Levaquin and joints

I took my first pill of Levaquin 500 and started having abdominal pain.later I started feeling cold and shaking for about one hour. My arms and legs were so sore that I couldn't stand straight. Joints hurt a lot..My husband told me that my eyes were rolling and he was scare. Next day I had red dots in my whole body.mostly my legs. I went to the doctor for a blood test and my platelets were 35. Put me on prednisone. week before were 220. Almost sure was the levaquin. Shoud be taken out of market.

I took Levaquin several months ago and have had on going foot pain. I was recently diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome following a Stress Fracure in my heel. I have had muscle aches, all ove pains, bone pain, insomnia, depression, irregular heart beat, headaches. irritability, dizziness,stiffness in my joints, stomach aches. This has all been a terrible ordeal. Do you think it is related to Levaquin. I have also taken Cipro several times for UTI and Diverticulitis. Thanks for listening.

I have been on Levaquin 750mg for an infection in the bone of my toe. I am also on a daily IV drip of antibiotics. Since I have been taking the Levaquin, I ache all over. Every joint aches from my hands to my ankles.
I'm wondering if this is all a side effect of the Levaquin. I have nothing else to blame the aches upon.

I took 1 Levaquin pill 500 mg one evening in September 2007 for a kidney, UTI infection. My left side went numb and started tingling, my left hip hurt, I could not put weight on my left leg, had to limp to walk. I had severe pains shooting through my head, felt dizzy, nauseous, weak, had to stay in bed for 3 days after taking medicine. I could only limp to eat and bathroom. I called doctor, they said KEEP TAKING IT. NOT. They told me that these were normal side effects. I read on the internet that these are NOT NORMAL side effects. I didn't take anymore and read about alternative medicines. I was still in a lot of pain in my kidney and bladder. So I asked for Bactrim, a sulfur based drug. It worked great on the kidney/UTI. But since I took the Levaquin, my joints hurt and pop, my achilles tendon is painful everyday, my shoulders have excruciating intermittent pain and my hip hurts inside when I move it. Also, there is a lot of crackling and strange sounds in my joints now. My wrists have been having a lot of soreness as well. I just read about Levaquin causing these problems for years after you take one pill. I didn't know all of these symptoms might be connected to the Levaquin. Does anyone know how to get the Levaquin out of your body and joints???

I was given 500 mg of Levaquin a day for 10 days for pneumonia, which I later found out I didn't have. Anyway, before he ten days were up, I started couldn't lift my arms above my head, then my joints started to pop and crack and all my joints ache me, ore severe pain in my knee that hasn't gotten better. It has been over a month and I am still in pain and don't know how to get relief. I tried Motrin, but this doesn't help. I also tried Tylenol and this doesn't help either. I tried going to the chiropractor and it helped a little, but the pain came back after the icing wore off. I don't know which way to turn with all this pain. It feels like my bones are falling apart.
If anyone has any remedies that work to get rid of this toxic poison in my body, please let me know. Thank you, Antoinette

I was on levaquin august 2008 for a sinus infection. After about day 5 is was in pain. My joints ached terribly. My knees, my hips, my wrists, elbows and fingers. I have undifferentiated connective tissue disease with lupus like symptoms. I thought that maybe the levaquin made me flare. I stopped taking it on day 5 and after a week felt somewhat better. I am on meds for joint pain for my autoimmune condition but still had the joint pain with the levaquin. The physicians assistant that I saw said joint pain wasn't common. From what I'm reading here it's very common.

I am happy to find this site. I was given Levaquin for UTI. A few weeks prior to getting this prescription I was given a sulfa based drug (generic for Bactrim) and started feeling some pain in right wrist and hand. Dr. prescribed Levaquin since this sulfa based drug didn't clear up infection. Took 2 doses of 250mg and the reactions hit - both hands swelled, joints ached, both knees swelled and both feet and ankles swelled. Went to ER and admitted and spent 3 days in hospital on morphine and started prednisone treatment of 20mg a day with Aleve to also help with pain. This Levaquin is NASTY stuff. I can't believe doctors prescribe this medication. I am still not well. How long does it take to recover? I still am stiff and ache. I too am very active runner and finding myself frustrated in the slow recovery.

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.

