Levaquin and difficulty breathing

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 put on Avelox and went on a cruise. Well on the third day of taking it I broke out in hives, had difficulty breathing, could not walk, the pain in my legs were so bad and had a burning sensation from my nose to my pelvis. I felt like I was on fire inside my body. Well, the doctor on the cruise ship gave me many medications to combat the allergic reaction and thankfully I was fine after that. I still to this day have severe joint and muscle pain. I didn't realize until I read all this that it could have been due to the Avelox. I was on Avelox, Cipro, and Levaquin also for a sinus infection. That was Aug. 2006 and quess what still feel like crap with the pain in my legs and feet.

Daughter's ear infection was not responding well to prescribed antibiotic. Dr called in levaquin as replacement. Within THREE MINUTES, daughter was having reaction to levaquin. Within thirty minutes of taking levaquin, I had her in the ER. She is 15 years old, 5'5" 115 lbs, active healthy teen. Heart rate was 130. BP 130/88. She couldn't stop shaking, difficulty breathing, lips/tongue swelling, face, hands and feet numb.

I am a 39 year old female who was prescribed Avelox on December 21, 2005. That date will stick in my mind forever because I nearly died that day. I finished eating dinner about 8:00 pm and took 1 pill of Avelox, within 20 minutes I was vomiting and had diarrhea and then developed what I can only describe is an internal burning sensation in the pit of my stomach and it spread outward through my body. It felt like my insides were being burned which cause me to start to sweat terribly (you could wring out my hair and clothes) then it felt like some one was sitting on my chest and I started having difficulty breathing. I went to the ER and by the time I got to the hospital I could no longer walk. After they wheeled me in the ER I lost consciousness for over 30 minutes and when I awoke I went into convulsions. I knew that it was the Avelox that did this to me and all of the ER staff acknowledged that as well. But over the last 2 years, the medical problems I have experienced all the docs say it can’t be from the Avelox (that’s out of your system by now) DON’T THINK SO ……………………..

Had all the medical test run – tested for arthritis, MS, MD, had an EMG for muscle weakness and I still felt horrible all the time. My husband was getting sick of me being sick all the time – my kids were worried all the time “What’s wrong with Mom?”. Actually it was my daughter’s Pediatrician who suggested I start eliminating food and maybe I will start feeling better. Well after some research I found out that Avelox is in the Fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics and that is the same family of antibiotics that is given to poultry. I love chicken and eat if all the time but I stopped eating all chicken and eggs and turkey and over 75% of my aches / pains and gastrointestinal ailments. That was over a year ago and I stay away from all chicken, things made with chicken, eggs and all products made with eggs (mayo, cole slaw, potato salad, cake, cookies, etc…). So if you are still suffering a lot of adverse reactions and are eating poultry and poultry by-products – you are re-ingesting antibiotics through the food you are consuming. Also, it seems the older I get, the more sensitive I have become to these antibiotics, where once I would just vomit and / or have diarrhea if I ate something that had eggs or chicken in it by accident but now within 24 hours after consumption all my muscles bunch up / knot / and/or tighten that if becomes very painful to walk.

My Doctor tells me that as long as I believe that’s what is causing my problems and I feel better because I don’t eat any of the foods that contain that antibiotic then keep doing what I am doing as long as it makes me feel better. I really don’t know why she doesn’t believe me but that’s her prerogative. Ever since I went through the anaphylactic shock when I took Avelox, I have a very hard time with my cognitive thinking skills and trying to verbalize my words. There are times I have to stop mid sentence and gather my thoughts because I lost my train of thought. This is coming from a person who used to do ad lib speeches to 400 people and also teach computer classes in a technical school, while conducting workshops to teach job readiness skills to the economically disadvantaged. I never before had trouble speaking but after my episode over 2 years ago – I do now.

I tell everyone DO NOT TAKE A QUINOLONE ANTIBIOTIC -- these are very dangerous drugs and should be banned by the FDA for regular use and to be used to treat infections in life or death situations NOT for sinus, ear, prostate infections when there are literally thousands of other antibiotics that could be used that are not as dangerous.

If there is anyone out there who would like to get in touch with me regarding your or my experience with this antibiotic

Started Levaquin after contracting a cellulitis infection...I feel worse since taking the antibiotic. On the brights side killed the infection...but not sure this was the right antibiotic for me considering the side effects

Difficulty concentrating
unrestful sleep
skin hypersensitivity
no appetite
mood swings (no history of mental illness)
dry cough...difficulty breathing

I just finished 14 days of 750mg of Levaquin. I have not found anyone who has taken this size of a dose. I am having the joint aches and pains. This morning I had difficulty breathing because my back and ribs hurt so much that to expand my lungs hurts. My husband is a physican assistant and he is feeling riddled with guilt. He and I both feel as if the drug company had done its part to not make the severity of these side affects known. These horrible side affects are listed as "less common or rare." That leads one to believe that very few people will have these problems. I just mentioned to someone yesterday how I felt worse since taking this medicine than I did before. They immediately said, "You aren't taking Levaquin are you?" There husband a healthy 30 something year old accountant had the same problems I am having. His gastrointestinal doctor said Levaquin is poison and he would have never put him on it. He told him to stop it immediately. Obviously some doctors are aware and admitting the problems this medicine causes. I am trying to be hopeful this morning after reading all of the posts that are echoing how I am feeling right now. I am afraid! For those of you who have gotten better many of us would benefit from knowing that these side affects are temporary and will pass. Thanks to all who have posted and provided clarity about this medicine.

I took my third dose of Levaquin (for bronchitis) just before finding this site during insomnia. I woke up with my heart pounding, sweating all over, in nearly a panic attack. I calmed down while playing a handheld game (keep the concentration away from the symptoms to ease anxiety) and noticed my vision greying a couple times, but attributed it to being tired at the time.

I've been experiencing tightness in the neck and non-bronchial-related difficulty breathing since my first dose, but I did not attribute this to Levaquin at the time.

I've only taken three doses and am disturbed by what I've found in this list of messages, especially since some of the effects seem to be permanent! What should I do now to help prevent symptoms from recurring?

I also experienced loss of appetite while taking levaqin by the fourth day. I was given the prescription after apparently having a relapse of a sinus infection. I now have chest pains, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and I now ralize, the pain in my right hand the first night after taking this medication, could also be attributed to this drug. I contacted my doctor today to let him know of my side effects. Since I also have fibromyalgia, I was under the impression all of my symptoms were due to it except the loss of appetite. My doctor changed my medication to doxycycl. I am about to check the net on it, too. The pharmacy gave me a printout and it lists the same side effects. By the way, I also got the "weird" feeling and my stopped up for no reason, and I felt like my heart would race at times.CathyN