Levaquin and arthritis

I took levaquin for an ear and sinus infection in 2007. On my last 500mg pill, I had such a cramp I could not walk. Since then I have had severe food allergies, severe muscle and joint pains,kidney problems and rheumatoid factor is real high. Before taking this drug I have never any joint pains, or kidney problems. I was recently diagnosed with aggressive Rheumatoid Arthritis. It has been 2 years since I took Levaquin, but the side effects weakened my body and did a number on me.

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.

I am a 29 y/o male.this month i got a terrible sinus infection, probably due to a month's struggle with allergies. I was initially prescribed Augmenting but after just 1 pill i was up all night with stomach cramps & diarrhea. I was scared to take another dose so my dr. prescribed me Levaquin as an alternative. After reading the warnings I became very worried due to the fact that I already have lower back/hip and joint pain issues. I also work evening freight at Home Depot. After 1 Levaquin yesterday morning, I went to work ready to take it easy and not hurt my body more than it already does... after about 30 minute of simply opening small boxes and putting light-weight merchandise on the shelves, i began to feel extreme tension/aching in my hands and fingers.I was being very careful with my back & neck, but never even thought this might effect my hands??? I woke up this morning hoping it would be gone... no such luck, even after a full night's rest they still feel like i have arthritis, and no my hips (S.I. joints)are popping out like crazy. i am about to take the 2nd dose, only b/c my ears nose and throat do feel much better. I am just glad I picked up paperwork/and can afford to take a few days of LOA if this gets any worse. It is hard for me just to type this now : (. I'm scared.

My son (14 years old) was given levaquin for a sinus and ear infection
2 weeks ago. Around the same time he began practices for his high school baseball team. He complained about his legs being stiff and aching. We assumed it was the intense practices causing his muscles to ache. After a week on the drug, he could barely walk and his knees were swollen. We were very concerned and looked up the side effects of levaquin on the internet. We were shocked and angry when we found out that levaquin should not be given to children under the age of 18 because on the possibility of joint and tendon problems. Today we went to the orthopedist and he drained a lot of fluid off of both knees (it looked like about a 1/2 cup from each).The doctor thinks it has to be a side effect of the drug, because the symptoms began at the same time. He doesn't
think after examining the knee and having him perform certain tasks that he has damaged any tendons. He has all the symptoms of rheumatiod arthritis. He is very athletic and plays competitive sports and we are praying that his knees are not permanently damaged by this drug. Parents please research all drugs and there side effects before giving them to your children! Doctor's DO make mistakes!! The pharmacist failed us too.

It has been almost two years since I took one tablet of 500 mg levaquin for a throat infection. I immediately felt lightheaded, then came the hot prickly skin, rapid heartbeat, insomnia and just a feeling of doom. I did not take another pill. Right after this my ankles started to hurt and podiatrist said had a torn posterier tibial tendon. To this day, I cannot walk without a limp, and can only wear athletic shoes with orthotics. If I stand for or walk for a small period of time I am in a lot of pain and have to sit. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis from the inflammatory markers in blood tests and rf factor, even though mri of my hands and wrists are normal. My right shoulder and arm hurt, my wrists and fingers hurt, my knees, neck. It is better, but I will never be the same as I was - no more running, walking my dog, going camping with my daughters girl scout troop - can't go hiking. I am 50 and I feel like I am 90. Would like to sue someone.

I've been taking levaquin for a sinus infection and had a sudden onset of joint pain - especially in my hands and hips. Also had bad upper back pain. And I never had any of these problems, except mild arthritis in my hands that only hurts once every couple of month. It's horrible - feel like I'm 100 years old - and I'm 54 and very active. So glad I found this web site to see that the medicine may be the cause of my problem -hadn't considered that until I read your comments here.

Here is a update on my condition since last posting, please keep in mind that prior to 7-15-08 I was totally normal.I have recently found out that I have Psoriatic Arthritis,Fibromyalgia,COPD,3 bulging discs in my back and also Bursitis in Right hip.All from Levaquin! I also was the one that put 2 & 2 together and talked it over with my PCP and now I have a Rhuematologist,Lung DR,Neurologist and I am currently seeing a Pain Management DR.I had my 1st.epidural injection yesterday for the bulging discs and will have 2 more and see how it works.I am beyond being frustrated and I do not know what the future holds for me.Some days I wonder if my life will ever be somewhat normal again.Take care everyone and god bless us all,,,,

