Levaquin and hives

I went to the doctor on 9/11/09, having been sick for a couple of weeks w/ nasal congestion and then developing muscle aches, fatigue, and a fever, along with the new symptom of a cough. My doctor was on maternity leave, so saw someone else in the practice, who hastily diagnosed a sinus infection and prescribed penicillin. Got the beginnings of hives on Sunday early in the a.m., called the pharmacy, discontinued the penicillin. Still had a fever and was miserable, called the doctor on Monday to document the hives for my medical chart, and said I thought it was flu, not an infection. Finally was called back, and they called in levaquin, despite my thought it wasn't infection. Fever had broke finally, and I was making some progress, but figured the doctor knows best and took one dose of levaquin before bedtime. Had horribly vivid daymares/hallucinations and kept telling myself, "Its not real!" Woke the next morning, and could barely move. Couldn't get from the couch to the tv a few steps away and knew I was in serious trouble. Called the doctor and the nurse said they wouldn't see me, no appointments, so my husband took me to the ER. ER doctor said it was a reaction to levaquin, discontinue use, and it would take probably a day to pass through my system. Also said I had a virus, not an infection to begin with. (Horribly ironic, huh). It is now Thursday, 9/17, and I move like a snail. I have no stamina, and can barely walk. I went to work (I'm a teacher) and cried after walking my kids down to art. Am I ever going to feel normal again? This is really depressing. I was a healthy, active person before I took a dose of this poison.

I started taking Levaquin on Saturday for preventive measures for knee surgery. I had taken Keflex the week before and had an allergic reaction to it. Extreme itching on my hands, hips, shoulders and feet. I broke out in hives and my lips, eyes, hands and face swelled up. I quit taking Keflex and then a week later, they started me on Levaquin. So this morning, Tuesday, I had been on Levaquin for 3 days, I woke up feeling fine. I was up for about 10 minutes and the back of my head was itchy. I itched it and noticed that my fingers and hands were starting to swell. I took a sip of coffe and my lips were starting to swell. Within 10 min. I was swollen, itchy, in an extreme cold sweat, my throat was swelling and I could not breath very well. I grabbed my phone and called 911 and I could barely remember my address. I told the dispatcher that I was going to pass out and I did. When I came to I could hear the dispatcher trying to get my attention. When I got back on the phone after passing out, she said paramedics were on the way. They showed up about 2 min. later. My blood pressure was 101/53. I ended up going to the hospital and on the way there, they gave me a shot of epipedirine and benadryl. When I got to the hospital there were 8 people working on me. I got a shot of pepcid and a shot for the rash that was covering 90% of my body. I was still having a hard time understanding questions and was having a hard time staying focused to answer questions. I was in the ER for about 4 1/2 hours for anaphylaxis but they finally got it under control. Now I get to have epi pens to carry around with me since this was such a severe reaction. I was told to look into an allergy screening so I think I might see how much the insurance will pay on that and maybe get that done.

Allergy, not side effect.
62 yr. old male. diagnosed with lung infection associated with smoking and was prescribed 5 x 500 mg Levaquin. I took one with water in the parking lot of the pharmacy. With-in 20 minutes I started getting burning, tingling feelings in my throat and mouth. I drove home , by that time I had huge hives on my back and buttocks. I went back to the doctor immediately.
Other than a rapid heartbeat, the only symptom seems to be the hives which were huge and covered my whole body.The Dr. stated that the episode occurred too soon after I took the pill to be an allergic reaction to the pill, however, I had not eaten or drank any thing that morning other than coffee. I also did not eat anything exotic the day before. I was given a steroid injection at the Dr. office and was prescribed a steroid med pak and an antihistamine. With-in 3 hrs. all the hives were gone. It is now 11 hrs later and I am ok except I am drowsy. If I do not recover well, I will post again to advise.

took the drug for only 4 days and ended up with MAJOR hives. My doc said he's never seen this side effect before and even took pictures to share with his collegues. It did get rid of my sinus infection, but what a price to pay. I took prednisone to get rid of the hives and that did work, but I still have faint scars where the hives were bad. This was back in May of 08.

I am scared to death after reading what everyone is going through. I was put on Levaquin for 10 days and got to day 9. My joints ached so bad I thought I had arthritis, and even had my Dr. do blood tests for it (I had no idea it was the Levaquin). I am only 35 years old and never worried about arthritis before this. Also, within 5 days I started developing hives all over. Again, I was stupid and didn't realize until day 9 that the hives were because of this med. I told my Dr. and he told me to stop taking it which of course I did. I assumed the hives would go away after the med was out of my system. But a week later the hives were unbearable. I was put on prednisone (another issue altogether) and that helped the itching, but now every time I try to go off or back off the prednisone the hives come back- and they are terrible! Now my Dr. thinks the hives were from something else because there is no way that the Levaquin is still in my body. But after reading what other people are going through on this med, I am convinced this stuff is as everyone says- POISON!! I am so worried about the joint and hip pain that was so bad I couldn't stand for long without excruciating pain in my right hip. It felt like I had a one hundred pound weight just sitting on it. And my hands were the worst. I have a newborn and could barely pick him up without worry that I'd drop him. I don't know what to do.. Is there anything to do?? I'm still on the prednisone, and have been for a month. I need to get off of it but every time I do I itch so bad with the hives that I cannot function. Also because of the prednisone I noticed last night that I am getting "moon face" my face is swelling up and there are a million side effects from that drug too. How long does this last? Has anyone else fought the hives that come with this? Please help me, I am so scared!

I took 4 of the 10, 500 mg daily dose of Levaquin that was prescribed to me. My heart rate was so fast that I thought I was going to have a heart attack! And now I have this awful rash all over my body. It's been 4 days since I 've had the last dose and it's not getting better. Does anyone have any idea when this itchy rash will go away?

