side effect effecting mostly people over 60 years old. I dug a little further and found this web site and was amazed at how many people are being poisoned by this drug. I am praying if she stops taking it the pain and debilitating effects will go away quickly. She has two disabled boys she has to take care of, including lifting them into wheel chairs and into beds. This is no joke! I am so angry at this drug maker and these doctors who often times do more harm than good.

Anyone aware that the book "Eat Right for Your Type" (Peter D'Adamo)mentions that certain blood types should avoid fluoroquinolone antibiotics? My dad had type B or AB, not sure, and suffered severe side effects to Levaquin. I am sure that these are the types that must avoid these drugs.

I was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection, later to be told it was e-coli. After several days of intravenous antibiotics along with prednisone in my IV to help manage terrific arthritis pain, I came home from the hospital with a prescription of levaquin, prednisone and something for my stomach that I could have gotten over the counter. I have progressively gotten sicker on my stomach, had severe attacks 3 to 5 times a day, headaches, extreme fatigue and weakness. Worst of all were the crazy thoughts when I woke up partly due to nightmares and partly to just not feeling myself and having a feeling of loss of control of all my emotions. I told my husband I believe I was going into a depression. After stumbling onto this site, I threw the 5 remaining levaquin in the trash and thank God that I found all the information I have today on this POISON. I agree with many that the side effects far outweigh any good this antibiotic has done for me. I continue to be very sick and weak. I just hope when I wake tomorrow this mess is out of my system for good.

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.

My husband was prescribed 500 MG of Levaquin for 10 days due to respiratory infection. When I got the medicine home, I read all of the warnings and possible side affects. He is 61 and has had tendon damage in his shoulder and his lower leg from taking Cipro two years ago. He had severe joint pain from Bactrim and hallucinations from Flagyl. From these previous antibiotics he still suffers pains and limitations of movement. What is worse is that they prescribed Prednisone with the Levaquin. It clearly states in the warnings that Levaquin taken with Prednisone increases the likelihood of tendon damage. The warnings state that people over 60 have increased risk of tendon damage. Why on earth did his doctor prescribe this? My husband is 61 and was too sick to research all of this on his own. It has obviously become more profitable to make people sicker.
I found this forum and called his doctor. I refused to give him this terrible Levaquin and asked for a prescription for something milder. The Doxycylene seems to be working just fine to clear his infection.
A word of warning to all to not drink the Kool Aid that they give you without asking questions. Any health care system that sustains itself by keeping people ill is a bad one. Think about it. If people are healthy, then where is the profit?
This Levaquin sounds like some kind of bad snake oil to me and I am thankful to have read the warnings and then found this helpful forum. I am so sorry for the pain that most of you have suffered and are suffering. We are living with damage from antibiotics and we understand your anger. Take good care of yourselves.

I go by the ID Miserable Knees. I posted last spring on medications.com about my adverse reaction to Levaquin. I was given a 10 day prescription for a respiratory infection. 3 days after I finished taking Levaquin, BOTH KNEES were swollen, painful and I could barely walk. I spent a month throwing myself backwards into chairs due to the inflammation in my knees. My knees were on fire, I was in pain every day. After seeing an orthopedic doctor an MRI showed cartilage damage. A year later, I'm living with permanently altered legs. I was an avid walker, loved to hike, would spend hours walking for recreation. Levaquin changed all of that. I had a career requiring me to be on my feet for 12 or more hours a day. Levaquin changed all of that. I decided, if this could happen to me, it could happen to anyone. Now, there is a documentary about the dangers of fluoroquinolne antibiotics. When I was harmed by Levaquin, I was flabbergasted that something like this could happen to me in the prime of my life. I made this 52 minute film for all of the people like me who trusted the system, (government, doctor, medicine) to guarantee my safety. "Certain Adverse Events" is the name of the documentary and it is now available online. You can reach the documentary site by going online to the .com of "Certain Adverse Events"

Miserable Knees Productions

I am 39-year-old very active healthy female. I can say I am tolerant to most drugs I have taken in my life so far. However, I took Levaquin yesterday and today, 750 mg per day for five days for the sinus infection, I felt so horrible starting 2-3 hours after I first took it. I felt nausea, headache, extremely fatigue, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, lose sleep.I also felt painful in my heart area this morning......After checking on the internet today, I know I was poisoned by Levaquin. I felt more horrible that my doctor did not tell my the side effect even when I asked this question specifically when was given the prescription. I am not allergy to other antibiotics, and I had no clue why the doctor would think this medication is necessary to me. I decided to stop Levaquin, and also not to see that doctor again. Please be careful to pick your doctor, some are very dumb and cannot even treat a cold.