February 24,2009
I am a 66 year old woman in good physical condition(that is until I took Levaquin) I took it in December 2008 and it is over two months later and
i am still suffering from extreme jount and muscle pain especially in my left
shoulder and left knee. I took it for twelve days for a sinus infection and
on the eighth day woke up with great swelling lumps on the back of both knees. Initially thought it was just old age and arthritis. Soon all the joints in my body begin to ache and swell causing severe constriction of movement. Could hardly manipulate the stairs in our house. I quit taking the meds as I had never experienced anything like that before and knew it was the Levaquin. I can only hope that the damage is not permanent but am afraid it might be. I can't sleep on my left side for the pain and it never goes away. Left knee is still swollen and sore. Elbow joints are also painful and hands are sore. I know the medical profession will not acknowledge this so I didn't even tell the Dr. This drug is dangerous
and should be taken off the market. L. H., Blanchard, Ok.

I am scared to death after reading what everyone is going through. I was put on Levaquin for 10 days and got to day 9. My joints ached so bad I thought I had arthritis, and even had my Dr. do blood tests for it (I had no idea it was the Levaquin). I am only 35 years old and never worried about arthritis before this. Also, within 5 days I started developing hives all over. Again, I was stupid and didn't realize until day 9 that the hives were because of this med. I told my Dr. and he told me to stop taking it which of course I did. I assumed the hives would go away after the med was out of my system. But a week later the hives were unbearable. I was put on prednisone (another issue altogether) and that helped the itching, but now every time I try to go off or back off the prednisone the hives come back- and they are terrible! Now my Dr. thinks the hives were from something else because there is no way that the Levaquin is still in my body. But after reading what other people are going through on this med, I am convinced this stuff is as everyone says- POISON!! I am so worried about the joint and hip pain that was so bad I couldn't stand for long without excruciating pain in my right hip. It felt like I had a one hundred pound weight just sitting on it. And my hands were the worst. I have a newborn and could barely pick him up without worry that I'd drop him. I don't know what to do.. Is there anything to do?? I'm still on the prednisone, and have been for a month. I need to get off of it but every time I do I itch so bad with the hives that I cannot function. Also because of the prednisone I noticed last night that I am getting "moon face" my face is swelling up and there are a million side effects from that drug too. How long does this last? Has anyone else fought the hives that come with this? Please help me, I am so scared!

It's been almost 1 1/2 years since I have taken Levaquin for Bronchitis. I took it for only 3 days, after that I couldn't stand the pain and that was the only thing different so I knew it must have been the Levaquin. I suffered major, severe joint and muscle pain. I couldn't even walk down the stairs to the living room. As for lasting side effects, I am dealing with arthritis in my knees...which I never had before and I am only 40. I have severe tendinitis in my elbow which may require to correct. I know I am getting older but jeez....I am unsure if the arthritis and tendinitis is completely related to my reaction to the Levaquin, but what else could it be. I am not that old nor am I that out of shape. My only hope to spread the word about this evil toxic poison before someone else gets hurt.

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.

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

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

I started taking Levaquin on Aug 8th for bronchitis 6 days after taking medication I was awoken about 2am with severe shoulder pains in both shoulders I went to the ER to find out why I told them that I was taken Levaquin they took an X-ray of my shoulders and said they were fine prescribed percocet for pain. Pain got worse went back to ER was given a shot for pain and was told to get an appointment with bone and joint Dr. On the day of appointment my right forearm, wrist and hand swelled up. I told my Bone and Joint Dr.that I was taken Levaquin I told him that I stopped it immediately after reading side effects He prescribed an anti-imflammitory Pain got more severe went back to ER was given EKG and took blood and urine test all test came back fine. Went to another doctor he then checked me for Lyme disease. which came back neg. I then went back to first doctor that prescribed the Levaquin. she thought that I had arthritis. 8 different blood test were given all came back fine. Ended back in ER because by the end of day I could not walk, had high fever, sore throat, severe head ache, and was sick to stomach. Several more blood test were done. all came back fine. ER doctor prescribed prednisone which seem to help some. I went and seen another Dr. Still no one knows what is really wrong. I believe it is the LEVAQUIN it has messed me up bad.

I had headache and all of my joints...especially my fingers, were swollen and very painful...like I was thinking ..what do I have arthritis now??!!! I also was very tired.

I took Leva-kill last November, 500mg for 10days due to a resistant ear infection. On the 3rd day, my back felt like it was on fire. Went to ER, did one blood test for muscle deterioration, came back fine.Told to keep taking. I thought I was going to die. I felt and still feel like I was poisoned. Seems to be permanent. Some days worse than others. Check out FQVICTIMS.ORG.Any doctors and dentist I have seen says not Levaquin {about ten]. One ENT said "I bet" when told levaquin made me feel like dying, but that was it. Has anyone heard of any hope? Is this really permanent?