I am a 29 y/o male.this month i got a terrible sinus infection, probably due to a month's struggle with allergies. I was initially prescribed Augmenting but after just 1 pill i was up all night with stomach cramps & diarrhea. I was scared to take another dose so my dr. prescribed me Levaquin as an alternative. After reading the warnings I became very worried due to the fact that I already have lower back/hip and joint pain issues. I also work evening freight at Home Depot. After 1 Levaquin yesterday morning, I went to work ready to take it easy and not hurt my body more than it already does... after about 30 minute of simply opening small boxes and putting light-weight merchandise on the shelves, i began to feel extreme tension/aching in my hands and fingers.I was being very careful with my back & neck, but never even thought this might effect my hands??? I woke up this morning hoping it would be gone... no such luck, even after a full night's rest they still feel like i have arthritis, and no my hips (S.I. joints)are popping out like crazy. i am about to take the 2nd dose, only b/c my ears nose and throat do feel much better. I am just glad I picked up paperwork/and can afford to take a few days of LOA if this gets any worse. It is hard for me just to type this now : (. I'm scared.

Has anyone had the experience of previously taking Levaquin without side effects, then when taking it again, developed severe headaches, joint aches, muscle pain and weakness, etc? I am currently going through this. I've taken Levaquin before probably 2 or 3 times due to upper respiratory problems and not noticed any side effect but this time, I've taken 5 days worth, 3 in hospital 2 as outpatient dose and can hardly move. I had the same experience in 2004 with zithromax. Had taken it without side effects, then suddenly when taking it again developed such bad chest pain, I thought as did my doctor, that I was having heart attack and spent a week in hospital before figuring that one out.

I am an 80 year old male----quite good health except for having right hip replacement since 1988 industrial accident---several months ago, my orthopedic surgeon told me the severe pain; again in right hip, required surgery to correct. I had that surgery about 3 weeks ago and it went well--had usual pain, muscle cramps, but nothing alarming---I also had a left knee implant 4 years ago, so I know what to expect. I was discharged from hospital after 3 days and seemed OK-----however, I developed a mild infection the the drainage area of the surgery, my Orthopedic surgeon said not to take any chances and prescribed 500 milligrams of LEVAQUIN---one tablet each day fro 30 days!!!!~the very first day I took Levaquin, I was very stiff and sore in muscles, arms, legs and the worst insomnia I have ever experienced---I took a SECOND pill next day because I trust my doctor-----I immediately began having HORRIBLE NIGHTMARES, anxiety and absolutely unable to sleep longer than an hour at a time.----I feel like some of the descriptions that people said about LSD---I thank God I had sense to stop drug and am cleansing my system---I pray I am more successful in clearing this poison that some others I have read about-------BAN LEVAQUIUN it is a deadly, multifaceted poison that damages, muscles, eyes, joints ------THE WHOLE BODY!!!!! B.

I really don't know what to do, I hurt so bad every single day I could cry. I was given Levaquin in March 2008 when I had pneumonia. I took it for 10 days and I hurt so bad still was very sick so I was put on it for another 10 days, so I took the Levaquin for a total of 20 days. I thought all this sickness was from the pneumonia. I had trouble getting out of bed, I could not even bend my knees, my feet, knees, elbows, and fingers were swelled up and I was getting all kinds of cracking in all my joints, headaches, stomach pains, all kinds of muscle pains. When I went back to work, I was telling a girl at work how I hurt and she asked me what kind of antibiotic I was taking, I told her and she said they had it on the world news . I said why is it still on the market. I seen 3 doctors about this and they think I'm nuts! They sent me for all kinds of xrays for all different parts of my body, what is that going to show! Its been a year and I still ache, I keep swelling up, joint and muscle pains, cracking, stomach troubles, problems sleeping, its terrible. I take pain medication for my back, I have 2 herniated discs, and I have to take more pain meds for all these other pains, this is not going to work. I even went to see a rheumatologists and he said I don't have arthritis. So Levaquin done a number on me. If anyone can help, or know what to do let me know!

ok well update all my blood work is normal wow im healthy, too bad i feel like crap 3weeks after taking levaquin i couldn't walk for 7 days with pain , in hips, joints , and back . i have a cool burning in my legs. i will think twice before i take a prescribe medicine. im trying the natural way taking hot salt baths , drinking lots of water, eating lots of veggies, olive oil my multi vitimin made me sick . but i will try again i read vitamin c and bs and magnesium will help . sitting in the sun for a little bit helps too . this has been and unreal experience, i hope no permanent damage has been done. best advice to give is keep moving , don't give up , do your own research to help your self . my doctor didn't have a clue, pray to the great physician

