Levaquin and heart

I was given Levaquin for a UTI about 2 years ago and ended up in the ER, the side effects were so bad. Thought I was having a allergic reaction,
heart poundings, felt like a just drank 3 cups of coffee, also muscles reacting slowly, like I couldn't move my arms and legs how I wanted to.
Unfortunately I have take Cipro a couple times in the last year, and the last dosage of that did it for me. On the 5th day I all of a sudden had extreme pain in my left knee, could hardly walk. I took a couple Advil and rubbed some icee stuff on it and it went away but that night my lower back and hips became also extremely painful. Severe pain. That was the last dose for me. (The pain was much less the next day and almost completely gone after about 4 days.) I called the Dr. and they told me to stop taking Cipro- which I had already done. What really bothers me though is I mentioned this to my orthopedic Dr. and he said he never heard of Cipro causing joint pain!
I am going to send him some literature, but wow!! couldn't believe that.

Add me to the list. The funny thing is, I've taken Levaquin 4 or 5 times in the past without noticing any problems, but last week I was put on Biaxin for a sinus infection and had a terrible time with it, so the Dr. changed me to Levaquin, and now after 3 days I'm back in the same boat...heart racing, unable to sleep, elevated blood pressure, nauseous. It feels like my heart is on fire! I'm stopping this one today (only had 2 left.) This is awful, I know I was very sick and had to have some antibiotic, but after these two experiences I think I'd stick with the sinus infection!

Hi,

5 days ago I was diagnosed with staph, MRSA. I went to my doctor, who put me on Augmentin, didn't work so he added Levaquin. I ended up in the ER on Thursday with my arm worse and intravenous drugs. To make a long story short, after my second dose of Levaquin I told the doc I woke up that the night before at 2 AM, soaked in sweat and asked if it could be a sign of the Levaquin. He said no, and to continue taking it. Needless to say, I took a dose tonight, I am up, anxious, my heart is beating out of my chest and I feel dizzy. It is now 3:00 AM and I just got off the phone with the nurse hotline because I know it is the medication and I am scared. She told me to try and stay calm, don't take anymore, and report it to my Doctor. The thing is I did report it, and he told me the effects I was suffering had nothing to do with the drug. Same thing with the ER doctor, he told me the same.

DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG IF YOU KNOW IT IS HURTING YOUR SYSTEM. IF YOU FEEL STRANGE, DIZZY, WEIRD. I JUST WANT THE DOSE I TOOK TO BE OUT OF MY SYSTEM.

I started Levaquin 500 MG on Thursday Aug. 29, 2008. I did not have any problem the first night. But the second day at about 3:00 PM I was working on my computer when my finger joints started to get stiff and my hands and arms started to shake. I just thought I was tired and forgot about it. At 1:30 AM August 30, I was awakened by someone shouting in my ear , You are going to die. I woke up in a sweat and my heart pounding. My hand were stiff and my knee joints were very tight. I also was in a very bad panic attack.
I went to my desk and wrote my wife a letter telling her how much I loved her and my dog Abby. I then proceeded to give her funeral instructions as to which funeral home church and buriel plot.. This writing was 3 pages long. I called my doctor and they as much told me this could not happen. My blood pressure was 240 over 120 when I took it. I took a valium and this calmed me down in 10 minutes. They gave me a new antibiotic for my Bronchitis. So I thought the nightmares and pain was over. Not so quick last night at 2:20 AM I was awake by the screaming in my ears you are going to die. I tried to call my wife but I could not get the word out for help. I tried to move my hands and fingers they would not move. Finally I rolled off the bed and yelled my wifes name she did not hear me.
This drug has set back my recovery from my panic attacks. This drug should be badded by the FDA. But as usual the government does nothing to help the public only big business.

