Levaquin and back pain

To make a very long story short, I took this medication for 3 days for a sinus infection and misdiagnosed bronchitis. I was diagnosed on Friday with regional pain disorder. Has anyone else heard of this? My doctor is also saying I have a herniated disc and fractured tailbone, this was also news to me, no pain until after taking the Levaquin and the only back pain I have is leftover from EMC/ECV testing. Also when will the nausea go away? The pain medications seem to be helping with the insomnia, but now I have crazy dreams and just want to get off of this ride. Any help with this would be appreciated as I'm not sure how much more I can stand.

I too was given 20 days of 750 mg each of Levaquin and felt a pop in my shoulder while rolling over in bed and not have intense pain there which is probably my rotator cuff tear. But I also experience the most crippling intense pain to both my knees and lower back. My knees felt swollen and very painful to where I couldn't even get out of a chair, climb steps , sit on the toilet. I am a paramedic and am seriously considering leaving this job after over 25 years due to this pain. I have had some minor dizziness and some mood swings. I went to the doctor after being off Levaquin for 1 week and told her of my symptoms and she put me on a Prednisone pack which has helped me with my back and knee pain to the point where I can walk with little pain but it didn't help my shoulder pain with decrease strength in it. I don't know yet if this is a permanent cure for my knee pain or back pain. As far as my shoulder, I believe that I tore the rotator cuff and will need surg. I have also heard that prednisone is not good to take with levaquin. I was prescribed prednisone prior to taking levaquin and wonder if that started all the problems. AND OF COURSE MY DOCTOR DID NOT TELL ME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS WHEN EITHER OF THESES DRUGS WERE PRESCRIBED. But at this point, trying prednisone after completing the levaquin DEFINITELY helped my knee pain.

I was in the hospital for a bowel re-section. On the third day, they switched me to Levaquin because I spiked a fever. I was released four days later (after 2 doses of I.V. Levaquin per day) and sent home with three days worth of pills. Ever since I've taken the Levaquin, I've had horrible shoulder and back pain and feel somewhat neurotic. The doctor said that it's a side effect from Levaquin. I have one day left of the medication and will continue to take it, but I'm curious if anyone else has had mental side effects. All I've read about is the joint and muscle soreness. Please help! It's affecting my sleep and daily routine. I don't recommend this and will not take it in the future (not to mention the cost of the medication!)
thanks

OK, It has been 1 week now since my wife has stopped taking 750mg and 3 ER visits later and there is still no end in sight! Can someone please tell me when the side effects will go away?!?!?!?!

Original Post
WHY IS THIS DRUG STILL ON THE MARKET???? My wife is in severe pain after taking just 2 days worth of 750 Levaquin. Fear of dying, legs trembling, vomitting, hips and back pain, headaches, and severe stomach pains! Does anyone know how long this willl last? It has already been 3 days since she stopped taking the pills! DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!!

WHY IS THIS DRUG STILL ONTHE MARKET???? My wife is in severe pain after taking just 2 days worth of 750 Levaquin. Fear of dying, legs trembling, vomitting, hips and back pain, headaches, and severe stomach pains! Does anyone know how long this willl last? It has already been 3 days since she stopped taking the pills! DO NOT TAKE THIS PILL!!!

Well I took only one pill for an ear infection and 2 hours later I had, sweats, diarrhea and unbelievable stomach pain. Now I am in the third hour of the drug and I have back pain. This is the worst side effect I have had with any medication. I wonder what the treatment for an ear infection was 50 years ago. I think the FDA is failing. It is apparent that drugs are being pushed to the mark and dam the side effects. I wonder who is on the take$$$. The fact that a drug lists a ton of side effects does not constitute the right for the FDA to allow the drugs be placed to the market.

I am a healthy, 36 year old woman and on 3/18/07 I was hospitalied for a blood infection caused by e.coli and was given levaquin intraveinously (sp?) during that time. Upon release from the hospital I was given a perscription for 750mg once daily for 10 days. In the hospital, I was having TERRIBLE HEADACHES- borderline migraines, HORRIFIC NIGHTMARES and was also sweating profusely throughout the night. When I got home and began taking the prescription pills, I continued to have the nightmares, nightsweats and headaches but then started having ODD TINGLING SENSATIONS IN MY LEGS, DEPRESSION, BACK PAINS & TERRIBLE NECK STIFFNESS/CRAMPING as well as INSOMNIA. (Right now it's 2:53 am and I am up writing this email). I am also noticing some pain in the tendons in my ankles and feet. After I read these postings I immediately flushed these pills down the toilet. I believe that these postings saved me from further suffering and possible long term damage. At this point, the cons of the medication seem to definitely outweigh out the pros. I am a mother of three (two of whom are under three yrs old) and I can't afford to have any lingering and/or debilitating side effects. Good luck to all and may God bless and keep you.

