Levaquin and anxiety

I was prescribed 7 days 750mg of Levaquin on 9/10 and finished 9/16. I was originally diagnosed with bronchitis but went back to the Dr. yesterday cause I was not doing any better and he now says it's viral. I've gone to the hospital because I passed out on 9/13 and continue to faint at least once a day. I have tingling/numbness in my hands, ankles, toes, my knees hurt, my lower back is in a lot of pain, almost to where it is not tolerable, I'm dehydrated (I'm drinking and eating, just not as much) it is extremely painful to eat, my tongue and my gums hurt terribly. Last night I had a horrible dream (I don't dream usually, not nightmares) and today I started to hallucinate (mildly) A week ago I was functioning normally, a mother of 3, playing with my kids and now I can hardly walk without assistance, I can't go to work, I'm in constant pain. Someone please give me some kind of guidance. Will these feelings ever go away? What should I do? Thank you!!!!

Numerous side effects including but not limited to: spontaneous tendon rupture (right distal bicep), CNS agitation accompanied by anxiety and panic, extreme fatigue, digestive problems, on-going fluctuations of blood sugar level, rapid changes in body temperature, nausea, etc.

Some here insist on reporting the "good" this stuff has done (other than lining some peoples pockets with profits). I disagree. As I post this I see 2250 adverse effects have been posted previously. I urge yo all to look deeper ask the question: "Why so many problems with this class of drug?" The 2250 number is only for Levaquin..... don't forget to add in all the responses for all of the other drugs in the quinolone family. And while you are at it, find out how many other drugs have death as a side effect and how many have been reported. This is a defective drug.

I started Levaquin 500 MG on Thursday Aug. 29, 2008. I did not have any problem the first night. But the second day at about 3:00 PM I was working on my computer when my finger joints started to get stiff and my hands and arms started to shake. I just thought I was tired and forgot about it. At 1:30 AM August 30, I was awakened by someone shouting in my ear , You are going to die. I woke up in a sweat and my heart pounding. My hand were stiff and my knee joints were very tight. I also was in a very bad panic attack.
I went to my desk and wrote my wife a letter telling her how much I loved her and my dog Abby. I then proceeded to give her funeral instructions as to which funeral home church and buriel plot.. This writing was 3 pages long. I called my doctor and they as much told me this could not happen. My blood pressure was 240 over 120 when I took it. I took a valium and this calmed me down in 10 minutes. They gave me a new antibiotic for my Bronchitis. So I thought the nightmares and pain was over. Not so quick last night at 2:20 AM I was awake by the screaming in my ears you are going to die. I tried to call my wife but I could not get the word out for help. I tried to move my hands and fingers they would not move. Finally I rolled off the bed and yelled my wifes name she did not hear me.
This drug has set back my recovery from my panic attacks. This drug should be badded by the FDA. But as usual the government does nothing to help the public only big business.

Hi

I just ran upstairs to look at what Antibiotic I was on last and it's the same one. I got a rash on about day 7 and googled it and saw all the patients with lots and lots of complications. Actually I mentioned this to the doctor when I went back and she said lots of people react badly to it ...she could even take it. You think they should have to warn you of the serious side effects ...
I wonder why they are using this antibiotic all of a sudden as I have never heard of it before!!!
Interesting ....you should have this in your medical records in case you are in an accident.

There are on line sites that people post reactions to things that others can read....you should add yours....like I said SCARY!!!!

Jackie



-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Heather" ******
I just googled Levaquin and read this: Quinolones, including LEVAQUIN, may also cause central nervous system stimulation which may lead to tremors, restlessness, anxiety, lightheadedness, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, nightmares, insomnia, and rarely, suicidal thoughts or acts. That describes what happened to me.

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!!

