Levaquin and fda

I was prescribed this medicine for a breast abscess. I have a bad reaction to penicillin and levaquin was given to me as an alternative. I took the first pill at 11:00 pm. I woke up about every 30 minutes drenched in sweat until 2:00 and then could not go back to sleep. I took drinks of water when I woke up in order to keep hydrated. I have a lap band, and I noticed that the water wasn’t going down easily which let me know the medicine had made my stomach swell. I finally fell asleep around 3:30 and had evil nightmares until 5am. I was afraid to go back to sleep so I decided I'd just stay awake until time for me to get up for work. I will be calling my doctor's office as soon as they open to let her know this medicine is not for me. After reading your stories, I refuse to take it another day.

This is not a new side effect, but the same day I started taking Levaquin for sinusitis, I suspected something was wrong. Within hours, ears were roaring. First night, NO sleep, and that's WITH Ambien CR. Day 2.....depression! Immediate. This is in spite of having a severe depression under control for over a year. Sudden. I really started suspecting Levaquin then, but thought it was a coincidence. Took it this morning. Deep, dark depression. After reading these posts, I knew my suspicions were correct. The depression is getting better after 10-12 hours after the dose. This is really scary stuff. Really scary. Oh, yes, and I had the stomach pains, also. Told my husband it was just hurting like a bruise, not like indigestion or gas. I will report it to my doctor so they will no it's a "no-no" for me....in spite of all the websites that said how safe it was. Glad I found this website. Thank God.

i ave a friend who has just had a bad case of the flu which has turned into pneumonia. her doctor out her on levaquin! i almost had a heart attack, called her and begged her to stop it. i sent her a bunch of info about it. why not put her on augment, something with less chance of adverse effects.
now i find she had a stroke over the weekend and is in the hospital! has anyone heard of anything like this on levaquin?

In addition to all I mentioned in my posting before, I am now having burning skin feeling and my shirt can't touch my skin sometimes without it burning, hurting.

Has anyone heard if this drug leaves your system or not???

After you read a representative sampling of this website's testimonials, you certainly ask yourself inter alia: Can this be true? Did thousands of people inject an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone family, which crippled them for longer or for shorter? Most of us, I suspect, never really get beyond the initial litmus test: Did this medicine poison me or save me? (The answer depends, of course, upon the age, gender, medical condition, and most importantly, the DNA make-up of the individual patient. For hundreds of thousands of patients this antibiotic is a boon. For thousands of other misfortunes this antibiotic is a disaster.) But there is another important question here.

Who gains from self-revelation? To be sure individual sufferers gain certain emotional catharsis from posting their adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to levaquin. E-postings are one-way anonymous tracks that form ruts on a well-traveled trail of tears. Unless these postings are hoaxes written by mischievious gnomes, then they consitute prima facie evidence for a causal link between levaquin injection and sundry crippling ADRs.

Curiously, this e-forum cannot be used as a tool for organizing thousands of potential litigants who might coalesce under a class action lawsuit. Yes, we can analyze each other's anonymous revelations to see if they muster our respective sense of the "ring-of-truth" re: levaquin toxicity, and we may contact each other one-on-one, but no-one can harness this intoxicating communication's technology to reach simultaneously all respondents en masse as a bloc.

So, who wins? The emotionally unburdened e-poster who learns belatedly that s/he is not alone and that prescription medicine likely caused more pain than the underlying malady for which s/he is being treated? Or big pharma that continues to manufacture and market a medication that poses downside risk to many consumers who unwittingly incur more damage than therapeutic value?

Indeed, who wins in a forum where consumers anonymously reveal their symptoms and unconfirmed suspicions? The answer is big pharma wins. Pharmaceutical companies data-mine our postings to estimate the frequency and bredth of ADRs about which consumers complain. House statisticians estimate the ratio of active complainants : silent complainants, i.e., the ratio of complaints who show up on this website to the far heftier percentage of complainants who never post on this website because either they are technology-challenged or they are incurious. House actuarians proceed to estimate how much operating profits their employers must set aside to cover losses in out-of-court settlements or in awards made to plaintiffs in class action lawsuits.

I think this is how the game is played in a behavioral sink where billions are made in a deregulated marketplace that allows predators and prey to interact anonymously. Sorry to be such a downer, but I fathom only the desperate plight of tens of thousands of levaquin consumers for whom no monetary award ever will compensate them adequately for their suffering, and the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in court awards if consumers ever brought to bear their aggregate numbers and draw a bead on their big pharma tormenters.