Love Levaquin. I am allergic to Erythrymicin and Penicillin. Levaquin is the best thing for me. One of the only antibiotics I can take. I thank god for it all the time.

SO SORRY TO SEE SO MANY NEW PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM. PLEASE SEND IN A MEDWATCH REPORT BY GOING TO WWW.FDA.GOV. EVEN THE PERSON THAT THINKS SHE'S BEING HELPED BY THIS NEEDS TO DO THE SAME. PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR DR. AND BE VERY VERY CAREFUL. THIS STUFF DOES DAMAGE EVEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH IT,
I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR 4 YEARS NOW. I'VE HAD HEART PROBLEMS, DEPERSONALIZATION, TENDON PROBLEMS, TINNITUS 24/7, HEARING LOSS. MY LIFE WAS RUINED BY THIS POISON. THERE ARE SAFER ANTIBIOTICS AVAILABLE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE WITH KNOWN POISON LIKE THIS???
GO TO****** AND YOU CAN GET SOME HELP THERE.

I am a 51 year old female with lyme disease and co infected with Bartonella who previous to getting sick was very anti medical establishment and very anti--antibiotic.
After 8 months of treatment with other horrible antibiotics I decided to try Levaquin, even after reading these horror stories as I was desperate for relief. I expected ill effects from the moment I swallowed the first pill but by the 4th of 5th day my pain and brain fog began to recede and I am almost through with my second month and I feel positively human. I have had headaches nausea depression etc etc for 10 months so I can't say these things are related to the Levaquin. I do have tightness in my ankles and wrists but some tender tendons and swollen joints have actually improved. I am also taking 3000 mg of Amoxicillin so that make contribute to the relief. My doctor is very aware of the side effects and encourages me to pay a lot of attention to my body and limit any exercise or actions that strain the ligaments.
I believe this is a very very powerful antibiotic that is being used randomly and needs more research to determine who is at risk for these horrible side effects before it is prescribed in such a broad monner. I am happy for the forum and the discussion and the opportunity to make a leap toward health with this drug.

49 year old female with bladder infection took cipro for 7 days was not getting better went to doctor told me i had kidney infection took levaquin for 10 days and felt like i was going to die . i never felt so sick in all my life its been 1 month since i stopped taking it and my liver and bladder are so inflamed i have a sore throat and my chest hurts. went to doctor and she has no clue oh yeah and i have joint inflammation to. she said i was like the kitchen sink now i have to do all this blood work to determine whats wrong with me. i really think its from the 2 antibiotics i took after reading about all the side effects .

Hi,

Is there an antidote for Levaquin? I took it for 7 days and stopped 3 days ago. Is there anything recommended to reverse it and detoxify in order to limit the damage? I saw in the warnings sheet from the pharmacy that it should not be taken with Iron, Magnesium and Calcium. Maybe it's good to take all of those now to try to neutralize it.

It would be good to get the antidotes published here so that others who come along later can start removing it from their bodies it as soon as they find this web site.

Anyone with detox recommendations, please post them.

I am a 52 year old women , except for a yearly resistant sinus infection I would describe myself as very healthy and have only minor aches and pains for my age. I was prescribed Levaquin by a walk- in physician after 2 months of a sinus infection. Within a week I felt 100 years old . I could barely get out of bed, the pain in all my joints was excruciating the first 5 minutes and didn't improve a lot during the day . I didn't think my legs would hold me upon rising from any position. After one week of finishing the drug I started to feel better.......it has been two weeks now.... I'm still sore and weak , especially noted in hands and legs .

After 4 days in the hospital with the colon infection and some antibiotics treatment via I.V. I walked home, I was fine. All I needed was to have 7 x 500mg in coming week.
After three days and 3 of 500mg Levaquin pills very itchy reddish rash developed in a day all over my entire back where I have solid areas , bottom, parts of the arms and upper chest and neck where I have dense spots..
I used the Witch hazel and Aloe Vera Mist (no help) till I’ve got hold of the Triamcinolone Acetonide Cream. No help yet in last 4 hours. I’ll try Calamine lotion next.
Boy it itches I didn’t sleep all night. I never had any allergies before.