I was prescribed Levaquin by my Dr. for a sinus infection. There were 10 pills and I was to take one a day. No one mentioned any of the side effects or drug interactions except to not take antacids within 2 hours of taking the meds. During the coarse of me taking the medication I began having substernal chest pains which I thought was just horrible heart burn, but it got so bad that I woke up screaming multiple nights from the pain. I also started having pain in my ankles, legs and especially my knees. The pain in my knees gets so bad that I think my knee caps are going to shatter when I walk especially when going down the stairs. I didn't know any of the drug interactions and my father in law who is a physical therapist has always advised me to take ibuprofen for muscle and joint pain so that's what I did, but little did I know that was only increasing the effects on my central nervous system. I am also experiencing bouts of nausea, confusion, light headedness, difficulty sleeping, anxiety and I actually thought I was having a mental breakdown.. I was freaking out on my husband and very depressed even having suicidal thoughts. It wasn't until my mother randomly mentioned that she had heard about the FDA issuing the Black Box warning that I connected the dots and had already finished the meds. I called my doctor's office right away and was told that the symptoms I am having are not side effects of the medicine. Maybe the Dr. doesn't listen to the news either.

Muscle weakness, pain, tingling

After taking levaquin, I still suffer from muscle weakness, pain, and tingling several years later. My doctor who is one of the top specialists in New York has seen what this drug has done to me and is doing research for an article in a medical journal to put the word out of the horrible side effects of this drug as well as increasing the knowledge to hopefully figure out how to counteract this.

If you are/have suffered similar results, please contact me at ****** and we can discuss how you can send your case information to my doctor for the study and medical journal article. We need more scientific studies and literature out there about this drug and the side effects.

I took levaquin 750mg as prescribed yesterday, after leaving my doctors office at 330pm ( june 18th). along with calrinex d (1tab) and a tsp of tussionex suppension syrup and 4 nose shots of astelin in increments of two over a 4 hr period of time. I was awake a majority of the night unable to sleep. But had some bouts of sleep. This morning (june 19th) I awoke at 930 am forced awake due to an appointment, and took 550 mgm of levaqin and the array of other drugs, around 12pm I noticed a headache and believed it was due to the exertion of coughing so much, my appetite is non-existent and around 6pm I felt flushed and sweaty, however this feeling subsided. I am now in hyper drive, I want to fall asleep but when I do my throat has the sensation of being choaked and then I have this odd gush or air emmited nasally which awakens me from the doze. My left corotid arrtey was tender and my heart is palpitating. While my sinus infection is almost gone I do not think I will be continuing this medication. There will be a call made to my physician at first reasonable light, I am sure I will be awake.

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 have been taking Levaquin for sinus infection after Augmentin didn't keep it from coming back. All I can say is that I am completely exhausted. I wonder if it is the drug or something else. No muscle pain. I don't know if I should stop taking it or continue. Tonight I was walking for exercise and couldn't finish because I thought I might faint. My heart was beating and I was shaking. Do you think it is the drug? HELP!

Prescribed 500mg of Levaquin for sinus infection, along w Medrol Pak steroids. Although steroids can cause restlessness, they do NOT cause COMPLETE anxiety, nightmares insomnia and aphasia. I took only 4 pills, 1 each day, and it's like i boarded THE CRAZY TRAIN. Fluoroquinolones are apparently known for their intense and dangerous side effects, and if it is true that this is also an antidote for anthrax poisoning, it's probably something that should not be prescribed for sinus infections. SEVERE side effects, chest tightness, etc. No wonder they will not rx it for teenagers-I am a healthy 42 yr old woman and would NEVER take it AGAIN,.

