Levaquin and cough

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!

Extreme nausea, stiff joints, weak, dizzy, quickened pulse.
11/08/08
After taking just one dose of Levaquin, I can say with confidence, this is the atom bomb of antibiotics. My doctor was off for three days, so I went to a walk-in clinic with a solid reputation in Westport CT. My problem was a sinus infection that had gotten slightly better after a round of Clarithrymicin, but was reincarnating itself every week or so with new symptoms. At the time of the visit, I had been sick almost 6 weeks, and now had a phlegmy cough and felt run-down.

The doctor prescribed Levaquin rather casually, said I seemed to have a touch of bronchitis. He never mentioned possible side effects, asked no questions about my history. Adding insult to injury, when paying for the scrip at CVS, I discovered, that having exceeded the cap my insurer pays for medications, 10 tabs of Levaquin cost me $219 -- the good news was, without an insurance discount, it would have cost $310, To his credit, the pharmacist looked embarrassed.

After taking one tab, 750 mg, around 7:00 pm, I woke at 3:00 am feeling very nauseous. I used deep breathing to get back to sleep. In the morning, I felt better, my cough was already gone, but the nausea continued. As the day wore on, my joints felt dry and stiff, my heart raced, I was weak and dizzy. The thought of taking another tab felt like participation in my own poisoning.

I looked up Levaquin on Medications.com, and was glad so many people had taken the time to report their stories. In the end, I didn't take another tab, and don't much feel like ever going to a doctor again. My symptoms hardly justified such a powerful blast. Doctors need to question the authority of their masters, the greedy pharmaceutical ghouls.

On 7-15-08 I had a total abdominal hysterectomy and was given Levaquin thru IV while I was in the hospital.3 weeks to the day later I had a abscess next to my bowel that had to be removed and again was given Levaquin thru IV while I was in the hospital,both times I got very sick right after I was given Levaquin and when I was discharged on the 2nd.trip I was sent home with Levaquin 500mg pills.After taking 2 of the Levaquin pills I again was so sick and could not keep anything down so I called my DR.and explained to him what was going on and I was told I had to keep taking the Levaquin.After a few more days had passed I went into the office to see the DR.and again told him how sick I was and that I was unable to go to sleep,again I was told to continue the Levaquin and that my hormones were out of balance and that was why I was unable to go to sleep.On 9-2-08 I finally went back to work after being off for 7 weeks. I still was suffering from insomnia and was only getting 2-3 hours of sleep a night but was feeling better.On 9-30-08 I had a follow up with my primary care DR.my blood pressure was 211/160 and my pulse was 177 and also had a bad cough with wheezing and was sent straight to the ER.I was admitted and for the next 6 days was given Levaquin thru IV and the more I got the sicker I was to a point I thought I was dying.I ended up with a rash all over my face and finally on day 7 a Lung DR.came into the room and took one look at me and said "oh my god,we have to take you off of that antibiotic")
I was sent home on day 8 and after being home for 3 days all of the Tendons in both legs,ankles,arms,hands and right shoulder were inflamed to a point where the DR.was afraid that they were going to rapture so I was on complete bed rest for 3 weeks.I am now suffering from both ankles swelled and ache all the time along with all of the minerals in my body have completely bottomed out along with the calcium and potassium and also now I have several inflammatory markers in my blood and have to go see a Rheumatology & Arthritis DR.My lungs have also been damaged from Levaquin and I am now using 3 different inhalers and I have never had a breathing problem previous to this.Now for those who have commented that we should have researched the drug before taking the meds in my case I was unable to do so being as though I was given it in the hospital ! I still have no idea how much damage I will be left with and what will be permanent.I will post again when I find out more on the damage that this drug has done to my 44 year old body.

I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg for a cough and cold. Day 6, the day after my last pill, my shoulders started to hurt. I took Motrin which did not help at all. 17 days after taking the drug I was still having shoulder pain and the doctor prescribed a pain killer for Tendinitis.
Last week I read about the black box warning from the FDA and then realized that the Levaquin was the source of my Tendinitis. I am now on my third pain killer, Ibuprofen 800mg. After six days I still have the shoulder pain and will have to be making a fourth visit to the doctors.