I am diabetic 2- and was given levaquine 700 mg for two nights to recover from urinary infection. I hardly could sleep first night and was uncomfortable all night. The second night when I got sleep at mid-night, I was fully awakened in next hour by palpitation of heart which hurt my neck and left side down to the legs. I was rushed to cardiologist and was under gone all the necessary tests from sonogram to stress to necular . The heart did not show any damage but I am now suffering from irregular palpitations and my left shoulder is very tender occasionally causing muscular pain on left side of my chest. I can not lift a gallon of milk with my left hand and am compelled to rest in the middle of the day otherwise I start hurting in my chest. I hope no one is given this strong doses and that at night. Please go for old antibiotics in milder forms to begin to cure.

on may 31 i wrote the symptoms my mother had from 4 doses of levaquin over a 4 day period.....on june 2nd she died from levaquin induced myosistis
it was a horrible ordeal and i hope this website saves a life. luanne

I was a healthy 42 year old male who took Levaquin for a sinus infection. The same day as the Black Box Warning was issued; I was having my third tendon reattachment surgery. I have to wait at least 6 weeks before I can undergo yet a fourth tendon rupture reattachment. At least it takes my mind of the Achilles Tendinopathy, joint pains, headaches, uncontrolled muscle twitching etc. I consider myself one of the lucky ones since so far it has not affected my kidneys, liver, heart, eyes and other side effects that many are dealing with from this class of drugs. I would urge a real journalist to take the time and look at the real number of cases. The Fda numbers are misleading. The clinical data coming from other counties are showing much higher rates of tendon ruptures and other life threatening side effects.

I took Levaquin for a kidney infection 500 mg. I was inchy all over. stomach pain. sever neck pain, and pain all over I feel like I was hit by a truck. no energy. my eyes get all heavy like I haven't slept in weeks. Alls I do is sleep and when I do I wake up very confused. I've been taking naps in the day time which I've never been able to do even if I was sick. I don't feel normal like I'm drunk and I don't even drink my sister says I even sound drunk. I get headaches. I have bruises all over in the places that I had itched. I still have kidney pain it feels like it's flopping around in there. Sweat a lot at night time. My heart sometimes beats really fast then thunks hard and then slows down. anxiety attacks. I cry for no reason. I called my doctor and he said he don't think it's from the levaquin that people only get a couple side effects not this many and put me back on antibiotics.

MARCH 17TH MY MOTHER WAS A VERY HEALTHY ACTIVE FUN LOVING PERSON AS OF TODAY SHE IS TOTALLY CONFINED TO THE BED. SHE TOOK 4 PILLS OF LEVAQUIN FOR A MINOR CHEST COLD AND GOT A VERY BURNING RASH AND BLISTERS ON HER ARMS NECK AND CHEST AFTER THAT THE SORE THROAT AND EXTREME MUSCLE FATIGUE KICKED IN .HER DR. PUT HER OFF SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO QUIT TAKING THE DRUG ON HER OWN ON APRIL 8 SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS WHICH HAVE ULTIMATELY MADE HER UNABLE TO USE HER MUSCLE SHE CAN NOT SWALLOW HAD TO HAVE A PEG TUBE PUT IN SHE HAS NOW BEEN WEENED OFF OF THE 120 MG OF PREDNISONE SHE HAS BEEN ON AND NO END IN SIGHT ON RECOVERY. I HAVE NO MEANS TO TACKLE A DRUG COMPANY BUT I WILL TELL MY STORY AS OFTEN AND AS I CAN. 50 DAYS LATER WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GRASP ALL OF THIS

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!