I have a question to any and all of you who have posted. I have similar symptoms to just about all of you minus any rash but mostly I have pain and some weakness in my right side particularly my shoulder and arm with some tremors in my pinky and ring finger and some pain and weakness in my right thigh. Insomnia and anxiety have also been a big part of the symptoms. Additionally when I take a hot shower my fingers twitch really bad then subside after about an hour...weird. My question is to some of you who have been going through this for some time is does this subside or even better go away over time? I have been off this stuff for just about a month now and things seem to be a little better but it might be that I am just getting used to the symptoms. Thanks

I have taken several rounds of Levaquin, and recently Avelox. After taking 2 rounds of levaquin for a sinus infection last spring I experience many of the myalgia type symptoms, and was tested for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Lyme's disease, all negative... eventually felt better. I never attributed to the medication. Last fall I again had a sinus infection levaquin again, 2 rounds of 5 days in February, and then Avelox early April. I have never been sicker in my life. I have had many of the CNS effects, and the joint and muscle pain. Agonizing pain that I had never experienced. worse than passing a kidney stone. I am feeling a bit better, and heading back to work today after being unable to go for 10 days. I have also developed some eye problems, that are being managed with drops. I am trying to eat naturally and drinking lots of water. I pray this will go away, and want to warn everyone not to take this medication! Still have back and hip pain, pain in my feet, insomnia, headaches, and anxiety...but is not as severe as 10 days ago. My prayers are with all of you suffering from the side effects of these dangerous drugs.

I was prescribed Avelox for pneumonia, which I had a severe reaction to. I was driving in my car with my kids and suddenly didn't know where I was. I was so confused and pulled the car over and vomited. I rushed home and was launched into a full-fledged panic attack. I was then given Levaquin and I was fine with it other than some mild malaise and a little dizziness for the 7 days of 750mg, but my symptoms just came back soon after and I developed a sinus infection and was put back on the Levaquin. I took one 250mg pill yesterday and had the same thing happen, severe fatigue, weakness and numbness in my hands and arms, dizziness, confusion, panic attacks, blurred vision and severe diarrhea. I felt floaty and out of it for the rest of the day and night. I woke up this morning and I feel much better, other than some left over anxiety about taking the prescription. THE GOOD NEWS is that my symptoms are gone now that the antibiotic has been metabolized and secreted from my body. I did see some floaters in the shower today, but I believe they were because I strained my eyes when looking to far to the right. I drank 2 glasses of wine to help with the increased heart rate and insomnia that the drug caused--worked well!! I would never, ever take this antibiotic again.

I was prescribed 250 mg Levaquin once daily in mid-January for a Group B strep UTI. The night I took the first dose, I had trouble sleeping but didn't think that much of it. But the sleeplessness and anxiety grew over the next few days, and by the morning after I had taken the fourth dose, I was feeling extremely edge. Also, on that day i started feeling itchy and my face got hot and quite red. I took an Allegra and called my doctor, who said I should discontinue the drug. Three weeks later, I had my chin waxed at the same place I'd been having it done for years; I hadn't realized how messed up the Levaquin made my skin, but I had two large burn marks afterwards (which fortunately cleared up in about a week). I've also been having a rash on my neck, which I've been treating with Allegra and Benadryl cream.

I've posted here before about my nightmare with Levaquin that began in December of '06. I had all of the usual nasty side effects including: anxiety, thoughts of dying, unable to eat, redness, chest pain, strange blood pressure and temp readings, and finally a ruptured bicep tendon. Still, one side effect that I have not seen mentioned is one I'm still curious about..... I had a tremendous change in my sense of smell. To the point where I literally could not stand the scent of the deodorant I have used my entire life. To this day I still cannot tolerate that smell (as well as changes in other smells). Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Just curious.

While taking Levaquin I experienced insomnia and anxiety. One week after completing 500mg a day for 10 days, I began experiencing Tendonitis in my right hand/wrist and have had an incredibly painful earache with tinnitus and vertigo. The ENT doctor diagnosed TMJ, but I do not grind my teeth or clench my teeth. My jaw operates just fine with no immediate pain, but the earache persists almost constantly. The ENT doctor's solution was Vicodin, but I want a cure not a pain treatment. I don't believe I have TMJ and wonder if it could be the temporal tendon. I am indirectly aware of two other people who have had the same experience, and I wonder how many others are out there. If any one else has experienced this and has any knowledge or advice to offer, I would greatly appreciate it. I have no idea who to go to about this. The ENT doctor does not have any solutions, and I doubt a dentist can help me because I don't think it's TMJ.