I think it a true horror and shame that pharmaceutical companies have not devised a test which determines in advance which patient safely may consume levaquin and which patient's DNA places him or her at risk. I suspect the genome technology is available, but would dig too deeply into big pharm's bottom line. The economics of "parachutes-for-everyone" is infeasible. We are all guinea pigs in a B-grade movie featuring Russian roulette, billion-dollar pay-offs, and an FDA that pretends not to know.

so far, no side effects for me. I've been taking Levaquin for 8 days, 2 more to go. Scary stuff you're all experiencing. That's awful!!!

All i can say is WOW! i am so happy i found this website..
I too have suffered side effects and till this day am suffering from Levaquin.
In Feb of 08 i was diagnosed with Prostatitis and was given a 14 day dose of Levaquin. Hours after the first dose i started experiencing pain in my lower extremities,me thinking it was caused by the prostatitis i continued the doses.By the second dose i was in absolute pain in basically all my insides and started having this metal taste in my mouth.Not ever being allergic to any type of medicine i continued the doses only getting sicker and worse.By like the 6th pill i was having anxiety,insomnia,hallucinations,nightmares whenever i was able to close my eyes,partial psychosis,rashes on my face that would get bright red then go away and the skin would peel off.I would be so thirsty water couldn't quench it,suicidal thoughts.I developed a pain in my left calf and behind my left arm in the tricep that till this day bother me.Joint pain,ringing in my ears,excruciating headaches like someone was jabbing a knife in my head,lost 30lbs cause of the colitis it caused,neuropathy,and so much more,it was a total nightmare.
I went in for discomfort of my prostate and doctors couldn't understand why all the other symptoms only a week later,they were completely clueless and told me i was making this stuff up cause i was having an anxiety attack.. I was a perfectly healthy 33yr old before levaquin. The doctors sent me for test after test from HIV to LUPUS only to tell me its all in my head,that i was a healthy man to move on with my life.I would try to sleep and have all these terrible thoughts and would swear i slept for 3 hrs only to see that 20 minutes have gone by,i was gentle to the touch.My family had no clue,they thought i was going nuts.I was pretty bad for months after,the effects started going away little by little,i was back 50% to myself by like June of 08.Since,i still have the pain in my left calf from time to time,tremors,joint pain..I have since joined the gym and have been taking supplements that have helped a lot with my joint pains.
This stuff is poison and should be taken off the market..

I took levaquin for 10 days and then cipro for 10 days after being misdiagnosed with bacterial pneumonia when I really had cocci mycidioidosus (valley fever) a creepy lung infection from a fungus that lives in the dirt here in Ca . Within a few days of stoping the antibiotics I experienced severe joint pain,dizziness,swollen neck ,hives,pain and tingling in my legs and feet,taste perversion,neck pain,hallucinations,nightmares,suicidal thoughts,dead skin,head ache,conjunctivitis. All of which I thought were valley fever related . A few weeks later I started noticing loss of vision and an inability to focus or concentrate on anything. I have ruptured 5 tendons and sometimes can't lift my right arm off the table.
I'ts been a year and 3 months and I still suffer from these side effects and about 3 months ago I started to notice some hearing loss and then ringing in my ears so load that it wakes me up!

This drug has ruined my life.I have lost 2 profitable businesses,a house a car .a commercial building, my credit score is 309 from 760 a year ago.All from a stupid antibiotic that should not be sold in the first place unless you are going to die if you don't take it.....personally I would rather be dead I think.

I think that we (the 1000's of people effected by this drug) should protest,march at ORTHO McNEIL's doorstep and perhaps the FDA....write a letter ,call or write to OPRA...do something ...It's not right that they get away with selling this crap.

Please email me ...I see 1000's of you on these sites...lets get busy!

******

Thanks for reading

I took Levaquin several months ago and have had on going foot pain. I was recently diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome following a Stress Fracure in my heel. I have had muscle aches, all ove pains, bone pain, insomnia, depression, irregular heart beat, headaches. irritability, dizziness,stiffness in my joints, stomach aches. This has all been a terrible ordeal. Do you think it is related to Levaquin. I have also taken Cipro several times for UTI and Diverticulitis. Thanks for listening.

You really need to be extra-aware of the possibility of tendon damage. There have been a lot of reports on these side Levaquin. A lot of people have developed serious tendon injuries including tendon ruptures and severe tendinitis. Take a look at ****** -- there's lots of literature and studies showing that many takers of fluoroquinolones have suffered terrible side effects after just single uses. You need to be aware of this so you can take action (like getting to a doctor) before major damage sets in. Hope this helps.