I have been prescribed cipro 2x for diverticulitis and has adverse reactions (after completing the recommended prescription) to dairy and fruits (citrus acid). When another bout of diverticulitis occurred, I asked my doctor not to give me cipro. He does some research and prescribes levaquin. I completed the prescription and now more than ever have adverse reactions to dairy and fruits and anything that has whey or citric acid in it. I think this is just the tip of the iceberg of exactly what I am allergic to. I have done extensive research of the adverse reactions from cipro and levaquin which for me once I eat these particular foods is extreme case of hives and skin rash. I have to take benydral. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it does not. I went to my gastroenterologist and allergist with complaints from taking these drugs and they have told me they have never had anyone come to them with complaints. Who are we kidding? With all the reading I have done, these drugs are poison. Although I know I am among the extreme side effect category, I need help and I can't get it anywhere. I have also read that these quinolone antibiotics are given to the animals, foul and fish that we eat. So does that mean we are ingesting extra quinolone into our systems when all we want to do is have it wear off? My wife feels that we should eat organic meats. I tried organic milk and I have reacted to it. I just want a bowl of cereal and a normal cup of coffee. Whey also gives me hives. Whey is in almost everything and so is citric acid as preservatives. If there are anyone of you out there that is or has experience similar to what I am, please let me know. My doctors cannot help me,nor do they seem to really even care. My wife has given them a lot of information she has been downloading from the computer. Hope this wears off soon. Every time I take one step forward, I wind up taking two steps back. Where is the help out there that we need? Since we are the minority who suffers from these drugs, doctors don't care until they have to deal with it. What is wrong with our medical society?

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..........

Struggling with a sinus infection that threatened to bore into my brain, resulting, ultimately, in seizures and death, I've been taking Levaquin now for three days. I'm experiencing anxiety and sleeplessness, however, it's not from the medication. It's from all the hyperbole on the internet.

Look, I understand that many have had adverse reactions to this medication. One dose of penicillin can kill you without warning. At anytime. No warning. I suspect that few of those labellings Levaquin "poison" would ever bother to consider that - or anything else. All wrapped up in your misery, you spout off with rhetoric that is really better left to lawyers and politicians.

If you were uninformed of the possible side-effects of this medication, blame your doctor. I see that the last post here is dated November 2007, and the bottom of this first page takes us to October 2006. Perhaps one could take a bit of responsibility for oneself and do some research on one's own before popping a pill handed out by a disinterested physician. This information is out there - and yes, your doctor could have seen it, too. But he didn't bother, did he? Neither did you.

So, yes, with my first dose, and despite the impact drill driving through my eye-socket, I waited for the seizures, swelling and signs of imminent demise. Nothing. Sorry. Oh, my sinuses feel better, I don't have a brain infection, and so I won't die frothing at the mouth on my living room floor.

I'm sorry you feel bad - and if you hadn't run off at the mouth calling what may be one of the last effective antibiotics "poison", I might mean that with some sincerity. Oh, and lest you forget, antibiotics are poison by definition - the idea being that they affect/poison/kill the source more than they do the host.

So let's stop the hyperbole, and simply say you had a bad reaction to this medication. Not everyone does. Your option might have been to skip the doctor and the meds altogether, and see how you'd fare. But that would leave the responsibility, and the blame, all on you, then, wouldn't it? Far better to spread it around some.

I finished taking seven days worth of Levaquin about one week ago. I feel like I am dying. I have Fibromyalgia so I thought I was having a bad flareup. I told my husband this is the worst I've ever felt. I usually exercise, walk, swim and try to move so I dont get stiff from the fibromyalgia. This is very different. My muscles in my thighs and calves are burning, upper body weakness, bizzare nightmares (I usually dont remember my dreams). I cant get out of bed untill around 11:00. I just keep falling asleep when I try to get up earlier. I try to get some exercise and fall onto the couch in tears. I cant think straight and I am so weak. I cant believe my Dr. gave it to me knowing I suffer from chronic pain already. I took it in the past and stopped because of nausea and depression. But I wanted to tough it out this time to get rid of UTI. I also read that you should not take if you have had a reaction to Cipro. I had huge hives from cipro. I wish I had that reaction with the Leviquin so I wouldn't have full body pain. Even my feet hurt. I wish I never heard of this drug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two weeks after taking Levaquin for a urinary tract infection, I developed a rash/hives that covered my entire body. I had frequent violent itching attacks and wanted to scratch my skin off. After two days of the hives, I went to Urgent Care and was given a steroid shot and Prednisone. The next day I had severe chest pains and shortness of breath. I went to the emergency room and and EKG came back abnormal. My white cell count had shot off the charts to 35.0 I was admitted to the cardiac unit and was put through a battery of heart tests. All came back unremarkable. After three days of blood tests, CT scans and nitro tablets, I was released with no conclusion as to what I was experiencing. The rash continued, just not as bad and I've experienced joint pain. One week after the intial symptoms, I began experiencing dizziness and loss of vision. It has now been two weeks. I've had a MRI on my head to determine the cause of the dizziness and the vision loss and results from the MRI are pending. I was a healthy 46 year old before taking Levaquin. Currently, I cannot work a full day without vision loss or dizziness. I've been so perplexed as have the five doctors I've seen as to what the cause of my symptoms could be. After reading many comments from Levaquin patients, I now believe that I've found the cause.

