Levaquin and headache

Burning aches aches and pains, all over body and in joints, extreme fatigue, headache, insomnia.

Took drug for 20 days, side effects began after a day or two, but I didn't know about the relationship between the drug and the side effects until after I took the last pill. I thought something was just very wrong with me!

Still lacking in energy a week after taking the last pill, still have some severe aches and pains, especially in the shoulders and hips.

Oh....and his nose was bleeding......and he was extremely weak.........and complained of a headache....and stomach pain

My daughter is 16 and was given Levaquin 500 for a sinus infection. While on the medication she was tired but not much else in the side effect category. Now here we are 4 weeks later and she has acute abdomen pain, extreme fatigue,nausea, a headache, and she has lost 21 lbs in 2 weeks. I took her to the doctor and they ran a cbc, chem 12, urinalysis, and an electrolyte panel. All came back negative. Basically my perfectly healthy little girl is suffering from this. I went back and looked at the Levaquin packet because I know it can sometimes take a few weeks AFTER medications are stopped for side effects to show themselves and of course, all her symptoms are listed.

I am 39-year-old very active healthy female. I can say I am tolerant to most drugs I have taken in my life so far. However, I took Levaquin yesterday and today, 750 mg per day for five days for the sinus infection, I felt so horrible starting 2-3 hours after I first took it. I felt nausea, headache, extremely fatigue, stomach pain, diarrhea, vomiting, lose sleep.I also felt painful in my heart area this morning......After checking on the internet today, I know I was poisoned by Levaquin. I felt more horrible that my doctor did not tell my the side effect even when I asked this question specifically when was given the prescription. I am not allergy to other antibiotics, and I had no clue why the doctor would think this medication is necessary to me. I decided to stop Levaquin, and also not to see that doctor again. Please be careful to pick your doctor, some are very dumb and cannot even treat a cold.

I had a sinus infection and the doctor gave me azithromycin 250mg in what is referred to as a Z-pack, unfortunately that didn't do the job so he gave me Levaquin 500mg 1tablet a day for seven days. I had many of the side effects, a headache everyday I was taking it, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, etc. Drank a ton of water as it said to do. On the second day after I was finished with the pills I started having pretty bad knee pain, then swollen knees and ankles. I mean really swollen. And I too have many stairs and it is very painful to get around, can't bend my knees too much with all the swelling. Am still drinking the water and hoping to flush this out of my system as fast as possible. It did get rid of my sinus infection, but I'm not sure it was worth all this...

I was prescribed Levaquin because 'my body was fighting some sort of infection'. I was told to take it in the am since it had a side effect of causing sleeplessness. That night I had very tortured sleep. I would wake up after an hour or two of sleep feeling very unsettled. At times I would have nightmares and wake up sweating with my heart pounding. I woke up the first morning after taking it with an awful headache. I stupidly took a second pill that morning and went through the same again the next night. I woke up on day two with another awful headache. I finally got it under control with advil. I also had the worst charley horse I have ever had. My leg was sore for 3 days afterwards, causing me at times to limp. One of my nightmares was so vivid that I now, after reading these blogs, wonder if I really dreamed it or not. I have actually considered ways that I could verify. (It involved police helicoptors flying over and over my house.) I never have had things like this happen to me. This medicine is very scary and I hope that it will be taken off the market.

I started to take Levaquin on the 7th of January for pneumonia. This is the 10th of January and I woke up in the middle with the three fingers on my right in pain and really stiff. The back of my legs is stiff to walk and I have felt dizzy. I have never taken any medication for over 30 years and just thought the side affects of dizziness were normal. Then I read the booklet that the drug store had given me and realized that this is not a good drug so went on the internet and found out about the lawsuit. I have had headache the past two days, a taste in my mouth that makes all food taste terrible, soreness around my shoulders and legs and when I get up in the morning my hips are just aching. No more of that drug. It should be taken off the the shelves. I hope that I am going to be okay and that I don't suffer any other side affects from taking a drug that shouldn't be prescribed in the first place.I live in Arizona for the winter and this drug was given to me by a doctor here in Arizona. P. B. C. A. Canada

I posted earlier today about my side effects: ringing ears, headache, nausea, agitation/anxiety, inability to think straight, stuffed nose, etc. Though no fun, I was tolerating the side effects ok so far. Not for long...

Update: Took pill number 4 of 10 (500mg, 1x day) tonight at 6pm. Oh my God. Within an hour I am itching, and where I scratch, there are welts. Then nausea and belching, like I'm gonna vomit. I immediately take 50mg benadryl in case of allergy. Breathing is ok, itching stops. But this poison is making me shaky on the inside, and still nauseous with terrible headache, and muscle aches in my neck and back. I also have a sense of muscle stiffness, bodywide. All this for a "possible" post surgical infection. You couldn't get me to take this again for a million dollars. I am ordering a MedicAlert bracelet with Levaquin on it, as I don't ever want this in my body again. I almost had my husband take me to the ER. I am drinking lots of water to flush it out. I'm sure I am in the minority, and many people take it with no troubles. But all I can say is that I feel like I just took rat poison.