Levaquin actually worked great when I took it. I was diagnosed with epididymitis after a urine culture was analyzed and the doc gave me a 10 day supply of Levaquin to take once a day. The side effects I felt were pain in the abdominal area, headaches, anxiety, confusion, and dizziness. Those I could live with, because the epididymitis problem had more side effects than the drug. The trade off was worth it. I'm on my 7th day of Levaquin and I feel a whole lot better than without it. But do beware some people do react badly to the Levaquin family of drugs including cipro. This is some powerful stuff not to be messed around with, it is also used to treat HIV patients and people who had post inhalation of Anthrax. Yes it is powerful enough to treat those dangerous conditions. When you take Levaquin just get plenty of rest drink lots of water AND Cranberry juice which prevents unitary tract infections. Do not exercise while on this medicine for it will cause tendon damage, just take it easy for the whole time you are on it with plenty of fluids. Get better and stay healthy.

Was prescribed Levaquin during the flu for the "possibility" of an infection. Developed severe leg cramps and swelling. Insomnia, have slept a total of about 3 hours in 3 nights. Episodes of depression, crying and anxiety with racing heart. If this was the only drug available to save myself from a severe sinus infection, or even death, I would chose the infection! Stay away from this antibiotic, it's unbelievable this drug is legal and even more so that doctors actually prescribe it to people. I guarantee they wouldn't take it themselves or give it to loved ones.

I started taking Levaquin in December for a respiratory infection (500mg for 10 days). The only side effects I noticed while taking it was a terrible headache, insomnia and anxiety. I experienced that after the first dose. The next day I called my Dr. to tell him and he said he would prescribe Ativan and I should continue with my prescription. I wish I had listened to my common sense, but I listened to the doctor. I finished the prescription and felt somewhat better from the infection but after 10 days of being off the Levaquin, I started to get a burning pain in my left arm. At first I thought it was a blood clot or something. Two days later, the pain had spread to both arms. The pain was so intense I thought I was going to pass out. I had severe joint and muscle pain. I suspected it was the Levaquin when I found this and other websites where people have been describing their experiences. I made copies of a lot of information to take to the doctor. When I went the doctor I described my pain and tried to show him the information, but he didn't believe me. He said it was not caused by the Levaquin. Since then, the pain has spread to my knees. I have decided to find a new doctor since I refuse to waste my time on a doctor who doesn't even believe me. I called the FDA to file a med watch and they said they were going to send me paperwork..guess what..that was last week and I still haven't gotten paperwork. I believe that everyone is trying to keep this undercover! I am going to go to their website and download my own forms and file.
Two weeks ago I started taking a regimen of vitamins: Daily 3000 mg vitamin C, one B Complex, Milk Thistle, 1000 mg Calcium, 500 mg Magnesium, Potassium, and a Probiotic supplement. I don't know if these have helped me, but I do want to say that I feel better than I felt two weeks ago. I still have a lot of pain, but it's not as severe as it was. I'm hoping that it goes away soon. I am spreading the word among family and friends to NEVER take anything in the quinolinone family of antibiotics. I really don't believe that these side effects are as rare as they say. I just believe many people don't report because most don't connect the dots that their symptoms were caused by the antibiotic. My symptoms didn't start until almost two weeks after I completed the antibiotics. I was just lucky enough to have figured it out. The other symptoms I am having are muscle twitching, trouble focusing, insomnia, and cold hands/feet. I also just once had a ringing in my left ear that made me feel like I lost some of my hearing after it finished. I hope that's not the case. I will continue to pray for all of you.