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 am a 52 year old women , except for a yearly resistant sinus infection I would describe myself as very healthy and have only minor aches and pains for my age. I was prescribed Levaquin by a walk- in physician after 2 months of a sinus infection. Within a week I felt 100 years old . I could barely get out of bed, the pain in all my joints was excruciating the first 5 minutes and didn't improve a lot during the day . I didn't think my legs would hold me upon rising from any position. After one week of finishing the drug I started to feel better.......it has been two weeks now.... I'm still sore and weak , especially noted in hands and legs .

I agree this is the pill from hell, I took one 500 mg. within 10 minutes,my heart was pounding and broke out in weps and a rash. Called pharmacist, was told to go to the er. or take benadryl. only took one pill. the next morning woke up shaky, went to work 2 hours later was itching was anxious, face and lips were numb. that night started having anxiety, hard to breathe, dizzy , back of head numb and tingling, thought i was going to pass out.. ended up in ambulance to hospital. er doctors said it was an anxiety attack. 3 days later, anxious, fearful, dizzy, and numbness in face and back of head. still have 2 sores on right arm, joints also hurt , words were slurred all this from 1 pill that was supposed to help me. i would advise everyone not to take this pill.

I started taking 500 mg of Levaquin on Friday. I have a sinus infection, bronchitis and was wheezing. I finished chemo a year ago and have long term effects from it including joint pain. I was improving by working with a trainer, doing basic pilates, etc... My joints are awful and it's not the same pain. My knees hurt all the time, I can't stand for any length of time. My hands, shoulders and hips hurt. My doctor was out today, but the nurse told me to stop taking it and I see her tomorrow.

This is so upsetting, I read the insert from the pharmacy and it mentioned joint pain, so I know it's where the pain is coming from. It took me so long to get to where I am and now this. I am still sick with the sinus infection and bronchitis.

I will post tomorrow after I see my doctor.

N.

I have taken Levaquin for five days for a sinus infection. Day three I started getting muscle soreness. Day four I was so sore I started looking up possible sudden pain. Today I am so sore I can hardly walk and my joints are very painful in my feet,hands and shoulders. I started thinking about what was different and realized the only thing that had changed was that I was taking an antibiotic that I have never taken before. Wow, I am so glad I looked this up. The symptoms that you all are reporting are exactly what I am experiencing! I will never take it again. Hopefully the symptoms will resolve quickly.

I was diagnosed with Diverticulitis and put on the usual regime of Levaquin (500mg a day) and Flagel. The case turned worse and was admitted to the hospital (they thought I had a blockage but turned out did not) and was put on IV of the same medication. Released from the hospital 4 days later and stayed on the Levaquin as prescribed. When I ran out, I called my regular doctor who sent in the renewal prescription. However the his aide made an error and the bottle read 500mg 4 times a day…nobody including the pharmacy caught it. So for 3 days I was taking 2000mg a day of Levaquin. When I started getting worse (truly thought I was dying), I got to the doctor and he said I had taken turn for the worse and could not figure out why. He asked if I was taking the meds and I said yes 4 times a day…his face when white. I had the bottle with me and he panicked. They apologized for the error and I was told to stay off my feet, no heels, they ran ekg’s that day and the following Monday, blood work to check the kidneys etc.

Subsequently, I have had extreme pain in my joints and muscles – everyday, all day. Some days I just cry it hurts so bad. If I bend down I can hardly get back up because of my right knee. I have talked with a doctor I happened to run into about this and she said that Levaquin dosage has saturated my body and gotten into the joint and muscles and takes a long time to work it out. I can hardly lift my arms above my shoulder without severe pain. Stabbing pains in my knees, shoulders, arms and hands.

I have not gone back to the doctor because when I mentioned the pain the when I was in that last time…he just wanted to give me more meds! I have been seeing a massage therapist who specializes in deep tissue restoration and repair. It helps some, but he as well says this is going to take a lot to time to work out.

I have depression to the point of feeling like I am a nothing and what good am I to anyone feeling like this. So like snoop45...that is exactly what i feel like!

dawn62

J.