I took 4 500 mg doses of Levaquin for a sinus infection on Aug 19-22 2008. I am now almost 5 months out. I suffered multiple adverse reactions and have been waiting to post to see how things resolved. I am 39 years old and in excellent health. I rarely see doctors and have never had anything chronic. This is what I experienced: extreme fatigue, all over muscle soreness/stiffness, severe headaches, tingling/numbness in hands/feets, serious shoulder problems requiring ortho, physical therapy and chiropractor, irregular heart rhythm, irregular kidney function, constant ringing in my ears, impaired vision. Currently most of these are resolved except irregular kidney function (although this has improved), shoulder issues (not normal yet) and ringing in my ears.

You can't judge the full scope of your reaction by your body's initial reaction. As time unfolds you will get the big picture of how this drug harms the various systems of the body.

I can not begin to explain how taking this drug has impacted my life and my family. I have 3 children to take care of. I thank God that I am healing and have now resumed almost all of my daily activities. I pray that I will soon be back to full health. This is absolute madness. I am so sorry that so many of us have been injury in such a way.

OH MY GOD!!!! I thought I might be imagining things. I was prescribed Levaquin and clyndamycin on December 15 2008 for a urinary tract infection that appeared to have gone systemic. After 2 days my right knee swelled up. I went back to the Dr the next day and he looked up both antibiotics in his little book and said the clyndamycin could cause joint swelling and pain. He told me to stop taking the clyndamycin and take 600 mg of ibuprofen for the joint paig. His little book said nothing about levaquin. Well I kept taking the levaquin and the pain spread literally to every joint in my body. I could not walk and had trouble even holding a coffee cup. The pain was unreal. I completed the 10 day course of the levequin as instructed. The joint pain was getting worse. I called the Dr. again and they did blood work to rule out arthritis and stuff like that. He put me on prednisone which has significantly helped with the pain. He said it may be a coincidence that I have developed arthritis and that it had nothing to do with the UTI. Well as I was watching TV last night I saw a lawyers commercial for a law suit against levaquin and cipro. Then today got on the internet and found this site. I am going to call the Dr. and tell him to update his little book he looked up the levaquin in. My fear is how long after you stop taking this poison does the joint pain end? I wish I would have known all of this sooner. I will never take this drug again.

Today is Christmas day 2008. And a Merry Christmas to me ha!!!!!!!! I was given a prescription for the drug Levaquin on the 19th of December for a suspicion of pneumonia. The x rays done at the hospital found no evidence of pneumonia but my doctor wanted me to take it anyway because since I have asthma and my lungs sounded so bad I was told that I was at risk for developing any secondary infection that was out there. My husband filled the prescription on the 20th which was Saturday, took the first one of a seven day supply 500 mg tablets. About 4 hours after taking just one pill was awakened by severe and agonizing pain in both of my feet and my knees that I was writhing in pain. Since I have nerve damage in my feet anyhow I know what the pain that I normally experience feels like and instantly knew that this was not normal for me. When I thought that I finally might be able to walk I hobbled into the kitchen and dug the list of side affects out of the garbage (stupid me had not read them first.) I discovered that it was one of the side affects. Called the on call doctor in the morning since it was on the weekend and he stopped it immediately and put me on something else. I only took that one pill and since Saturday night every night I wake up in agonizing knee pain and I have never had pains in my knees before. The pain is so bad that I feel like I am ready to go on a morphine drip, or cut my legs off above the knees. Six days now from one pill, how much longer can this go on? I really feel bad for the people that contined to trust their doctors and continued with the full course of the medication and I realize that what I am experiencing is minor compared to what others are going through. This drug should come with a handout that says: Take this drug at a risk to your health!!!!!! Last night the pain lasted all night and I cried all night. Have to get through this day am entertaining for the holiday and have had no sleep. Actually getting afraid to go to sleep at this point.............D.