I was prescribed Leavaquin for pneumonia - 500mgs for 5 days. Have taken it in the past for pneumonia with no observable side effect except the dry mouth. However, this time, I have nausea, diarrhea, excruciating pains in my feet going up to both knees, (despite using lidocaine patches for neuropathy) insomnia, headache, stuffed up nose 3 hours after ingesting it. Additionally, I feel "down", lethargic, lack of clarity in thinking. I am stopping the Levaquin today, the last day. Thanks be to God for this website. I can see that others are suffering the same side effects.

I have had to take Levaquin twice. Both times were for a post surgical infection. The Levaquin worked great on the infection, so I stuck with it even though it made me feel terrible. The side effects I had are: ringing in the ears (tinnitus), agitations/anxiety, dizziness, headache, inability to think straight, nausea, stuffed up nose. They were worse in the few hours after I took the Levaquin. I would take it at dinner, so I could sleep through most of the effects and not have to go to work feeling so bad. Fortunately, I did not suffer the insomnia some have had. After 5 days on it, I also got pain in my finger joints which took 2 weeks after stopping the Levaquin to go away. The pharmacist told me these are unfortunate side effects, but not dangerous enough ones to stop taking the drug. I really don't like this one at all, but I can say it does kill the infection.

I have taken three 500mg doses of Levaquin since Saturday. They were prescribed by my urologist for a "possible" minor prostates that might be affecting my PSA (2.2). The very first night I was unable to sleep, tossing and turning all night. Thought nothing of it, and blamed it on diet or too much sleep the previous day. However, insomnia has continued for three straight nights and last night I woke at 4:30 AM with shortness of breath (had to take long deep breaths to feel like I was getting enough oxygen) that felt like an anxiety attack. Although there was no pain, I felt like my heart was pounding and rapid. Finally got a little more sleep and woke up feeling OK in the morning, but blood pressure was elevated. I continually feel like I'm on a caffeine high. I never associated it, but, I woke up second and third days with a sore throat and have had a few minor muscle twitches in arms, legs and abdomen.

I feel fortunate compared to others on this forum. I have stopped taking the Levaquin and have an appointment with my family doctor tomorrow. As a side note, I had an acute prostates this time last year and took Cipro for over one month with no similar side effects that I can recall. Does anyone know if two drugs from the same group can have such different side effects, or can I expect the same problems if I start taking Cipro again?

I've been on Levaquin for three days to clear up severe congestion, possible bronchitis. The doctor at the walk-in clinic didn't like what he heard in my lungs, so prescribed this drug (It was a Friday and I needed something before the weekend due to my asthma). My fever has continued to spike, I have cried at the drop of the hat--exhaustion, fatigue, mood swings, and a cough that persists even after three days. Pain in shoulder joint, raw throat (certain foods seem to burn it), and a REALLY bad headache, and stiffness in my neck. I go to my general doctor tomorrow (Monday), and he will hear about this medicine, trust me. It has been a weekend from hell!

I was diagnosed with bronchitis a couple of days a go and was given a 5 day course of Levaquin 750mg. The doctor also gave me a prescription for the Z pack in case Levaquin did not work. Before I went to the doctor I had a fever of 102 for 5 days so I was ready to take anything. That evening Nov. 11th 2008 I took my first pill... and my last one. The onset of side effects started within 3 hours. It began with an extreme blinding headache and a very stiff neck. I finally fell asleep and had the most intensely bizarre dreams which I woke up from several times to find my self drenched in sweat. The night sweats were extremely intense and followed me through to the next day. I could not stop sweating... My head was pounding in pain, it felt as if my brain was swelling though my fever had subsided. I proceeded to turn the tv on to try to distract myself, but as I was doing so my mind was racing and I found it very difficult to organize my thoughts. My vision was very isolated meaning that I felt like I had lost my peripheral vision all together. I was unable to read silently without hearing the words in a loud voice in my head...very very strange. I had zero appetite and experienced serious diarrhea the next day. This drug felt overwhelmingly powerful kind of like dropping a nuclear weapon on a small village. I felt like my body was on fire for a moment as if i was given chemo therapy. While trying not to panic I realized that a lot of my joints were cracking. It was then I decided to go online and do some reading about this drug...WOW... I mean WOW... How do scientists manage to create a drug that can actually snap tendons... We can't cure anything but we sure can napalm the hell out of anything. That being said I decided to call my doctor and said WTF were you thinking giving me this!?! Needless to say it took about 60 hours for the one pill to wear off. I am terrified to think what would happen to me if I had finished the 5 day course. I know the one pill caused some damage, hopefully nothing permanent. I am now on the Z pac and it is very mild in comparison. Please listen to your body as I did and immediately discontinue use if you experience any side effects. I firmly believe that this drug is something you take only if you are dying and there are just no alternatives ie Anthrax.