PS - It may be helpful if future posters would include their ages and health status pre-levaquin to help others in ascertaining risks, etc.

I have been taking Levaquin for six days for a urinary tract infection and have been experiencing terrible headaches, neck and back pain, and pain in my calves. I cannot exercise and by the end of the day I feel like I have been hit be a truck. I have a call in to the doctor (at a walk-in clinic) to call me, to see if he can give me something else.

I was treated for a case of accute sinus infection in february of 2006 with Levaquin (750 mg for 10 days). About a week after the treatment (infection didn't go away...was put on a month of sulfameth which slowly worked), i woke up one morning with moderate back pain in lower left back. About 2 weeks later, my legs started tingling all the way up and down, including gluts and scrotum. A few days later, I started to experience random twitching of muscles in my legs. The twitching was constant and random throughout my legs, but also in some other muscles in my back, arms, and neck. After about a month, the twitching and tingling started to subside a bit. As the twitching subsided, i noticed a strange sensation in my left big toe. The sensation was a sort of weak feeling (as in the feeling of trying to make a fist when you first wake up). The sensation would come and go, but never went away totally. About a month ago, i noticed that the same sensation was occuring in my left thumb and two adjacent fingers. I still feel the effects today. I have had blood work and x-rays, with all coming out negative. I know my doctor thinks there is nothing wrong with me, but after doing some research, I'm pretty sure all this is due to the Levaquin. I am a 27 year old male, very healthy, excersise regularly. Has anyone else experienced this type of effect?

hello again, another week an a half and still not able to sleep with out help. my heart has not been racing as much and the blood pressure has come down some but now i have pain in my knees and my lower back is realy bad. i have a hard time getting dressed in the mourning because of the back pain. i saw my doctor yesterday and he said not to beleive what i read on the net and that i have arthridis. i may have to see a diferent doctor. dose any body know how long this knee and back pain is going to last. if so, please let me know----******

I have a really hard time taking antibiotics. The doctor prescribed me Levaquin for a severe sinus infection. Well, I took my first dose of this antibiotic almost fours hours ago, and my back pains are getting to the point I can barely stand up. It feels as though someone has kicked me repeatedly in the mid-to-lower back region. I am not taking another dose, especially since I have a hard time taking most antibiotics, making me experience severe joint and muscle aches. I will deal with the pounding sinuses over what I am feeling now.

This is the night of my second day, I have severe abdominal and back pain. I'm a 55 year old male and am taking this for an urinary track infection.

Incredible weakness, back pain, tinnitus.
During surgery for sinus disease, had levaquin administered through iv with general anesthesia. I was supposed to go home in the afternoon, but couldn't walk or even talk coherently. Intense back pain followed along with difficulty hearing and pains in shoulders as well. My tongue was thickened and I had trouble talking for three days. Today I saw the doctor and he feels that leviquin caused the problems. The back pain and speech problems are slowly disappearing. This drug is dangerous to anyone who is sensitive or allergic to medications. I once went into shock from three compazine tablets, and had to have adrenalin administered, so I know how very powerful medications can be.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a prostate infection. 500mg per day for 30 days. Took it for a couple of weeks and it worked, cleared up the infection, but oh my goodness, what horrible side effects...

Parathesia, especially in hands
Unpleasant dreams and fitful sleep
Heavy, heavy fatigue and weakness
Muscle and tendon pain extraordinare - twitchy too
Joint pain, back pain, you name it, it hurt
Lower left leg even feels sunburned when lightly touched
Slightly psycho / depressed

I will never, ever take this medicine again. I stopped taking the medicine over a month ago (at my physician's suggestion) but the symptoms still linger. Although, they have improved somewhat. It's nasty stuff. How on earth did the FDA approve it?