This is painful for me to type due to the pain in my hands & fingers. I had ankle surgery to fix a torn ligament and an ankle scope on Oct. 30, 2008. I was put on 500 mg of Levaquin to prevent infection. On Nov 4th, my entire body felt like it was beat up. I could barely get up off of the couch. I also developed severe pain and burning in my foot. I couldn’t support my weight on crutches due to pain in my arms & wrists. I took this dose for 10 days. On Nov 24th, I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I ended up being hospitalized for 10 days. I had severe swelling in my ankle and bruising up to & including my toes. The doc thought it was an infection so I was started on 2 types of IV antibiotics. Didn’t get any better. On Nov 26th, the doc tried to aspirate it and only dried blood came out. It was sent for a culture and came back negative. He asked me how my pain was and I told him the back of my ankle hurt really bad. He said “the MRI that was done on Nov 25th showed I developed tendinitis in the Achilles tendon. I asked him how that happened since I haven’t walked on that foot since my injury date of August 23rd. He said he wasn’t sure. I had 2 previous MRIs (Sept & Oct) which did not show tendinitis at all! On Dec. 1st I went back to the operating room so the doctor could cut open the golf ball size hematoma on the outside of my ankle. He got a lot of jelly-like blood from the back part of my ankle. He left the drain in overnight and then removed it. I was released on Dec 3rd with a script for 750 mg of Levaquin for 7 days (which I finished yesterday). The swelling is down about 25% and I have been out of the hospital for 8 days now. The pain in my body was so horrible today that I went to my family doctor. She did a thorough exam of my joints-which was complete agony!!!! She explained that she was going to run some tests to see what is wrong. She explained to me that she thinks this is a reaction to the Levaquin & she has had patients who have had ruptured tendons from this medication. She sent me for bloodwork and gave me a script for morphine (Avinza) to control the pain, which 750 mg of ES Vicodin and 800 mg of Ibuprofen didn’t make it any better. I feel helpless as my 9 year old has to do everything for me because I simply cannot get up. I hope my doctor figures this out real soon! This is unreal to have to suffer like this. I will keep everyone on this page in my prayers! Good Luck to everyone!

I took Levaquin 750 for 10 days for a sinus infection. I took first 5 doses, went to see my doctor again 6 days later because I was still sick. She prescribed again 5 does of Levanquin 750. I am still coughing and I feel very tired. It did not help at all. I am still sick and I have muscle pains in my two calves and stress Achille tendon. I am a runner and I have sometimes problems with my calf: I have been not running too much recently and I was wondering how come suddenly I had those muscle pains in both my calves. I am not sure if it is related to Levaquin, but when I read all those comments, I am worried. Why I have been prescribed this antibiotics if it is obviously dangerous?

I never have the side effects that other people have. I am allergic to a lot of antibiotics but can take this one. It always clears up my infections with no problems. I always drink the extra fluid they recommend while taking it. I am not sure if this is what helps. Also, there is a warning that people over 60 are more likely to have side effects. So if you are over 60 maybe this is not the med for you. I am grateful that this medication exists.

I was put in the hospital November 8th, they were giving me Levaquin through IV's and then after they seriously hurt the back of my hand, I demanded to take meds by mouth-I had already had around 5 days of this through the IV-I was diagnosed at the emergency room with a ruptured appendix, and it had been that way for 3 weeks-it took 1 doctor and 2 hospitals to diagnose that!! really makes we wonder about the medical profession these days! so when I was released from the hospital after a 6 day stay and appendix still in me, they gave me a prescription for Levaquin for another 10 days-well, I took it for 8 days and had to stop all together-I have been so weak and from my knees down kill me! I have bad joint pain in my knees and hips, but I thought maybe this could be from sitting in a hospital bed for all those days-now that I've read all these complaints, I'm wondering if I should have taken this stuff at all! I hadn't taken any kind of antibiotics for over 3 years-have been ok up til now. I am so scared of the pain and tingling in my feet, thought maybe it could be blood clots in my legs from not moving around as much as I'm used to-my grandmother recently passed from a blood clot and my cousin also at the age of 33 died from a clot after knee surgery! so what do I do?? is it a clot or is it the dreadful drug "Levaquin" that is causing me all this pain?? any suggestions out there?? and I have no insurance either! what a terrible experience!

I was given Levaquin after a post surgical Staph infection was confirmed. I too had the side effects described by so many others. Extreme muscle aches, joint pain even in my fingers, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, dizziness. My Dr. said to try to fight through it because the Staph infection needed thia particular antibiotic to cure it. I am 5 days into my 10 day dose and I can't keep taking the pills. I am scared and don't want to end up in the hospital again. He tried to give me a prescription for Bactrim but I said no because i can't take it. I have worse side effects with it than I have the Levaquin. I can't stay wake for more then 1 hour and I dose off but wake up with 15 minutes feeling drained. I can't walk very far without my legs feeling like jello. My WHOLE BODY HURTS!!