I was on Levaqin for a week (500 mg) for bronchitis. It seemed to work and I didn't notice any side effects and I am usually sensitive to antibiiotics (dizziness, etc..). However, the day after I finished my last dose I developed an itchy rash on my outer thighs, my back, my underarms and a few other random places. I also now have a yeast infection which I guess is a common side effect. The rash is what concerns me. At first I thought it wouldn't be related because it came on after I finished the antiobitcs but after reading some of these posts I see that you can get rash after taking the medication. Has anyone else had a rash AFTER taking Levaquin?

This is painful for me to type due to the pain in my hands & fingers. I had ankle surgery to fix a torn ligament and an ankle scope on Oct. 30, 2008. I was put on 500 mg of Levaquin to prevent infection. On Nov 4th, my entire body felt like it was beat up. I could barely get up off of the couch. I also developed severe pain and burning in my foot. I couldn’t support my weight on crutches due to pain in my arms & wrists. I took this dose for 10 days. On Nov 24th, I couldn’t take the pain anymore. I ended up being hospitalized for 10 days. I had severe swelling in my ankle and bruising up to & including my toes. The doc thought it was an infection so I was started on 2 types of IV antibiotics. Didn’t get any better. On Nov 26th, the doc tried to aspirate it and only dried blood came out. It was sent for a culture and came back negative. He asked me how my pain was and I told him the back of my ankle hurt really bad. He said “the MRI that was done on Nov 25th showed I developed tendinitis in the Achilles tendon. I asked him how that happened since I haven’t walked on that foot since my injury date of August 23rd. He said he wasn’t sure. I had 2 previous MRIs (Sept & Oct) which did not show tendinitis at all! On Dec. 1st I went back to the operating room so the doctor could cut open the golf ball size hematoma on the outside of my ankle. He got a lot of jelly-like blood from the back part of my ankle. He left the drain in overnight and then removed it. I was released on Dec 3rd with a script for 750 mg of Levaquin for 7 days (which I finished yesterday). The swelling is down about 25% and I have been out of the hospital for 8 days now. The pain in my body was so horrible today that I went to my family doctor. She did a thorough exam of my joints-which was complete agony!!!! She explained that she was going to run some tests to see what is wrong. She explained to me that she thinks this is a reaction to the Levaquin & she has had patients who have had ruptured tendons from this medication. She sent me for bloodwork and gave me a script for morphine (Avinza) to control the pain, which 750 mg of ES Vicodin and 800 mg of Ibuprofen didn’t make it any better. I feel helpless as my 9 year old has to do everything for me because I simply cannot get up. I hope my doctor figures this out real soon! This is unreal to have to suffer like this. I will keep everyone on this page in my prayers! Good Luck to everyone!

I was prescribed a 21 day dose of Levaquin for a case of severe sinusitis. After Day 1 on Levaquin I had severe back, joint and muscle pains. At first I thought I was coming down with the flu. However the flu never appeared.

After about 5 to 6 days the pain became less severe, however my hips, back and legs continued to hurt. During the nights of doses 15 and 16 I woke to splitting headaches and a burning sensation on the left side of my stomach. After reading others' side effects and the commonality with my side effects I quit taking Levaquin after 16 days.

During the 16 days I was taking Levaquin I was extremely irritable and mildly depressed. At night time I would wake up 3 or 4 times and try to get back to sleep. I have never had insomnia problems in my life until taking Levaquin. My joints and body ached the entire time on Levaquin.

The drug was brutal on my body. I will never take it again. I will seek an alternative antibiotic. I have been off Levaquin for 4 days. Sleeping is going much better, however the muscles in my legs and back still hurt.

I was prescribed Levaquin yesterday for a severe bronchial infection. I woke up at 3:30am this morning, and my arms were numb from the shoulders to my fingertips. My hands were tingling as if they were "asleep," and my thumbs were drawing inward toward my hand. I could not lift ANYTHING. Also, the joints in my elbows were extremely stiff. I immediately woke my husband up, and we started searching for Levaquin on the internet. I AM SO THANKFUL FOR THE POSTINGS I FOUND ON THIS WEBSITE. I am scared to know what might have happened if I had continued the use of this drug. My fingers, wrists, shoulders, and elbows are so sore right now. I just hope there is no permanent damage to my body.