Hi, I was a healthy middle age women, until Leaquin 750 mg. I was diagnosed with Severe Bronchitis, was given Levaquin 750 mg. for 7 days. Took this pill for 3 or 4 days. Then one day at work, I felt like the upper left side of my body and face was on fire, very dizzy, and started passing out. The ambulance was called they found my blood pressure was way over 200, face bright red, hives on right side of face, very light headed. They checked blood every 4 hours, IV's of all different meds, Z pac, steriods, etc. Stayed there for 4 days, under going different tests, all came back great, sent me home and said dehydration, I do not believe so.......I am still lighted and in like a Brain Fog and still do not feel right since taking this Levaquin. I am seeing my Doctor tomorrow and he better have a good answer for this nightmare drug and how long the side affects last. I need to feel normal, again........If you have this drug, PLEASE do not take, I am not a Doctor so I cannot tell you what to do, but check it out real good first..........

I started taking Levequin before a procedure I was getting (cystoscopy) and was told to take ot for 3 days, 500 mg. The first day i took it I had severe insomnia/heart racing/shortness of breath but I attributed this to nerves due to the proecdure I was getting , the night of the procedure I slept fine but I was also doped up on anesethia. Yesterday was my last night of Levaquin and I once again was up all night. Not only that but I have severe anxiety, feelings of hoplelessness, dread and just worry all day long. I don't knwo what to do. I am 31 years old and 2 weeks ago was feeling fine. I actually took some xanax last night for the anxiety and it really did nothing although it usually does help when I have minor anxiety. I really do not know what to do. I have to go to work every day feeling depressed, achy and lethargic. I just made another dr appt. 3rd dr in 4 days. I have lunesta at home but it rarely works for me. Any suggestions to help me sleep and get rid of the jitters??

I took 2 500mg pills of levaquin and within a few short hours felt extreme anxiety, my heart was racing, i was having depressed thoughts including death/dying and didn't sleep for 48hrs while i was on this medication. it has now been 3 days since my last pill and i am still shaky with anxiety, have no appetite, but am finally able to sleep a little bit.

this is the most horrible medicene i have ever been on - don't ever take it!

my Dad took a 750 mg tablet of Levaquin on 2/12/08, went into immediate allergic shock - couldn't breathe, face and mouth swollen. He was gasping in his last breaths to me "the pill, the pill" - I asked him "you are having a reaction to the pill?" and he nodded "yes"
His heart stopped on the way to the hospital and he died.

I took 1 pill 1 time of Levaquin and ended up with severe ringing in ears, redness, heart pounding and sweating, nausea. Ending up in ER where I have different areas of my face swell up.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. Shortly after taking the drug, I noticed a heavy metallic taste in my mouth. After two doses, I did notice the sinus infection was getting much better and decided I was well enough to go out to dinner with my husband (who prescribed the Levaquin). We arrived at the restaurant and within seconds of being seated at our table, I felt an explosion in my head. The pain, slamming through the whole left side of my head, was beating along with my heart! I have never felt head pain such as this. Thank God my husband is a doctor and I quietly told him there was no way I was going to make it through the dinner because my head was EXPLODING! In a our state of fear and embarrassment, he took me home and put me in a hot shower, gave me Advil, steroids, Ativan and Vicodin. I'd never had that many drugs on board in my life! The pain receded from about a level 9 to a 3 within two hours, then completely disappeared after 5 hours. I woke up fine this morning and my husband and I decided Levaquin probably is not a good drug for me, though it does help many other people.

