Levaquin and heart problems

Well, I am not posting a side effect. I actually stumbled upon this website while trying to look up whether hypoglycemia is a side effect of Levaquin. I am a physician assistant and routinely prescribe this medication. Unfortunately ALL medications have the potential for causing many many many different side effects. Obviously one has to weigh the benefits of using the medication with the risk of side effects. And certain side effects are obviously more common than others. While I appreciate the point of a website like this, it is very frustrating for me, as a clinician, to read someone posting things that are absolutely untrue which can potentially cause undue distress or worry for everyone who may read it. I am referring to the person who wanted "to let everyone know of the relationship between levaquin and vancomycin." Her only source for this WRONG information is a nurse who told her daughter. Did she ever think that the nurse could be wrong and that maybe before posting something like that she should ask a pharmacist or a physician. Vancomycin and floroquinolones are not related pharmacologically!!!!

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 was diagnosed as having Bronchitis. I have cardio vascular disease; have had 4 heart attacks. A doctor prescribed Levaquin 500mg for seven days. I started getting pain in my left leg about the 4th day of taking the Levaquin. I started having difficulty breathing and found myself gasping for air especially at night. I just thought the infection was getting worse and I finished the 7 day of pills. After that time I got a rash on my body, shortness of breath continued, my eyes were swelling up, had little urine flow, got cramps in my feet, thighs, neck and arms and I gained 20 pounds of fluid even though I was not eating much and swelled up like a water balloon in my abdomen and down to my feet. I went back to the doctors office, had a different doctor which she said I was having heart problems. She ran blood tests to check the heart and liver, took another x-ray, gave me a drug to test my urine flow and when the results of the blood test came back I was told I had an enlarged heart, fluid in my heart cavity and referred to schedule an appointment in two weeks with a cardiologist.

Then the doctor asked me if the previous doctor knew I had heart disease and I said yes. This doctor informed me it looks like you had an allergic reaction to something. She then prescribed a blood pressure and diuretic for me to relive fluid and released me, I took the diuretic one day did not relieve any additional fluid became constipated and I immediately stopped taking the water pill.

I then went to a third doctor four days later since I got no help from the first or second doctor for the shortness of breath, fluid retention,swelling and shortness of breath.
This doctor asked me what medication I had taken I informed him Levaquin and he proceeded to tell me they were having trouble and bad effects in some people taking Levaquin. I felt relieved because I had read the warnings that came with the medication and I confirmed I had certain allergic effects from the drug. The doctor then took a blood and urine test told me to come back in four days until the blood test results come in. I am extremely angry at the medical profession and the treatment I have received for their failure to treat the side effects of the prescribed medication I was given, I even read Lefaquin has caused cardiac collapse in some patients so why on earth would a doctor prescribe this medicine to a person with cardio vascular disease? I am sitting here suffering the side effects and they are out of the office not having a concern to my suffering just lining their pockets Monday through Friday with cash, Our medical and drug systems are broken and no one is attempting to repair them to my knowledge.

I was in the hospital when i was given levaquin along with a anti-fungal. I had a rare yeast infection in my blood along with a bad kidney infection. I had been hospitalized for about 3 days and they decided to give me a PIC line to give me medication as they were having a difficult time with the IV they were prepping me for this and my heart stopped i was clinically dead for 2 1/2 minutes they finally got my heart going again and the doctors told me they think i was having a rare reaction to the levaquin. Has anyone else experienced this? I am only 25 years old and have no heart problems. I am very weary of any medications and have lost confidence in doctors thank god i was in the hospital undergoing a procedure otherwise i would be dead my heart had completly stopped. Everyone should be weary of this medication

I was prescribed Levaquin recently for a Sinus infection, 500mg for 10 days, I had absoutely no problems with this medication other than a mild stomach irriatation right after I took the pill first thing in the morning. But after I drank something it went away. I had read the side effects on this page and it scared me to death to take this antibiotic but I had NO problems and just wanted to post a positive comment for this drug. Thank you!

TO GUEST 29274
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR'RE TALKING ABOUT, PLEASE KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. I HAVE PERMANENT DAMAGE FROM THIS POISON. HEARING LOSS, TINNITUS, TENDON DAMAGE, PERIFERAL NEUROPATHY, HEART PROBLEMS, INSOMNIA, DEPRESSION, ETC. I CAN NO LONGER WALK WITHOUT SOME HELP. I WAS POISONED 3 YEARS AGO. THIS POISON DOES SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE AND A LOT OF IT IS PERMANENT. PLEASE PEOPLE, GET ON THOSE WEBSITES AND GET SOME HELP. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE RECOVERED AND THEY THANK THESE WEBSITES FOR HELPIONG THEM. I THINK THERE IS SOMEONE FROM THE POISON MAKER (ORTHO-MCNEILL) TRYING TO MAKE SOME TROUBLE.
ONCE AGAIN, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO REPORT THIS TO THE FDA BY GOING TO WWW.FDA.GOV SO THAT THIS POISON DOESN'T HURT ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY.

