Levaquin and few minutes

I was just prescribed Levaquin (500 mg.) for bronchitis. I received a 10 day supply. The second night, I had trouble sleeping and felt quite anxious. By the 4th night I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack and had trouble swallowing. I called my doctor who blamed the bronchitis and gave me an additional prescription for an inhaler. That evening I slept a total of perhaps 20 minutes. My heart was racing and I felt as if I were choking. Another call to my doctor was placed. She advised I stop using the inhaler. I was becoming increasingly anxious, paranoid and began to have leg cramps. I haven't slept for more than a few minutes at a time for 3 days and the feeling of choking was so bad I had to go to the emergency room. They found it is from the Levaquin. I have never felt so desperate, paranoid, anxious, and horrid in my life. I actually had serious thoughts of ending my life to get away from this feeling. Even though I have been off it for two days, I am still feeling the effects, especially at night and was told I may feel effects for a week.

Through the past years I have been looking for information about the quinolone antibiotics, Levaquin, Cipro and others.

I have not taken this kind of medications myself but a close friend did and I am absolutely sure that`s why he suffered psychiatric symptoms as well as extreme sesitivity to light and also had cramps/convulsions.

It`s a terrible long story which also etails other medications for instance statins.

I am surprised at how similar quinolone and statin side effects seem to be.

A few minutes ago I found a new site which might be interesting:

Google for "Death by Levaquin" and you will probably find the site I am thinking about.

If I write down the exact address it will be replaced by *****.

O passed away at an old people`s home at the age of 74. I will never forget his suffering.

The best thing you can do for yourself and the people around you is to "educate" yourself on diseases/medications and how the pharmaceutical industry is run.

Here are two books on that issue: Overdosed America (John Abramson) and The Truth About The Drug Companies (Marcia Angell).

Don´t give up.

Everyone make sure you report your ADR's to the FDA. Here is the link. It only takes a few minutes and maybe we can stop this. I have filled one out before but since I have ruptured another tendon I am filling another one out.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/

Well I posted a couple weeks ago and thought I would update. I intially thought I had no symptoms but lately it seems that in the morning getting out of bed that my muscles are extremly tight in my legs from my calf to my ancles. They seem to stretch out ok after a few minutes but i wondered if the damage has already maybe be not reversable. I just happen to have been seeing a physical therapyst for surgery I recently went thru for another problem altogether. I mentioned this drug to him and he had not heard of it. I told him of the tendon problems people have experienced. I asked him if he knew of any drug that can cause this effect and he stated cortizone can. He says its acks in destroying tissue, cells that act in supporting the tendon and allows them to stretch. . So knowing that a drug can actually cause the same symptoms some of you have experienced I am a believer now. I can see how this drug can possible reak havoc on any part of your body. So since i seem to have been feeling possible symptoms I was wondering if any- one has felt muscle aches and leg stiffness issues and how long after stopping the levaquin were the symptoms felt and what did they progress into if anything and did they subside and or go away all together. To me it seems that if this is about damage then its possible that just simple stretching can cause the tendon to snap. I can also see why some people may have recurring injurys. This would be a sign that one does not heal or the healing process is greatly lenghtened. I do plan on eating better and using some supplements to help.

Im not wanting to scare any of you, but my reaction to this family of antibiotics happened in Spring 2002. I took one dose of this quinolone antibiotic for a sinus infection and was in the ER four hours later. After taking the medication, I felt very fatigued and lay down on the couch, I woke up a few minutes later feeling like I was falling, and my heart sustained 170+ beats per minute heart palpitations for several hours. The last thing I remember was calling 911 because I was home alone and knew something awful was happening. The ENT's said that they had never seen anything like it. I experienced horrific anxiety attacks for weeks afterward. Keep in mind I had been a very healthy gal before and had never experienced any type of health problems. I now see a rheumatologist, a neurologist and a gastroenterologist. I have been diagnosed with MCTD (Multiple connective tissue disorder) a Lupus like illness. My neurologist says that my central nervous system was damaged in the reaction as well. He also says that physicians are grossly misinformed about this family of antibiotics, and in his opinion, anyone who prescribes them for anything less than a life threatening condition is committing medical malpractice. I agree wholeheartedly since my life will never be the same.

My son is 16 years old, a wrestler, and was in excellent health. He developed sinus issues and had surgery on September 17, 2007 (he had a headache on the left side of his head which the ENT said was due to sinus issues). After sinus surgery, the doctor prescribed Levaquin for 10 days. After 4 days, I called his doctor and told him he was getting worse and not better. The doctor said not to worry. After that he had sleepless nights, felt like the room was moving away from him, became dizzy and light headed. Then the joint pain came. First in his thumbs, then wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. He developed severe headaches in the back of his head. The headaches were moderate to severe and with him 24 hours a day. He became extremely weak and his dizziness continued. He was tested for many diseases through numerous blood tests, had a spinal tap, MRI, MRA, CT of the spine, CT of the sinuses, x-rays of the knees, and an EEG. All came back normal, except his sinuses were still swollen which is normal after sinus surgery. He has seen numerous medical doctors (primary, pediatrician, two neurologists, allergist, two Ear Nose Throat) and is now seeing a pediatrician in UCLA and has appointments to see more UCLA doctors.