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.

Im sad to find out all the problems people are having from levaquin. But now Im able to put 2 and 2 together because Im realizing whats been compromising my health. This is my second year with bronchitis and my second prescription of levaquin. I now believe its what has caused me horrible nightmares, suicidal thoughts, irritation, mental anguish, stress tendon/muscle pain in my arms and shoulders. I bent over to pick up my dog to help him into the car and I got a terrible pain in my chest. I thought I was dying. And I still have a rattle in my lungs after 2 weeks of levaquin so it has not helped at all. If anything it has caused me more problems that has opened the door for additional medications of unknown origin. I wish I could find a real witch doctor.

I just finished a 10-day prescription of 500mg per day for a sinus infection. I have had accelerated heart rate, pain in my joints, and have been very irritable. After the last dose, I broke out in hives all over my body and had to run to the store at 2am to grab some benadryl to counteract the effects. I can't believe that my doctor would prescribe me something like this with the huge number of comments I have read online in the past 24 hours

I have just finished Levaquin 500m once a day for 10 days for a horrible sinus infection that would not go away with Zithromax. I am about to finish my Dexpak(dexamethasone) tapered dose in 4 days. I have taken Levaquin and dexamethasone before with no problems. This time I have insomnia and the worst joint pain. I am 33 years old and 135 pounds I feel like an inactive obese 70 year old. I can't sleep right now because my joints are killing me. It is even hard to sit on the toilet and get off the toilet. I find my food sits in my chest. I have started taking Probiotics and I put a heating pad on my chest which feels like a board after I eat. I am glad I am finished the medication and only hope I start feeling better. Good luck everyone.

I am 23 years old and I was prescribed Levaquin 500mg for three days to treat a urinary track infection. Immediately after I drank the first dose my nose got very stuffy and it was hard for me to breath; my head felt heavy and body as well, I was afraid to go to bed. Then, I started to feel my joints a bit weak and my right knee ached. Today, a month after I drank this pill my right knee still aches and feels weak. I am so afraid I might have done damage to my body for just three days of drinking this drug. If my doctor would have told me this I would have NEVER drank it. Plus, after my treatment I still had the UTI.

To the best of my knowledge I never had any of the 'immediate' symptoms.
My problems are probably due to the fact that I was prescribed Cipro 3 possibly 4 times from Aug 06 - Dec 07 and then finished up Dec 07 with a round of Levaquin. My father is over 60 and was recently given Levaquin and had immediate and serious problems. He is seeing a doctor recommended by the CDC today. Yes, he is even working with the CDC on
this one. Due to all he is being told he is convinced that the medication is behind my medical decline as well. Since taking these medications (symptoms started slowly in 07), but after taking the Levaquin at Christmas time I never got up from the couch. My thyroid gland has quit working, my adrenals are shot, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, blew out 3 disks in my back, vision is deteriorating rapidly, and really so many things I can't list them all. I had a complete physical
in Oct 05 and was given a perfect bill of health. Through Aug 06 I was riding my bicycle 33 miles per week. I'm still trying to figure out what hit me??
What my father has been told is that in some individuals Levaquin will attack the glands (like the thyroid) and will compromise the immune system. This damage appears to be permanent. All I know is that I went from being extremely healthy to terribly sick. If in a day's time I have enough energy to load and unload the dishwasher it is a banner day. I can
not work and seem to get worse instead of better as each day passes.

My husband also had pneumonia at Christmas and took Levaquin but does not seem to have had an problems. I suspect it was possibly the cumulative effect of having basically 4-5 rounds of the antibiotic in a years time. According to the people at the CDC that have spoken to my father the symptoms that I have can all be traced back to the medication. One never knows what effect a medication will have. Just please be careful when taking this medication, and limit how many times you take it.

I am an active, 35-yr old male, who is fighting some kind of infection for three weeks, finally went to doctor, who prescribed Levaquin to knock out bacterial infection. Took one pill yesterday at 8:30 a.m. Did not have immediate reactions, but began to develop sore throat throughout the day. Basically crashed last night at about 9 p.m. Exhausted, went to bed, where I had "tired" joints (hard to qualify this, not pain per se, but achiness), numbness on left side of body, tingling, bizarre dreams, but basically so TIRED. Feel better this a.m. (still have the sore throat, residual numbness and joint ache) but I am NOT taking the Levaquin again - after reading these posts, hopefully one pill will not cause me any long term damage.