I work in a health care system and we have used levaquin for this last cough, cold and flu season. It has worked wonders for the various upper respiratory infections.

No one has developed rashes, boils, or bone/muscle pain. After reading the first response, her abnormal reaction sounds more like a bad case of shingles.

Then, I read the last post where the person drank two glasses of whine to help with the blah blah blah. Mixing alcohol with any type of medication will not help with Your sypmtoms were a "full fledged panic attack" as you stated from the beginning.

Nothing but idiots posting here!

I started taking 750mg of Levaquin last Thursday, March 20, 2008, for a strep throat infection that was not responding to 500 mg. of Penicillin. I took Levaquin last summer due to another bad throat infection and had absolutely no side effects. However, this time I am experiencing a raft of them, from awful insomnia and sluggishness and tiredness, to sever headaches and coughing. I suffer from depression and this is effecting my reaction to the depression medication. I am feeling more depressed.

A few days ago, my head started to hurt near my left eye, and my skull became very sensitive on the top left side, midway between the middle of the skull and my left ear. If I cough, it feels as if my head is about to explode. To make matters worse, whenever I try to speak, I start coughing , which in turn hurts my head. My head is painful to the touch.

This is awful. Can anyone help me out with some pain relief or something?

Mikal

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!

I had a cough for a few days, which didn't improve,my wife insisted that I go to the Doctor to have it checked. The Doctor determined that I was either getting over a slight case of pneumonia, or it was just beginning. He prescribed LEVAQUIN 500 MG for 10 days. I took the first pill in the evening of Feb 3rd. When I went to bed, I was not able to sleep, I was short of breath, my heart rate went to 140, I did not sleep the entire night, my heartbeat was also irregular and I have a terrible headache. The next AM, I went to the Doctor and he said that I should continue with the LEVAQIUN - and that the symptoms were not related to the drug. - I have had and irregular heartbeat in the past, but no like this. The Doctor insists that the LEVAQUIN did not cause the problem. Then he put me on Toprol - to slow the heart rate. I took the Toprol and took the 2nd dose of LEVAQUIN last night. My heart rate is down, but still irregular, I didn't sleep, have anxiety, shortness of breath and don't feel right. Went back to the Doctor today and he still insists that the LEVAQUIN didn't cause this. Thank God that I found this website and others, I have stopped taking the LEVAQUIN. I already feel better, and hope that I don't get any other of the side effects.

I am glad this site was one of the first on the list for Levaquin. Previously I had been on two rounds of antibiotics for bronchitis and sinusitis. I still had a cough that wouldn't go away so yesterday I went back to the doctor. I saw a different doctor than my regular physician, but in the same office. Last night I took the first pill (Levaquin 500) in the evening. After several hours I went to bed. My body was tired, but I could not fall sleep. I also felt stomach pain so I got up ate a few crackers and drank warm milk. I still had insomnia and felt somewhat anxious.

If I had not found this site I would have continued on the medicine another day thinking I should take it in the day rather than at night. Now it is downright scary to think what might occur if I were to continue. Thanks.

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.

I am a very healthy 21 yr old. I have always had a slight problem with urinary tract infections, nothing major tho. Doctors in the past always prescribed an antibiotic, usually Macrobid. I went in to see a doctor at MEA that gave me 3 samples of LEVAQUIN. They were each 750 mg. Within 3 days of taking the pills I was unable to get out of bed. My stomach pains were so severe I had to constantly bend over to relieve some of the pain. I had no appetite. My chest hurt so bad I couldn't talk loud, laugh or cough without crying from the pain. My fingers began to swell and became numb. I could barely sleep and when I did it was a very restless sleep. I woke up during the night one night and couldn't feel anything in my left shoulder. It has been close to 8 months since I took LEVAQUIN. I still have problems with my joints hurting horribly. I see spots like you would see after a camera flash in my eyes all day everyday. The bottoms of my feet still hurt if I stand still for a long time. LEVAQUIN is so dangerous. PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!