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 given a 10 day dose of LEVAQUIN for a mild bronchitis/respiratory ailment on Jan. 29, 2008. I took 1 500mg pill for the full ten days. Three days after I stopped taking this medication, I experienced incredibly painful swelling in both knees. I could barely walk, and couldn't bend my knees. I was scared, upset, and in absolute misery. I spent a week literally throwing myself backwards onto chairs. It was unbelievable. When I could finally get to my normal health care provider 5 days later, she immediately identified the culprit as the Levaquin I had taken. She said she knew it to cause people's tendons to burst. It was obvious since it was both knees that it was not an injury and I never had any other problem with my legs. I am, or shall I say I was an avid walker. I was told to see an orthopedic doctor if I had not improved in one week. I had not improved in a week. The orthopedic doctor sent me for an MRI which showed irreversible, permanent cartilage damage in my left knee. The right knee he didn't MRI at the time, saying he could determine what he needed to know from the one knee and would only be able to do corrective surgery on my knees in 6 week intervals. This horrible drug has permanently altered my way of life. I was a 53 year old active, ambulatory adult who would walk miles a day. Two months later, I still have constant knee pain, cannot stand for long periods of time without leaning on something and can no longer kneel, etc. I can only walk around a bit and if I'm on my feet for long periods of time I experience knee, ankle pain and swelling. I sent a report to the FDA who obviously cares nothing about this situation, since I'm not the only unsuspecting person to have this happen. I've been studying this drug now and there was evidence in animal clinical trials of joint and tendon damage, To me it would have been no different an experience if someone had come up and hit me with a baseball bat across both knees. I am permanently damaged from Levaquin. I think it's criminal this drug is given to younger ambulatory adults at all.

I have a freind who had a bladder nfection, not the first of course. She is 80 years young, very active etc. I told her about my problems with Levaquin and told her NOT to take the Cipro they gave her, because every time she does she has "trouble with her knees and back" mysteriously!!!! Well, she took it anyway and ended up in the hospital with heart paplitations ,irregular heartbeat etc. Guess what they put her on to stop any further infection, you guessed it, Levaquin!!! Shes been home from the hospital now and in the house for over two weeks, has trouble walking now!!When will it end? Marsh

My 16 year old son took Levaquin 6 months ago and had a bad reaction to it. His symptoms were severe muscle weakness (he would get exhausted walking from the parking lot to a store and back, severe joint pain (in thumbs, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles), dizziness (he felt like the room was moving away from him and would lose balance), and headaches (a severe pressure in the back of his head that was constant and then shooting pains in his his head that would come and go for no reason). I should say he was in top shape before this and wrestling in the 125 pound category. He took Levaquin to prevent an infection after sinus surgery.

Now 6 months later, his joint pain is completely gone except for his knees. They still hurt when he does squats and they are not good enough for him to go back to wrestling, but he can walk around pain free. His dizziness is also gone as well as his muscle weakness. His headaches are still there and still constant, but not as bad as they once were; however, he has had them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months. He is on Lyrica which has helped make the headaches subside.

I have taken him to more than 16 medical doctors of all specialties, had multiple MRIs, CT Scans, blood tests, spinal tap, and an MRA. All come back negative. Thankfully, despite all of this, he still remains happy and positive that he will once again be 100% healthy; it will take lots of time, but he will get better. I know the first three symptoms (joint pain, dizziness, weakness) are clearly Levaquin related, but I haven't heard much about the headaches from people. Anyone else out there that has suffered from a constant headache after Levaquin? I REALLY want to hear about headaches from others!!!!

By the way, we have filed a medwatch already. I also know that Levaquin is not approved for anyone under 18 years old and he never needed such a powerful drug to prevent an infection, but there is nothing I can do about that now except to warn others. One of his UCLA doctors wants to write a case study on him to make this more known to others and I am helping him with that.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. If you have had a headache from Levaquin, please let me know where in the head the pain was, if it is constant, what it feels like (pressure, shooting, throbbing), how long you have had it, and what, if anything, helped. THANKS.