My 15 year old daughter was prescribed this medication for a sinus infection. By the 2nd day she had a headache and by that night she was having nightmares bad enough that she wanted me to watch her fall asleep. She is now paranoid, anxious, she has slept the entire day for the last 5 days and hasn't wanted to leave the house. I left the house and she called me on the phone very paranoid to the point she asked me not to hang up the phone and she kept asking how long until I come home. I was just a few blocks away and she kept telling me to hurry home. I put her in the car with us just to get out of the house then she said she felt sick and threw up. She hasn't held a full conversation in 5 days and says she feels like she's crazy. I called the on-call doctor's hospital and they surprised a doctor prescribed this to a teenager.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I WAS a very healty 45 year old. I walked/ran 3.5 miles a day and did weight training 3 x a week. Ate healthy. No medicines at all, never sick. Had a mild sinus infection and hot flashes followed by freezing that we thought might be from the sinus infection. Dr. gave me Levaquin. Within a couple of days, I felt like both of my hamstrings were pulled and could barely walk. Bear in mind, that I had not been excercizing due to work circumstances. I had a shaky feeling inside that you could sort of see in my fingers. Anxiety. Depression. Mild nausea. Fatigue. A month later, still having the hot flashes and freezing and worse than ever (seems like constant), doctor thought the sinus infection hadn't cleared up so he prescribed cipro - 15 days 500 mg along with a steroid. Everything got even worse. Rash on my hand/arm the first or second day that I blew off as from an ant bite. Nightmares the first 3 nights. Hot flashes often accompanied by racing heartbeat, sometimes slight chest pain if the hot flashes came one right after the other. As I write this I am dripping in sweat. Headache. Also, all my joints started, and continue to hurt. Knees, ankles, even fingers and toes. I've never had arthritis, but I imagine this is what it would feel like if you had it in your entire body. Also, I feel STARVING right AFTER I eat. A relative emailed me a scanned copy of her pharmacy's warnings for levaquin and it mentions hypoglycemia and lists many of these symptoms. (not the muscle ones)
My dr. is attributing most of it to 'anxiety' but I didn't have the anxiety until after the meds and the symptoms.
He did a host of bloodwork to rule out infection, lupus, hormone problems, thyroid, etc and they all came back normal.

I took this drug for an infection and it was the worst thing that
I could have done to my body. I went to see a chiropractor for adjustments to my body and did acupuncture to help build my body back up. It has worked for the muscle aches, but the anxiety, tingling in the arms and insomnia is still there. I started taking Levaquin in May of this year and have been off the medicine for almost three and a half months. I'm in the hopes that I will continue to get better everyday. I want people to know that this is a nasty drug and do not take it no matter what!!!!!!

Thank God for this forum. It's my second day taking this poison and I am feeling AWFUL ..insomnia, anxiety, flu like sympotoms and all this time I was thinking I was going crazy. I am just worried about what would happen if I stop taking it, but at this point I can't feel any worse. It is obvious to me now that we cannot put our heath on anybody's hands, except ourselves. I can't believe this things is still being prescribed after everything I've read about it.

I started a 5 day dose of 500 mg (UTI) last week right before I flew to Chicago for a weekend vacation. Before my flight I was a NERVOUS wreck! I hadn't flown in a while and couldn't believe the anxiety I was feeling. While there, on my 3rd day of levaquin, I went horse-back riding for about an hour, no biggie. The next day, I tried to go on a walk, and had to lay down right in the middle of the woods because my thighs were so sore and my hands were trembling. I had terrible fear of getting back on the plane sunday night, and wanted to write out a will! I was crying my eyes out. Not normal for me. When I got home, I awoke at 3 am extrememly sick to my stomach. I have now been off for 2 days, and the hot sweats and leg pain made me think I had something very wrong. I'm 37 female, healthy.