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

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

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

Doctors’ Advice:

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

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

My Approach to Healing:

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

Other things I have done in the past month:

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

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

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

4. Used a heating pad, which improves circulation

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

What you can do:

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

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

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

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

5. Share your findings/advice on this forum.

Good Luck

I was prescribed an 11 day supply of Levaquin - 500 mg. I'm on day 7 and struggling to make it 4 more days. The first day I took the tablet around 5 pm. I was up all night. Since taking in the morning, I've been fine. Now, I'm suffering from very sore biceps, heels and stiff knees. The fatigue is overwhelming. I also experience extreme dizziness as well. I may call the doctor tomorrow to see if I can stop this. I've taken various antibiotics throughout my lifetime and never have experienced the side effects such as this one.

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.

My 80 year old mom is going through Chemo for Bladder Cancer. She is also diabetic. Bacteria was found in her urine so the doctor gave her 4 tablets of Levaquin. Saturday night of Labor day weekend mom took the first pill. Sunday she woke up almost BLIND! She panicked and, thinking it was her diabetes causing the problem, took her blood sugar numbers. (She was so scared that she can't recall what the numbers were, just that they were 250+). She started taking her fast acting insulin. She couldn't get the blood sugar numbers to come down after numerous injections. She called me so confused and not knowing what to do. Thank God I wasn't gone that weekend. I rushed 18 miles into town. I calmed her down. We just kept watching the numbers and she kept taking her injections. About 6 hours later the numbers were down to normal for her. We narrowed the cause down to either the Levaquin or the infusion of platletts she had on Friday. We called the pharmacist and he said that Levaquin could cause blurriness of vision. She didn't take any more Levaquin.
It had been 10 days since she took that one pill and her eye sight is still messed up. When she tries to read the newspaper the letters jump around. She has a hard time reading the dosage numbers on her syringes now. She is so scared that her eyes won't get better and she will have to be dependent on someone.

I am diabetic 2- and was given levaquine 700 mg for two nights to recover from urinary infection. I hardly could sleep first night and was uncomfortable all night. The second night when I got sleep at mid-night, I was fully awakened in next hour by palpitation of heart which hurt my neck and left side down to the legs. I was rushed to cardiologist and was under gone all the necessary tests from sonogram to stress to necular . The heart did not show any damage but I am now suffering from irregular palpitations and my left shoulder is very tender occasionally causing muscular pain on left side of my chest. I can not lift a gallon of milk with my left hand and am compelled to rest in the middle of the day otherwise I start hurting in my chest. I hope no one is given this strong doses and that at night. Please go for old antibiotics in milder forms to begin to cure.

My 10 year old was prescribed levaquin for a sinus and ear infection, he has been "dizzy and lightheaded" and started having "horrible" nightmares. That was only after 1 dose. I don't think he'll be taking anymore. Thank You for this website! :) very informative.

UPDATE from Yesterday)))>>> well thanks to everyone i quit taking it yesterday BUT!!!---> today when i woke up i had a horrible head ache and it seemed to be coming from my left eye. i looked in the mirror and i have a really weird yellowish glazed tint in both my eyes and in my left eye a blood vessel has burst. i also noticed ive developed a skin rash on my right side of my stomach and on my left calf. My joints kept me up all night in constant pain which felt like someone was ripping apart my ligaments. I had a minor anxiety attack last night (Ive NEVER had anxiety before) and my body just feels weak, drained, and i keep getting really weird muscel spasms in my upper thigh. I tried to go out to the store earlier and as soon as i stepped into the sunlight a migraine hit me, and ive never been sensitive to light....Ive had a feeling of helplessness and worthlessness more in the past 24 hours than i have in a year. Im also experiencing horrible lower back pain and stomach pain around where my kidneys are.... I did have a small amount breast tenderness when i woke up and im not sure if that's another side effect...(no im not pregnant, had multiple urine tests in the last week)...I think ive only went potty maybe once today...and that was at like 9am...its now almost 9pm. Im pretty sure if this isn't over with or doesn't improve by 10pm im going to the hospital.....i cant drink water and im pretty sure im getting dehydrated....my skins turning pale, i have dark rings around my eyes.....etc.......has anyone else suffered with these things? Levaquin is by far the MOST painful, riskful, antibiotic ive been on...They should definitely take this sh*t off the market!!! =[[

Im only 16 years old and ive been on levaquin for about 3 days now. My doctor told me off the bat that the only thing wrong with the drug were some "theories" on cartilidge damage, how ever, now i see for myself, and for many other people that is not the only side effect. He told me that no one under 18 is supposed to have it but i caught a severe case of sinutitus, and a uti which ive had for 2 months and nothing was working, so he put me on levaquin, once a day for 7 days. Ive now been having the following symptoms and im extremely scared!!
1. Constant fatigue
2. Extreme Migraines
3. Nausea, vomiting
4. Rapid heart beat (and chest pain)
5. Stiffness in joints and horrible pain...
6. Constant anxiousness, to where i cant get to sleep
7. Dizziness

Is there anyone i can talk to who's had these same problems? please email me or something im scared and i don't know what to do my mother doesn't believe me and she says its just a head cold....