Has anybody had almost instantaneous sharp back pains -- mid back -- within an hour of taking the first dose of Levaquin?

Also, I just took the first pill -- this is probably the third time I've been prescribed this drug. I've noticed that I get unexplained sharp pains in my toes/feet on and off that feel a lot like the pain I've experienced tonight in my back. Thanks for any insight! And thanks for this site -- I just found it!

My wife and I took Levaquin for two days, Thursday and Friday for colds, neither of us slept either night and I urinated every 15 to 20 minutes during the night, and less but more than usual during the day. We didnt take it last night (Saturday) and both slept much better.

Friday and Saturday I experienced sharp pains in my left elbow joints- something I never had before... as well as back pain in my mid back left side. My wife also experienced some discomfort in the right elbow joint, something she never experienced before.

After not sleeping for the first two nights I told my wife we're stopping the drug, my doctor was not available saturday. I came to the internet to see what side effects this drug has- and came across this forum.

BillS

21-year old male taking Levaquin for 11 days for sinusitis.

Side effects in chronological order:

Chest Pain and tightness/Tachicardia, high blood pressure, had to go for a ECG the day after beginning the drug. Brought it up with the doctor who told me it was not the antibiotic.

Tension Headaches (intermittent) and mostly towards the evenings/nights. Even had some pain in my right eye for 2 days, when I looked to the corner of my eye.

Neck and back pains, which I think may cause or at least exacerbate the headaches.

Insomnia as well.

I shall stop taking it today and go see my doctor to discuss this. I feel less worried now that I've been enlightened about how many people experience side effects with this drug. Of course you read the "possible side-effects" leaflet and dismiss it. I won't be doing that again.

Good luck to all, Thomas.

Eleven days ago my doctor gave me Levaquin for bronchitis. I took one dose and twelve hours later I had muscle cramps in both arms and legs, back pain, severe nausea, an anxiety attack, insomnia that lasted 48 hours, and my blood pressure shot up to 180/112. My doctor seemed surprised at the muscle pain, said it should only happen to kids under 12 or adults over 70. (I'm a 50 year old woman.) He told me they should go away in ten days, but I am still suffering from all of the above except the blood pressure. I have totally lost faith in him and have made an appointment with another doctor who is a specialist in infectious diseases, and according to the friend who referred him, he carries an electronic version of the PDr to check for drug interactions. Hopefully I can get some help, since
suffering from all these things in a lesser way is agonizing.

Cipro caused me severe side effects, joint pain back pain, muscles twitches and vibrating, which i still have after two years. Cipro made me have severe bledding of the bladder. I was given levquin because cipro messed me up, that was dumb of them since levquin is the same as cipro only stonger

Flagyl made me crazy, hallucinations, can't sleep, anxiety depression, back pain and spasms. Took three months to settle down afte that drug.

Also antibiotics kill the bacteria that make vitamin K, Vitamin K helps with bleeding and inflamation. So that is why some people got bruises and bloody urine and diareah. So take lots of probiotics and eat yougurt and eat green leafy vegs while on antibiotics.

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

Took one 500mg pill for the flu , this was in Jan 20/2002 have had back pain ever sense. Hard to get breath in morning , back kills me . After iam up and around pain goes away some. How long is this,or is this perament damage to my nerves . Iam begining to not trust any medicine .

Polyelene glycol maybe that is what causeing the problem .there is no antidote for it It is one of the ingredent.Prayer and flush body with lots of spring water. Green tea two cups aday may help. I took one pill and still haveing back pains (Dec27)

I have had the side effect of severe confusion and a diabetic episode which resulted in a hospitalization from Tequin. I started Levaquin a week ago, but had stiff muscles, tendon & joints, muscle weakness and ringing in the ears. I was prescribed Cipro Friday and am suffering aches, joint & back pain and joint stiffness. My throat is getting sore and stiff and possibly swelling. I am stopping the Cipro immediately and calling my doctor tomorrow. I have taken it successfully once in the past. I am a multiple organ transplant recipient, and know my body and how I feel. The so called "M.D." who so facetiously posted that "As a matter of fact maybe this whole Iraq thing is all levaquin's fault. Maybe you people need to realise that just because you have a symptom, and it happened after you took a drug, the two aren't necessarily related" needs to get a better bedside manner and do some research in the PDR.