I took levaquin for 2 weeks to treat a infection, i am 26 years old and have never had muscle pain for longer than a couple days after working out...now i have moderate pain in my rib area and muscles near the groin area and even upper leg, and have done hardly any physical activity while being treated...i have seen no improvement for a few weeks now, but think my infection is gone... going back to my doctor tomorrow...need help

Update on my post of Aug. 11th. I did see a neurologist who was a bit skeptical, but after looking it up did acknowledge that this drug can cause tendon ruptures, etc. Later that week he did a nerve conduction study, both the one with the needles and the one where they shock the muscles. He was happy to report that I did not have any "nerve" damage. I had already told him that I did not think I had neuropathy as the numbness had gone away and was just replaced by the constant pain in my joints, etc. I then went to see my rheumatologist who was also just as skeptical that the drug could be causing all the pain I was describing. She said she had had three patients with tendon ruptures, but nothing else. I really don't care what she believes, and I told her so. I know what happened and what horrible pain I have been in ever since. I hate to report that the pain in my feet, knees, hands, hips, back and now my neck are not any better. My insomnia is some better, but I am taking more Lyrica. I tried a different antibiotic yesterday for the sinus infection called Clindamycin. OMG! I took one pill and within a few minutes had unbelievable heartburn. That lasted for 12 hours, along with reflux, burping, weird stomach noises. Now, I can't take that. Doctor called in a prescription for Augmentin this morning. Afraid to try anything now, but guess I will give it a shot. Is anyone getting any better from their joint or muscle pain? Some encourgement would be good. Thanks.

Im only 16 years old and ive been on levaquin for about 3 days now. My doctor told me off the bat that the only thing wrong with the drug were some "theories" on cartilidge damage, how ever, now i see for myself, and for many other people that is not the only side effect. He told me that no one under 18 is supposed to have it but i caught a severe case of sinutitus, and a uti which ive had for 2 months and nothing was working, so he put me on levaquin, once a day for 7 days. Ive now been having the following symptoms and im extremely scared!!
1. Constant fatigue
2. Extreme Migraines
3. Nausea, vomiting
4. Rapid heart beat (and chest pain)
5. Stiffness in joints and horrible pain...
6. Constant anxiousness, to where i cant get to sleep
7. Dizziness

Is there anyone i can talk to who's had these same problems? please email me or something im scared and i don't know what to do my mother doesn't believe me and she says its just a head cold....

******

Please help me!!

My wife is experiencing severe muscle pain in the back and rib area after taking this drug. Has anyone gotten better after they stopped taking the medication or is everyone still suffering?

I have had progressive muscle weakness, pain in my joints with swelling of the knees, ankles and hips. My doctor said it is not related to the antibiotic and to continue taking it. The symptoms are so disabling I can barely make it to the bathroom alone and I have had to miss work. I also told him the inside of my throat felt swollen, and my tongue is turning white. It just isn't a pleasant drug to be on.

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.

I was prescribed Levaquin in Feb./March for 30 days. I have had tremendous pain in my heels since then. I am walking slower as every joint and muscle in my body hurts. I can barely stoop down and it is getting worse. I can not sleep. I thought I was just going through some depression and stress until I started reading about it in the WSJ and now realize I fit many of the symptoms being discussed.
We all need to take some action as this is only going to get worse for everyone.
FDA?????????????????

I took Levaquin for five days, beginning on June 5th. My doctor gave them to me in the individual "blister packs", not in the box or with any pamphlet. I had/have horrible joint pain in my ankles, knees, and hips. The pain in my hands and wrists is almost gone, but the rest is still there and, in some areas, getting worse. I called the doc. and told them about my problem, they said all the side effects should go away after about 72 hours from the last dose. Has not happened, its been over a month and my left ankle and hip are worse. Does anyone have any advice? I'm ******

Question for you all. I have been on levaquin for 6 days 750 mg. For the last 3 to 4 days my hands have been killing me and it is getting worse, my knees, and shoulders hurt now. After reading your remarks I am calling doc first thing in the morning. Please let me know if you have any advice for me.

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.