I am a 34 yr old registered nurse and I was given Levaquin for a kidney infection. I was very pleased that by the next day my symptoms from the infection were gone. Unfortunately, after 5 out of 7 days of taking Levaquin I developed pain in my knees, wrists,shoulders,ankles and hands. My hands are swollen and difficult to use even to type this. I am very familiar with Levaquin and give it to patients all the time without even considering these symptoms because they are dismissed as "very rare"! Obviously they are under reported because doctors don't attribute these complaints to the drug side effects. I pray that this pain goes away soon for myself and everyone else. I have learned in my career and in my own experience that though doctors are the ones with the ability to diagnose and treat, WE are the ones that must be our own advocates! I will definitely never give Levaquin without warning patients of potential side effects.

Since July 12, 2009 (Saturday) my life has been altered by a cure for a UTI that caused me to be taken by ambulance to the E.R. with a 105.6 fever. The horrible feeling of waking up shaking from the fever and not being able to stop it was scary. That was quickly followed by an ambulance ride to the local E.R. It was explained to me that the cause of my fever was a UTI that became a kidney infection. The E.R. doctor prescribed Levaquin 500 mgs for 10 days and Lori-tab for the ache very typical of a kidney infection. I am a 42yo woman who owns a motorcycle, swims, dances with a group and loves to wear beautiful heels. My life has changed since that night in the E.R. July 14 (Tuesday) , I was in my doctor's office complaining about bad headaches and feeling achy. I asked if this should be a concern since headaches were part of the warning label. The response was to remain on the antibiotic since the benefit far outweighed the side effects. The rest of the week was full of aches, pains, swelling, and a cloudy mental state. By Friday, the 17th of July I was laying in bed after noticing I no longer had ankles and I hurt all over. Thinking maybe this would pass I rested for an hour and my partner came to check on me. My jaw was tight and felt like it was locking down, every part of my body, every joint was hurting including my head. I called my doctor's office and asked if this was an allergic reaction and should I go to the hospital. The on-call said she was at the E.R. and maybe I should come in to be seen although it would be a long wait time because they were busy. I was seen, they talked about finishing with Cipro and then decided they would give me Bactrim. I asked how long I could expect to feel the effect of the Levaquin, the answer was 3 to 4 days. Since then, I have been in and out of the E.R. with acute and chronic pain. Walking has become almost impossible on some days. All of a sudden I have a back and hip problem. I am getting lumbar epidurals now and have sold the motorcycle. Oh, Dr. Higgins said, "Levaquin is a great drug". This was a E.R. doctor that was angry that I asked if this seemed to be an on-going issue from taking Levaquin. I am desperate to be pain free for even one 24 hour period. A storm of depression and clouds have set in...the thunder is my pain....

DOESN'T ANYONE REALLY READ THESE POSTS????? Please don't take anymore of this poison.
Send in a medwatch report by going to www.fda.gov. That is the only thing that might help save others from this horrible nightmare.
I'm going on 5 years since I was poisoned by levaquin. I still have the effects of that horrible poison.
Tell everyone you know not to take it.
Change doctors. Find one that reads and knows what to give for a virus and isn't looking for kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies.
Go to www.fqvictims.org and you will find some helpful hints to help you through this.

I went to the doctor on 9/11/09, having been sick for a couple of weeks w/ nasal congestion and then developing muscle aches, fatigue, and a fever, along with the new symptom of a cough. My doctor was on maternity leave, so saw someone else in the practice, who hastily diagnosed a sinus infection and prescribed penicillin. Got the beginnings of hives on Sunday early in the a.m., called the pharmacy, discontinued the penicillin. Still had a fever and was miserable, called the doctor on Monday to document the hives for my medical chart, and said I thought it was flu, not an infection. Finally was called back, and they called in levaquin, despite my thought it wasn't infection. Fever had broke finally, and I was making some progress, but figured the doctor knows best and took one dose of levaquin before bedtime. Had horribly vivid daymares/hallucinations and kept telling myself, "Its not real!" Woke the next morning, and could barely move. Couldn't get from the couch to the tv a few steps away and knew I was in serious trouble. Called the doctor and the nurse said they wouldn't see me, no appointments, so my husband took me to the ER. ER doctor said it was a reaction to levaquin, discontinue use, and it would take probably a day to pass through my system. Also said I had a virus, not an infection to begin with. (Horribly ironic, huh). It is now Thursday, 9/17, and I move like a snail. I have no stamina, and can barely walk. I went to work (I'm a teacher) and cried after walking my kids down to art. Am I ever going to feel normal again? This is really depressing. I was a healthy, active person before I took a dose of this poison.

I've been on Levaquin almost 10 days now - my heart is racing! I hurt all over! Until I found this site I thought I was going crazy. Thank God I have only one more pill to take and I'm done with Levaquin. Like all of you - I hope there are no long lasting side effects!