I was prescribed this Levaquin antibiotic for 7 days duration. Day one I started feeling nausea, fagtige, my brain just thinking weird stuff. I thought it was my sickness. Day two my condition was took a deeper turn: I couldn't sleep, I was so hot (inside my body) took off my cloth ran around the house like a crazy person, even thought it was cold in the winter. I started thinking of suicidal, depression. my heart beat was pumping so fast, I tried to calm my self down by listen classical music, that didn't help either....I went to emergency room, doctor prescribed me a different antibiotic...that medication still affect me today...I still keep the bottle to remind myself of that medication...long story short..

My wife has sinus infection. Her doctor prescribed Levaquin. She took one last night (08/12/08), she couldn't sleep, headache, nausea...etc. I warned her many times before about this medication, but I didn't realized she taken the medication or bought this medication...

THIS IS A SERIOUS. LEVAQUIN IS A BAD MEDICATION. STOP USING THIS LEVAQUIN NOW. we need to organize a group for FDA to prohibit this medication for good. Even class action sUit to stop the company from manufacturing this medication. If anyone knows how and where to go about these, please let me know. This is for real, our health is more important. Thank you !!

19 year old female prescribed levaquin for a kidney infection after a round with cipro did not cure a UTI. Symptoms gradual at first but began with chest pain a couple of days into treatment. The doctor said it was costochondritis which sometimes comes on during infections and was not serious. He told her to continue the medications (this was not her regular doctor...he had closed for the day so she was seen at the after hours clinic). Other symptoms include: Headache (drinks plenty of water), muscle aches and pain, dry mouth and throat, nausea, dizziness, loss of appetite. When the chest pain spread across the front of the chest and into her back and she had experienced swelling around the eyes and in face that same day we went to the emergency room. After many tests, this doctor said it was the levaquin and told us it had been black boxed. He said they had been told in the ER to immediately take anyone on levaquin off of it if they came in experiencing pain or other symptoms. He said she should be better in a few days. He shared that he too had similar problems when he took it and thought it was going to kill him. When Monday gets here we will make a return visit to her family doctor to follow up on all of this. After reading all these other people with the same or similar symptoms, I am worrying and I am praying that she will not continue to have trouble. We hope all of you are better soon. Please don't take this drug again!!!!!!

I have been on 500mg of Levaquin for 8 out of a 10 day course. I can barely hold my head up, have a headache and severe neck and muscle pain. My stomach is so queezy and I have been unable to get a full night sleep.

Anyone experiencing the same?
I am afraid to take the last 2 days of the course.

Muscle weakness, pain, tingling

After taking levaquin, I still suffer from muscle weakness, pain, and tingling several years later. My doctor who is one of the top specialists in New York has seen what this drug has done to me and is doing research for an article in a medical journal to put the word out of the horrible side effects of this drug as well as increasing the knowledge to hopefully figure out how to counteract this.

If you are/have suffered similar results, please contact me at ****** and we can discuss how you can send your case information to my doctor for the study and medical journal article. We need more scientific studies and literature out there about this drug and the side effects.

I had headache and all of my joints...especially my fingers, were swollen and very painful...like I was thinking ..what do I have arthritis now??!!! I also was very tired.

LEVAQUIN SIDE EFFECTS - As I posted yesterday, after taking one Levaquin - 750 mg, I had hallucinations, sleeplessness, extremely severe headache, and now today I woke up with "thrush mouth/yeast infection" in my mouth - plus aching gums and teeth.

Please, FDA or drug company that makes this, read these boards. This is the TIP of the ICEBERG. Think of the thousands or millions who don't take time to report the side effects of this drug. It would not surprise me if suicides and death are not brought on from LEVAQUIN.

I am thankful I had the good sense to stop this drug after one dose or I might be dead. The hallucinations and headache were the most horrific of my life. I can't imagine what I would be like if I had taken all 7 pills.

I have been taking Levaquin for sinus infection after Augmentin didn't keep it from coming back. All I can say is that I am completely exhausted. I wonder if it is the drug or something else. No muscle pain. I don't know if I should stop taking it or continue. Tonight I was walking for exercise and couldn't finish because I thought I might faint. My heart was beating and I was shaking. Do you think it is the drug? HELP!