Took levaquin,500mg,for 10 days to combat infection in my left toe. Infection stopped,however pain in both calves is severe. Started on left leg then also rt. leg. Been off the med for 3 days. Seems to be better in am but gets awful as the day wears on. When will it stop? Is there long trm damage?

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.

I was taking it for two days. I was trying to change the channel, but I couldn't. I looked down and screamed because my hands were literally coming at me. They were crippling inward and so were my feet. My abdomen became severely painful. I couldn't stop vomiting and started vomiting bile. I was rushed to the hospital, they placed me in the 'security' emergency private room and strapped me down because they said I was out of my head. My whole body was yellow (jaundice). The doctor told me while the nurses tried to stick ivs in me that my digestive system has failed and your liver is failing. He told the nurse to stand by my bed period to keep me awake. I remember him shaking my face telling me 'johanna you have to stay awake, if you don't, you are not waking up. you have to stay away.' I was released later on. I had to eat liquid foods for two weeks, then baby foods for two more, then I slowly had to eat mushy to solid foods. The doctor said I had to reintroduce my body just like a baby due to the failure. That was my experience and if that nurse didn't keep me awake I would not be here right now.

I am a 49 year old male and took a 14 day course of Cipro for a UTI. By day four the souls of my feet were very sore, especially first thing in the morning but no other side effects. Mentioned sore feet to Dr after 7 days of Cipro but he did not believe it was from Cipro and had me complete the course. After 14 day course of Cipro feet were now so painful that I could barely walk on them especially after resting or getting out of bed. Also burning sensation on skin of feet and hands and some minor tremor. Saw a specialist and he immediately confirmed Cipro as the culprit and advised never to take that drug family again. Have since done the whole web search thing and discovered the whole saga of these drugs. Other symptoms have also appeared, some pain in middle of back, sharp pain in middle of back of both knees, hot and cold flushes, pain in left bicep, fingers that are very susceptible to joint injury and feelings of weakness and anxiety. Has been over three weeks now since I stopped Cipro and condition shows no improvement, may even be slightly worse. About to try a shotgun approach with treatment as there appears little documented evidence of anything conclusive on line. Starting course of anti-inflams (Voltaren) and these have already reduced the pain in my feet. Also magnesium and calcium supplements (theory goes that it may mop up any remaining Cipro and there is plenty of reports from sufferers saying that symptoms continue to appear for some months after stopping Cipro), Vitamin B6 (can apparently help with some types of nerve pain and tingling) and Fish Oil (omega 3's can help reduce inflammation). Not very scientific I know and can't be sure that all these are compatible with each other but am a bit desperate at this stage. Bracing myself for a three to six month recovery (just based on experience of many others). At this stage I am just hoping that damage is not irreversible as this appears to be a real risk. As everyone here will agree it is amazing how this situation is being allowed to continue. I could have stopped my Cipro on day two or three if I had been made fully aware of the risks and what to look out for. I am no expert by any means on this but from what I can gather Cipro and its relatives do nerve damage by the very way they work. It appears that anyone taking these drugs will inflict some nerve damage but for many it will not manifest to a degree that is a problem or at least a noticeable problem. So in some ways we are all sufferers, just to varying degrees. Another point mentioned often is that the symptoms may not appear for some months after the Cipro is stopped and therefore is not always associated with the drug. Also some say there is an accumulative affect with using the drug a second or third time. Symptoms may appear only after multiple use or symptoms may get much worse and more likely irreversible with multiple use. It's all scary reading. At this stage I am just hoping I can make a full recovery. Do damaged nerves repair themselves, does the Cipro eventually leech out of our systems .... I don't know. I will post in this forum again in a few months or sooner if I make a recovery.