I was a healthy 59 year old woman until my doctor prescribed Levaquin for a minor eye pain. I was taking 500 mg. a day for 6 days and on the seventh day I broke out with thousands of hives all over my entire body.I also had severe chest pains and a terrible pain in my back and jaw. I thought I was having a heart attack. The doctor examined me and took an EKG. I had a normal EKG it was not a heart atatck. My physican precribed benadryl and sent me home. A few days later I started with a terrible burning in my esophagus and stomach , and the terrible hives continued. I went back to my doctor and he precribed Zyrtec. The Zyrtec helps the hives to "sleep". I find that 22hours into the 24 hour pill I start to see all of the hives popping out and itching. The doctor gave me a fat free .diet and sent me on my way. Two days later back to see my physican. I told him I was still in severe pain. My stomach and esophagus were on fire and that I was having terrible pain in my diaphram when bending over. I insisted that he refer me to a gastointerstional doctor as an emergency or I was going to the Emergency Room now. He sent me to a Gastro Doctor and upon examining me he said I had GERD. He also precribed a Fat Free Diet, and gave me a pill called Zegrid. This did not help at all. I than made an appointment for an Endoscopy. The findings are acute inflamation in the stomach and inflamation in the esophagus. I also have a hiatal hernia. The doctor told me to double up on the Zegrid.. The Biopsy will be back in two weeks. My pain continued so I called the gastro docor and he gave me Carafate. I continue to have the burning, the hives, pain in my diaphram and back, and now a feeling that I have something stuck in my throat. I never had any of these issues prior to taking Levaquin. I am going back to the doctor today as I have added naseua to the list of my complaints. I eat very lightly and drink very little as when I drink I sometimes get terrible pain in my diaphram. I have been to my primary physican 8 times, gastro 2 times, I have had about $500. in prescriptions, EKG's , Sonograms, Endoscopys, and Biopsys. I am starting to wonder if the medical profession set me up. Levaquin is poison to some people. Why did my doctor give me this medication for an eye ache.? It may be too late for me to debate the use of this medication that I took blindly,but maybe someone out there will read my story and think before they blindly take a medication that may change there life forever. Does any one out there have any of the same issues from Levaquin? Thanks for reading my story. Cheri

I had severe hives, spasms and severe pain in the chest and diaphram, reflux,acute gastritis of the antrum.

In the fall of 2004 I was given levaquin to treat an infection in my colon -- this was as a follow up to hospitalization where I was given 2 other antibiotics (don't recall the names)

After I was discharged for the hospital I came home feeling great--seems that the infection in colon had been there for some time and had definitely ran me down.

I was taking the Levaquin daily as instructed and wanted to complete the treatment as recommended with Antibiotics. During this time, my stomach was giving me fits...I literally had an upset stomach continuously while on the Levaquin.

Aside from the stomach problems, I felt great--until one day all of a sudden it was like something snapped in my head. I began feeling a steady pressure and it felt like I was underwater.

My nerves literally went haywire...I could not sleep, I could not eat anything without having extreme nausea. I paced the floor for 5 solid days and nights without any sleep. I was hearing things...and the worst experiences was the panic attack like symptoms. I ended up going to the emergency room 5 times thinking I was having a heart attack.

My heart would race and my BP was so high in some cases the auto-cuffs would blow off my arm.

All that stuff started in 2004 and since then I have been under treatment for depression and generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks. I have lost feeling in my hands..down the side of my legs, and I still experience either constipation or explosive diarrhea-- It is usually one or the other--there doesn't seem to be a normal BM anymore.

If I do not take the anti-anxiety drugs I have been given then I will experience large muscle tremors.

I don't know that Levaquin did this to me but I find it highly unlikely that I could feel great and then all of a sudden I'm in an advanced state of clinical depression-- In one day's time???

I have also noticed that I can't concentrate like I used to do...I have actually been eating and will ask my Girlfriend what we are having for dinner. My gosh--I'm sitting there eating the stuff and don't even realize it.

I'm 42 years old and ever since I took Levaquin my life has been a constant living hell.

I had racing pulse, heart pain, headache and nausea the first time I was prescribed Levaquin for a UTI. I called the doc's office and was told I it had nothing to do with the med. I took it, all the while feeling miserable, for the whole prescibed dose. I was prescribed it again, and had similar reaction, called and asked about it, and was told that my culture came back negative and I should stop taking the med. I was happy to do so. Third time it was pneumonia. I got a shot first of a penicillin derivitive, then was prescribed Levaquin. Within 24 hours I had severe hives, along with feeling awful, which my have just been related to the pneumonia. Went in to the doc, and was taken off the Levaquin, and told to never take any of this class of drug again, because my doc said the next reaction could be much worse. I was switched to a penicillin derivitive and put on a prednisone pack for the hives, which took a couple of weeks to go away even after stopping the Leviquin.

I have had hives on and off since taking Levaquin. The doctors say it is not from the medicine but an allergy. I just went to the dermatologist today and she said it couldn't be the medicine because I took it too long ago.

I was prescribed Levaquin for bronchitis and I took it for 6
days but had to stop because I had developed a severe
allergic reaction to the pills. Almost every part of my body is covered in hives, does anyone know how long it will take for this to go away. I was also prescribed Prednisone and a shot of Depo to counteract this allergic reaction. Any info is greatlt appreciated. Thanks.

I WAS PRESCRIBED LEVAQUIN FOR BRONCHITIS. SHORTLY AFTER TAKING MY 2ND DOSE I BROKE OUT IN HIVES. I STOPPED TAKING IT AND BY THE FOLLOWING DAY THE HIVES HAD SUBSIDED. HOWEVER, I AWOKE VERY STIFF WITH LOTS OF PAIN IN MY LEGS. I HANDS BECAME VERY SWOLLEN AND I HAD TO REMOVE MY RINGS. MY HANDS AND JOINTS MADE ME THINK I HAD ARTHRITIS. IT IS NOT ONE WEEK LATER AND I STILL HAVE PAIN AND SWELLING IN MY RIGHT HAND AND ARM.