I was give Levaquin when I had a Prostate Biopsy and had a reaction to it , Hives, muscle pain oral thrush ,I told the doctor about it so he gave me another anti biotic,CIPRO which made things worse, then I find out they are both from the same family of antibiotics, these doctors don't know what they are giving you and he said all that I should have gotten from them was a little stomach problem, Its two years now and I still have skin
problems, joint pain and pain in my neck amd the doctors say it can't be from the Levaquin, Well how come I was healthy until I took it

August 4 ER visit following fall and opening of incision recent knee replacement surgery - given Levaguin 500 mg and Rx for 8 more. Feet
numbness started first couple of days - tingling - told doctor Aug. 10 and
stopped taking the drug on that date. Have to drive without shoes to feel the pedals. Gait now affected.

Hi,
I am just looking for a web site that can help me with Levaquin side effects.
I had some of the listed side effects however within 4 days of starting the medication my taste and smell was totally gone. That was in Feb. 09, its now Sept.09 and i got back some smell and taste back but nothing like I
used to. In fact a lot of things taste different than they used to. Can
anybody help or point me in the right direction?

I took levaquin (750) for a bronchial infection about 9 months ago. My doctor gave me individual samples with no info. on any side effects. Like most people, I trusted my doctor and took the pills without question. The aftermath has been a complete nightmare as I have suffered severe joint pain, depression and an atypical anxiety that at times that feels like a drug induced brain fog. I've seen numerous specialist searching for an underlying process causing the symptoms but nothing is ever found. Since the beginning I've contended that the Levaquin was at the root of my problem, but no doctor has ever given that thought any consideration. Prior to the Levaquin I was perfectly fine with no history of any joint pains or mood disorders. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reverse or heal the process?

I have been on Levaquin 750mg for an infection in the bone of my toe. I am also on a daily IV drip of antibiotics. Since I have been taking the Levaquin, I ache all over. Every joint aches from my hands to my ankles.
I'm wondering if this is all a side effect of the Levaquin. I have nothing else to blame the aches upon.

Started taking Levaquin Friday afternoon for a bad UTI. That night I had trouble sleeping. The next day I woke up with horrible pain in my mid and lower back and in the backs and sides of my legs. My right ankle was also in a lot of pain. I took 4 doses. By now I am completely miserable. My stomach hurts and I'm bloated and quite nauseated. The pain in my back and legs feel much like labor pains. Today the back of my knees and down my calves hurt. It's hard to explain the agitation feeling I'm having. I feel miserable. I looked up side effects today and realized it's the Levaquin. Good grief, why don't they tell people this?? I cannot wait for these side-effects to be gone.

They are switching me to yet another anti-biotic which I start tomorrow with much apprehension! But, my cultures came back very high and I will need to continue on something for another week.

I took Levaquin for a sinus infection March 26th... 5 doses of 750 mg. I felt slightly better initially but that lasted only a day. I think it was prescribed wrongly, I had a virus and was getting over it... not a bacterial infection. The problems started about a week after the 5 day course ended. I ended up in the ER feeling like I was going to die, some strangeness in my breathing and feeling as if I was having a stroke... like I was going to pass out. They found nothing wrong except an elevated blood pressure and did a d-dimer to see if it could be an embolism (at my insistence, I had no idea this could be from levaquin and thought I was having a stroke. After the ER visit, I just felt like I had the flu, but I didn't... weak, extremely tired with some muscle aches ... two weeks out I had a lot of pain in both legs, like charlie horses that didn't go away... that lasted several days to a week... the weird depersonalization and the anxiety has been intense throughout. Constipation (never ever had it before this drug) started about a month out from taking it. I still feel pain in my legs from time to time and a feeling like there is a tight band across the top of my left foot... like when you tie your shoe too tight and need to loosen the shoe strings, but I am not wearing shoes.

I have been taking this Leviquin for 4 days. I have had severe cramps in my calves and feet in the middle of the night. So bad that I get up and try to step em' off but to no avail. My muscles hurt so bad in my legs arms and I have been very sick to my stomach. Do these things go away? I am not taking one more of those pills. I would rather have sinus and bronchitis problems than deal with these horrific side effects!! Any feed back?

PLEASE!!!!! SEND IN A MEDWATCH REPORT TO WWW.FDA.GOV
IT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN GET THIS OFF THE MARKET.

I have had pain in my knees and legs after taking levaquin for pneumonia for 10 days. I am weak. It is hard to get up and down and very painful with steps of any kind. I am very depressed from the pain and inability to find anything that will help. I have been to an orthopedic doctor and had X-RAYS. Just given anti-inflammatory. No tendon or obvious reasons for pain. What do you do now? Who do you go to for help? In
the mean time, my breathing at night has gotten worse again.