I got sick. It lasted longer than usual. I was coughing up phlegm and I had sore throats on and off. It would get a little better then get worse. After about a month of this I developed a Pleurisy or a Pleuritis, in which I had a terribly painful cough.
I finally went to the doctor.
First my doctor prescribed an antibiotic which was not Levaquin. It didn't work.

Then she prescribed Levaquin. I had instructions to take 10 pills, once a day. After the first couple of days, I developed a skin rash, all over my torso. I went to several websites including this one to read up about Levaquin and its possible side effects. Most said, to stop taking it.

I tried to stop the rash by taking Benadryl, at night. So I took Tylenol PM. I found that the rash was smaller in the morning. So I stayed on the Levaquin. At the end of the 10 days of Levaquin, my chest still hurt a little when I coughed. About a week after finishing my prescription, the pleurisy pain was gone. I am so glad I stayed on the drug.

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 have a seve4e bronchial infection and was prescribed Levaquin 750 mg once a day for 5 days. Tomorrow will be my fifth day although I will not be taking it. When I started the medication I was beginning to feel better although I still had a really bad cough. I was also put on an inhaler.
I woke up today and felt like I have been hit with a truck. I can't hold anything in my hands, my kneew and ankles feel like someone took a bat to them and I have spent all day trying to figure out why I felt worse overall and now why I was feeling this horrible pain that is practially crimpling me.
I found this site when I googled "sever bronchial infection and joint pain".
I'm calling my dr tomorrow but I'm scared. Will this be permanent. I already have 2 herniated discs in my back and now I can't even walk or get up from a seated position.
I have a 1 year old I cannot even hold and have ot have someone help me take care of.
I hope this goes away and soon. The pain is close to unbearable.

I went to the doctor and she gave me a prescription for an antibiotic which was $150.00 which I said no way. I went home and phoned her and she said she had samples of a different one in her office I could pick-up. It had no information on the drug and I am on my third day of taking it. It is 750 mg and I am about 118 lbs. My cough is better, but I feel strange. Earlier today, all of a sudden, I felt achy all over like I had a fever again, very tired, and a headache but could not sleep when I came home. I was thinking maybe I am over doing it after just getting over being so sick, but now after reading this I think I know why I feel this way. So far, I have not had any sharp pains in my legs, but am also on meds for pain which make me worry about how Levaquin might interact. My head is in a fog and I just woke up after falling a sleep for about 20 minutes with my heart racing, ears ringing and bad dreams. I can not go back to sleep and found this web-site which I am glad and will not take anymore LEVAQUIN! When I took the first pill it was on an empty stomach and felt nauseus because I had not been eating because of my sickness. I still don't have much of an appetite. I have 2 kids I have to take care of, a house, a hubbby, a part-time serving job and need my strength and SLEEP! I was at work yesterday and found that I could not get my words out right etc. again, I thought it might be from just getting over being sick, but now I know why and will call my doctor first thing Monday and let her know.

My Dr. gave me levaquin July 5th, for a cough that had lasted 3 1/2 weeks. I took the first dose same day. Started having muscle pains in my legs next day, but continued the medicine because I thought I needed it to get rid of my cough. The pains continued to get worse; I couldn't staighten out my legs or put my full weight on them. I stopped the Levaquin after the 6th day. The pain continued for the next 9 days, after which it finally started to lessen. It is now 2 weeks since I stopped taking the medicine, and I still have some pain in my legs, although I can straighten them out and put my weight on them now. I would not take this medication again unless it was the only way to keep me from dying. I am 75 years old, but have not had any pain in my legs prior to this. Funny thing is that my chronic back pain did not bother me during this time.