I had acid reflux for about 4 weeks with no relief. My doctor checked my liver, pancreas, and gallbladder and all were fine. She thought perhaps I had an infection so she gave me a 7 day course of Levaquin. I questioned her nurse and the pharmacist if the medication was safe to take or if it had side effects that I should worry about. Both said it was safe and that there were no known "bad" side effects. Both failed to warn me of the dangers of this medication. On the fifth day I noticed a "hives" like rash on both my arms. At the time, I didn't connect them to the Levaquin. After the 7th day (yesterday) I began to wonder if it could be a reaction to the drug. Last night the rash got worse, and this morning I had a very difficult time getting out of bed. I took a Benadryl last night thinking that perhaps I was having an allergic reaction to something I had eaten. This morning when the rash was worse I came on line and did a "Goggle" search on Levaquin and rashes... OMG, how could the doctor and pharmacist not told me about the problems associated with this drug??? They both were totally negligent about warning me about possible side effects. The worse part is that I was trying to be a knowledgeable patient, I asked the right questions and got the wrong answers!

What do I do now and will this rash go away and the pain in my legs go away without permanent damage???

This is a total lack of responsibility from the medical community and the drug company!

The company that manufactures Levaquin is called ORTHO-McNEIL. They have a main website.

I have entered here before also.

I can't believe that so many of us are telling the world here what happened to us taking Levaquin...and NOBODY...is doing anything about this !

These stories are not made up or exaggerated. These stories are telling us that we are being given a poison!

If someone just printed out all of the stories on this board and put them in a book form and mailed it to "all" the newspapers in the country...maybe then this insane denial and non-concern would end! Maybe then the nation would see and acknowledge the massive damage this drug is doing to thousands!

Just read these stories...what more does our FDA have to see before they shut down the administering of this toxic substance?

It's been a year since I took 7 days worth of Levaquin.

I did "not" have the swollen throat and hives and red skin "immediate" reaction to Levaquin. Therefore, my doctors say it didn't damage me. They get angry if I bring up this possibility.

But within 24 hours of taking this drug I awoke at home in the night with burning pain in my shoulders, arms and hands so bad I was calling out. I was so confused. I had never felt anything like this before. My hands would also get cold and go numb.

My insides went haywire this first time too. My bladder would feel the urge and then not. I was feeling wincing sharp pains all over. I could not sleep except for a short nightmare type thing. I was anxiety ridden. Shaking inside and out. My legs felt weird. My sensitivity to cold became unbelievablely extreme. I was freezing.

Next morning my stomach went into literal shock with pain and I had to call an ambulance to go back to the ER as I was seconds away from passing out. The weakness? So bad....let me repeat that...SO BAD that I could not lift my hands while laying down! My entire body felt like it was going to die.

I could not walk, legs so weak and body shakey, and feeling so unbalanced. Crying with pain and anxiety and just unbelievable crashing of everything. Lost 35 pounds in 2+ months! Couldn't eat. Metallic taste in throat. Still have most of these symptoms after 1 year! Sorry to tell you all this last point.

Since all my tests "supposedly" haven't shown anything that would explain these most extreme conditions...I have been relegated to the psychiatric area almost totally.

Yes, my nervous system has been effected...damaged.
Yes, I get so anxious and depressed and scared and frantic at times with my suffering and non-treatment and adversarial treatment. Have lost my self-confidence of my body.

My regular doctors have found ways to dump me or schedule me so infrequently they are really out of this situation.

It is like living in cold war Russia. I have made too much protests against my regular doctors refusal to consider levaquin...and now my record is full of psych visits. Once you have these on your record. Let me tell you...most new doctors eyes get real big when they first see these. They label you immediately and silently to themselves as a "problem" case. Your care is different because of this. It's an incredible injustice and almost Kafka'n in it's implications.

But that's just one of the "levaquin" poisoning problems. A medical community refusing to acknowledging it...and if you protest to much to their view...you will be sent off to the psych ward.

54 years and I never saw a psychiatrist in my life. 54 years and I never ever had a problem with drugs, alcohol, the law or even in my first and still on-going 25 year long marriage. I have raised two responsible kids...both working and in college. I had a wonderfully social job as a hotel concierge that I loved for 5 years previous to this "levaquin" poisoning.

But with this case, my normal past means nothing. I am just all of a sudden a nut case for complaining too much about my belief that Levaquin did this to me. That Levaquin destroyed me. Especially since the doctors say they can't explain why I got so sick and I am still so sick. I still feel like I am going to die almost every other day! And it's been a year.

Also, my statute-of-limitations one year period to sue the hospital that gave me this drug ( and never ever told me to quit taking it even after I came rushing back to them with these incredible, unprecedented symptoms just 1 or 2 days after they prescribed it to me and were told it was the only medicine I was taking ) and the drug company that manufactures Levaquin ( Ortho-McNeil ) are almost up.

Not one lawyer I have contacted out of maybe 50 will even consider taking this case. They say it's too hard to prove, drug companes can ruin them they are so rich and powerful and that Bush has limited suit awards to 250,000 dollars and they would need a lot of this to prove you have been damaged!

They say if my liver failed and I died and I had never had liver problems before I took Levaquin...that they would then "consider" taking on a case like mine. But as long as I am alive I haven't got a chance.

I wrote to Ortho-McNeil and told them their product Levaquin has destroyed me and I asked for their financial help with my tens of thousands of dollars I owe in medical bills as financially I am also ruined. I also asked them to help me finanically get more specific, technical tests done beyond my small ton area. Never a word back.