I was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection, later to be told it was e-coli. After several days of intravenous antibiotics along with prednisone in my IV to help manage terrific arthritis pain, I came home from the hospital with a prescription of levaquin, prednisone and something for my stomach that I could have gotten over the counter. I have progressively gotten sicker on my stomach, had severe attacks 3 to 5 times a day, headaches, extreme fatigue and weakness. Worst of all were the crazy thoughts when I woke up partly due to nightmares and partly to just not feeling myself and having a feeling of loss of control of all my emotions. I told my husband I believe I was going into a depression. After stumbling onto this site, I threw the 5 remaining levaquin in the trash and thank God that I found all the information I have today on this POISON. I agree with many that the side effects far outweigh any good this antibiotic has done for me. I continue to be very sick and weak. I just hope when I wake tomorrow this mess is out of my system for good.

I am a 57 year old male, who is in very good shape and active playing sports. I had a bad cold and had just finished a 3 day "burst" of prednisone per my asthma specialist. I am supposed to keep it on hand and take it if my usual meds and "rescue" inhaler are not working, and I feel that I am going into an infection (asthmatic bronchitis). The steroid treatment did not work, so I saw a doctor who prescribed Levaquin (with a coupon for $15 off) - for 10 days. The pharmacist remarked that they had seen a LOT of these coupons and that the drug reps must be doing their jobs. I read the warnings which noted that "in rare instances, ...". after I got home. Since I was leaving town immediately and did not have time to change meds, I took the Levaquin. I have suffered leg cramps for over three weeks now and don't know when or if they will disappear. The cramps appear in my hamstrings, groin, thighs, and calf muscles. They are debilitating. Sometimes I can barely walk. I am no longer able to play racquetball. I try to stretch out and warm up thoroughly before physical activity, but the cramps still appear in one muscle group or more - then I stop immediately.

My husband was prescribed 500 MG of Levaquin for 10 days due to respiratory infection. When I got the medicine home, I read all of the warnings and possible side affects. He is 61 and has had tendon damage in his shoulder and his lower leg from taking Cipro two years ago. He had severe joint pain from Bactrim and hallucinations from Flagyl. From these previous antibiotics he still suffers pains and limitations of movement. What is worse is that they prescribed Prednisone with the Levaquin. It clearly states in the warnings that Levaquin taken with Prednisone increases the likelihood of tendon damage. The warnings state that people over 60 have increased risk of tendon damage. Why on earth did his doctor prescribe this? My husband is 61 and was too sick to research all of this on his own. It has obviously become more profitable to make people sicker.
I found this forum and called his doctor. I refused to give him this terrible Levaquin and asked for a prescription for something milder. The Doxycylene seems to be working just fine to clear his infection.
A word of warning to all to not drink the Kool Aid that they give you without asking questions. Any health care system that sustains itself by keeping people ill is a bad one. Think about it. If people are healthy, then where is the profit?
This Levaquin sounds like some kind of bad snake oil to me and I am thankful to have read the warnings and then found this helpful forum. I am so sorry for the pain that most of you have suffered and are suffering. We are living with damage from antibiotics and we understand your anger. Take good care of yourselves.

Update: I took Levaquin 2 months ago, stopping after 7 daily doses of 500mg for an upper and lower RI. I did not have the extreme reaction to it that others here suffered. I had general fatigue, brain fog, loss of appetite, dizziness and tight joints. I had always exercised regularly prior to Levaquin. I also had a sudden onset of bloating and inability to digest food. Doc said Levaquin wouldn't cause those symptoms. It's hard to tell if it was the Levaquin, but...

Now 2 months after my last Levaquin dose, my joints seem OK, I can exercise, although I don't push it too hard since that can aggravate any joint damage done by L, the brain fog is better, and the digestion is still a problem sometimes.

Levaquin symptoms can appear months after the last dose, so I am being vigilant.

God bless everyone here who has had horrible experiences with Levaquin and I hope that your bodies will heal as the months go by. I will be posting updates in the future.

