Levaquin and gradually

I am currently on a 10 day/500mg dose per day of Levaquin for an absolutely awful sinus and upper respiratory infection. I am gradually improving, maybe 10 % each day, but I have noticed general malais and an overall loss of appetite together with stomach cramps and mild diarrhea, primarily after dinner. I almost feel as if I could have mononucleosis..just tired all day with little if any gumption to do anything. Also, I have terrible pain in the bottom of my feet when I get up in the morning as well as blurred vision when I try to read. So, is it worth it? Well, ultimately, if I get rid of this infection it will be, but like with so many drugs, you have to suffer in another way to stop suffering in the first place. I'm not sure which is worse.

Began taking Levaquin 1/26/07 for a sinus/ear infection. I have taken Levaquin twice in the past for the same thing and had no problems whatsoever. However, this time I experienced horrible nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. I also had some shoulder pain, though it was not debilitating. But the most worrisome side effect was that I began my menstrual cycle. I am on Depo Provera and do not cycle until I am due for my next shot, which is not until March. It has been that way since I've been on Depo (8+ years) with no fail. I have stopped taking the medication and have gradually started to feel better. The only difference between this time and the previous times I've taken Levaquin is that I've also recently started taking Cymbalta. Does anyone know if this may have suddenly caused these side effects? Should I call my doctor or is stopping the medication enough?

I've taken it several times and have had severe joint pain each time starting after about 3 days. The pain gradually goes away, but it takes close to 6 weeks. It took awhile to associate the joint pain with the Levaquin, but after figuring it out, I started putting on my medical charts that I'm allergic to it. While taking it, though, the joint pain was so bad that I could barely get up and walk and had to hold on to something to get from place to place. Driving was out of the question.

Hi, this is guest 21606 reporting back about a month after finishing 6 weeks of levaquin. The good news is the prostatitus is cured.

For the most part the muscle pain has dissipated although I still have an occasional twinge. It is sometimes hard to sort out what is a drug interaction and what is normal muscle pain, when I am sick everything hurts. None the less, the peculiar pain I associate with use of levaquin did not happen until after about 10 days of taking the drug, steadily increased for a few days, remained steadily painful until a few days after I stopped taking it, then gradually diminished. Although it is possible the muscle pain was coincidental, I doubt it.

When I told my Urologist about the muscle pain he looked at me like I was from some other planet, like how could I possibly be so dumb, my family doctor also gave me a look, copped an attitude, and suggested I have sciatica. I don't quite understand this attitude, although the official side effects do not include muscle pain there are sure a lot of anectodal reports including my mom who credits levaquin with saving her life but had muscle pain for more than a month after completing her treatment.

Meanwhile keep in mind this is a very mysterious and powerful drug whose actions and interactions are not completely understood. If you are considering taking levaquin for anything less than a life threatening infection I suggest you think twice and try something else instead.

Good night all

Peter

November 2005-- prescribed Levaquin 500mg for pneumonia. around the 6th day I was having severe shoulder/arm pain. It became so severe that I could not even lift my arms. I was taken back to the Dr. and then prescribed Prednisone for the pain. The pain in the left arm gradually subsided. About a month later, I went back to the Dr. because of the pain. I was then given Etodolac. I have since then gone back because I still cannot lift my right arm. I was given yet another prescription which I have not yet filled. I was so trilled to see this website At least I know that I am not crazy. It is March 2006 and I am still in severe pain.

Prescribed 10 day course ($113!!!!) for severe pneumoia, despite requesting to first try some I knew I tolerated well from past experience. (I smell kick backs here.) Within an hour of taking the first dose, I had horrible muscle pains and cramping. My intercostals (ribs) cramped so badly, all I could do was gasp for breath in tiny little pants, each of which felt like getting kicked in the ribs. Tachacardia, mild cynaosis. I began coughing up froth (sign of pulmonary edema.) After 4 hrs (and some codine) the pain gradually subsided.

Now, I'm no quitter, so I went on line and did some reading and realized the problem most likely was a potassium (K) deficiency. I loaded up on K and tried again. Very painful, but no cramping. Began to have chest pains. Insomnia.

Third day: Same as second except towards the end of the day, my heart began beating wildly and arrhythmically. I could feel it banging against my chest wall. Wildly erratic. Still coughing up white foam. Sharp chest pains. Insomnia. Normal rhythm gradually restored over 12 hr period but rate very high.

Needless to say, I have discontinued the course.

Adding a tad of insult to injury, the usage info given by pharmacist was pretty much dead wrong. His complete instuctions:
One a day on empty stomach.
No vitamins
Avoid sun.

Not a word about additional water, that the no vitamins was only for two hours before or two hours after dosing, that I should quit immediately if I experienced severe muscle or chest pain, swelling, skin rash or allergic reactions. And it makes no diff if your stomach is empty or not.

My advice is to tell your MD to make his marketing perks at someone else's expense and give you something safe and affordable. If you must take it, make sure you are K loaded before hand and stay that way. Drink lots of water.

TM - 53 - male - generally excellent health. Never had the slightest adverse rx to any med before this. Never bashed any med before and am not bashing this one. Just relating my experience. Be well.

My daughter was prescribed Levaquin on May 7 for an abdominal infection. She gradually started having muscle aches and feeling bone tired until today she had trouble getting out of bed. I found this site and asked her to stop taking it immediatly.

After dec27 to now ,iam gradually getting over muscels ake in back and shoulders,and general sick feeling ,iwarn every body i see, to be wary of this med. Iam takeing ultra glucosamine with chondroitin sulface&msm it has really help.

My doctor prescribed me Levaquin for a UTI. I suspect that she prescribed
Levaquin because this is my third course of antibiotics in the last 1.5-2
months (not all for the same thing), and I imagine that she was probably
worried about resistance to some of the more common meds.

Anyhow, I've had the following side effects:
- Sleep disturbance.
- General fatigue.
- Muscle soreness.
- Decrease in aerobic capacity.
- Possibly worse mood.

The first day, I picked up the prescription on the way home from work,
and took it in the evening. Big mistake! I didn't fall asleep until
about 3 or 4 AM. Ugh. Since then I've been taking it in the morning,
and I've been sleeping fairly well, although maybe a little worse than
normal.

The really big problem at this point is the muscle soreness. I've taken
the Levaquin for 11 of the prescribed 14 days, and today I'm sore enough
that it's interfering with normal activities such as walking. The soreness
has been getting gradually worse over the time I've been taking the
Levaquin.

Just about all antibiotics seem to decrease one's aerobic capacity (probably
something only those of us who are athletes really care about). The
Levaquin seems worse than most, though. I'd say my power at anaerobic
threshold is probably down 10-15%.

I've been fine as far as any gastrointestinal effects.