Was prescribed Levaquin for ENT infection. On second night felt very jittery and then awoke in bizarre awake/asleep state at end of horrible nightmare convinced that I had murdered my young son and that the police were on the way to pick me up. I lay in bed for half an hour shattered with despair until I heard my son cough over the monitor and I realized all was not real. very disturbing. Just in case I called my Dr. the next day and she confirmed it was likely the Levaquin causing the problem. Stopped the drug; problem ceased. I'm sure the side-effect is rare but it was awful to go through.

I was prescribed this drug for a lung infection. The doctor told me I would be feeling much better fast. Not the case. I have had increased tightness in my chest, vomitting and shaking. I feel like crap and my cough has turned into an angry heave, that sounds like satan himself is trying to get out of my body. Its pretty bad. I only have four more doses, so I will carry on to the bitter end. My heart goes out to all of you who have suffered so on this drug. Please take care, Christopher

I have only taken three doses of this drug, and today while napping, I had the worst dream, the scariest psychidelic dream. It is hard to describe. There were sounds and I was screaming and crying and felt like I was going crazy and couldn't wake myself up. I am sixty years old and my son lives far away and I dreamed that he was visiting to say goodbye to me because I was dying. I felt completely insane.
I was given the drug because of a severe cough that lasted over 48 hours, I am feeling a little better, the cough is subsiding but I am NOT going to take levaquin one more time or ever again.
Beware of this drug. It is a dangerous upsetting drug.

02.22.2007 was prescribed Levaquin (750 mg) for sinus infection and cough. Took one that evening and another the next morning. Soon after the 2nd pill (an hour or so), I started feeling 'brain fog' and tingling up right side of neck into face and right side of head. I've had other health issues over the past year, so I am very suspicious of 'new' symptons and decided to see if levaquin had known side effects like the brain fog and tingling. Many sites report others having the same issues. I've only taken the 2 pills and won't be taking any more. Hopefully I won't have long term side effects. Best of luck to everyone.

You have a spelling mistake on A word at the top of this text box. It says SITE EFFECT instead of SIDE EFFECT.

I'm taking 750 mg of LEVAQUIN daily for 5 days. I just finished Day 2 of 5. I have bronchitis. But since taking this med, I cannot sleep at night, and I'm utterly exhausted from coughing all night long. Its a dry hacking cough with nothing coming up, so I feel it may be due to these meds.

It has been a nightmare, but I don't know if LEVAQUIN is to blame alone.

Anyone else in the same predicament?

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.

My 95 year old mother was given Levaquin 3 weeks ago for a bronchial cough. Seemed to improve, then it came back and she got another prescription. This time, in 24 hrs. her feet swelled up with a needle like rash all over and over the knees and she complained that the balls of her feet hurt so much she couldn't walk, joints ached, etc. Prior to that she had been in increasing discomfort at the assisted living place until I finally brought her to my place. Perhaps the dreams, sweating and discomfort were also symptoms that I did not realize until now. This drug is too strong for the elderly. On top of whatever else they are taking, this should be used far less often.
L. Saylor

I went to the doctor Friday night worried that I had pink eye. He says "No, your eyes are fine, nothing wrong there, but your cough sounds awful." so he listens to my lungs and says I have bronchitis. Yeah, I had a sinus infection a couple of weeks ago and the cough never went away. So I say, ok, what can you do? I have no insurance, the place I currently work at is cheap. He brings me 5 sample packets of Levaquin, 750 mg. Says to me "These are really good. Take one a day for the next five days. They should do the job, they are $25 a pill." I think, wow, that's some expensive medicine.
ANyway, I come home and take a pill around 8. I have a second job that I work on evenings and weekends, so I have to get up in the morning to go. I can't sleep like usual. I wake up every hour or two. First I am sweating, I get up and turn the heat down. Second time I wake up with tears running down my face, I'd been having a nightmare about one of the kids I watch dying od SIDS (How twisted is that?) Then I just keep waking up.... I go to work yesterday morning and after about 2 hours I start to get real light-headed and nauseous and my ears were burning like someone had embarrassed me to the extreme. I came home after being at work 4 hours. I felt sick to my stomach all day but thought it was because I hadn't eaten. WHen I finally ate, I couldn't stop eating. Then I did, and 2 hours later I was feeling sick again.
Not thinking anything about it being the drug, I took another one last night at 6:30. When I finally went to bed at midnight, the nightmares started all over again. I wake up crying, my body wracked with sobs, tears rolling down my face.
I don't want to keep taking this medicine if it is causing all of this but I don't have the money to go back to the doctor for something else, and I can't afford to still have bronchitis. What am I to do?