Hello Everyone ---
I just wanted to share my story and hope that it helps others. On December 20th I was prescribed Levaquin to help clear up a bad case of Bronchitis that I had taken a Z-Pac for a week earlier. I still had remnants and the doctor saw as fit to give me the Levaquin to help me get over what was remaining. I had a 10 day supply of the 500mg Levaquin prescribed to take once a day. After (2) two days of taking the medicine I noticed that I was having a slight amount of pain in my left knee, and by the 23rd of December it hurt to walk or stand or sit. The pain was just a dull ache however; it would also become sharp with any movement. Just to let you know I finished all of my 10 day supply, not knowing that the Levaquin was what was causing my problems. I am a healthy 31 year old male that has a 3 year old daughter, so I am always on the go. However, beginning the 24th & 25th of December the pain had spread from my left knee to my right knee, ankles, as well as hip bones. By the end of my prescription my pain was all over my body, it hurt to sleep, it hurt to move, however, taking 800 mg of Motrin every 6 hours seemed to help ease the pain but never seemed to knock it out. I tried everything from Tylenol to Aleve...however, Motrin was the best. Not knowing what had caused my problems, and getting tired of being in pain I went to see my family medical physician on the 7th of January. He ran me through the mill with test to figure out what was going on. Nothing out of the ordinary, I was a little anemic, however, that had nothing to do with my problems. We talked about the Levaquin, and he as most doctors dismissed the chance of that being the case. However, he did prescribe me 200 mg of Celebrex per day, and told me to take Tylenol as needed to help with the pain. After taking the combination of those drugs for 10 days, I called his office back and told him I was still having problems not as strong as before and I could tell I was getting a little better however movement was still bad, so he referred me to a Rheumatologist. I saw the Rheumatologist on Jan. 22nd and he seemed to help more than anyone else, he also did some blood work, however, nothing out of the ordinary once again, he also check for arthritis, and nothing came of that either. He believes that the medicine was the root of the problem, and until it is gone from my system nothing I am going to continue to have problems. He upped my Celebrex to 2 times per day, and told me to take Tylenol Arthritis 2 pills 3 times a day...this combination has almost knocked away all of the pain. I can still tell that I have problem areas such as my wrist when opening the car door; however, hopefully those will go away in time. Apparently, according to him there is a small amount of people in the world that is allergic to fluoroquinolone drugs and do not know it until they take one of these. I go back to see him again on the 12th of February hopefully I will be back to normal, however, I do have one burning question in my mind…what happens if I get off the Celebrex? Hopefully he will be able to answer that one for me. For anyone out there that is having these same problems as I have you might want to recommend for your Doctor to prescribe you Celebrex and see if will help you…

I was prescribed LEVAQUIN for a sinus infection. This was my first time to hear about or take this. I have had reactions to Keflex in the past. So, within about three hours of taking Levaquin, I had red spots and was manic mad. I felt like some maniac. A few hours later, I had two deep and bright red circles on my stomach. The burning was like a fire and it was actually hot to the touch. My roommate touched it and it felt like fire to them. I stopped the medication and went to see my doctor that Monday. The pain was continuing. The Levaquin Rep just happened to be in the office when I was there. He said, "Yep, happens to about 1 in 10 people" The burning later turned into a black spot, about three inches in diameter. I felt and WAS burned. Also, my bicep muscle hurt and the pain in my shoulder was unbelievable. I've read about all of the other posts about muscle pains. My ortho doctor said I have a torn bicep muscle. Now, I work out but am not a muscle guy by any means. I have two female friend and one went numb from head to toe on exactly one side. The other friend had SEVERE burns all over her body, her skin fell off and hair fell out. She has been fighting side effects inside and out from Levaquin. We both feel that we were burned from the drug. Her case was MUCH more serious than mine. My heart goes out to all of you for your pain and loss. This drug needs exposure.

insomnia, hot flashes, heart racing, skin burning, hives

Took Levaquin for 3 days starting August 8th for acute Prostatitis. It is now Sept. 21 and I only get 4 hours of sleep a night. It is awful. The initial reaction was my heartrate went to 120, I was nervous and agitated and called the Doctor to say I was going to the emergency room. He said go off the Levaquin and see what happens. End of sleeping!!!

Note: I got rid of the Prostatitis with Cephalexin. However, Because of heart reactions. I can't take Cipro, Levaquin or Cephalexin. Don't know what to do next time!!!! Wish the Pharmacuticals would come up with something that works without awful side effects!!!

I had severe heart racing just a couple of hours after taking my first dose of levaquin,Mon.,like nothing Ive ever felt before.(Im 37)I also have not been able to sleep,I took 3 doses and am not continuing with it.

heart tremors