im 27 and thought i was in good shape. i was given levaquin for an upper resp. infect that the z-pack didnt cure. i was given 7 day dose, and since day one my legs have been sore and achey. then my wrists and elbows became sore, for a minute i thought that i was having hallucinations, i thought no way. then my ankle joint and knee joints begun hurting SOOOO bad, i had a hard time falling asleep, and became scared over my legs, afraid to call the doctor back thinking that it was something else, after reading all of your side affects, i am SO glad to hear that i am not the only one, i still have 3 more of these lovely pills to take, and i do plan on getting in touch with the doc now. i never had a hard time staying awake, i would take it at night and could never get to sleep, also seemed to have slight anxiety, the worst of it all is my legs! i want to cry they hurt so bad, and i have two little ones at home, its not like i can lay around all day!!

Hi all,

I am on my 30th day of this crap. Now, I haven't had the complications a lot of people have, but I have had an ache in my legs just above my knees for probably 3 of the four weeks and in the last week of this an ache in my shoulders and neck area.

I too had the night sweats problem and a LOT of anxiety when i was taking this at first, but I read somewhere else that you're not supposed to have caffeine while on this drug. So, I quit all caffeine, except chocolate, this past two weeks and all my night sweats, anxiety, and sleeplessness went away.

I do however, still have a terrible tiredness each day after taking it and it typically lasts till about 8-9 at night before it starts to lessen.

Funny thing is, i don't think this 500mg of it each day has fixed this supposed prostititus problem i allegedly have. I still think its a pinched nerve in my spinal cord, but the doctors think I'm nuts.

Anyways...good luck and I hope my aches go away after today since I am done taking this.

Phil
p.s. 35 years old...in good shape and I was doing karate before starting this, but been too tired while on it to want to do anything and the karate never made my legs constantly ache.

I am on my 13th day of a 14 day course of Levaquin. I have had severe restlessness due to body tremors, and anxiety. On the 7th day I threw up and had severe stomach pain, and today I have muscle aches which have been getting progressivly worse over the course. Considering the side effects, I called my Dr. who told me to complete my course of medication, and not to worry about the side effects; this has made me seriously consider continuing seeing him. I will NOT take the last pill as I simply cannot continue to attempt to function with little to no sleep, muscle pain and panic attacks. I'm glad to have found this web site, thank you all for sharing, at least now I am sure my symptoms are from the terrible medication.

I have been on this medicine for almost 6 days and I am only 20 years old. I have had a sinus infection for 3 weeks now and have been on antibiotics for 20 days. The Lavaquin they have had me on has caused tingling sensations in my legs and arms I am tired all the time. I play college basketball and have never felt so tired. I cant sleep at night I have anxiety and nightmares about dying and toss and turn for hours. I cant get out of a chair without feeling like I am going to pass out which is very scary. my arms feel tired and this medicine has made me feel like there is something really wrong with me instead of helping me. Do not take this medicine!

I'm a 45 yr-old male in pretty good health. Start Cipro for prostatitis, 500mg x2 / day. Eight days into therapy, starting experiencing tinnitus, tingling in hands & feet, and anxiety++. On day 9, actually experienced a significant facial 'tic'. Stopped drug on day 9; anxiety faded out 95% in less than 2 days, tingling has abated about 1/3 after 4 days, but still remains very noticable (of course, now I'm focused on it). Tinnitus remains at the same level. Have taken Floxin & Levequin several in the past with no adverse effects.

I have read these sites and boy wait till you hear what i have to say. I had a very very severe reaction from levaquin one year ago. I had heart palpitations, nervous system was stimulated, joint pains. severe muscle twitching, firing in my neck and arms, my shoulder became locked. also I had anxiety sort of symptoms. I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I was not anxiety befor the levaquin. And balance problems I couldn't walk without tipping over. I still have this problem today but it come and goes. I have vasculitis (vascular spasms) all over my body. It effects my breathing, heart, and bowels. My blood pressure went up sky high and my blood pressure was not like this before. I am also sensitive to other medications. My body was destroyed from this drug! It belongs in HELL. Yes people need to know about this drug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After taking the first dose of levauin, I couldn't sleep and was very dizzy- thought it was from my sinus infection. After the second dose, I developed severe feelings of anxiety amnd had panic attacks! I stopped the medication, contacted my doctor who said it was an unusual side effect from the levaquin ( yeah right). Unfortuanetly for me- I am now allergic to every antibiotic out there which leaves me with nothign to take if I get sick!!!