Symptoms: joint pain, blisters on tongue, low blood pressure, dizziness, loss of vision. I started Levaquin 750 mg orally 11 days ago for diverticulitis, along with Flagyl. I had taken Levaquin in the past for this same condition without any side effects. I am also on Benicar 25 mg for high blood pressure. This time after spending $106 dollars AFTER insurance, I started having problems with dizziness where I would lose my vision for a few seconds every time I stood up from a sitting position, or sat up from laying down. My arms and legs felt very heavy and I was exhausted and felt like I could hardly walk. Since I had taken this drug before without complications, it didn't occur to me that this might be a side effect of the Levaquin. My doctor recommended I stop taking the Flagyl, which I did. Nothing improved. After several days of this I finally went to an after hours clinic and found that my blood pressure was 90/50. The nurse told me to stop taking my blood pressure med for a few days, that maybe there was a reaction. (She stated she had never heard of blood pressure being affected by an antibiotic). I stopped taking my blood pressure medication and it came up to normal within about 36 hours. Approximately 4 days ago my tongue broke out with little blisters all over, top and bottom and my lips are cracking. Yesterday my joints started aching and I feel like I'm 75 every time I take a step. (I'm 46) I took my last Levaquin yesterday and I still have the blisters and the joint pain is worse. This morning my blood pressure was back to my normal "mild high" range of about 130/83. I took my blood pressure med and it came back down to what is normal for me, 122/77. I haven't done anything different (meds, food, products, etc.) that should be causing these blisters, and I don't feel sick other than the joint pain, so I'm assuming these are side effects related to the Levaquin. I'm hoping they will clear up now that I'm done with the medication. I find it interesting that I spoke with two different pharmacists and two different physicians and none of them indicated there might be contra-indications with Levaquin and my blood pressure med. The good news is that the diverticulitis seems to be gone!

I had a viral infection and was put on Levaquin 750 mg. After being on it for 5 days my joints began to hurt. I didn't think the medicine caused it and I continued to take it. Until the 7th day I began to research and found this web site. I quit taking it. I was unable to stoop down and it hurt really bad to walk up or down stairs. Regular walking was some painful. I also had some pain in my wrist. I've been off the medicine for 6 or 7 weeks and I'm still having bad joint pain in my knees. I'm unable to perform normal activities. I'm not saying Levaquin caused it; but it's just that when this started was while on it. If anyone knows how long this might last or if it causes permanent damage, please let me know! I will be going to a specialist in 1 week to get this checked.

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.

Absolutely the worst antibiotic on the planet. I am a healthy 35 year old male who was given levaquin to combat a sinus infection. After 3 pills, I had a reactions which included red rashes forming all over my body. Very, very dry mouth, joints started to hurt. I immediately stopped the levaquin and let my body fight it naturally. As you know you are never suppose to stop antibiotics mid way as the infection will only come back stronger which it did....but I just bared through it, drank lots of water, and 7 days later I feel better. The red rash has mostly gone, but left me with very dry peeling skin, like I had sun damage. My face was so dry even after repeated moisturizing it, i could feel the dry skin just flaking off. Amazing how this drug is allowed to stay on the market. Please do not take this antibiotic

Was given iv levaquin in hospital for pneumonia (sat night). Oral the next day. The following day (monday) all the joints in my body started to ache. Hard to move. Especially ankle. Dr said stop antibiotic. Ankle and joints sore all week. Friday I had a huge pop in my ankle. Large bruise and swelling. Turned out to be a second degree sprain with ruptured blood vessel. Caused by levoguin. It has been 13 days since the pop, ankle still popping, swelling will not go down. Does anyone know how long this drug lasts in your body?

Well after all the hype of the negative side effects of levaquin I did the 7 days and tho I felt like crap mainly due to the flu I think I seem to be fine a week after stopping. The side effects I did experience were wrenched stomach. This could of been a flu symptom or maybe a side effect of the antibiotic. Knowing that antibiotics can cause pretty much most of the symptoms that people here complain of and having experienced ten years of allergies due to antibiotics from 93 to 03 and curing myself thru education on the subject I knew before hand that taking any antibiotic is a gamble. I think the reason most people have bad experiences is due to an already compromised out of balance system. Candidiasis is a controversial subject that a lot of doctors do not believe in but recently it has made a lot of headlines both on tv and in the holistic field. So knowing I did not want another ten years of hell I bought good flora, probiotics from a health food store. I have been taking about 5 a day with meals. So far i have no side effects. I feel good. I will take probiotics for a month or so to make sure I get enough good flora back into my system. Anyone taking an antibiotic needs to know that it will kill most all benificial bacteria but does not kill candida so without the good flora which keeps candida in check candida can grow and leak into your blood stream and attack any part of the body. I personally do not agree that antibiotics should be used in a lot of situations but sometimes you have no choice. If one does not have the knowledge to use them responsibly I do believe your life can be altered dramatically. Its easy to blame the pill which in most cases you are correct in your assumption but its also your own fault and the doctors to of not educated yourself beforehand.