I just went through a hellish experience with Levaquin. On the 5th afternoon of taking it for a bronchitis, I began to break out in small hives. I thought I got bit by a mosquito or something, so I took my dose the next morning. By that night I was covered in huge hives and felt like I was on fire. Taking Benedryl calmed it down but the hives would get fire red after a while again. I had to take off work today and went back to my Dr. I have already started taking Methlyprednisolone. The hives have all but gone. Obviously, I am very allergic to Levaquin..

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

I just took Levaquin for a sinus infection. Within an hour I got hives all over my entire body. I've never gotten hives before and they were extremely itchy. I took an antihistimine and went to the emergency room. While I was there I started getting very shaky and dizzy. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't taken the antihistimine. The doctor told me that Levaquin can do some "funny" stuff to people and to NEVER take it again since my body is allergic to it. I've been taking Benadryl and am now feeling better but still have a few hives left. It's scary what one pill can do to a person. I've taken other antibiotics from the same drug family and nothing like this has ever happened before.

In response to the person inquiring about the hives...YES. I have incredibly itchy hives across the top of my forearms that appear to be from the Levaquin.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. I developed a rash which is associated with discolored skin. I stopped taking the drug and I am still experiencing hives in various degrees as well as skin discoloration.

I was diagnoised with Kidney Cancer in March of 2005, and had a partial nephroectomy on 23rd day of March 2005. I was being given Ancef which is in the family of Levaquin.
A few days after my surgery while still in the hospital my back started itching , i told this to the nurse and she looked at my back and said i was broke out in hives , she phoned my dr. and he prescribed benadryl shots and allergy meds but nothing seemed to help, about the third day of being broken out and nothing was working that my Dr. had prescribed a dermatoligist was called in to the hospital , he prescribed different meds and a medicated lotion, still no releif.
My Dr. released me from hospital a few days later ,i still had hives on my back , and he prescribed Levaquin for me to take at home, my hives kept getting worse, by then they started at the back of my neck and was all the way down my back to the back of my knees and not just bumps ,but whelps that reached from side to side nothing i was taking or putting on them helped the itching or burning.
My daughter who is an RN had talked to the nurses that she worked with at the hospital and they all decided that it was the Levaquin that was causing the hives to stay , so i quit taking it ,and sure enough i quit breaking out but i had them so long that all of my skin where i had them felt like leather and the itching was horrible and miserable.
I went to my regular Dr after several days and told him about my skin and itching and he told me to buy some Eucerin lotion at Wal-Mart and my husband rubbed it on my back and the next day my skin started to heal.
I still am having outbreaks on my back and was wondering if anyone else has had or is having this problem?

I had a hysterectomy June 14, on June 21 I had a bladder infection and my doctor put me on Levaquin. That was a Wednesday, by Sunday afternoon I could barely walk! I thought I had just did to much and strained my back. Monday morning I woke up with hives on my hands and feet. I had eaten peanuts the night before and thought that I must have developed an allergy to them. Tuesday morning I still have the hives, I can barely get up off the chair and I am so weak I can't support my own body to stand. I am seeing my doctor tomorrow....I wish I had came across this web site earlier!

hives, swollen face, eyes and lips.

I was prescribed a month course of Levaquin for a sinus infection I had for 2 months that did not go away after 3 courses of 3 different antibiotics. Within 1/2 hour of taking the drug, I experienced severe hives along my jawline. I should have stopped taking it right away, but the hives went away, so I continued.
That night, I had terrible insomnia and anxiety attacks. I felt like I wanted to jump off the roof or drive my car into a tree.
The following few nights I slept a bit better because I took the pill in the morning, but my dreams were vivd and strange.
I experienced some nausea, but thought nothing of it. My second week on the drug, I started to get a severe pain in my lower back, then between my shoulder blades. As the week went on, into my third week, my body flet as though I had been hit by a truck, and that it was riddled with arthritis from head to toe. I had previously suffered from planar facititis which was now again in full force, my ankles burned with pain, shooting pain in my knees, calves and lower thigh in extreme pain with hot burning - itching on my chest and when I developed severe neck pain and headache, I called my doctor. I had found this site and realized it could be the drug. It was the only explanation. PS my sius problem was worse than ever!!
My doctor told me to immediately stop taking the drug and not to exercise, stretch, lift or make any sudden movements to protect my tendons.

I was livid. He prescribed Augmentin, and I don't know why he didn't in the first place. NO ONE TOLD ME how serious the potential side effects of this drug are. I can't tell you how much work and how much of my life I have missed being in so much pain. I cannot sleep at night with the pain.

What is worse is that no one knows or can imagine what I am going through and therefore are not sympathetic, nor do they allow me to rest. They expect me to be my old self which is currently impossible.

I have been off the drug a few days, but I do feel the symptoms subsiding a BIT. Not a lot, but some. I hope it won't take too long to get back to normal.

God bless us all in the hands of these doctors and drug companies.

What is worse is that my husband works in the Pharma industry and looked up the drug in his drug reference. Even there, it makes only a brief passing mention about tendon ruptures with this drug. Something has got to change.

My advice? Don't even risk taking it. Maybe you will be free of side effects and it will work beautifull for you. But try everything else first, and no matter what you take, read boards like this and become educated before youtake anything. It is oUR responsibility - since we cannot rely on doctors or the drug companies to come clean.

Pray for me...

I was recently given a five day 750mg@day prescription of Levaquin for a treatment of "walking" Pneumonia. During the second day of Levaquin I developed a body rash--like, all over my body. Back to the hospital with seasoned medical "experts" telling me I had "chicken pox", "hives", "herpes", etc..etc... A young female Doctor looked at my rash and diagnosed: "Drug Reaction". She took me off Levaquin, prescribed a two week course of Penicillin, plus drugs to combat the rash and within two weeks the Pneumonia and the body rash was gone. Sooooo, with what I'm reading on this site, my question is: Why is this poison...this Levaquin still being prescribed??