I have been taking Levaquin 500 for bronchitis for 6 days. The first 3 days were fine. On the 4th day when I woke up the room was spinning. I went back to sleep for a while , thinking that if I did when I woke up, the spinning would have stopped but it didn't. From there came the nauseousness followed by headache and eye pain. I had no energy but could not lay down because of the spinning. For the rest of the day, I just felt bad, physically and mentally. I started crying for no reason. The next day was much of the same and I started thinking that this must be the medicine so I checked the internet for the side effects of this drug. My symptoms sound like I might have gotten off easier than some but guess what I am not taking that last pill.

I was given Levaquin 750 1 pill a day for 7 days, this was on Wednesday for bronchitis. The first 2 days no effects, except for my joints started to hurt, especially in my ankles. Then on Thursday eve, the pain was so severe, I had
to take a muscle relaxer and pain pill. THis helped for awhile, then Friday morn early pain was so severe, I could not hardly move in my joints. Friday morn I took my pill and about 20 minutes later, I started vomiting, projectile, for about 20 minutes nonstop. I thought I was going to pass out. This finally stopped. I did not take no more meds til Saturday eve, 1/2 pill. I got so stff and severe pain, I could not get out to barn for chores. I have taken no more, and today is Monday, my joints hurt, especially my ankles, hard to walk. I have a lump on back of right knee. This medicine is bad. I have had severe headache, joint pain, nausea, and left me feeling quite depressed. Called doctor, but he didn't seem to concerned.

I not sure that what I am experiencing is related to my 9 month course of 750 mg Levaquin, or my simultaneous 9 month course of 300 mg Rifampin, or my 6 week course of IV Vancomyocin twice a day........You all are talking about days and weeks....I have been on these hardcore meds for substantially longer. I became infected with Staph Epidermidis in the disc space of L 4-5 during surgery to correct degeneration in my spine. I am now left with joint pain from head to toe, Uveitis, a scaly rash all over my trunk and arms, stomach pain, further degeneration in my spine, insomnia, severe fatigue, depression, and what I call "brain fog." I have been told by the team of Doctors caring for me that the only symptom that relates to my medication is possibly the Uveitis. I would like to know how you all are attributing the medications to your ailments? (insomnia, depression, fatigue, joint pain... for example) Are you sure that they are not symptomatic of another disease process? After stopping the medications has your health become normal? I have to remain on this medication for the remainder of the year. I do not have the option of just flushing it down the toilet, as someone previously posted. There are only a few medication that can combat my illness, but I would like to know that they are not harming me in the long run.

My father was prescribed Levaquin 750mg as a 5 day dose. They call it a Levapak. After the first couple of days he began having restlessness, headache, and the scariest of all, emotional distress and fear of death. He would start crying for no apparent reason. This is a normally emotionally strong man who has been reduced to tears by this medication. He couldn't sleep because of the restlessness. He had, like one of the others here, feelings of futility. It didn't occur to us that it could be the Levaquin until we found this website. He only had one day's dose left by this time, but he is not going to finish it. We only wish we had found out sooner. He would have quit taking it immediately. His Pharmacist told us that he should stop taking it also and put a note in his file to never fill this prescription for him again. Even the Pharmacist said that he has heard of this happening and that this drug should be off the market. I just hope others who find this website can take some solice in knowing that you're not going crazy.

I have been on this med for 4 days....could not figure out why i was having such severe pain. had surgery for a bladder stimulator, and the doctor prescribed this to me to take post surgery. but heres the thing, they tried to give it to me through an iv before the surgery, and had a SEVERE reaction to it. i also suffer from severe lower back pain(I'm getting a spinal fusion next month) and i just thought the pain was from that. but the yesterday, i woke up and could hardly move. my neck, shoulders and upper back were hurting, burning and aching. i can hardly move my shoulders up and down. i also am experiencing the tightness in my chest, rapid heart beat, headache, dizziness. another weird thing is that i have what i can only describe as a sunburn on the back of my hands and arms. i have stopped taking the med, but i want to know is does all of this going away? i have so many other health problems, i cant deal with this. someone please let me know

My 16 year old son took Levaquin 6 months ago and had a bad reaction to it. His symptoms were severe muscle weakness (he would get exhausted walking from the parking lot to a store and back, severe joint pain (in thumbs, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles), dizziness (he felt like the room was moving away from him and would lose balance), and headaches (a severe pressure in the back of his head that was constant and then shooting pains in his his head that would come and go for no reason). I should say he was in top shape before this and wrestling in the 125 pound category. He took Levaquin to prevent an infection after sinus surgery.

Now 6 months later, his joint pain is completely gone except for his knees. They still hurt when he does squats and they are not good enough for him to go back to wrestling, but he can walk around pain free. His dizziness is also gone as well as his muscle weakness. His headaches are still there and still constant, but not as bad as they once were; however, he has had them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months. He is on Lyrica which has helped make the headaches subside.