I go by the ID Miserable Knees. I posted last spring on medications.com about my adverse reaction to Levaquin. I was given a 10 day prescription for a respiratory infection. 3 days after I finished taking Levaquin, BOTH KNEES were swollen, painful and I could barely walk. I spent a month throwing myself backwards into chairs due to the inflammation in my knees. My knees were on fire, I was in pain every day. After seeing an orthopedic doctor an MRI showed cartilage damage. A year later, I'm living with permanently altered legs. I was an avid walker, loved to hike, would spend hours walking for recreation. Levaquin changed all of that. I had a career requiring me to be on my feet for 12 or more hours a day. Levaquin changed all of that. I decided, if this could happen to me, it could happen to anyone. Now, there is a documentary about the dangers of fluoroquinolne antibiotics. When I was harmed by Levaquin, I was flabbergasted that something like this could happen to me in the prime of my life. I made this 52 minute film for all of the people like me who trusted the system, (government, doctor, medicine) to guarantee my safety. "Certain Adverse Events" is the name of the documentary and it is now available online. You can reach the documentary site by going online to the .com of "Certain Adverse Events"

Miserable Knees Productions

I've experienced a severe allergic reaction that resulted in over 3 weeks of being in and out of the hospital for severe hives, breathing and digestion associated with severe reactions. I am now still hypersensitive with a low level case of hives. ARe there other normal chemicals /food additives that I should stay away from to eliminate that as a possible future reactions?

Has everyone sent in a MedWatch report by going to www.fda.gov???

This is not a side effect but some good news. I saw yesterday on television that the FDA is being forced to put a Black Box warning on the antibiotic Levaquin. This is going to force doctors to recognize the dangers of this drug and that the side effects are more widespread than they are being told by the FDA.....D.

WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE SEND IN A MEDWATCH REPORT TO WWW.FDA.GOV. IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THIS POISON.
PLEASE DO IT TODAY!!!!!

I was prescribed Levaquin after coming in with "walking pneumonia" I was given 5 days of Levaquin along with Prednisol. I have been off Levaquin for over a week and I am having severe stomach pain. I have tried Mylanta, Tums and everything imaginable and the pain will not go away. The doctor said the side effects should not be lasting this long. The stomach pain started about two days after taking Levaquin along with dizziness and has not stopped.

Update from A., Well it's been since Monday that I was finished with a 10 day course. I'm still having terrible knee pain, and bad burning in my left shoulder! I'm drinking a bunch of water.....When I try to get up from a seated position it's like my legs have a hard time straightening out!

I DID report it to the fda.gov/medwatch.

When I see my Dr. next week, I'm gonna let her know just how bad this messed me up.....as I've got Fibromyalgia and I'm already pretty MESSED up to begin with!

I 'm in the process of filing for disability.....that's how messed up I am! I'm also going to have my dr. run the Creatine Kinase blood test....any others I should ask for???? If you know PLEASE reply to me, Thanks in advance!

SO SORRY TO SEE SO MANY NEW PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM. PLEASE SEND IN A MEDWATCH REPORT BY GOING TO WWW.FDA.GOV. EVEN THE PERSON THAT THINKS SHE'S BEING HELPED BY THIS NEEDS TO DO THE SAME. PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR DR. AND BE VERY VERY CAREFUL. THIS STUFF DOES DAMAGE EVEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH IT,
I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR 4 YEARS NOW. I'VE HAD HEART PROBLEMS, DEPERSONALIZATION, TENDON PROBLEMS, TINNITUS 24/7, HEARING LOSS. MY LIFE WAS RUINED BY THIS POISON. THERE ARE SAFER ANTIBIOTICS AVAILABLE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE WITH KNOWN POISON LIKE THIS???
GO TO****** AND YOU CAN GET SOME HELP THERE.

February 24,2009
I am a 66 year old woman in good physical condition(that is until I took Levaquin) I took it in December 2008 and it is over two months later and
i am still suffering from extreme jount and muscle pain especially in my left
shoulder and left knee. I took it for twelve days for a sinus infection and
on the eighth day woke up with great swelling lumps on the back of both knees. Initially thought it was just old age and arthritis. Soon all the joints in my body begin to ache and swell causing severe constriction of movement. Could hardly manipulate the stairs in our house. I quit taking the meds as I had never experienced anything like that before and knew it was the Levaquin. I can only hope that the damage is not permanent but am afraid it might be. I can't sleep on my left side for the pain and it never goes away. Left knee is still swollen and sore. Elbow joints are also painful and hands are sore. I know the medical profession will not acknowledge this so I didn't even tell the Dr. This drug is dangerous
and should be taken off the market. L. H., Blanchard, Ok.

