Levaquin and grab

Uh, I have read a number of postings where people are PROUD they stopped taking this last-line of defense antibiotic. Read up and be prepared before you take it. Stopping short only breeds drug resistant bacteria. If people didn't do this, we wouldn't need these horrible medicines.

You, and all the others that do the same, are RESPONSIBLE for this medication's existence. Had you kept taking that Amoxicillin back, when you were a spry 18 year old, instead of stopping when you "felt better", there wouldn't be a constant bacterial arms race.

Stopping these medications mid-treatment is a disservice to HUMANITY.

Keep it up, and next time you get a staph infection, you might find there are no antibiotics that work anymore.

Previous statement didn't go through, which was about my shock when I read my suspicions about Levaquin were confirmed and validated by so many on this website.

I first took Levaquin for 10 days several months ago ,for a sinus infection. Around the 8th day, I experienced neuropathy with leg aches and pains, some numbness, and feeling like bricks were on top of my feet. My sister had also just taken Levaquin had some of these symptoms, but we chalked it up to a virus. She told me to take Super Vitamin B complex pills which seemed to help a lot.

In Jan. I took Levaquin for 5 days for respiratory problems with no ill effects.

Mid March I was switched from Z pack for sinus infection to Levaquin for 10 days due to progression to pneumonia. It was thought later to be viral as I didn't improve on the Levaquin. I continued to take it to help prevent picking up a secondary infection.

Again, around the 8th day, the leg aches and pain returned but this time it was different. The stiffness was much more pronounced. By the last day of the Levaquin, I could not rise from a sitting position with yelling out in pain. It felt as if my right knee was ripping. I had to grab on to tables and counters to get up. The next day I was pretty much immobilized and kept ice packs on my swollen knee all day. I had started back on the Vitamin B Complex, was flushing my system with juice and water and began researching this antibiotic which had worked so well for some problems.

I hobbled in to see my regular physician that next day for follow up of the pneumonia. The stiffness was subsiding but my right knee was swollen in several areas and painful. My doctor said I had 2 areas of Tendonitis and 1 of Bursitis. He said he couldn't say it was from the Levaquin. He prescribed Prednisone, which I chose to take only the 6 day pack as he said there was a 1 in 100,000 chance the Prednisone could cause further injury and possibly even require a knee replacement, the longer I stayed on it.

After I got home, I researched more and found this website. Everything I had experienced, even the insomnia, twinges of pain in my arches, especially all the leg and knee problems, had been documented by a multitude of others. There are too many cases for this to be considered coincidence.

I appreciate eveyone taking the time to register these side affects of this harsh medication. I plan to educate eveyone I can as to these dangers of Levaquin, especially the various doctors who have prescribed it.

I don't know for others but the Super Vitamin B Complex daily did help me. Since Levaquin instructions say grapefruit juice inhibits the absorption, maybe we all should be drinking that, as long as it doesn't affect any other medications.

It is now 9 days off the Levaquin. The Prednisone helped significantly with the knee stiffness and chest congestion. I still need to wear the knee brace, walk with a very slow gait and a limp, and hear my knee popping regularly. The hip pain radiating down my legs, which I almost forgot, has improved but it is still difficult to find a comfortable position when reclining.

After two doses, 250 mg, of Levaquin, I could not move. Instead of going to work, I went to bed. Three days later, my husband took me to ER. The first guess was a stroke, because I was so disoriented and could not move. There were specialists all around me. I was tested for meningitis, lupus, West Nile, arthiritis, etc. I had severe body aches and muscle pain.I spent 1 1/2 weeks in the hospital, unable to function. Body pain, no appetite, fever/chills, twitches, weak, very tired. My legs hurt the worst - knees and especially calves. I had no idea what was going on around me. I was incoherent. The hospital staff had me finish the Levaquin prescription.

I spent the rest of the month in a rehabilitation unit learning how to eat, walk, tell time, write, and other mundane tasks. I have been off work since Oct. 7. Mentally, I'm doing ok now, but physically, I cannot walk without a cane. I cannot go up and down stairs. My knees are still a problem. Acid reflux is better. My wrists and hands are weak. If my leg is straight and I bend it, I get a burning pain in my knee ... when I am laying down. When I get up in the morning, my calves are so stiff that I cannot stand. I have to grab the furniture. My hips are weak and have lost bone density. I cannot drive yet. I still get tired easily.

I was normally a low blood pressure person with a heart rate in the 60's. Now, I am taking beta blockers. My blood pressure is beginning to come down, but my heart rate is still high for me, but safe.

The doctors were not familiar with the side effects of Levaquin. I had a sensory nueropathy before Levaquin, but was totally functional. My physician prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. She never would have prescribed Levaquin, if she had known that it could attack your central nervous system! (My nuerologist said that "something" recently attacked my central nervous system.) I printed out some of the experiences from this website to convince her to fill out an FDA report. I will follow through with a letter to the drug company and my congressmen. And, I have spent some time educating the medical professionals in our community. I have considered legal action, but I don't know how to go about it.

I have been going to physical therapy. Those therapists can do a lot without drugs. My coordination is improved. I even have exercises to improve my digestive tract. We worked on isolated muscles for two months. Now, I'm trying water therapy. I am not strong, but I have gained coordination.

Two other suggestions for temporary relief: 1) Use a vibrator on your calves in the morning, and 2) Wear support hose/socks.