After reading some of the other postings, I consider myself lucky so far! I took my first dose of Levaquin 500mg yesterday evening. Last night I went to bed and after about 1/2 hour of sleep, I woke up and shot out of bed. I just wasn't feeling right...kind of anxious, couldn't focus, stomach cramps and nausea, had chills and a bad cough, and some chest discomfort. Later, I started developing a headache. Today, I still don't feel right at all and have put a call in to my doctor, but honestly, I don't want to put any more medication into my body! I will not be taking this medication again.

I was just recently in the hospital for treatment of cellulitis and my doctor ordered Levaquin via IV. I had taken it orally before about a year ago for a respiratory infection. 2-3 minutes into the IV being turned on I felt the worst burning sensation and pressure in my lungs like I suddenly had horrible pneumonia. Everytime I tried to breathe I had to cough like my lungs were full of fluid or something! They ran tons of tests and everything came back normal. They had to give me a shot of Benadryl and it eventually calmed down. Anyone else experience this?

I have been on Levaquin for 9 days following a DX of COPD exacerbation, + acute bronchitis. My coughing has become worse, but more dramatic is the black and red blotches on my skin - 1 area of about 5" by 9" on my left flank below ribs, and another below my left under arm - about 6" by 6".
I do not exaggerate about the color of the skin, the black skin is not a coal black color with some dark cherry red blotches around and mised in the central shape..
My only guess is that it is some strange reaction to the coughing - which has been severe and difficult to control. The muscle pain when I cough is truly horrible, but I have never seen anythin glike this.
I was seen in the emergency room, and all personell who saw the blotches commented that they too had never seen anything even like what I have. Several staff members insisted that I fell and injured myself, but I didn't.
Two days after stopping the Levaquin - the marks began to slowly disappear, but not fade to yellow like a black and blue mark does.

it started out as a cold and within two days it settled in my chest.i then develope this horrible cough and ended up in the emergency room.After a chest x-ray ,it was confirmed i had broncitis and i was givin Levaquin.I notice after taking the medication i feel really bad.It feels like my throat is closing up and i get this horrible taste in my mouth.I also have alot of gas and diaria.My cough is not prductive and it feels like my chest is tight.Thi medication is making me feel alot worse and i see no improvement. I was given the Leva-Pac and i have one pill left. I will never take this medication again.

m not sure what to do next - do I even call the doctor - or call my dentist or just hope it goes away with good oral care. This really sucks!

I went to the doctor for a cough and he perscribed Levaquin. He gave me 2 sample pills and an Rx for 5 more. I took the first one and started feeling achy which I just attributed to laying in bed too long. I took the next one the next day and the pain in my upper back and hips was amplified by 100! I had soreness in my eye sockets and just an overall feeling like I'd been run over by a mac truck. I also had dihrreah (sp) I am calling my doctor with this information and I am NOT filling the Rx for the extra 5. I'd rather let this thing run it's course or get another antibiotic. NOT a fan of this antibiotic and would recommend anyone using it be very careful and listen to their body.

I was on the antibiotic augmentin to treat a proctive cough--it worked somewhat, but not fully. It's been about 8 weeks total I've had this cough. My dr. today prescribed levaquin--over the phone. I'm worried about taking it after reading this site--should she have done another exam first? I'm 31, asthmatic, and also a runner. Any advice?