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

I was prescribed Levaquin 1000 mg. for 5 days for pneumonia the last week of December 2006. I was also prescribed Prednisone. Everything I ate tasted like metal. A couple of days after I started taking the Levaquin I started experiencing muscle cramps in my rib cage which are so severe it makes me double over in pain. After more than a year I still have the muscle cramps which now include not only my rib cage, but the arch of my feet and sometimes legs. I have a torn tendon in my left arm which didn't happen until about a month ago, but I am sure it is caused from muscle damage from the Levaquin. I am also on Advair Discus 250 which I didn't take before using the Levaquin. I didn't require inhalers or other medication before the pneumonia. My doctor now says I have COPD caused from asthma and chronic bronchitis. I used an Albuterol inhaler when I first got sick because the pneumonia was so bad. I thought after taking the Levaquin I would get back to normal. But even after the infection was cleared up I would get out of breath, so I returned to my doctor. She did an x-ray and said I had COPD and prescribed the inhalant. What I don't understand is that I didn't have breathing problems before the Pneumonia. I didn't have joint pain and muscle cramps either. I have had to quit working this past year because of it. I cannot go without the Advair, I can no longer walk long distances without pain. I have constant muscle pain just trying to do normal housework. How long do the effects last? Must be a lifetime.

I had bacterial pneumonia a few weeks ago they gave me Levaquin as well, After the hospital I notice some pain in my left arm. A week later I was unable to straighten my arm now the pain has moved up to my neck and back and is slowly reaching my right shoulder. It seems that though you ask doctors question you never get answers and yes its true about this pain I have been in agony for almost a month now and can not find any type of relief. I was treated with a 7 day regimen of medication and I don't know what is worst the pneumonia or the pain. If there is any where to find relief as a natural source please post it

Thank you

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.

I was prescribed Levaquin 750 mg 1 a day for ten days. On the fifth day I woke up with both knees swollen and extremely painful. I did not connect the pain to the Levaquin and took two more doses at which time my knees were so painful I had trouble getting up from a chair and walking. My wrists were beginning to hurt and I had developed a deep rattling cough. I went back to my doctor who sent me for an MRI of my right knee. The result is that I have almost total loss of cartilage and suspected torn medial meniscus. My doctor says I probably need a knee replacement. I continue to hurt and now my feet and hands hurt and pop as well as my knees. I believe that this drug should be contraindicated in anyone with arthritis. I am very worried as I feel this pain spreading all over. It has been about 3 weeks since I stopped the Levaquin and I feel miserable, waking up 2, 3,or 4 times a night in pain.

Hello Everyone ---
I just wanted to share my story and hope that it helps others. On December 20th I was prescribed Levaquin to help clear up a bad case of Bronchitis that I had taken a Z-Pac for a week earlier. I still had remnants and the doctor saw as fit to give me the Levaquin to help me get over what was remaining. I had a 10 day supply of the 500mg Levaquin prescribed to take once a day. After (2) two days of taking the medicine I noticed that I was having a slight amount of pain in my left knee, and by the 23rd of December it hurt to walk or stand or sit. The pain was just a dull ache however; it would also become sharp with any movement. Just to let you know I finished all of my 10 day supply, not knowing that the Levaquin was what was causing my problems. I am a healthy 31 year old male that has a 3 year old daughter, so I am always on the go. However, beginning the 24th & 25th of December the pain had spread from my left knee to my right knee, ankles, as well as hip bones. By the end of my prescription my pain was all over my body, it hurt to sleep, it hurt to move, however, taking 800 mg of Motrin every 6 hours seemed to help ease the pain but never seemed to knock it out. I tried everything from Tylenol to Aleve...however, Motrin was the best. Not knowing what had caused my problems, and getting tired of being in pain I went to see my family medical physician on the 7th of January. He ran me through the mill with test to figure out what was going on. Nothing out of the ordinary, I was a little anemic, however, that had nothing to do with my problems. We talked about the Levaquin, and he as most doctors dismissed the chance of that being the case. However, he did prescribe me 200 mg of Celebrex per day, and told me to take Tylenol as needed to help with the pain. After taking the combination of those drugs for 10 days, I called his office back and told him I was still having problems not as strong as before and I could tell I was getting a little better however movement was still bad, so he referred me to a Rheumatologist. I saw the Rheumatologist on Jan. 22nd and he seemed to help more than anyone else, he also did some blood work, however, nothing out of the ordinary once again, he also check for arthritis, and nothing came of that either. He believes that the medicine was the root of the problem, and until it is gone from my system nothing I am going to continue to have problems. He upped my Celebrex to 2 times per day, and told me to take Tylenol Arthritis 2 pills 3 times a day...this combination has almost knocked away all of the pain. I can still tell that I have problem areas such as my wrist when opening the car door; however, hopefully those will go away in time. Apparently, according to him there is a small amount of people in the world that is allergic to fluoroquinolone drugs and do not know it until they take one of these. I go back to see him again on the 12th of February hopefully I will be back to normal, however, I do have one burning question in my mind…what happens if I get off the Celebrex? Hopefully he will be able to answer that one for me. For anyone out there that is having these same problems as I have you might want to recommend for your Doctor to prescribe you Celebrex and see if will help you…

