Levaquin and leg cramps

I was just prescribed Levaquin (500 mg.) for bronchitis. I received a 10 day supply. The second night, I had trouble sleeping and felt quite anxious. By the 4th night I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack and had trouble swallowing. I called my doctor who blamed the bronchitis and gave me an additional prescription for an inhaler. That evening I slept a total of perhaps 20 minutes. My heart was racing and I felt as if I were choking. Another call to my doctor was placed. She advised I stop using the inhaler. I was becoming increasingly anxious, paranoid and began to have leg cramps. I haven't slept for more than a few minutes at a time for 3 days and the feeling of choking was so bad I had to go to the emergency room. They found it is from the Levaquin. I have never felt so desperate, paranoid, anxious, and horrid in my life. I actually had serious thoughts of ending my life to get away from this feeling. Even though I have been off it for two days, I am still feeling the effects, especially at night and was told I may feel effects for a week.

I was just prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection/bronchitis. I am a healthy 36 year old who is not currently taking any medications. I got the Leva-pac, 5 days, 750 mg. each. The first night I slept fitfully, but was still feeling the infection, so blamed it on that. The second night, however, was HORRIBLE. Although my sinus symptoms were markedly better, I literally thought I was going to have a heart attack during the night. I had severe insomnia...only slept 20 minutes total from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and in those 20 minutes I had a horrible nightmare/panic attack, jaring me awake with clenched teeth, profuse sweating and feeling as though I was choking. I was overly anxious, paranoid and had severe leg cramps. My heart was racing and I would alternate between being overly hot and then overly cold in a matter of minutes. It was an experience I never want to have again. My husband insisted I stop the antibiotic even though that is what you should never do with an antibiotic. Even though I have been off two days now, I am still feeling some of the effects, especially at night.

Started Levaquin yesterday for Bronchitis. Today I started with episodes of Tachycardia, Tightness in the chest, and numbness and tingling in the hands,feet and face. I am a nurse and trust me I will make sure none of my patients leave the office I work at with a script for this class of medication. 1 DOSE WAS PLENTY FOR ME I'M THROWING OUT THE OTHER 9 PILLS ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Was prescribed Levaquin during the flu for the "possibility" of an infection. Developed severe leg cramps and swelling. Insomnia, have slept a total of about 3 hours in 3 nights. Episodes of depression, crying and anxiety with racing heart. If this was the only drug available to save myself from a severe sinus infection, or even death, I would chose the infection! Stay away from this antibiotic, it's unbelievable this drug is legal and even more so that doctors actually prescribe it to people. I guarantee they wouldn't take it themselves or give it to loved ones.

I went to the doctor on October 9th, 2007, with a sinus infection, that had jumped into my eyes, throat, teeth and ears. I was prescriber Levaquin for 10 days, 750 MG. I took 6 of the pills before I realized that the medication was my problem.

From the beginning I could not sleep, which is totally unusual for me. The minute I would lay down my skin would begin to feel itchy and I became very anxious. I had to miss several days work as I was told that my illness was highly contagious and the side effects had already begin setting in. I had blurred vision, heartburn, severe stomach cramps, knee and leg cramps including severe pain when walking or trying to stand up. I felt as though I had been run over by a SEMI-TRUCK. I would feel a little "out of it" if I had telephone conversations with anyone. I finally realized that it was either the medication or I really had a bad medical problem. I called the pharmacist who told me to contact my doctor immediately. When speaking with my doctor, I was told to discontinue the medication immediately, but unfortunately I had already taken the dosage for that day. I was told that I had enough of it in my system to last another day or two.

My legs and knees are giving me so much pain, that it is unbearable to walk or attempt to stand. I am still having abdominal cramps and my vision is also continuing to give me problems.

Heaven only knows why I decided to look on the web to see if anyone else had encountered problems, but at least at this point I know I am not going crazy.

It is quite frightening to think that the side effects on this medication could be long term. My advice to anyone given this medication by your doctor...tell him "NO WAY!"