******

Please help me!!

My 81 year old mother, who has Diabetes and Blood Pressure (and who is on eleven medications) was given a prescription for 750(!!!) mgs of this drug, by the doctor's physician assistant for a mild upper respiratory infection. Four days later, she ends up in the hospital delirious and confused, with pain in her back and legs. She recognized no one. After a few days, and constant intravenous fluids, she came back to herself. She's always been sharp as a tack, and in pretty good shape for her age. When she was brought to the hospital, they thought she was stroking, and of course, she couldn't tell them that she was just prescribed this medication. All her battery of tests came back negative for stroke. Her useless doctor never even showed up at the hospital. If she had, she could have told them about the prescribed Levaquin. When she was released from the hospital, I called the pharmacist and asked what medication that she was taking could of caused this - and he said without a doubt, the Levaquin. This stuff is absolute poison and should not be on the market. How it got approved, I don't know - maybe kickbacks to them - for sure kickbacks to the doctors who prescribe it and claim side affects are very rear with this medication. If you are every given a prescription for this - ask your doctor for something else.

I STARTED LEVAQUIN, 1ST ROUND FOR STAPH INFECTION POST OP BURSECTOMY. AFTER THE 2ND DAY, I ASKED DR. FOR PAIN MEDS JUST TO CONTINUE ANTIBIOTICS. I HAD TERRIBLE JOINT PAIN, AND COULD BARELY WALK. I ALSO STARTED GETTING PITTED EDEMA. THE DR CONTRIBUTED THE EDEMA TO IV FROM SURGERY AND DISMISSED ALL THE SYMPTOMS I COMPLAINED ABOUT FOR THE LEVAQUIN ASSUMING I WAS A DRUG SEEKER I GUESS. AFTER THE FOLLOWING WEEK, MY SYMPTOMS SEEMED TO GET BETTER. I AM NOW ON ROUND 4 ( 500MG LEVAQUIN X 7 DAYS) I WENT TO DR BECAUSE MY PITTED EDEMA RETURNED. I ACTUALLY HAD A ROLL WHICH COVERED MY ANKLE. MY FEET WERE HUGE. THE PA SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT, BUT SAID IT WAS NOT LEVAQUIN. BY THE NEXT DAY I COULD BARELY WALK. MY KNEES HIPS AND BUTT MUSCLES HURT SO BAD. I HAD A LUMBAR FUSION A FEW YEARS AGO, AND THIS WAS MORE PAINFUL. I STOPPED THE DRUG BECAUSE MY BIG TOE STARTED GOING NUMB. SYMPTOMS STARTED TO DISAPPEAR BY NEXT DAY, BUT THEN MY ARM INFECTION RETURNED SO I RESTARTED LEVAQUIN. THIS TIME, BY 2ND DOSE AL SYMPTOMS RETURNED. NOW MY BIG TOE WENT COMPLETELY NUMB ON TOP HALF AND MEDIAL SIDE. I COULD NOT USE KNEES AT ALL. IF I COULD HAVE MADE IT TO THE STORE, I WOULD HAVE GONE AND BOUGHT A WALKER. I AM 45. I DECIDED TO STOP DRUG AND START SOME KEFLEX I HAD IN CUBBORD. SYMPTOMS WERE GONE IN ABOUT 2 DAYS. I STILL LIKE CRAP, BUT I CAN WALK NOW AND THE SEVERE FEET, LEGS, KNEES, HIPS , BUTT , WRIST PAIN ARE SO MUCH BETTER. I DID HAVE TO LAY FLAT WITH LEGS ABOVE HEART FOR 2 DAYS TO HELP GET RID OF EDEMA. I READ ONLINE WHERE OTHERS HAD THESE PROBLEMS ALSO. I HAVE TAKEN LEVAQUIN BEFORE AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT. I HAVE TO WANDER IF THERE IS SOME KIND OF FACTORY TAMPERING OR INGREDIENT CHANGE ETC, THAT COULD PASSABLY BE HAPPENING. MY MEDS WER PURCHASED AT SAVEMART AND KAISER. I HAVE TAKEN THIS DRUG MANY TIMES PRIOR TO 2005 AND ALWAYS HAD GREAT RESULTS. I AM GOING TO SEE IF ANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS WERE PRIOR TO 2005. I READ WERE SOMEONE SAID TO DRINK A LOT OF WATER . I AM NOT A BIG WATER DRINKER SO I MUST ADMIT IT HELPED. I READ WHERE ANOTHER LADY HAD MULTIPLE TESTS, AND FINALLY THE ONLY THING THAT CAME BACK ABNORMAL WAS A LAB TEST TO SHOW MUSCLE DETERIORATION. I ALSO DID A COLON CLEANSE. SOMETHING I ALREADY HAD THAT I USE ON OCCASION. SO, I DONT KNOW IF IT WAS A COINCIDENCE, BUT AFTER THE COLON CLEANSE, DISCONTINUE OF LEVAQUIN, LOTS OF WATER, AND CUT DOWN ON ANY SALTY FOOD, THE ONLY SYMPTOMS STILL LEFT ARE MY KNEES. I STILL CANNOT GET UP OFF THE FLOOR, OF BEND DOWN WITHOUT SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO. BUT THEY ARE IMPROVING AND THIS IS DAY 3. EDEMA IS COMPLETELY GONE. MY SIDE AFFECTS PAPER STATED DANGER OF TENDON RUPTURE AND IT ALSO STATED NOT TO EXERCISE. SO, IT CANNOT HURT TO DO A COLON CLEANSE. IF NOTHING ELSE, IT HELPS GET RID OF LEFT OVER TOXINS IN BODY. I WOULD ASK FOR A GOOD ONE AT AN HERB STORE. BUT MAKE SURE YOU DRINK LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. I THINK DEHYDRATION HAS PARTLY TO DO WITH MUSCLE PAIN ETC. ALL 3 DOCTORS I SPOKE WITH REFUSE TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE CULPRIT. I AM GOING TO DEMAND THEY PUT MY SYMPTOMS AND PUT THAT I STATE I BELIEVE LEVAQUIN IS CASING OR CONTINUING TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS IN MY MEDICAL RECORDS. ASK DR TO READ BACK TO YOU WHAT THEY DOCUMENTED IN YOUR CHART. INSIST THEY PUT IT IN YOUR CHART. IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS DRUG DOWN THE ROAD, YOU WILL HAVE IT DOCUMENTED. NOT ANY OF MY DOCTORS DOCUMENTED THE THINGS I TOLD THEM ABOUT LEVAQUIN WHEN I ASKED. I AM NOW GOING TO INSIST THEY DOCUMENT IT IT ALL, AND PROVIDE ME A COPY OF THE MEDICAL RECORD AFTER IT HAS BEEN DICTATED. PS. IT IS NOW CAUSING CRAZY NIGHTMARES, DEPRESSION. I CAN LIVE WITH THAT, BUT THE PAIN ON A SCALE WAS A 9. GOOD LUCK, AND IF ANYONE FINDS A DOCTOR WHO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH THIS, PLEASE POST IT. THANK YOU DK

To all the people who are just starting to make the connection between their symptoms and Levaquin or other fluoroquinolone antibiotic: There is a lot of information available on the internet. Check out the following websites: fluoroquinolones.org, antibiotics.org, medicationsense.org, fqvictims.org, fqresearch.org. There are also support groups on yahoo for sufferers. Please don't forget to file a medwatch report with the FDA. Finally the FDA is starting to listen to the victims!

I have had progressive muscle weakness, pain in my joints with swelling of the knees, ankles and hips. My doctor said it is not related to the antibiotic and to continue taking it. The symptoms are so disabling I can barely make it to the bathroom alone and I have had to miss work. I also told him the inside of my throat felt swollen, and my tongue is turning white. It just isn't a pleasant drug to be on.

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.

Question for you all. I have been on levaquin for 6 days 750 mg. For the last 3 to 4 days my hands have been killing me and it is getting worse, my knees, and shoulders hurt now. After reading your remarks I am calling doc first thing in the morning. Please let me know if you have any advice for me.