I am scared to death after reading what everyone is going through. I was put on Levaquin for 10 days and got to day 9. My joints ached so bad I thought I had arthritis, and even had my Dr. do blood tests for it (I had no idea it was the Levaquin). I am only 35 years old and never worried about arthritis before this. Also, within 5 days I started developing hives all over. Again, I was stupid and didn't realize until day 9 that the hives were because of this med. I told my Dr. and he told me to stop taking it which of course I did. I assumed the hives would go away after the med was out of my system. But a week later the hives were unbearable. I was put on prednisone (another issue altogether) and that helped the itching, but now every time I try to go off or back off the prednisone the hives come back- and they are terrible! Now my Dr. thinks the hives were from something else because there is no way that the Levaquin is still in my body. But after reading what other people are going through on this med, I am convinced this stuff is as everyone says- POISON!! I am so worried about the joint and hip pain that was so bad I couldn't stand for long without excruciating pain in my right hip. It felt like I had a one hundred pound weight just sitting on it. And my hands were the worst. I have a newborn and could barely pick him up without worry that I'd drop him. I don't know what to do.. Is there anything to do?? I'm still on the prednisone, and have been for a month. I need to get off of it but every time I do I itch so bad with the hives that I cannot function. Also because of the prednisone I noticed last night that I am getting "moon face" my face is swelling up and there are a million side effects from that drug too. How long does this last? Has anyone else fought the hives that come with this? Please help me, I am so scared!

a few hours after i took levaquin, i went to BK and got a cheeseburger. i had just had a csection and was having a hard time recovering. i thought the pain i was having had something to do with the surgery but i started to realize it was the levaquin. it was like everything i tried to eat kind of got stuck going down. it hurt so badly i just stopped eating. i was so weak and my muscles were so weak. ias so weak that i had to concentrate really hard on my breathing. i didn't realize it was the levaquin until later that night. i started getting giant red spots on my arms and on my forehead. they were on fire and it was miserable... my husband had a bowl of ice cold water and ice packs and rags in the freezer. he was running around like a mad man trying to keep bringing me cold rags. every time he would put them on the red spots, the rags would be hot within seconds. my mom thought i should just jump into the cold shower but i had to explain to her that i was also freezing at the same time. finally my mom did some research and found out that this happens so the doctor said to take benadryl for a few days until the medicine wears off. i will never take that crap again... it was such a weird and terrible experience.

PLEASE SEND IN MEDWATCH REPORTS AT WWW.FDA.GOV.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS POISON OFF THE MARKET.

I'VE BEEN SUFFERING NOW FOR 4-1/2 YRS. HELP GET THIS OFF THE

MARKET. H.

I started taking Levaquin 500mg on Jan. 28,2009 after having it prescribed fby my cardiologist for a lung infection, after he conducted blood, urine and heart ecosonogram tests over the three previous days. I had an infection, everything else was fine. I am 55 and have mitral valve prolapse and have been treated 20 years ago for atrial fibrillation, hence my primary care doctor is a cardiologist. Willingly starting the treatment of one tablet a day, I noticed insomnia the first and subsequent nights, tiredness and probably depression as my friend and wife said I was acting a bit "needy" and anxiety. My family commented on my anxiety as did my friend who I only email and phone. My infection noticeably improved so I was feeling better and marked it up to having been sick, until the 4th day when I starting having shortness of breath and I noticed a feeling I knew well but had not experienced in 20 years, my heart area hurt in a mild way and I felt flutters, just enough that I pulled the medical paper for the Levaquin and read the side effects bar. Low and behold all my side effects were listed. "Rare but could happen in patients predisposed to heart problems" On Monday Feb 2nd I called the doctor with my concerns but he assured me that is was not the Levaquin but he made me an appointment to check things out. So one week into the 10 day course of treatment I had another checkup only to find an erratic heart beat but on the slow side not the pounding which is normally associated with this problem. So now my doctor "who is a friend" so I am not a number, wants me to start on an anticoagulant"Coumadin" to ease the pumping in my heart and then further exams and medication for "life" for my fibrillation! Problem now is I have one more pill of the Levaquin of the 10 pill series which I "should take in 10 minutes ( I just found this site)! I have decided not to take any more test or medication of any kind until I feel this Levaquin is completely out of my body. Does anyone have any ideas how long that could be? P.S. My heart still feels like it did earlier in the week!

I was prescribed Levaquin about 3 months ago. Not only did I have horrible insomnia while taking the medication - even after taking ambien and the lunestra - the insomnia continued. It messed my sleep cycle up so bad, that now, even months later, I have major insomnia problems, and am now trying to get off the sleeping pill downward slide too. I recently went to see a sleep specialist MD, and when I told him about taking Levaquin, he knew exactly what I was talking about. This drug is bad news, and really should be taken off the FDA approved list. Please, don't take this drug if you value your sleep (unless you don't mind functioning on 3 hours a night for months).

levaquin intervenously for bladder infection in hospital blistering rash on lips .out of hospital given avelox believe same family : blistering rash on lips between thighs and buttocks. went to dermatologist said allergic reaction to avelox. took blood test do not know name of the tests. doctor's conclusion do not take any medicine in the avelox family :he told me avelox in the levaquin family

This note is very hard to write. I had a kidney stone removed using laser surgery and the urologists prescribed the 500mg of levaquin to prevent infection. I took the first pill while under the influence of dilaudid, so I didn't realize my dizziness, loud ringing in my ears, nausea, headaches, lack of appetite, insomnia, and joint pain were the result of the levaquin. I thought I was just reacting to going cold turkey off the dilaudid. I took two more pills. I haven't slept in two days and I am the most exhausted I have ever felt in my life.