I was given a 500mg tablet before having a prostate biopsy and then I took a second tablet the next day. It was to prevent infection from the biopsy procedure. Within two days after taking the pills I developed severe hives. I had no idea what caused it. I called the pharmacist and was told that it could be a temporary reaction to this drug. I was instructed to take some benadryl. I did and the hives went away within a few hours. Since then I've had a reoccurance of hives three more times (within a week of taking it). It usually happens in the evenings. I'm not sure if there's another factor that's causing it to reoccur or not. I have not taken any further doses of the drug. I can't seem to pin-point any other variable that can be affecting me. Is it still the effects of the Levaquin a week later? I guess I will talk to the pharmacist again tomorrow and see what else they have to say. Hopefully the symptoms won't get any worse and that this will stop soon. I was not given any precautions before taking the drug. I've never had any side affects to other drugs before this one.

i have had horrible itcy hives after talking levaquin from Nov 3rd til the 9th. How long does this drug stay in your blood. am still being plauged by this rash and am supposed to go to an allerigist on the 16 on Dec and now am wondering if i should even waste my time

I took levaquin for bronchitis after being on amoxicillin for 10 days already and not responding well. So starting Nov 3rd I took this drug ( levaquin ) for seven days, I felt horrible tired sick nauseated and having calf muscle cramps, I finished the medication and before I finished it also started breaking out in horrible itchy hives that i am still being plauged with as of the 23rd of nov, have been to the dr three times and am giong to an allergist on dec 16 for skin patch test, now I am wondering if the hives are being caused by anthing at all EXCEPT the Levaquin after stumbling upon this site ( thank God for that) i was wonderin exactly how long this drug stays in your bloodsteam. I thinking that pehaps my body immune system has attacked this drug for the poison that it is

i have taken levaquin and had to stop. immediately after ingestion i had dizziness and stomach pain. after 5 days my skin began to change. it became very dry and started to crack. i had dandruff on my face as well as in my hair. some of these cracks began to bleed. this continued long after i quit taking the drug. i still have hives and dry skin and am consulting my doctor for treatment.... i would not recommend!!!

I had been on levaquin for only 3 days for diverticulitis, I have been dizzy, wheezing, BUT the worst is the itching rash it stared out small tiny bumps from my waist down, they itched so badly I have rubbed them until they are sore. I had only been on for 3 days total, today is the fourth & the tiny bumps have turned into hives. It is Sunday here & the Dr office is closed so I called ER & the Dr on call has instructed me to take 25mg of benadryl 3 times a day. I would think the hives would get better he told me not to take anymore Levaquin, but today they seem larger. I guess it will take it some time to get out of my system. I will never take this drug again. The Dr on call also told me to see the Dr for an appt first thing in the morning. Good thing I work at the Dr office. I am itching like mad.

I took Levaquin as a third antibiotic for the treatment of a bad case of bronchitis that went into asthma and have had a chronic cough. This started one month ago. I first took Zithromax, then Augmentin. The Levaquin was a third antibiotic. The first day I felt I felt dizzy and lightheaded. the first night I had total insomnia and could not sleep. I woke up feeling very nauseated. The second day I felt even more dizzy than the day before. The second night I broke out into hives and itching on my feet. I took Benadryl and discontinued the antiobiotic.

I am on Levaquin, but my side effect is from reading these posts, not taking the drug. I have no patience with people that have no common sense. Yes, doctors should tell you about the drugs they prescribe, but it is your responsibility to ask about potential side effects, interactions with other drugs you are taking, etc. It is also your responsibility to read the detailed informa tion that comes with every prescription from a pharmacy that lists possible side effects, which ones are likely to go away after a dose or two, and which ones you should contact a doctor about. If you get the drug as a sample at your doctor's office, stop in at a pharmacy and ask for the information sheet or get on the internet and find it.

All antibiotics cause dstomach upset and sometimes diarrhea because they kill all the bacteria they find, the bad ones causing your infection as well as the good ones living in your digestive system that keep you healthy. All antibiotics can cause yeast infections for the same reason. As some smart European posters to this list suggested, eating yogurt with live acidophilus cultures or taking acidophilus pills from the healthfood store may mediate this effect.

Lastly, even if your doctors don't have common sense about the symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should know the signs, because severe reactions can lead to anaphylactic shock and even death. Rashes, hives, itching, dizziness, and shortness of breath ARE NOT SIDE EFFECTS! They are warning signs of an allergic reaction. You can become allergic to any drug at any time, even if you have taken it with no problem many times before, antibiotic allergies are very common, and it is vitally important for you to know what drugs you are allergic to because not every doctor reads every word in your medical file. I am allergic to sulfa drugs (which I learned from a severe case of hives while taking Bactrim), yet a doctor prescribed Celebrex for a knee injury, and if I hadn't known that Celebrex contained sulfa I would have been in trouble instead of safely taking sulfa-free Vioxx.

Bottom line, you are responsible for your own health, no one else. Know the difference between signs of an allergic reaction, standard side effects, and rare side effects that should cause concern. If you're concerned, CALL YOUR DOCTOR, HEALTH PLAN, or PHARMACIST rather than posting on an online newsgroup. It could save your life.

I have been taking 500mg of Levaquin for 13 days of a 14 day prescription. After 9 days I started to experience joint pain, primarily in my knees, fingers, toes and plantar surface of my feet. Suspecting the Levaquin, I found this site and was surprised to see others with the same problems. While I did not associate it with the drug until I read the reports from others, I began having extremely vivid dreams from the day I started taking the prescription. Also developed hives on day 7. I've never previously had any reaction to an antibiotic (or any other drug).

