Levaquin and bouts

I just finished taking a prescription for levaquin, 500mg once a day for 7 days. I cannot begin to describe the intense joint pain; hips, knees, hands, feet, it was horrible. I experienced nausea and headaches as well. Plus, I have been so exhausted that it's almost impossible to describe; I've been sleeping 15-17 hrs and still can barely keep my eyes open. I will never take this drug again unless it's a life or death emergency!

I was prescribed Levaquin for a bout of diverticulitis six weeks ago. About a half hour after taking it each morning, I felt completely unwell--dizziness, fatigue, overall weakness, odd sensations of pressure in my head, chest, and bladder, weird bouts of sudden joint pain. The worst side effect was terrible insomnia. I'd go to sleep OK, but wake up after 3 hours and not be able to get back to sleep, sometimes for the rest of the night. Instead of getting the rest I needed to get better, I was getting more and more exhausted. Now, a month after stopping the medication, my sleep hasn't returned to normal. I'm still awake in the middle of the night for two or more hours. Is this a residual side effect from Levaquin? Has anyone else experienced it? When can I expect my sleep to improve? Is there a way to detoxify from this drug?

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.

My daughter took levoquin for 5 days because of a bad ear infection. it caused her to not be able to sleep. She went off of it and started sleeping again, but is having bouts of sleeplessness. Help. How long does it take for this to get out of your system? She is having sleeplessness again and it has been 5 weeks.

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.

As I write this, I'm on my fourth day taking Levaquin 500 mg. prescribed by my doctor for severe nasal congestion, sore throat, difficult cough. I have bouts like this on a yearly basis that start around Thanksgiving till late spring. I do remember taking Levaquin before though didn't notice anything bad (yet). As I read through different messages, I now come to realize that maybe I should go back and check the time I took Levaquin because I've been suffering from so much muscle aches and pains for a quite a very long time now. Since I started taking Lipitor 3 years ago, I'm inclined to think my pains were due to side effects of Lipitor. That's just another issue.

As of yesterday afternoon, on the third day of taking Levaquin, I was informed by my pharmacist that I OVERDOSED since Friday and Saturday by 2000 mg. I was prescribed 500 mg. one tablet per day. Whoever typed "Take one tablet every day by mouth after meals" in the pharmacy must have too many "ssss" in their pockets. "After a meal or after meals" are definitely not the same, don't you all agree? I didn't just read the label and followed instructions as I understood it. The pharmacist confirmed what I read back to him as typed. I thought pharmacists know how a certain drug should be taken. But that's another story to tell. I'm too concerned learning about the bad effects of Levaquin for me to find time and question a pharmacist integrity.

I called my doctor first thing today and told them of this oversight (should it be mine or the pharmacist?). I was told to continue with the medication and call them how I'd feel in a couple of days. So I took just one tablet today. That was easy.

Now after reading all these different bad things happening to people taking Levaquin, I am thinking of the future. Should I be worried about the bad side effects of Levaquin taken exactly as prescribed? What about those 2 days of overdose? I guess, I have to find that out myself in due time as I will not stop from finding out more about this drug.

I don't think I will continue taking this drug tomorrow. I don't know what will happen but I'm sure my doctor will find a way to fix my upper respiratory problems. He must have heard about other patients complaining about Levaquin. I will make sure he will take my opinion seriously.

To all of your valuable inputs and opinions and warnings about the harsh effects of Levaquin, thank you very much and may you continue on passing to one and all your valuable insights. Count me in!!!!!

Tomorrow will be a new day and I will be on my toes making sure I will fight the harsh side effects as early as I could. I know it will be worth the fight if I kick these damaging effects at its early stage, hoping I will be lucky to do so.

God Bless to all!