I have taken him to more than 16 medical doctors of all specialties, had multiple MRIs, CT Scans, blood tests, spinal tap, and an MRA. All come back negative. Thankfully, despite all of this, he still remains happy and positive that he will once again be 100% healthy; it will take lots of time, but he will get better. I know the first three symptoms (joint pain, dizziness, weakness) are clearly Levaquin related, but I haven't heard much about the headaches from people. Anyone else out there that has suffered from a constant headache after Levaquin? I REALLY want to hear about headaches from others!!!!

By the way, we have filed a medwatch already. I also know that Levaquin is not approved for anyone under 18 years old and he never needed such a powerful drug to prevent an infection, but there is nothing I can do about that now except to warn others. One of his UCLA doctors wants to write a case study on him to make this more known to others and I am helping him with that.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. If you have had a headache from Levaquin, please let me know where in the head the pain was, if it is constant, what it feels like (pressure, shooting, throbbing), how long you have had it, and what, if anything, helped. THANKS.

I'm in my ninth day of a ten day regimen of Levaquin for treatment of a sinus infection. I suppose I have fared better than most on this board. I Googled Levaquin and ringing ears due to a recent onset of that symptom. I have also had a mild, nagging headache at the base of my skull or upper neck. I have also experienced a slight queasiness in the past two days, but nothing close to nausea. The past three nights, I have had unusually vivid dreams, although I don't recall any of them being what I would describe as nightmares. Finally, in the past two days, I have experienced what I can only describe as deja vu kind of feelings throughout the day. My symptoms have increased somewhat during the past several days, but none could be described as severe. I guess I will take my final dose and hope for the best, but I will probably try to avoid this drug in the future.

I had a cough for a few days, which didn't improve,my wife insisted that I go to the Doctor to have it checked. The Doctor determined that I was either getting over a slight case of pneumonia, or it was just beginning. He prescribed LEVAQUIN 500 MG for 10 days. I took the first pill in the evening of Feb 3rd. When I went to bed, I was not able to sleep, I was short of breath, my heart rate went to 140, I did not sleep the entire night, my heartbeat was also irregular and I have a terrible headache. The next AM, I went to the Doctor and he said that I should continue with the LEVAQIUN - and that the symptoms were not related to the drug. - I have had and irregular heartbeat in the past, but no like this. The Doctor insists that the LEVAQUIN did not cause the problem. Then he put me on Toprol - to slow the heart rate. I took the Toprol and took the 2nd dose of LEVAQUIN last night. My heart rate is down, but still irregular, I didn't sleep, have anxiety, shortness of breath and don't feel right. Went back to the Doctor today and he still insists that the LEVAQUIN didn't cause this. Thank God that I found this website and others, I have stopped taking the LEVAQUIN. I already feel better, and hope that I don't get any other of the side effects.

Levaquin actually worked great when I took it. I was diagnosed with epididymitis after a urine culture was analyzed and the doc gave me a 10 day supply of Levaquin to take once a day. The side effects I felt were pain in the abdominal area, headaches, anxiety, confusion, and dizziness. Those I could live with, because the epididymitis problem had more side effects than the drug. The trade off was worth it. I'm on my 7th day of Levaquin and I feel a whole lot better than without it. But do beware some people do react badly to the Levaquin family of drugs including cipro. This is some powerful stuff not to be messed around with, it is also used to treat HIV patients and people who had post inhalation of Anthrax. Yes it is powerful enough to treat those dangerous conditions. When you take Levaquin just get plenty of rest drink lots of water AND Cranberry juice which prevents unitary tract infections. Do not exercise while on this medicine for it will cause tendon damage, just take it easy for the whole time you are on it with plenty of fluids. Get better and stay healthy.

I started taking Levaquin in December for a respiratory infection (500mg for 10 days). The only side effects I noticed while taking it was a terrible headache, insomnia and anxiety. I experienced that after the first dose. The next day I called my Dr. to tell him and he said he would prescribe Ativan and I should continue with my prescription. I wish I had listened to my common sense, but I listened to the doctor. I finished the prescription and felt somewhat better from the infection but after 10 days of being off the Levaquin, I started to get a burning pain in my left arm. At first I thought it was a blood clot or something. Two days later, the pain had spread to both arms. The pain was so intense I thought I was going to pass out. I had severe joint and muscle pain. I suspected it was the Levaquin when I found this and other websites where people have been describing their experiences. I made copies of a lot of information to take to the doctor. When I went the doctor I described my pain and tried to show him the information, but he didn't believe me. He said it was not caused by the Levaquin. Since then, the pain has spread to my knees. I have decided to find a new doctor since I refuse to waste my time on a doctor who doesn't even believe me. I called the FDA to file a med watch and they said they were going to send me paperwork..guess what..that was last week and I still haven't gotten paperwork. I believe that everyone is trying to keep this undercover! I am going to go to their website and download my own forms and file.
Two weeks ago I started taking a regimen of vitamins: Daily 3000 mg vitamin C, one B Complex, Milk Thistle, 1000 mg Calcium, 500 mg Magnesium, Potassium, and a Probiotic supplement. I don't know if these have helped me, but I do want to say that I feel better than I felt two weeks ago. I still have a lot of pain, but it's not as severe as it was. I'm hoping that it goes away soon. I am spreading the word among family and friends to NEVER take anything in the quinolinone family of antibiotics. I really don't believe that these side effects are as rare as they say. I just believe many people don't report because most don't connect the dots that their symptoms were caused by the antibiotic. My symptoms didn't start until almost two weeks after I completed the antibiotics. I was just lucky enough to have figured it out. The other symptoms I am having are muscle twitching, trouble focusing, insomnia, and cold hands/feet. I also just once had a ringing in my left ear that made me feel like I lost some of my hearing after it finished. I hope that's not the case. I will continue to pray for all of you.