Common sense is needed!! With any type of medication there are bound to be a number of different side effects, some people experience all others none. But when any medication taken produces rash/hives you should stop taking that drug immediately and seek medical attention.

I"m deathly allergic to Pennicillins and now have also become allergic to Sulfa meds.

I'm not thrilled with being on antibiotics, but Levaquin for the most part only makes me nauseated. I work at a Hospital from 6:30 a - 3:00 p in the Medical Records dept. I normally take my antibiotic late afternoon / early evening so that I don't have the nasty side affects during work hours.

I don't like taking antibiotics all the time for other reasons, I don't want my body to resist them when I get older and need them. There are infections where your body either becomes immune to the drug or totally the drug fails and you have worse infections and may die from them. MRSA is just one to mention.

I have Urology problems and Levaquin is the drug of choice so I have to put up with them :( I also have chronic sinusitis and levaquin also helps there too.

Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids and most of all
USE YOUR HEAD/COMMON SENSE!!!

its 500 in the morining. i thought it was wierd the pharmisist warned me not to play sports while on this drug as it tightens up tendons that can lead to other injuries. im on my 7th day now on a 10 day prescription. it has been getting harder to sleep every night, now i have a burning rash or hives that started in one leg and are spreading everywhere, my jaw is shaking uncontrolably, and my eyes are on fire, what kind of testing do they do, what kind of doctors give prescriptions based on wonderdrugs. there is adeeper underlying problem than my current joint weakness upset stomach, shaking, and hives and did i fail to mention my eyes are on fire, im tired during the day and the rash has been getting worse. i dont like to not sleep suspect LEVAQUIN at 500 in the morning and find this website. im a very physically active person but not lately my tendons ache. this bs better subside soon IM FINISHED WITH IT all my body cracks topped with hives

I am a 31 year old male, have always been in good health with no known allergies, eat a healthy diet, and have worked out with weights and cardio twice a week for the last year.

I recently went to see a doctor for strep throat. I was given amoxicillin and the strep went away after 7 days.

Two days later, the strep symptoms started to gradually reappear. I went back to the doctor and was prescribed 10 days of Levaquin. I did notice some side-effects of rapid and irregular heartbeat, mild panic attacks, confusion, depression, vivid epic-long dreams, and minor dizziness. I had not previously read anything negative about Levaquin and just thought these were normal symptoms of being medicated for strep throat. The strep symptoms went away after 1 day of being on Levaquin.

Then my REAL NIGHTMARE began. After about 2 days on Levaquin, a SEVERE rash/hives started to spread over my body, starting with my hands. I went back to the doctor, was told I had contact dermatitis from "something" I was allergic to, and was given an anti-inflammatory shot in the arse and Kenalog ointment to apply. As directed, I had always taken great pains to avoid being in the sun whatsoever while on antibiotics. The rash continued to grow worse and worse over the next several days.

I went back to the doctor and was given another anti-inflammatory shot. I asked if the rash could be a result of the Levaquin, and the doctor quickly brushed that "absurd" notion aside! By the 9th of my 10 day trip on Levaquin, the rash had completely spread all over my body, even under my palms. Frightening! Only the soles of my feet and groin area have been spared this horrible-looking, itching madness. On that 9th day, it even started to appear on my face. Though the doctor insisted I should, I did not take the 10th dose of this "poison."

I wish I had done my research and found this website sooner! I have now been off of Levaquin for 48 hours and the rash is still raging strong. The itching has almost brought me to the brink of insanity. I have taken Benadryl tablets and used Benadryl gel and thankfully, they have brought me some minor amounts of comfort. My NIGHTMARE rash does not seem to be going away. I look like some sort of medieval, infected "plague victim." I am severely depressed and the rash is now so horrific-looking that I do not even want to leave my house! I have now read some accounts on this site about this sort of rash happening, but never learned just how long I can expect to endure this HELL?

I was never given ANY warning at all about how serious this medication is, and how threatening it's side-effects can be. I would rather have that nasty strep throat back than now look like some plague-victim and be itching non-stop, unless I'm stoned out of my mind on Benadryl!!!

I have never in my life enjoyed wearing the mantle of a victim, but I truly feel that some sort of cruel injustice has been done to me. Having this never-ending rash has now dragged me into such a deep depression that I feel I may soon need to seek professional mental help. Any advice on how I might make this rash go away and be back to looking like a normal human being would be greatly appreciated.

I wish all of you out there a speedy recovery from your personal LEVAQUIN NIGHTMARE. Thank you.

In June I was prescribed Levaquin for a urinary tract infection. Didn't have any problems at that time, but two weeks later my UTI was back, so they prescribed me Levaquin again. The day after I started taking it, I was experiencing sharp pains in the palms of my hands and the arches and heels of my feet. Since I've been on Levaquin many times before, it didn't even occur to me. By the third day my feet hurt so bad it was painful to walk, and I started breaking out in hives ALL over my body, and I experience some nausea. I obviously had developed an allergic reaction to Levaquin. I was able to look online at my pharmacy's website and track all the times I've been on levaquin. Six times in eight months for ear infections, UTIs and sinus infections. Wow-do you think maybe the doctors rely a little too much on this drug? I'm thinking my body had had so much of it that it finally rejected it. And now I just want to crawl out of my skin-four days of prednizone plus a shot and the hives will NOT go away. It's been a week since I've been off the Levaquin. How long does it take to get it out of my system already????