Hello fellow sufferers,
Several years ago I had a CT of my face and head due to frequent migraines...They had thought maybe there was a tumor or blocked blood vessels, but to my complete surprise all of that was normal, but I had all the sinuses on the right side of my face completely blocked...The doctor @ that time asked me some questions about my breathing and pain...Of course my breathing through the nose wasn't that great, but I had always taken that as a bonus since I work in the hospital...NO pain really either...Due to the fact that sinus infections have a direct pathway to the brain they decided that I needed Levaquin...On the second day of taking the medication I was in complete tears...The bottom half of my body ached like someone had kicked the %^&* out of me...First off I thought that maybe it was because I had my leg in a full cast and that had just been adjusted so stupidly I continued with the med another 2 days and the symptoms got to the point that I couldn't walk...I called the pharmacy right away and told them of my symptoms and they said they had no documentation of such side effects so I continued thinking it was something else ( they always tell you to complete the full course of an antibiotic so you don't kill off half the "bug" and the other half goes resistant)....Stupid....I finally made an appointment and had my husband literally carry me cast and all down there...The doctor had no explanation for the symptoms I had but did lab work to kinda shut me up and low and behold it reviled that I had full blown arthritis so off to a rheumatoid specialist...We went through my health history and other that the sinus infection, migraines and a broken leg I was fine except for the constant pain from the waist down........It took 7 months to return to "normal" blood test went back to normal too...I had made a second trip to the pharmacy and insisted on filling out a form for side effects and had proof of it with the weird lab tests that had since gone back to normal...This form was supposed to be sent to the drug company (not sure if it ever was).....Thought I would just share my experience with you and hope it helps others...I am an RN with 15 yrs surgical experience and thought I was going nuts when on this stuff...Since then I have always included this as an ALLERGY since it is one of the best and most common drugs used for things like sinus infections and I don't ever want to take this again.
Sincerely,
Debbie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How long will it last?

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

Prayers are welcome too.

Thanks.

Craig V. (Dustins Dad)

I was out of the county where I contracted a supposed bacterial infection. The doctor prescribed Levaquin 1500 mg (500 mg x 3) for five days. Within days, I was experiencing the most severe back pain (to the point where it would have been preferable to have been doused in gasoline and lit on fire), both arms went numb, my heart rate skyrocketed to 130 bpm and I began passing out. I seriously thought that I was going to die and here I was in the middle of Africa with no one to help me. I finally got home after a 35 hr flight that has to be the most traumatic experience of my life. Five months later, I am in constant pain with numerous trigger points and extensive connective tissue damage in my back. I can no longer write because my fingers are so destroyed by arthritis-like symptoms. I am suffering from anxiety attacks and depression. I have chest pain and palpitations on a regular basis and now my knee has suddenly developed tendinitis when I have not exercised for 2 weeks. This drug has destroyed my life. I am 27 years old and was healthy before I took this drug and now I have become completely debilitated. This drug should be pulled from the market immediately! I will be pursuing legal recourse for my pain and suffering and I encourage others to do the same.

O>K> here i am again. After taking Levaquin back in the spring I SUDDENLY developed a severe case of arthritis!!! Imagine? I had a UTI and then wham!!! Can"t walk joint painb beyond belief! Now it"s Almost November and my knees are still killing me and my hands, the joints are so swollen,. The doctor can"t understnad why this happened. She sent me to a rheumatologist and my counts went so drastically up he thought the lab test was a mistake. ThankYou, Levaquin!!!! Marsh

