Levaquin and fear

I have taken Cipro & levaquin or several occasions for several years. I DID NOT KNOW OF THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS ON TENDONS AND OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL EFFECTS. A FEW DAYS AGO I HEARD A LEGAL AD ON TV WHICH CAUGHT MY ATTENTION: ' IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS TAKEN LEVAQUIN AND SUFFERED A RUPTURED TENDON, CALL....... ' OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS , I HAVE HAD THREE ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES, TWO OF WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY AND A LONG REHAB, AND A "PROBABLE" TENDON TEAR OF MY FOREARM FOR WHICH I WAS ON LIGHT DUTY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, REHABBING W/ PT, STEROIDS, BOTH ORAL AND INJECTIONS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDS. AS MOST OF THESE INJURIES OCCURRED AT WORK- I AM A CCU NURSE- AND WAS TREATED BY OCC MED DOCTORS, AND THEN REFERRED TO SPECIALISTS WHEN I WASN'T GETTING BETTER, I WAS MADE TO FEEL AS IF THESE INJURIES WERE SOMEHOW MY FAULT, THROUGH POOR LIFTING TECHNIQUES,ETC. AT NO TIME DURING ALL THESE TREATMENTS FOR INJURIES DID ANY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PUT THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND ASK QUESTIONS, AND NOR DID MY OWN PHYSICIAN. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS DRUG HAS NOT BEEN WELL DISSEMINATED TO THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

I took 750mg Levaquin for 5 days for a sinus infection and after the 2nd day had a horrible headache, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, muscle aches and metal taste in mouth. At first I thought I was getting the flu or that it was from the sinus infection. After taking the 5th pill and not feeling any better, I found these postings which explains everything. My doctor did not tell me anything about the side effects. It is 3 days after I took the last pill and I am still suffering from severe headaches, dizziness and some nausea. Do not take this medication unless you absolutely have to. I do not normally have any side effects to medication and am not on any other meds. I just hope the headaches go away because I am having to miss work as a result and not able to give attention to my family. My fear is that the headaches won't go away. One posting said that her daughter's headaches went away after 6 days...I can only hope at this point. Terrible drug and shame on the doctor for not warning patients. Try other antibiotics first before you take it.

I have been on Levaquin for close to 4 weeks. 27 days at 500mg and the rest at 750. I have a severe open wound after a foot surgery. I started feeling like my shoulders had been hit by a bat. Slowly every single joint in my body is in pain. I cry with every move I make and dread going to sleep for fear of how painful and stiff my body will be in the morning. I begged the Dr. to remove me and he has agreed. i just pray it leaves quickly.

I was given levaquin 500 mg 6 days ago for phlebitis. Since I started I have had terrible anxiety, panic attacks, fear of dying, nightmares, crying jags, and very sore neck and shoulders. I called my doctor today and asked about the side effects of this medicine. I am NOT going to finish my 10 day dosage. I'm done. I've never been so miserable. This is strange because all this past summer I took low-dose levaquin, 250 mg 4 days a week because I have bartonellosis, a co-infection of Lyme disease. It didn't bother me beyond some leg pain then, but now it's a whole new story. I am TERRIFIED of this antibiotic and modern Western medicine in general.

PLEASE READ THIS! UPDATE FROM ROCCO21ELM

I suffered terrible joint/muscle pain after taking Levaquin for 9 days. After reading all the posts here I was terrified that it was going to be an ongoing problem but it's been about a month now and the pain is nearly gone completely. Worry and fear seem only make the pain so much worse!
Pleae go to the doctor for a blood test. If everything comes back negative then you can relax. I suggest a proper diet, (AVOID foods known to cause inflammation and eat more foods that are anti inflammatory! Stretching in the morning, and swimming in warm water, hot baths help, and above all else, have a positive attitude. It goes a long way!! Good luck to all of you.

3/30/06 update

I was referred to a rheumatologist by the ER Dr. and had my appointment on 3/29/06. To make a long story short, I do not have gout. I have a condition called 'reactive arthritis' that the doc could/would not openly say was caused by the Levaquin but that he had seen before in patients who were taking/had taken Levaquin. I am taking celebrex and it seems to have helped slightly (stress on the slightly). I am experiencing more and more problems sleeping. The last two nights have been the worst so far with basically no sleep. I generally come into work at 9:00AM and have been showing up at 6:00-7:00AM as of late because I either do not sleep or wake up around 3:00-4:00AM.

I am as used to the foot pain and numb/tingling/burning sensations as i'm ever going to get and am able to work, although at a severly hampered pace. I am actually having some real fear for my job at this point, having taken three sick days in two weeks because of this. I am beginning to believe that I need to consult a mental health professional. I have learned that drinking lots of water can temporarily alleviate some of the symptoms, which I started doing for gout treatment, but doesn't make you feel normal again in any way. I guess this is going to become normal for me. :-(

was put on levaquin for a stubborn prostate/urethritis...tried it several months ago, felt very edgy and managed to take 5 days...last feb - am havign to take it again, got through the first day, had heart pounding and arhythmia all night and its still doing it sporadically after 3 days...stopped it sat morning...anyone else had the heart thing?? Also feel very weak, wobbly and kind of tingly...love to fear from others...:)

I took Levaquin in Februaryl, 2004 and experienced joint pain and fatigue. I did not associate the pain with the drug. I was prescribed Levaquin again in April and had severe joint pain. My doctor said it was the Levaquin and said I should never take this drug again. I needed yet another course of antibioitics later in April and my doctor gave me Cipro. The result was horrible - I now have severe joint pain, can barely stand up and sit down and can't stand on my feet for more than a few minutes. I feel like I've aged 30 years in the past three months. Obviously, my doctor is now telling me not to take any antibiotic in this drug family.

The pain in my knees is so severe I fear I have ruptured the tendons. Is there any way short of an MRI to tell?

And has anyone had their symptoms go completely away? How long did it take? My doctor has told me to drink a lot of water, but had no other suggestions to reverse this.

Thanks to those of you I've corresponded with via email. Any other comments would be appreciated.

wow, I was prescribed levaquin 9 days ago for a UTI and started having a pain in my neck 2 days agoI didn't give it much thought as this happens off and on in that spot over the years. Then last night my right arm developed deep and severe pain as if I had worked out wrong. Except I haven't worked out in months. I became suspicious and decided to look up side effects of the drug, something to this point have never felt motivated to do, to see if joint pain was listed as a possible side effect. I happened upon this site and found that as a recurring and prominent side effect. I am very grateful to find this site. I was considering refilling my precription as I feared my infection was getting worse. I had sever prostitis ten years ago which caused weakness and muscle pain in my legs and abdominal area. I now realize that my fear of that recurring is probably based on symptoms which are for me simply a minor side effect of this medication. My arm though is in severe pain, like I was hit by a baseball bat. I am discarding my last two pills now, realizing that the medication has probably helped me clear up the UTI. I am hoping that I will recover in the next few days from the pain which clearly appears to have been induced by the "cure". Once again this site has been very very valuable to me in confirming my suspicion. Thanks again
Richard W