I am a 33 year old female, about 5'6 and 115 pounds and very athletic and take very good care of myself. On July 1st I went to my Dr. because I was so sick I thought I might have pneumonia. Sure enough, I did and was given 10 days of 500 mg. Levaquin. I took the medicine around 4pm. I woke up the next day with a headache, nausea, and before I even got out of bed, my heart started racing as if I was exercising. This lasted for an hour and a half......then I had to get up because I thought I was going to throw up. By this time I was sweating to death. I went into the bathroom and sweat some more, never threw up and my heart rate returned to normal. I was able to take a shower and then took some Advil and felt much better. I took my second dose later that afternoon. The next day I woke up with many aches and pains including swollen achilles tendons, a swollen elbow, hip pain, and very sore knees. I also noticed 5 hives on my arms, chest and neck. I compare them to mosquito bites, only bigger. I was a little slow on the up-take and took Levaquin until 7/8. It is now 7/14 and my joints and tendons are still VERY sore......I can't get through a day without taking Advil 2 or 3 times. I still have the hives and am ready to kill someone! I have taken a lot of medication throughout my life as I am asthmatic and I have never experienced a side effect. I called the pharmaceutical company to complain and to report my side effects to the FDA. My quality of life has been seriously tampered with and I am pretty resentful. My kids are small and active, not to mention I have a full time job. This drug is ridiculous, and in my opinion, should be taken off the market. What ever happened to good old Amoxicillin?

White Male 40, Treated for UTI with Levaquin on May 31, 2003, took for 7 days, 14-day script. Stopped after 7.

- Horrible hives, all over, back, shoulders, legs, arms, never had them in my life ever before. Has lasted so far 6 days after stopping Levaquin. Two tabs of Benadryl seems to stop them within 30-45 min. Drinking lots of water seems to help too, but maybe just psychological. Sun especially kicks off the hives.
- Swelling in hands, feet. Was just in the last days of Levaquin use. Has not come back.
- I am very rarely allergic to anything, some Spring pollen, and only very mildly. Levaquin made my body go ballistic with hives when they hit. Itchy as I've ever been. Red skin, big blotches. (I have slightly olive skin, not the sensitive nordic fair skin you would expect to get hives) Really scared my wife. Benadryl has been a decent antidote. Just wondering how long the junk (Levaquin) stays in your system.

On day 7 post-Levaquin. Will never touch it again. Anyone notify the FDA? Perhaps this should be done.

I have been taking Levaquin, 500mg since 5/30 for a UTI. It has slowly been eating away at my infection. However, my skin is now hypersensitive and even the softest cotton tee shirts are extremely irritating. I have no rash or hives, but it feels like I do. I did look at the Levaquin site on the following Monday and it warns of this side effect. In addition, the site advises to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. I have also experineced weakness and though it has not made me drowsey, the medication has rendered me unusually slow-witted.

hives, chest pain, back pain and very weak. I took levaquin for bronquitis and asthma.

itchy hives on arms and legs very bad taste no food taste right to me can't stand to eat the things i use to love. I cry alot and sometimes started laughing all at once felt very bad like i was losing my mind. I couldn't remember. But the worst is this taste in my mouth and hieightened smell things smell bad to me.

What are possible side effects of LEVAQUIN?
LEVAQUIN is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects caused by LEVAQUIN, which are usually mild, include nausea, diarrhea, itching, abdominal pain, dizziness, flatulence, rash and vaginitis in women.

You should be careful about driving or operating machinery until you are sure LEVAQUIN is not causing dizziness.

Allergic reactions have been reported in patients receiving quinolones including LEVAQUIN, even after just one dose. If you develop hives, skin rash or other symptoms of an allergic reaction, you should stop taking this medication and call your healthcare professional.

Ruptures of the shoulder, hand, or Achilles tendons have been reported in patients receiving quinolones, including LEVAQUIN. If you develop pain, swelling, or rupture of a tendon you should stop taking LEVAQUIN and contact your healthcare professional.

Some quinolone antibiotics have been associated with the development of phototoxicity ("sunburns" and "blistering sunburns") following exposure to sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet light such as artificial ultraviolet light used in tanning salons. LEVAQUIN has been infrequently associated with phototoxicity. You should avoid excessive exposure to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet light while you are taking LEVAQUIN.

If you have diabetes and you develop a hypoglycemic reaction while on LEVAQUIN, you should stop taking LEVAQUIN and call your healthcare professional.

Convulsions have been reported in patients receiving quinolone antibiotics including LEVAQUIN. If you have experienced convulsions in the past, be sure to let your physician know that you have a history of convulsions.

Quinolones, including LEVAQUIN, may also cause central nervous system stimulation which may lead to tremors, restlessness, anxiety, lightheadedness, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, depression, nightmares, insomnia, and, rarely, suicidal thoughts or acts.

If you notice any side effects not mentioned here or you have concerns about the side effects you are experiencing, please inform your healthcare professional.

For more complete information regarding levofloxacin, please refer to the full prescribing information, which may be obtained from your healthcare professional, pharmacist, or the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR).

Took a 10 day course of levaquin 1 year ago- ok. Took a 10 day cours for acute bronchitis, and needed another course when symptoms reappeared 2 days later. Second day into second course developed tiny hives head to toe. Doctor prescribed antihistamine treatment. 10 days later still itching and breaking out with tiny hives that scab over and itch like crazy. Will this ever end? This bites!

After just taking one dose of Levaquin (500 mg) for a recurring ear infection, I had a noticable allergic reation. My hands and feet were extremely itchy and red for a couple of hrs. After the second dose, I had the same problem, but as before it went away. The third day was the worse. I developed hives, swelling and my hands became fire red, and my face and chest broke out in red patches. I felt itchy all over my body and felt like my body was on fire. My dr. told me to stop taking Levaquin and to take Benadryl for the next couple of days.