Boy am I glad I found this site! My dr. put me on Levaguin 750 mg for 5 days for a sinus infection. The first night I only slept a couple hours at time, woke up anxiety ridden, had strange dreams...The second evening I started having heart palpitations and "band around the chest" type pains that thankfully subsided after a short time. But that night I couldn't stay asleep for more than an hour at a time, but I wasn't at all tired the next morning (!). However I was NAUSEATED big time. By the 3rd afternoon all I could stand to do was lie in bed and stare at one spot on the wall. The dr. told me to stop taking the Levaquin and force fluids. That was yesterday and I'm slowly feeling better, but boy, I'll take a sinus infection any day over those pills!

after 2days of 750 mg of Levaquin, I have severe headaches and tons of anxiety. can't sleep past 12:30 pm every night..I am having a hard time dealing with these bouts of strong anxiety..switced to Doxycline for infection, but side effects of levaquin continue for 1 week now..no md believes me...

The first day I started to get cramps in my legs they r sore and it hurts to walk. Also I had the racing heart I thought it might be anxiety. Also on the first day I developed a burning rash all up under my arm area and arm pits very painful. this is just now going away I think after 6 days. Took 750mg for five starting Jan 24 2007. Legs r still hurting.

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 have taken Levaquin many times in the past and it has always knocked out stubborn sinus infections when other antibiotics have failed me. Now, however, the dosage has changed. Rather than prescribing 250 or 500 mg. for 7 days, they are prescribing 750 mg. for 5 days. My doctor explained that this dosage is supposed to be more effective, while lessening the length of exposure to the medication.

Unfortunately, I am experiencing side-effects that I never felt before. I was up all night long with anxiety and restlessness. I felt like my throat was swollen and I could not breathe well... which I mistakenly attributed to my sinus infection. I felt fine today after finally getting some sleep.

This evening, however, I took my 2nd dose of Levaquin and am starting to feel the negative symptoms again. Swelling of the throat/tongue and anxiety/restlessness.

I'm quite sure that I'm reacting to this medication, and will have to find another miracle drug for my frequent sinus infections.

I was given 750 mg of Levaquin for sinus/ear infections, along with a prescription cough syrup. The first night, I had difficulty sleeping, along with racing heartbeat. I thought it was from the codene in the cough syrup, so I left it off the second night, but continued with the Levaquin. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY! I had racing thoughts, pounding heart, leg cramps, terrible acid reflux and nausea, but worse than that, was CONSTANT thoughts of someone close to me dying. It was the next morning that I read in the 'packaging information' that the side effects 'could cause' sleeplessness, leg pain, anxiety, depression, nausea, etc. I won't take it again.
D

Took leviquin 500 for 8 days before I realized what was happening to me. Side effects included: severe panic, altered mental state, constant sleep, loss of appetite, pounding heart rate. After 2 trips to the ER no help was provided. I stoped the Leviquin early (was supposed to take it for 3 wks) and immediately started feeling better. The anxiety is much less but still present and I still sleep all the time.

Has anyone had similar experiences and, more importantly, how long does this last?

Please help!