Most of the "side effects" are die off responses (sometimes referred to as a herxheimer response similar to that which occurs when treating syphillis) from bartonella or borrelia. Levaquin is a potent intracellular antibiotic...where these and other organisms can hide. These can be subclinical infections where (at this time) you are not even aware you are infected. If your "side effects" start around the 3rd day into your prescription...rejoice...and suffer for a while, you are killing something really bad.

I took Levaquin for a kidney infection 500 mg. I was inchy all over. stomach pain. sever neck pain, and pain all over I feel like I was hit by a truck. no energy. my eyes get all heavy like I haven't slept in weeks. Alls I do is sleep and when I do I wake up very confused. I've been taking naps in the day time which I've never been able to do even if I was sick. I don't feel normal like I'm drunk and I don't even drink my sister says I even sound drunk. I get headaches. I have bruises all over in the places that I had itched. I still have kidney pain it feels like it's flopping around in there. Sweat a lot at night time. My heart sometimes beats really fast then thunks hard and then slows down. anxiety attacks. I cry for no reason. I called my doctor and he said he don't think it's from the levaquin that people only get a couple side effects not this many and put me back on antibiotics.

I was diagnosed with pneumonia 12 days ago and put on Levaquin because of it. I have felt like a totally different person and not in a good way. I have not slept more than 2-3 hours per night since beginning this antibiotic, I have been depressed, crying and fatigued. I am normally very emotionally stable but the insomnia has been a nightmare. I will never take this medication again. I appreciate all the postings on this site that helped me know that I wasn't going crazy - Levaquin was doing that to me.

I am a 49 year old male and took a 14 day course of Cipro for a UTI. By day four the souls of my feet were very sore, especially first thing in the morning but no other side effects. Mentioned sore feet to Dr after 7 days of Cipro but he did not believe it was from Cipro and had me complete the course. After 14 day course of Cipro feet were now so painful that I could barely walk on them especially after resting or getting out of bed. Also burning sensation on skin of feet and hands and some minor tremor. Saw a specialist and he immediately confirmed Cipro as the culprit and advised never to take that drug family again. Have since done the whole web search thing and discovered the whole saga of these drugs. Other symptoms have also appeared, some pain in middle of back, sharp pain in middle of back of both knees, hot and cold flushes, pain in left bicep, fingers that are very susceptible to joint injury and feelings of weakness and anxiety. Has been over three weeks now since I stopped Cipro and condition shows no improvement, may even be slightly worse. About to try a shotgun approach with treatment as there appears little documented evidence of anything conclusive on line. Starting course of anti-inflams (Voltaren) and these have already reduced the pain in my feet. Also magnesium and calcium supplements (theory goes that it may mop up any remaining Cipro and there is plenty of reports from sufferers saying that symptoms continue to appear for some months after stopping Cipro), Vitamin B6 (can apparently help with some types of nerve pain and tingling) and Fish Oil (omega 3's can help reduce inflammation). Not very scientific I know and can't be sure that all these are compatible with each other but am a bit desperate at this stage. Bracing myself for a three to six month recovery (just based on experience of many others). At this stage I am just hoping that damage is not irreversible as this appears to be a real risk. As everyone here will agree it is amazing how this situation is being allowed to continue. I could have stopped my Cipro on day two or three if I had been made fully aware of the risks and what to look out for. I am no expert by any means on this but from what I can gather Cipro and its relatives do nerve damage by the very way they work. It appears that anyone taking these drugs will inflict some nerve damage but for many it will not manifest to a degree that is a problem or at least a noticeable problem. So in some ways we are all sufferers, just to varying degrees. Another point mentioned often is that the symptoms may not appear for some months after the Cipro is stopped and therefore is not always associated with the drug. Also some say there is an accumulative affect with using the drug a second or third time. Symptoms may appear only after multiple use or symptoms may get much worse and more likely irreversible with multiple use. It's all scary reading. At this stage I am just hoping I can make a full recovery. Do damaged nerves repair themselves, does the Cipro eventually leech out of our systems .... I don't know. I will post in this forum again in a few months or sooner if I make a recovery.

I took this antibiotic for 2 days. I have no history of mental illness whatsoever and I thought I was losing my mind for 2 days. I had a panic attack 2 nights in a row and stayed up all night starring at front door afraid that someone was going to break into my home and hurt my children. I can not believe that this "antibiotic" is even on the market. This is an extremely dangerous drug. I called the doctor and he sounded like he didn't believe me- maybe I should share some of this stuff with him so he can experience the crazy too!