I have taken Avelox, Cipro and Levaquin within the past two years - all with side effects:
CIPRO: (Rx for diverticulitis) Dry raspy cough, irritated throat, sneezing - all started shortly after each daily dose and eased off until next dose. Poor sleep, wakeful and unable to go to sleep. I did not continue the medication as prescribed and the symptoms were gone within 24 hours.
AVELOX: Dementia - something like Alzheimers - I could not do a simple crossword puzzle, knowing that I knew the answers at one time. I could not think or function and, again, stopped the medication early. Symptoms went away.
LEVAQUIN: Confusion, sleeplessness, anxiety, frequest urination.

My husband is currently taking Avelox and is having some strange symptoms: Hallucinations, strange dreams, confusion, raspy cough and laryngitis. He was put on Avelox two days before he came down with Influenza and the cough and laryngitis may be a result of the flu - but I am recovering from the flu and he is not, and should be.

I will no longer take any quinolone and may need to change doctors if he insists prescribing them. He wants my husband to continue taking his last two doses of Avelox. I just hope he survives this!

I started taking Leviquin three days ago. I had a urinary infection that had probably spread to my respitory system, so I was not in good shape. The respitory problem was bad, in that I could not lie down without eventually going into violent coughing fits, the kind that make you vomit from their intensity. In fact, I *did* vomit at one point, and was absolutely sure what I saw was half my blood coming up out of my mouth, which of course sent me into a panic due to its color and volume. I had forgotten that I'd been drinking red fruit juice all night, however, and realizing that's the only thing that made me smile these past days.

My doctor inspected my areas and prescribed Levaquin. Well, it certainly killed the respitory infection. Even up til I went in the door at the doc's, it was with me, but that night after that first dose, not a cough. Also, not a wink of sleep.

And no sleep the next night either. And quite a few times as I've drifted towards the veil and then been savagely yanked back, I've almost begun crying and shivering, afraid that I'm going to die now.

And now that I've read a few horror stories, I'm pretty scared that I might be sleepless until God knows when. Or worse.

I'm not taking a dose tomorrow, and am going back to the doctor Monday and demanding something else. I'm only scared now that whatever I've done is irreparable.

Took one 500mg levaquin last night for sinus infection, sore throat, cough. Awoke several times during the night because my eyes were tearing, and felt "sticky", but did not get out of bed because I was too tired. At 5 a.m. I finally went to look in mirror, and my eyes were red and puffy, & my face was swollen. I felt dizzy and almost fainted. My legs also ached badly around the thigh/knee area, and it was painful to walk the stairs. I had some chest pains on and off during the day, and my rt. eye is still hurting. I am now on benadryl. My doctor wants me to take prednisone, a steroid, but at this point I am afraid to take any more prescriptions. The only reason I agreed to the levaquin is because I had taken it once in the past. 1999 according to my dr. He said he has noticed cases of patients who have a reaction to it the second time around. I am through with antibiotics. These side effects are too scary. I would rather have the sinus infections.

My daughter is 13 years old. In October 2003 she had her right middle lobe of her lung removed. She has chronic asthma and other respiratory problems. She has also has 2 sinus surgeries and 5 sets of ear tubes. After her lobectomy she was on several different antibiotics and we had a terrible time clearing her lungs. Finally in December her Drs. put her on Levaquin. She took her levaquin at night due to some of the side effects listed. I didn't want her in school if there had been a problem. It was like a miracle drug for her. For the first time in months I did not hear her say she was not feeling well, no low grade temps and most important of all...she stopped coughing up phlegm. The Drs now have her on another antibiotic...its working well but some of her problems have slowly returned. She is much wheezier, she has started to cough again and she says she doesn't feel as well now as she did on Levaquin. As a matter of fact she has a Dr. appointment in a week and I am going to ask about using Levaquin again.