This stuff is poison. I can't believe the cavalier attitude of the physicians who proscribe these powerful chemicals and the FDA is doing a very weak job keeping bad medicine out of the hands of these shills for the drug companies; i.e., the doctors.

I stopped today and I pray that I will recover from this very nasty experience. It has been as bad or worse as the kidney stone attack. I hope the other victims of this hoax cure win their class action suit and shut down this dangerous drug.

This is not a side effect of the drug Levaquin. I found out just yesterday that there is a law suit pending by the law firm of Schmidt and Clark for those who have been injured by this drug and others in the same category. You can type the law firm's name into the computer and it seems like you can file a case from there also. Additionally there is a toll free number to call to see if you have a case. Make the FDA and the drug company responsible for the pain and suffering that they have caused a lot of people..........D.

I was given Levaquin for a prostate infection. They prescribed me 750 mg for 30 days. I have been off of the drug for 3 weeks and I still have pain in my tendons. Shoulder tendons, knees, elbow and hands. How long can this last? I feel like I am dying.

SEND IN MEDWATCH REPORTS PLEASE. THIS POISON WILL REMAIN ON THE MARKET UNLESS ALL OF YOU NOTIFY THE FDA ABOUT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS. WWW.FDA.GOV

I was given a Rx for Levaquin on Dec 17th (5 day dose). I started it on the 17th. By Saturday the 20th, I wasn't feeling good at all, my ankles, knees, hips, elbows, wrists and finger joints hurt. I only had one dose left so stupid me, I took it.

I have had pain ever since. I had read the sheet you get from the drugstore when I had the Rx filled. I remembered something about possible joint pain but didn't think much about it until the pain didn't go away after I stopped taking the drug.

Wednesday the 24th, I looked Levaquin up on an internet drug site and looked at the side effect list again. That is when I realized that the pain I was having was under the "notify your doctor" category. Their office was closed until the 29th. I tried to call the 29th but the phone was always busy. I finally got through today and told them my symptoms and told them to put in my chart to not give me that drug again. The nurse called back to say that they put it in my chart and to take otc stuff for the pain.
I have been taking Advil and a combination pill of glucosamine and condroitin (those are probably not spelled correctly - sorry). I am better but still not 100%.

Today is the 31st and my last dose of Levaquin was Dec 21. I am down to knee pain and a puffy feeling (not really swollen externally but feels swollen internally), left shoulder pain (worse in the morning when I wake up), my hips hurt off and on and my ankles hurt off and on. I am concerned about one of my ankles because I already have a haglund deformaty there so there is already damage to the area.

When I try to get out of a chair, I feel like I am 90 (I am only 49). I really hope this gets better soon. I haven't heard anything about a law suit or anyone who has a way to speed the recovery. Please, let me know if anyone knows how to help this get better faster.

OH MY GOD!!!! I thought I might be imagining things. I was prescribed Levaquin and clyndamycin on December 15 2008 for a urinary tract infection that appeared to have gone systemic. After 2 days my right knee swelled up. I went back to the Dr the next day and he looked up both antibiotics in his little book and said the clyndamycin could cause joint swelling and pain. He told me to stop taking the clyndamycin and take 600 mg of ibuprofen for the joint paig. His little book said nothing about levaquin. Well I kept taking the levaquin and the pain spread literally to every joint in my body. I could not walk and had trouble even holding a coffee cup. The pain was unreal. I completed the 10 day course of the levequin as instructed. The joint pain was getting worse. I called the Dr. again and they did blood work to rule out arthritis and stuff like that. He put me on prednisone which has significantly helped with the pain. He said it may be a coincidence that I have developed arthritis and that it had nothing to do with the UTI. Well as I was watching TV last night I saw a lawyers commercial for a law suit against levaquin and cipro. Then today got on the internet and found this site. I am going to call the Dr. and tell him to update his little book he looked up the levaquin in. My fear is how long after you stop taking this poison does the joint pain end? I wish I would have known all of this sooner. I will never take this drug again.