WOW, OKAY I WAS PUT ON LEVAQUIN FOR A RESP. INFECTION. I HAVE ASTHMA THAT IS SET OFF BY ALLERGYS AND INFECTIONS. I COULD NOT BREATH AND WENT TO THE DR. THEY SAID I HAD AN INFECTION GAVE ME 5 DAYS OF LEVAQUIN.. BY THE SECOND DAY I COULD NOT SLEEP, MY BODY WAS HURTING. BUT I JUST PUT IT OFF AS THE INFECTION. COUPLE DAYS LATER MY KNEES STARTED HURTING AGAIN I PUT IT OFF AS JUST DOING TO MUCH AND NOT SLEEPING. I CALLED THE DR TO LET THEM NO I WAS STILL NOT FEELING WELL SO THEY GAVE ME ANOTHER ROUND OF LEVAQUIN. I TOOK THE 6TH DOSE WHILE I WAS AT WORK WITH IN 3 HOURS I COULD NOT EVEN WALK UP THE STAIRS TO THE 2ND FL SOMETHING I DO EVERYDAY. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD LOOK UP THE SIDE EFFECTS I THOUGHT I HAD SAW SOMETHING ABOUT PAIN. THATS WHEN I READ A LOT OF SIDE EFFECTS.. I HAD SWELLING IN MY ANKLES .. MY HANDS, WRITST, ARMS, SHOULDER, LEGS, ANKLE, AND KNEES HURT SO BAD. THERE WAS NOT A MUSCLE IN MY BODY THAT DID NOT HURT. I CALLED THE DR THEY SAID TO STOP TAKEN THE LEVAQUIN, WELL IT HAS BEEN A MONTH. I HAVE SLOWLY FELT BETTER, BUT I HAVE SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKS FEELING LIKE I HAD SOME KINDA JOINT DECEASE. AND YESTERDAY MY LEGS STARTED HURTING AGAIN AND MY LEFT ANKLE IS SWALLEN. IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY TIME IT RAINS MY LEGS HURT. LIKE I HAVE ARTHRITIS OR SOMETHING. PLEASE IF YOU ARE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS LET ME KNOW...

OMG, I thought it was just me! I went to my doctor because of an ongoing infection and the worst cough I've ever had. I was given Levaquin 750mg and a steriod shot. Then it went down hill from there. My ankles began to swell, then my fingers and hands. I had a very hard time using my hands to open my back door and it even hurt to use my stapler at work! Then other joints began to hurt, like my neck and my knees. It was painful to get up or sit down. I tried to get up and get ready for work one morning, but I just stood in the shower crying because my entire body hurt. I went to an emergency clinic and asked them to start doing lab work to find out what's going on. I felt like I was 90 years old and had been suddenly stricken with menopause, lyme disease, fibromyalgia,arthritis and migraine. All the lab came back normal. I went back to the doctor that gave me the drug (handful of samples) and was referred to a pain and joint center. I am still trying to recover from this drug. .

I went to the clinic with a severe urinary tract infection. I was prescribed 500 mg Levaquin for 5 days and started taking it immediately (if you've ever had a UTI, you will understand!) I woke up on the 3rd day and could not move my fingers - my entire hand ached and was so stiff. It began to progress down to my elbows. I recieved a call later that day from the clinic saying they had prescribed me the wrong drug...a culture proved a different bacteria to be the culprit. Apparently the Levaquin was fighting nothing in my body besides my hand! I thought the pain was from the UTI going untreated for so long, but now I can see it was obviously the Levaquin. I still feel stiffness in my hands every morning, but it goes away and I am able to function. But I find it incredible that taking a prescribed medicine can affect me daily...and this was around 3 months ago that I took it!

I am very susceptible to side effects from medication but I have never experienced any serious, or even minor, side effects from Levaquin. This is the 2nd time I've been prescribed this medication and I'm satisfied with the results. I take 500 mg once a day. Maybe the people experiencing these side effects are prescribed a dose that is too high for the body to handle. Doctor's like to over-medicate. Make sure the dose is appropriate for your body type.

I was prescribed levaquin for for a respiratory infection. Instead of getting better I got worse. I was weak, began to have joint pain as well as the infection problems. I called my doctor after doing research on the internet. He told me to stop levaquin and to take advil. This didn't help. When I went back to him he tested me for lupus, ms, and RA. He eventually sent me to an arthritis specialist that I am still seeing 5 months later. Although she had never heard of these side effects until I explained them she has supported my concern that I have been suffering from an adverse reaction to the medication. I still suffer from joint pain and swelling as well as an acute burning pain in my thigh. The only treatment that I am receiving is steriod shots in my joints which do offer some relief. As I sit here tonight my leg is extremely painful. Will it ever go away or are we all doomed to suffer these ill effects the rest of our lives. I hurt... if anyone knows of a class action lawsuit please share the information.
Gypsy
52 yrs old

I am extremely upset after reading all of the letters regarding levaquin. I was prescribed levaquin for a severe lung infection. Told to take it for 10 days. Around the eighth day I started to feel pain in all of my joints, i.e. shoulders, hips, knees and especially both elbows. Also, had a tight feeling pain in the backs of both my legs. Doctor advised that I should take the whole ten day dose since my infection had been quite severe. I had told the doctor that I am sensitive to most antibiotics but was told that the Levaquin would probably be well tolerated. It has been six days since I took the last pill and I still have joint and muscle pain which has not decreased. I was beginning to think that I had developed arthritis throughout my body, but since reading the other horror stories I am inclined to believe it has to be the levaquin. Does anyone know how long this drug stays in your system and is the joint and muscle pain something that will continue? I have had reactions to other antibiotics in the past but nothing like this. I will add this drug to my list of things that I am unable to tolerate.

