Levaquin and asthma

There may be no way to get Levaquin out of one's body except time. But I wanted to at least try to speed it up. I don't know if it will work for me or others, only time will tell. There is genetics involved since each of us has a unique tolerance for Levaquin. But here is what I am doing:

1. 8 glasses of water daily with fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
2. Lots of fiber - a tblsp of wheat bran 3 times a day with more water.
3. Plain yogurt with live active cultures 5 times a day.
4. A hot bath with epsom salts once a day.
5. Magnesium, Calcium and Iron, a couple of times a day.
6. Vitamins B and C a few times a day.
7. Body Cleanse and Liver Cleanse from the drug store, as directed.

I took 7 Levaquin pills and stopped 10 days ago. Some symptoms have improved. Notably, my appetite is better, the bloated stomach is gone and food moves through normally, anxiety spells are gone, the brain fog is still there but maybe a slightly better each day.

I will be watching my body for any signs of tendon pain in the 12 - 18 months ahead. No pain so far, but Levaquin is capable of doing damage with the pain not felt until later. I will ease back into exercising very slowly over the coming months.

I will be posting updates periodically over the next couple of years. I am a 50 year-old man.

Good luck to all and God bless.

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

Did Levaquin mixed with Asthma medicines kill my 32 year old daughter.
I believe she died of Cardio Arrhythmia.

I've been on Levaquin for three days to clear up severe congestion, possible bronchitis. The doctor at the walk-in clinic didn't like what he heard in my lungs, so prescribed this drug (It was a Friday and I needed something before the weekend due to my asthma). My fever has continued to spike, I have cried at the drop of the hat--exhaustion, fatigue, mood swings, and a cough that persists even after three days. Pain in shoulder joint, raw throat (certain foods seem to burn it), and a REALLY bad headache, and stiffness in my neck. I go to my general doctor tomorrow (Monday), and he will hear about this medicine, trust me. It has been a weekend from hell!

I have never, ever responded to any of these "side effects" websites before! As a healthy person who very rarely requires medication, I had to find something on the web that would "explain" my suspected side effects for the Levaquin I've been taking for the last three days. This was prescribed for a UTI. The "new" side effect (that I didn't see addressed anywhere here) was what I can only describe as "asthma-like," to include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Anyone else with this symptom? I was also overcome with a great sense of futility that just scared me. I am normally a positive, "the-sun'll-come-up-tomorrow" type person, but this just knocked me for a loop!

Severe Depression: Our 18 year old daughter started taking Levaquin as prescribed to treat her pneumonia (brought on by Influenza-A and accelerated by her asthma). Within four -five hours of taking the first dose, a sense of panic and frustration hit. Thinking she was stressed as one normally might be over missing college classes and the thought of what she had to do to catch up on her work, we continued with her second dose. Within two hours of that second dose, she was unable to stop crying, unable to sleep without nightmares and truly unable to cope with the situation. After a call to the pharmacist and then to our doctor, her medication was immediately changed. Within 12 hours after taking that last dose of Levaquin, she returned to her normal personality and has since continued to recover from her pneumonia, has returned to college, and resumed her life. I have never seen anything so frightening as the side effects of this medication on our daughter. Neither she, nor anyone else in our family, will take Levaquin in the future... or any other drug in that family of medicines. Be cautious if prescribed, avoid if possible.

I have been on Levaquin for 5 days and have had an ache and tightness in the back of my neck since the first day. I have slept very poorly for the last three nights and over the last two days have developed significant chest pain..feels like the muscles in my chest and upper abdomen are in a constant contraction. I went to my internist yesterday thinking it may be an unfamiliar type of asthma attack. I used my inhaler on the way and blood oxygen was fine when I got there but the chest pain continued. I was given a chest Xray and an EKG, both of which were fine. My doctor did not feel that it could be the Levaquin and advised me to continue it. The contractions in my chest have continued, almost crushing at times. The neck pain has been continuous. I am stopping the Levaquin and willing to risk having the infection return.

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.

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...

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!

Admitted to the hospital for diverticulitis. Was put on an IV of Levaquin. When I reminded the dr and nurse that I'm sensitive to meds I asked what side effects might come along with it. I was told that "it's just an antibiotic" and the most I could expect was nausea. That night I couldn't sleep and by morning the elbow tendons in my right arm were in severe pain but was told that it was most likely due to the IV entry point.

Was sent home with 7 days oral dosage. I began to experience spaciness, confusion, short term memory problems, burning and tingling in my feet and hands, pain in my wrist, my right arm was no longer usable having no grip strength and weakened muscles. A general feeling of exhaustion came along with it all. I stopped the meds on the 3rd day after reading the stories of others who experienced similar madness.

My GP was reluctant to agree that it could be Levaquin but I feel fortunate that she did indeed refer me to a neurologist. Tomorrow will be the full workup and blood tests for liver functions.

I would very much like to be involved in any project, legal action or otherwise, that is focused on bringing to light the dangers of this family of medicines. You can contact me at VFrancis@southbuffalo.net Good luck to everyone!

I am on Day 3 of a 7-Day treatment with 500mg of Levaquin This treatment is for asthma related breathing and coughing issues .So far , hot flashes, headaches , nausea, back muscle pain, leg muscle quivers, and a feeling like Im drunk or in some type of stupor; or fog........hard to concentrate and focus on anything for more that 2-5 seconds. Wheezing is back , even after Ventolin treatment .

I took Levaquin as a third antibiotic for the treatment of a bad case of bronchitis that went into asthma and have had a chronic cough. This started one month ago. I first took Zithromax, then Augmentin. The Levaquin was a third antibiotic. The first day I felt I felt dizzy and lightheaded. the first night I had total insomnia and could not sleep. I woke up feeling very nauseated. The second day I felt even more dizzy than the day before. The second night I broke out into hives and itching on my feet. I took Benadryl and discontinued the antiobiotic.

I have been on levaquin since 7-9-03. I am 24, and in pretty good health except for some asthma (under control) and some mild arthritis. I was put on this drug for a UTI. On the second day on the meds I experienced some pain in my left knee, but contributed it to my arthritis. Day three had both my knees hurting. It's just gotten worse, and now on day 4, my neck, fingers, knees, and toes are all VERY painful. It hurts just to walk, or hold an object. My throat also feels a bit swollen, and it's hard to swallow. I finally got sick of feeling worse than I had before I went on the meds, so I was thinking about what could have been making me feel this way. After doing some research on this drug online, I am a bit upset that my dr. didn't warn me about the possibility of these side effects. I admit, the meds did come with one of those small disclosure sheets that come when you get a perscription from CVS Pharmacy. I have also had headaches (at least one lasting one a day) since taking this drug. Nothing I've taken has helped with any of the symptoms. I am planning on calling my dr. the FIRST thing in the morning. I wouldn't say this drug is bad for everyone, I would just STRONGLY warn anyone who is considering taking this drug to talk to their dr. about the side effects. Oh, finally, I have no pain from the UTI anymore, but honestly, I'd rather have that than all the other stuff I've experienced since taking this drug.

hives, chest pain, back pain and very weak. I took levaquin for bronquitis and asthma.

Was given Prednisone and Levaquin for bronchitis and asthma. Experienced PVC's for 3-4 hours. Took for 3 days because of bronchitis. Happened each time I took Medicine. Anyone else have this happen to them?