Mu husband was hospitalized with a severe urinary tract infection - Dec.18, 2006 and was treated with levaquin intravenously. Upon release, Dec.22nd, he was given levaquin - 500mg - to take orally for seven days. While taking the medication he had no side effects, but the day after he took the last dose he started getting pains in the jaw and shoulder, which then spread to the chest. He has a history of heart problems ( 4 angioplasties) so I gave him nitro, although he insisted this was not a "heart" pain. The nitro didn't work and the pain worsened - he was sweating and obviously distressed. I called 911 and he was admitted to the hospital where they ran all the heart tests - EKG's, echogram, chest x-ray, cat scan, etc. The pain became excruciating and they finally administered morphine which was the only thing that helped. The doctors admitted they just didn't know what ws causing the intense pain, as all his heart tests were good. I decided to check the side effects of levaquin and lo and behold, right on the printout from the drug store they list "crushing chest pain" as one of the possible side effects. I pointed this out to the doctors, but they were very sceptical. However by the time he left tht hospital, five days later, they admitted that it could possibly be the levaquin. The chest pain never entirely went away, although it was much milder. He was fine for a few days, then the pain returned again - it was severe and this time he experienced rapid heartbeat (143) which he had never had before. I took him to the emergency room and he was admitted once again and of course, they did all the heart tests again. He explained that he had been through this before and it wasn't his heart, but they have to be sure, especially at his age - 81. I once again brought up the possibility of levaquin side effects but they were sure that as he had finished taking it 10 days ago, it couldn't be that. Once again they gave him morphine and he was abl to relax and his heart rate returned to normal. When he was discharged two days later, they put on his record and notified the drug store that he was allergic to levaquin. He was given a prescription for hydrocodone to take if the pain returns. The chest pain never really goes away - he says it hurts deep inside, somewhat like pleurisy, but all lung tests are negative. He is constantly fatigued and I realize that at 81 you don't have the energy of a 20-year-old, but prior to this he was very healthy - excercise class three times a week, walks regularly and plays golf. I wish I knew how long these side effects will last, especially as in view of the rapid heart beat, they now have him on Coumadin. Before this, he took only three prescription meds now he takes nine! I know they have to use powerful antibiotics to kill bacterial infections, but they should know of an "antidote" for these serious side effects. It's all very well tosay "it hardly ever happens" but reading the dozens of reports on this and other websites, I would say that it happens all too often. If anyone has found a remedy or anything that helps - please let us know.

Sorry to tell you. I have leg, arm, shoulder, ankle, wrist and hand pain one year later.

Not one of the 20 to 25 doctors I have seen in this past year would ever even allow me to speculate that Levaquin did this to me. Not one! And yet look at this board and a half dozen more just like it. Thousands of people all reporting the same medical symptoms...right after taking this drug!

I know for a fact that almost every one of these doctors hasn't researched Levaquin any more than you or I. They know the general info on it yet they dismiss it as a cause or trigger for these symptoms we are all saying we have and that are all similar after taking this drug.

This massive denial is a crime.

Look how many doctors kept prescribing Vioxx even after rumors and reports were coming in specualting that it was causing heart problems. Look how many doctors kept telling their patients this drug was okay to take until 50,000 died from this!

Doctors can be very, very wrong about drugs. The Vioxx example is the most powerful proof of this. I dismiss their denial of Levaquin. I have to. Tens of thousands of people all reporting the same problems with this drug...simply cannot be dismissed anymore. The sherr numbers make it more logical that Levaquin is truly damaging people seriously, than it is not.

This denial is one of the most unethical things the AMA and doctors in this country have ever done.

wow! I was prescribed this antibiotic for a sinus infection,today i took 1- 500 MG pill,i couldn't understand why my heart was racing 3 hours after taking it! Then i found this website,no aches or pains yet,but someone like me with diabetes and heart problems really makes me question my doctor!

I was prescribed Levaquin at 500Mg, 10 days duration, for an acute inner ear infection. I am a 44 year old male with a history of heart problems including arythmia. I am experiencing dizzyness, headache, lethargy, and muscle soreness as well as sore ankles. On a very positive note, my ear infection has improved dramatically a few hours after taking the first dose. I have had a recurring problem with ear and sinus infections. Two years ago I took Levaquin intravenously for the same problem after three other antibiotics failed to work. One thing I find to be very disturbing is the reactions of some people who have posted here. Levaquin was developed to combat the newer virulent forms of antibiotic resistant super bugs (bacteria). These "bugs" gain their resistance to antibiotics because people do not finish taking their medication. The bactetria become exposed to the new antibiotics but are not completely erradicated and some modify and become resistant. The people who stop taking their medication without first going to see their doctors are the cause of all the new resistant superbugs. Smarten up people. I have to use Levaquin now because of people like you.

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.