After taking Levaquin 500mg for 7 days I developed
muscle aches and pains and could hardly move. After contacting my doctor, they put me on another antibiotic to finish the term. I continued having muscle and joint pain.
My doctor told me that it may take 2wks for this Levaquin to clear my system and if I didn't feel better to call back after this time if I continued to feel worse. For anyone who has experience this and would like to know what relief for the pain that helped, I started taking ALEVE a over the counter medicine for arthritis and it helped tremendously! But I will never again take Levaquin again. I will finish taking the ALEVE and hopefully my condition will not return but I feel great now. Make sure you take the ALEVE after meals. This can cause ACID REFLUX which is another condition that I had after taking NAPROXEN. I will never take NSAIDS for a long term ever again either and if I do I will make sure I eat a FULL COURSE MEAL!!

It seemed to begin with a 2 day headache. As I had a severe UTI, I was not sure if the symptoms I was having were because of the Levaquin or the infection. The headache was the first "unusual" symptom I had within 1 hour of taking the Levaquin. Then the muscle aches, tendon pain, arches of feet hurt, arthritis in hands became more painful than I had ever experienced, very fatiqued, skin sensitive to touch, tingling sensation on arms, racing heartbeat (may have been due to anxiety of other symptoms). These symptoms continued for 6 days until 24 hours after stopping medication. I discontinued it after researching side effects on internet as Patient Information sheet that came with medication was vague. I still have tendon pain in left elbow, and arches of feet. Amazingly, I have had knee surgery and back surgery, but neither of these areas seemed to have been affected. Still don't feel "right", but hopeful will continue to improve.

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

I WAS PRESCRIBED LEVAQUIN FOR BRONCHITIS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING MY 2ND DOSE I BROKE OUT IN HIVES. I STOPPED TAKING IT AND BY THE FOLLOWING DAY THE HIVES HAD SUBSIDED. HOWEVER, I AWOKE VERY STIFF WITH LOTS OF PAIN IN MY LEGS. I HANDS BECAME VERY SWOLLEN AND I HAD TO REMOVE MY RINGS. MY HANDS AND JOINTS MADE ME THINK I HAD ARTHRITIS. IT IS NOT ONE WEEK LATER AND I STILL HAVE PAIN AND SWELLING IN MY RIGHT HAND AND ARM.

Severe insomnia and nausea. Already have arthritis and muscle/joint painso don't know if this is occuring due to Levoquin.

I started taking 750 mg of Levaquin as prescribed by my doctor on Wednesday, December 27th for my bacterial pneumonia. The following morning I had arthritis like pain in my shoulders, neck, elbows, calves and even my feet. I also had diarrhea, nausea and fatigue. I continued to take this medication because I thought I was having "flu" like symptoms because of the bacterial pneumonia. I stopped taking the Levaquin today because I had researched the side effects yesterday evening. The nausea and diarrhea have subsided. I still have the arthritis like pain in my joints and fatigue.

I was given Levaquin after I got an infection from nasal surgery. It was horrible! I had terrible joint pain all over--I could hardly lie down in bed--everything hurt. I thought I was getting arthritis, but when I read the pamphlet that came with the medication it was obvious that it was the Levaquin that was causing the pain in my joints. I stopped taking it even thought I had been given two weeks worth, and the pains went away. I would never take it again.

Dec. 26, 2006 - I was prescribed Levaquin for severe sinus infection on Dec. 5. The first night I had severe leg pain. Then I had fatigue and severe arthritis reactions., ie., pains in hands, fingers, arms, feet. I felt like I just let it go too long and some infection was entered into my entire system. The sinus infection was not cleared up so I was prescribed another dose on Dec. 22. I just had to painful days of cooking for the family. I feel like a need to move from the cold weather of WI because I hurt everywhere. I get on the internet (curious as to whether the Levaquin could have this side effect) and find this web site. I'm stopping the drugs immediately.