I felt so out of it on this medicine so dizzy I could not function. Anxiety out of control, freezing feet and hands. Itchy scalp and stomach upset. I have been trying to stick it out but I am not going to finish the prescription (I took it for five days).

i have read that activated charcoal or the garcinia kola seed both coul be used as antidotes for this poison. i'm going to get some immediately to eliminate my insomnia, constipation anxiety & depression.
m

I was prescrived Levaquin after going to my doctor for a cold and cough and fever. Diagnosed with bronchitis and given this prescription. 500 mg. one per day for 7 days.
I am on my 5th day and wondering why I cannot sleep through the night or take naps while i am home sick. I feel anxious and nervous, and a weird feeling. Tonight felt anxiety like I could not catch my breath.
Muscles ache I even used a pain patch on my leg because my joints ached.

I starter taking levaquin about 2 wks.ago for a bladder /kidney infection. since taking lavaquin I have had muscle/body pain, see white zagie lights, can't sleep,food tast awful,anxiety,angry and negative thoughts, mood swings,flu like simptoms, I get so hot, I feel awful ...I am 67 yr. old. I am very healthy and do not take any kind of med. I have bladder/kidney infection this is why I was given this drug. I hope this will clear up now that I am no longer on this med.(bladder/kidney infection is gone)

Hello,

I am a 24 yr old healthy male. I took a levaquin for an infection from a spider bite. I took the 750mg pill at 11pm and about 2:23am I woke up w/a racing hearth beat and felt like I was going to dye. Me heart felt like it was going to fly out of my chest. I was really frantic and went outside to get fresh air. I had to wake up parents and tell them what was going on. After the severe panic attack my heart was still pounding. I was terrified and didn't know what I should do. My blood pressure severly dropped and I got the chills. I was dizzy and couldn't even walk straight. I felt like throwing up and couldn't sleep. I was restlest throughout the night and had major anxiety. This is the worst antibiotic ever. I am stopping my dosage and calling my Dr. to change my medication. Do not take this medication! This has some serious side affects. www.medlineplus.com is the best place to read about side affects of all the drugs in the world.

Today I feel a little bit better but still am a bit anxious.
If you need another antibiotic I would try Amox-Clov 875mg.
I was taking Amox and never went through any of this shit that I had to go through with Levaquin

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.

i'm back here again. i wrote in september while i was touring with my band in US, that's when i took the levaquin for 4 days, 500 mg. it's been nearly a month over now and i'm still having pain in my hands, my joints, my hands are swollen, i feel sick, have nausea, anxiety, my whole body clics and clacks, i have enormous manic mood swings... i do not know what to do. i depend on my hands abilities, i'm a musician.... i can't practice guitar properly anymore and can;t eat that well either because my stomach is a quite ruinned.
i feel like prosecuting someone, the doctor who gave it to me, the company , i don't know which one or even if i can do that. all i know is that my life is pretty miserable at the moment because of bloody Levaquin and i am very angry that wasn't warned about these effects.

I was given a 5-day supply of Levaquin as a second course of treatment for a very bad Urinarry Tract Infection. While it cleared the infection thouroughly, the side effects were frightening and burdensome. I began having tingling and uncontrollable restlessness in my arms and legs, bordering on a claustrophic attack sensation. Over the next few days I experienced severe mood problems including anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, anger and frustration and crying jags. I will never take this drug again and am hoping to inform anyone who experiences these symptoms that they are in fact, not going crazy.

I have posted on this site several times in the last month.
I'm going on my 7th monthh of suffering. No improvement at all. Today is another nightmare. Shaking, weakness in legs so bad can barely walk. Moaning, dizziness, etc.

I have been noticing increasing difficulty in typing on the net with many errors. Must stop and edit way more frequently than before this malady.
Just looked at myself in the mirror. My hair has turned "completely grey" since this started. What color I had is gone! Starting to turn white!
Man, 7 months...and it just seems to get worse in many ways. Doctors don't want to see me for two months. Say it is "not" the Levaquin I took for one week when all this started.
I am surviving only on the anti-depressant Lexipro and anti-anxiety meds Lorazapam and Clonazapam.
Dear God.