My daughter had a bronchitis infection, bordering on pneumonia. She was given Levaquin which after 2 pills (2 days); she experienced extreme pain in her arms , from the wrist to the elbow. She took a total of 3 pills and stopped. This has been 3 to 4 weeks ago. She still has some pain in her arms and has recently experienced bruising on the arms, legs & thighs. They changed her medication but, she continues to cough. Obviously, she was prescribed a less severe anti-biotic. But, I'm concerned about these on going side effects. How long will this continue?

Levaquin did me more good than harm, It made me cough less and less phlegm, caused by chronic brochitis and lung infection. The 500 mg pill made me throw up once, sweat a lot, short of breath, tired, dizzy and depressed. But I could tolerate all those problems. I also found out that if u eat a lot before u take the pill, the nauceation and dizziness can be decreased. Overall, the side effects are not nice but toleratble and the drug seemed to do its job.
good health to all of u.

I just wanted to add to the few positive experiences here.

Recently, I had an intense cough which one night led to some kind of injury to my rib. I decided to go to an Urgent Care doctor who ordered x-rays. A radiologist discovered what appeared to be a small infiltrate in my lower left lung. Suspecting that I may have actually had a mild case of pneumonia, the doctor put me on a seven-day course of 500mg Levaquin to rule out the possibility of something more serious.

I am four days and four doses into the course and have experienced only mild side effects. It feels as thought the Levaquin deminishes my energy levels a bit, slight difficulty in mental focus within the first few hours after dosage and a couple of mild night sweats have been noted. Other than that, there have been no ill effects to speak of. I suspect that this site has become a collecting pool of negative experiences. There are no doubt many, many others like myself who experience little to no side effects.

i woke up mon july 7th with a cold and then tues july 8th i felt horrible, so much pressure in my head, bad sore throat, wanting to gag and maybe throw up, severe pain in my chest especially when i cough or sneeze, it hurt so bad i felt like crying every time i would, i had to blow my nose every 5 seconds and on top of all that i can't sleep cause i'll cough or my nose would run so bad i had to stuff tissue up there and leave it. also on top of all that mess this was the week i had to work mon-fri at 12 hrs a day since my bosses were up north all week. i went to the docter that tues (8th), i thought maybe i could kill it before it got bad. my doc checked me out, did x-rays and i had the first satage of phemonia. total bummer since i haven't had a cold in two years. my doc gave me levaquin 500mg and tussi-12, i went home that day at 4 pm, sleep, woke up around 8pm ,went for ice cream (sore throat), sleep at 12:30am and i have to say i got great sleep that night, next i felt good 9th, same thing that night too, next day 10th felt even better, everything was clearing up already it was amazing to me, no pain in my chest, barely had to blow my nose, gunk in my chest was clearing up, everything everyone has been complaining about didn't happen. it is the 13th and i feel great besides a little cough here & there & at night but a little nyquil kicks that in the butt & some tiredness but i am truly impressed with this drug i don't want to use all of it so when i have cold again i can get rid of it fast but i have too. the only complaint i do have is that my doctor didn't explain any side effects or good effects she just said take this once a day. maybe doctors fail to tell people the risk of side effects cause their so bad people won't want take. i usually can't get over a cold for 2-3 weeks so i love this stuff. thanx

i have been sick with a cough for 5 weeks and evaquin is the only thing that has helped!

sorry for those who suffer side effects, as with any drugs this can happen. it has been the only thing to help with my chronic bronchitus.

Boy, how many people have to have the same reactions before this drug is removed from the market? A respiratory infection got me a 7-day round of Levaquin. Major fatigue and muscle soreness, constant metallic taste causing a loss of appetite, major stomach upset with cramps, etc., some vomiting. Next time, I'll also insist on one of the old stand-by medications I've taken before. I've gone from just having a bad cough, but being relatively fine otherwise to feeling like I've got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel...not good.

I took two series of Zithromax for a bronchial infection. It seemed to do nothing, so I asked the doctor for Levaquin which was recommended by someone else.
I have only taken it for two days. I have had a metallic taste in my mouth. After seeing this site, I won't take anymore. I'd rather cough than have some of the side effects I've read here.