I took my first dose of Levaquin at 6:30Pm on January 3rd. Soon after I developed a sunburn like rash, puffy eyes that got really bloodshot, a severe-severe headache, fainting, low blood pressure (70/40,) pain and heaviness in my knees that made it difficult to walk, pain in my back in the midsection, a ringing so loud in my ears that I thought something must have been banging on the house, and sensitivity to light and sound. The headache was so bad that I the air blowing through the vents at the hospital was painful to hear. I was in the hospital by 2AM, and remained there for 4 days. Mainly because the staff did not believe that the Levaquin was the culprit and gave me another dose once I was feeling a bit more like myself..

My 15 year old daughter was prescribed this medication for a sinus infection. By the 2nd day she had a headache and by that night she was having nightmares bad enough that she wanted me to watch her fall asleep. She is now paranoid, anxious, she has slept the entire day for the last 5 days and hasn't wanted to leave the house. I left the house and she called me on the phone very paranoid to the point she asked me not to hang up the phone and she kept asking how long until I come home. I was just a few blocks away and she kept telling me to hurry home. I put her in the car with us just to get out of the house then she said she felt sick and threw up. She hasn't held a full conversation in 5 days and says she feels like she's crazy. I called the on-call doctor's hospital and they surprised a doctor prescribed this to a teenager.

I took this medication for 8 days for a sinus infection. It cleared up my sinus infection but the side effects are frightening and painful. I wish I had read this site prior to agreeing to this drug. Initial onset of side effects were the bad taste, tiredness and muscle aches. The morning after the last dose was when the side effects became the worst. Dizziness upon waking, exhaustion, muscle and joint aches, headache an desire to sleep. I am able to exercise a bit and am going to work but with great diificulty and I am normally an energetc, active and healthy 42 year old female. Please discuss another drug with your doctor before considering taking this one for sinus infection or any other condition.

I was prescribed 750mg of levaquin 9/11/07. I read all the side effects but also read in many scientific studies that the odds of these side effects occurring were slim. I believe the exact figures were around 1-3%. I have my bachelor's of science in biology and am planning to attend graduate school next year, so I thought I was educated enough in the realm of how drugs interact with the body. "1-3%" is such a low probability, right?

I took one pill at approximately 9pm then around 11pm I began to feel dizzy and light headed. I had been drinking water all day and continued to do so after taking the first dose so I decided to go to bed. I awoke the next morning still dizzy and my muscles ached. Then, while walking to the bathroom to put my contacts in, I began to hear ringing in my ears until it was all I could hear around me, I developed tunnel vision, then completely blacked out. The only way my vision returned is when I sat on the ground with my head between my knees barely moving. I remembered reading that levaquin could cause hypoglycemia so I literally crawled to the kitchen and poured a plethora of sugar into a cup of gatorade and drank it as quickly as I could. I've never been more thankful to be an athlete and keep that in my refridgerator constantly...well... I WAS an athlete. I haven't been able to walk, let alone run, without my head throbbing with each step.

It is now 9/19/07 and I still have a pounding headache that won't go away. It is as if my optic nerve is on fire. I've tried vitamins, flushing my body with constant fluid, sleep, massage, and an optometrist examination for new contact lenses in case the headaches were due to eye strain. Nothing has seemed to work. My sinus infection that the levaquin was initially prescribed for has subsided but I can only hope that this headache will subside as well.

Has anyone else experienced an on-going headache as well? And if so... what have you found provides relief?

My doctor prescribed Levaquin 500mg as the 3rd antibiotic to treat a sinus infection that just would not go away. Unfortunately I'd taken 12 of the 14 pills prescribed before I found this site while trying to figure out what was worng with me. I'm experiencing sleeplessness, extreme lethargy, neck pain, muscle & joint pain and I'm having difficulty concentrating at work. I've stopped taking this awful drug and can't wait for that point it works its way out of my system.