He has been out of school now for a couple of months. Luckily, the school has him on home instruction and sends teachers to the house and he is maintaining his honors classes. To give you all hope, he does appear to be getting better, but it is a very slow recovery. Up until two weeks ago, some days were okay and some days were pretty bad. It comes and goes like that. At first I never suspected Levaquin, but stumbled across the side effects when I was trying to research what was wrong with him. The only thing I found that had helped some people was taking high doses of magnesium (the kind ending in "ate" is better absorbed). I was and still am nervous about giving my child a lot of any type of vitamin, but no one was able to make him better, so I gave him 250 mg three times a day for three days. It could be just a coincidence, but about 3 days after I stopped giving him the magnesium, all of the joint pain was gone except for his knees, which still hurt if he bent down.

After a couple more weeks, he still had severe headaches, knee pain, some dizziness and some weakness, so I thought I would give it another go and gave him magnesium three times a day for 4 more days. After the 4 days of magnesium, he started on a new medication called Lyrica. His knee pain is almost gone and his headaches are minor with only an occasional flair up. I can see in his eyes and how he reacts that his is feeling better than he has in a long time. He has always been a happy kid, but I can tell he has his special spark back.

For the last two weeks, I just give him one 250 mg of magnesium a day, multi-vitamins, and Lyrica. By the way, one of the blood tests I requested was for magnesium, and it showed his level was normal. So, I have no idea if it is time that is making him better, the magnesium, or the fact that he is taking Lyrica. He will still continue to go to the doctors, none who believe Levaquin could be a cause, until he is completely back to normal. I believe that Levaquin was likely a culprit in his overall health issues, especially since no one can figure out how my healthy, energetic son suddenly became so ill he could no longer go to school. For the past two weeks now, he has had good days mixed in with okay days (no bad days though!!!) He has had only 2 weeks so far of better health and we hope it continues to get even better. Good luck to all of you and my prayers are with you. I hope somehow this will help someone.

My daughter had a bladder infection. yesterday in the ER she was prescibed levaquin. She took one pill and could not sleep. She felt very strange and confused. Her heart rate increased dramaticly. She is 24 yrs. old and 2000 miles away from home. by morning we decided to call the doctor and see if these could be side effects. She was told to take one more and see what happens. I found this website a few minutes later. After reading about 15 stories, I called my daughter and made her vomit that medication out of her. Unfortunately, her bladder infection is now a kidney infection and she needs treatment, but it will not be levaquin. Thank you all so much. I would just love to give a few words to this drug company.

I was prescribed levaquin 500mg for 7 days for sinus infection.
On day 3, I was very dizzy for few minutes where I thought I'd pass out. Next day, I cut down to 250mg but was still getting dizzy to a lesser extent.
Day 6, I didn't take it but started getting lower abdominal and lower back pain. So I'll be going to see my doc to see what is going on. Also, knee joint pain.

This medication is too difficult to take. I personally think the side effects are greater than the benefits.

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.

OMG! I started taking Levaquin 500mg yesterday for a severe kidney infection. I think I was giving a shot of it at the doctor's office and then sent home with samples for 7 days. All day after recieving the shot and taking one tablet I had intolerable sweats. If I just got up to do the least little thing I would pour the sweat. Not to mention everytime I would lay down to take a nap I would wake up with soaking wet clothes. I still feel very nauseated even after taking a topical Phenagran (?Spell?) I feel very very dizzy and light headed and my heart seems to do a little quiver every few minutes. Mind you, I am only 21. After reading all of these horrific stories I too will call the doctor immediately and get off of this medication!!!

Went on June 6 for a medical test and was given an IV dose of Levaquin as a precaution. I did not know I was being given this antibiotic. Within a few minutes I was in anaphylaxis. Also had very high blood pressure and heart rate. Muscle spasms throughout my body including my diaphram. I had two major "attacks" and one minor. I was given losts of drugs to counteract the symptoms. Had my procedure done and went home. Did not sleep that night and heart problems started up again. Ended up in the ER and in hospital for four days. Sleeplessness continues to be a problem 9 days later. No sleep again tonight. Lots of aching joints and muscles. Can't do much yet and can not concentrate enough to read a book. I had no problems like these prior to being given this ONE dose of Levaquin. I previously fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
I looked up this drug on the Web when I got home and found this site. I am very angry to have been given this drug without my knowledge and approval.