I have been taking Levaquin for a UTI. I have 2 pills left and was told today by my doctor to stop taking it. I called today after waking up with horribly sore joints in my hands. I have progressively become more achy today. My feet now hurt, my legs, lower back and shoulders. I feel like an arthritis patient and I'm not yet 30 years old. I was afraid I could have tick fever or Lyme disease so I started looking on the internet today and found a ton of websites with similar complaints. Very worried now about my recovery from this. I'm outraged that a company would be so passive about side effects. I've never given the side effects of antibiotics a second thought. I really have never had a negative reaction to a drug before. I assume this is from the Levaquin based on what I'm reading... I'm just shocked!

After taking leviquin for 5 days, I realized that my knees were getting so stiff that I could hardly get up and down. I have a torn cartilage in my left knee but it does not require surgery. I had been very active doing yardwork, riding bicycle, et. and then, BOOM, I couldn't figure out why I was having so much problem with my knees. I take the herbal joint complex all the time which always helps with any arthritis. While I was so sick with this sinus problem, I forgot to take my joint complex so I figured that was my problem but I have found nothing that does it any good at this point. This is the 6th day after the leviquin and I am still as stiff in my knees as I was in the beginning. I have been taking advil at least twice a day. I had no idea that this medicine could have caused it but decided to look it up on the internet and was shocked to find out how many people are affected this way. I can assure you that I will not take Leviquin again
ever.

Hello Guest 23208. I'm sorry you've joined us. I was floxed in Oct. 2004 and my life has been ruined by this. Have you been on www.fqvictims.org and www.fqresearch.org ? There are thousands of us that have be injured by this and some have died. I think that there are more people than we even know because these symtoms are being passed off as fibromyaligia, arthritis, etc.

I am a 20 year-old male and was prescribed 500 mg. Levaquin for a sinus infection. I have about 5 or so a year, so this was no unordinary occurence. I had actually taken Levaquin before.

I took one pill at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. By 11 that night, I had broken out with bruises on about a third of my body. The next day I went to the ER, and they claimed to have never seen a reaction like this before, so since my vitals were fine, they told me to go home and wait it out. Since then, the bruises have started to fade (and itch like a wild beast) but my right hip has swelled and was very painful. It is now three days after taking THE ONE PILL, and the hip is starting to get better, but my heart has been fluttering/palpatating like crazy on and off. If it doesn't go away soon, I'll have to get it checked out again.

Up until this time, I'm a very healthy individual. I had arthritis in high-school, but it has gone into remission. I'm glad i stopped taking the Levaquin after the first time, but am now worried about the heart developement--It has made sleeping difficult and day-time life rather uncomfortable. I wish i had read some of these blogs before I took the medicine.

IN short, don't take this stuff unless you need too. I've never had a reaction to a medication in my life, but this caused one. In the meantime, my sinus infection is raging on.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection/ear infection. Never heard of it. I took the first pill (of 5) around 4pm in the afternoon. Thirty minutes later I felt disoriented, lightheaded, etc. I was driving!

Took the next pill first thing the next morning, same thing, kind of dizzy, lightheaded, etc. Then the joint pain set in. I have arthritis in both knees. My knee joints were so stiff I could barely walk. I took two more doses before I wised up and called my Dr.s office. Funny thing they had NEVER heard of such side effects with this medication. But, advised me to discontinue the Levaquin.

This drug is very scary. Finally, when I got back home (I was out of town for a holiday.) I went to see a different Dr. at the same practice. He informed me that my joint stiffness and swelling in both knees "was not from the Levaquin, but just my arthritis acting up". For the record, I am 46 years old, my arthritis has NEVER "acted up" like that before.

Never again. I hope they take this drug off the market!!!

I went to my family dr on Friday March 24, 2006 complaining of a bad sinus infection. I was given samples of Levaquin 750 mg to take, and was sent for a sinus x-ray. On Tuesday March 28, I received a call from my dr's office saying I have a very severe sinus infection and to continue taking the Levaquin 750mg for a total of 30 days. I went to his office and picked up more samples. Last night, March 31, my knees were a little sore. I thought maybe I climbed the staircase one too many times yesterday....total of about 5 flights of stairs. Today April 1, I can barely walk without pain. My knees are so stiff and sore. I feel as if I am going to fall over if I just get out of bed and try to walk. I have to get my balance before I move. I have propoxy pain pills I received from my dr last week which I am taking but it doesn't seem to help too much. I think Tylenol for Arthritis is working better for me. I remember having this exact pain once before and after checking my precription history I found I had taken Levaquin the last time that I had such knee pain. I have no doubt that the pain is caused by the Levaquin. Since all my pills were given to me by the dr and not through a precription, I had no list of side effect to check. I definitely will be contacting my dr on Monday morning.