I am very sorry to hear about the problems you all have experienced. I thank you for taking the time to post your experiences here so that people like me have others to turn to.

My father was in for a quintuple bypass and had a stroke on the table. After surgery they put him on Levaquin, unbeknownest to me. He is now in a rehab facility and had I not walked in one morning and saw the IV drip, I would not have known. He has been having wild hallucinations and confusions so I asked them about it and they discontinued the drug right then. He was on this drug for 22 days, and 6 days later there has been very little change in him. I am very concerned about this, he was always very independent (only 73 years old) he did everything for himself and to see him like this breaks my heart. I hope it will eventually will get out of his system, but from what I have read I am doubtful. Make sure no one you know and love is put on this crap, I sure wish I would have known 22 days sooner.

Just wanted to update my situation. Well the shaking muscles have subsided a bit (it's been 8 days since I've stopped levaquin) been to the dr's 2 more times and had new blood work done yesterday. One doc says 90% sure it's from the levaquin but wants me to take the doxycyline anyway and then see a rhumatologist. My primary disagrees, did more blood work believes it definitely from the levaquin and is sending me to rhumatologist. They also they are updating their warnings in their office to make sure that it states this is a SERIOUS side effect (she also printed me off all my symptoms that are side effects of levaquin from their computer but say "rare") My knees started to subside until I bent down and BAMN just like it was all brand new, they are burning like no tomorrow! My ankles (achilles) and my shoulder tips (where the tendons are) are still killing and I am getting muscle contractions in my thighs and left arm but not as much, this may be due to the muscle relaxers and motrin. I have also been taking diazapam for the spasms so who knows how I would feel otherwise. I am disguising the pain with medication it seems and my fear is I am going to hurt myself worse. One dr told me that if the tendons were going to rupture then there is NOTHING I can do about it, they're going to rupture, the other dr. disagrees. My primary feels I need to be seen and diagnosed asap with tendon and joint pain and feels as though it's serious, but also believes it will not last as long as the other dr said (about 4 months). I am going to go swimming tomorrow because it's suppose to be good excercise for the tendons and joints. I have been putting hot pack and nuprin cream on the knees and ankles (cold seems to aggravate it and make them feel like they're ripping). If I type (like now) I can feel the burning in my shoulders and my left elbow now. This is a serious disease this medication has given me and the second I see the rhumatologist and I am diagonosed with something I do NOT want to hear (like permanant, or long term) I am calling a lawyer. I am not a sue happy person but who the hell does this company think they are making MILLIONS off of this medication and leaving people disabled or dibilitated for long periods of time. I am too young (early 40's) to be feeling like a 80 year old as a matter of fact my mom is 70 and goes to the gym every day and walks and swims, I was the same way until this medication poisoned me. I have herniated discs in my spine and they are aggravated because I have not been able to excersise that is part of my life and routine and I am furious.

If anyone has contacted this company, can you post it here and let me know what they have said? Thank you all and I hope you are all feeling better!

I was prescribed Levaquin for what appeared to be impetigo on my outer ear. The first dose gave me a monster headache and very weird almost-dreams (because I couldn't sleep). After the second dose, I had a horrible stabbing pain in the middle of my back, my wrists and upper arms began to ache, my vision was disturbed and I couldn't concentrate. Weirdest of all was a sudden compulsion to shave my head (which I thankfully snapped out of). I'm a textbook normal 45 year old woman, otherwise healthy, and professionally employed. It's been 30 hourse since my last dose, and the mental stuff has subsided, but my arms and hands are still very painful. This is a bad bad drug. I'd have to be on the verge of death to consider it again.

I was just given this medication this morning, by 1pm I was feeling jittery, heart pounding, severe headache, lump in my throat and vision was distorded, no joint pain but surely do not want to keep taking it to find out.

levaquin taken at 500 mg dose causes moderate to severe headache and stomach upset.

As of 3/31/07, I just started to take levaquin. After reading these horrible stories, I'm very concerned for myself. I was on Ketex at three different times this winter. Now I don't know what to do and I'm very scared. Dr. put me on singular and after a few days, I had pressure in the sinses, headache,and upper respiratory problems, for which the Dr. prescribed levaquin. When I read the side effects of singualr (and feeling find before I took it), can alll of these problems be due t the singulair? The Dr. on call who prescribed the levaquin - I asked him if my side effects are due to the singulair? He said most likely not. Now what in the world do I do?

I'm 30 and in good shape...Last thursday I went to the Dr for an ear infection and pnumonia, he gave me samples for 750 mg for 5 days and 500mg for 2 days after the first pill I couldn't sleep tossing all night ususally I hit the pillow and I'm out, I woke up exausted dizzy and with a head ache and the shakes, at work my arms, well to be more specific, my elbows and neck were getting tight and very sore, I attributed it to all the tossing the night before but now on day 6 I'm still tired having weird dreams , no sleep, my knees and elbows and neck really hurt not to mention extream irritability and depression my mood is just awful again thought it was just from being sick. But questioned it so looked on line and found this, I'm shocked, I am allergic to pennicillin which is why the Dr said he gave mw this instead I have one pill left and I just thew it in the trash and I'm calling my Dr first thing in the morning to report these problums.
This is a real wake up call, wish I would have looked up this med before I started taking it, but for sure I will from now on, Guess it is up to our selves to protect our selves can't count on anyone else to do it for us..

It seemed to begin with a 2 day headache. As I had a severe UTI, I was not sure if the symptoms I was having were because of the Levaquin or the infection. The headache was the first "unusual" symptom I had within 1 hour of taking the Levaquin. Then the muscle aches, tendon pain, arches of feet hurt, arthritis in hands became more painful than I had ever experienced, very fatiqued, skin sensitive to touch, tingling sensation on arms, racing heartbeat (may have been due to anxiety of other symptoms). These symptoms continued for 6 days until 24 hours after stopping medication. I discontinued it after researching side effects on internet as Patient Information sheet that came with medication was vague. I still have tendon pain in left elbow, and arches of feet. Amazingly, I have had knee surgery and back surgery, but neither of these areas seemed to have been affected. Still don't feel "right", but hopeful will continue to improve.

My mother was told she had pneumonia after going to the emergency room, and was given a prescription for levaquin 750mg. 9 pills cost over $220. After having taken the 2 pill , my mom (81 years old) developed tremors, headache, stomach pain, jaw and mouth discomfort, became disorientated, and worst of all was unable to walk without the help of family. She became very depressed and was praying to die. We took her to her doctor, who literally took the pills from my hand , and threw them in the bio-hazard trash container. We were also informed that we were the second patient to come into his office , THAT DAY- WITH AN ADVERSE REACTION TO THIS DRUG. THIS DRUG ALMOST KILLED MY MOTHER- I BELIEVE THIS DRUG TO BE HIGHLY DANGEROUS. THE DOCTOR ALSO STATED , SHE WILL HAVE TO HAVE PHYSICAL THERAPY , AFTER SHE GETS THROUGH THE ANTIDOTES TO COUNTERACT THIS DRUG. I BELIEVE THAT UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE, THIS DRUG IS GOING TO HARM ALOT OF PEOPLE. FINAL WORD-THIS IS POISON. BEWARE

Severe headache- close to a migraine, lump in throa which made me believe I was having an allergic reaction to the antibiotics, unable to sleep while full of anxiety. A basketcase of emotions- for example: my dad called to see how I was recovering from my kidney infection. I broke down and started crying to him. The night before I was up and cooking dinner for my boyfriend...It's like I morphed into whole new person overnight. Odd. Taking 500mlg x10days.

just felt horrible couldnot sleep, rapid heart beat ,headache very tired,leg pain, and nightmares,not able to function well at all i thought i was dying will not ever take it again.

I WAS PRESCRIBED THIS MEDICATION FOR A SEVERE SINUS INFECTION (POSSIBLY BACTERIAL) THAT KEFLEX 500 MGS HAD NOT RESPONDED TO. AFTER READING THE HORROR STORIES RELATED TO THIS MEDICATION, I WAS SKEPTICAL TO TAKE MY FIRST DOSE, BUT I DID. I AM NOW ON MY 4TH DAY OF 7 AND AM AMAZED AT HOW MUCH BETTER I FEEL AND HOW QUICKLY IT WORKED. THE ONLY SIDE EFFECT I HAD WAS A SEVERE HEADACHE WHICH LASTED ABOUT 4 MINUTES (TO WHERE I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS OUT), WHILE STRAINING. AFTER THE 4 MINUTES OF PAIN, I HAVE HAD NO OTHER SIDE EFFECTS. IT WORKED WONDERS FOR ME!

aches/weakness in back of neck, back, aches in leg, lower arm......weakness, headache -- most bothersome is the feeling in the back of the neck and back.

After reading some of the other postings, I consider myself lucky so far! I took my first dose of Levaquin 500mg yesterday evening. Last night I went to bed and after about 1/2 hour of sleep, I woke up and shot out of bed. I just wasn't feeling right...kind of anxious, couldn't focus, stomach cramps and nausea, had chills and a bad cough, and some chest discomfort. Later, I started developing a headache. Today, I still don't feel right at all and have put a call in to my doctor, but honestly, I don't want to put any more medication into my body! I will not be taking this medication again.

Severe nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, exhaustion, weakness, sweats. I stopped this after 7 days. I hope this horrible feeling goes away soon. I did not feel this bad with the diverticulitis I had before going on this, and now I feel horribly sick and have even missed work because of this. I am also having trouble sleeping. I never will take this again.