I am a 27 y/o male in good physical condition (i did a triathlon 2 months ago) I was prescribed levaquin 750mg a week ago for an throat infection and fever. After the first dose I had sever abdominal pain (like someone was stabbing me). After the 3rd dose my back started to hurting and my calf's cramped up. I stopped the medication immediately. It has been 5 days since I stopped the medication and I have a burning sensation on my back. It is on both sides and stretches around toward my stomach. It feels like I have bad sunburn but there is no redness, swelling or discoloration. I also still have fever and muscle spasms all over my body (mostly in my legs). I went to my doctor yesterday and he is running a bunch of blood testes and I hope he can find a way to treat the symptoms. Does anyone know how long this should last? I just want it to go away so I can get on with my life. Any help or suggestions are appreciated.

I have been taking levaquin for 4 days, after not having any sleep, severe hot/cold feelings, almost like being rubbed down with Icy Hot, shivering but sweating, leg cramps, metallic taste in mouth. Went to the Dr. and was told I was healing fine, (had 5 treatments to bust up a kidney stone with a stent inserted) and that he was at a loss for why I was feeling so bad. He made me feel aweful as though my sypmtoms were in my head. I am glad I found this forum, what a relief of mind!

I started Levaquin for a UTI. The night of the first pill I had such severe leg cramps and paid, I was up all night. I felt like my legs were on speed. They were throbbing and tingling. I am afraid to take another pill. I can't believe they are giving this antibiotic to women. After one day, what would happen with the entire treatment? something has to be done. I will jump on board with whatever has to progress to get this taken off the shelves.

I was given 750 mg of Levaquin for sinus/ear infections, along with a prescription cough syrup. The first night, I had difficulty sleeping, along with racing heartbeat. I thought it was from the codene in the cough syrup, so I left it off the second night, but continued with the Levaquin. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING CRAZY! I had racing thoughts, pounding heart, leg cramps, terrible acid reflux and nausea, but worse than that, was CONSTANT thoughts of someone close to me dying. It was the next morning that I read in the 'packaging information' that the side effects 'could cause' sleeplessness, leg pain, anxiety, depression, nausea, etc. I won't take it again.
D

To all my other sufferers of this hell, I too have been thru this agony. This started on March 12,following an pnuemonia attack. My dr. prescribed leavquin because he felt that it would attack the virus better.I took the 750mg dosage for 10 days & actually started felling normal again. I returned to work without any side affects,doing everything that I always had. But then,out of the blue and 13 days later, I started feeling bad. Me being a truck driver,I experienced the leg cramps,joint popping,light headedness,shortness of breath & fatigue. I thought I went back to work too early after the pnuemonia .The next day I had body aches all over but I had a family function to attend so I went with the pain. 3 hours into the evening I got up to go to the restroom & this is were my hell has started. Lack of breath,dizziness,unable to walk & 20min. later,severe chills. We left the party & arrived home with the chills and 102 temperature. I thought I would sweat this out but I was wrong! I wound up going to ER where my body was off the charts,elavated vitals,severe chills & muscle aches. ER setup an IV and a monitor. BP was 177/117,pulse 107,wcbc was 19,oxygen/blood ratio was92. I recieved 2 pushups of dilonted and that supressed the chills & fever. 9 hours later I was sent home with a 104 temp,messed up vitals and was told to follow up with my Dr. Saw him 2 days later,told him that i was weak,nauseous & had a bad sore throat. He gave me tagamet,have a echograph for my heart,blood work& sent me home. 5 hours passed,then he says he wanted to admit me to hosp.for "observation".
The next morning I awoke in a sweat, my throat had completly closed and my sinuses had open causing me to gag on mucus. I was so bad that i could not swallow water,even small sips and my abdominal muscles were sore from from coughing. Needless to say,in brief,I have been tested for lupus, viral infection for sinus,lung,stomach,uti & prostate(complete with biopsy testing) and full xrays of legs & spine. My veins are collasped from all the blood draws(9)-"37 vials & counting", guess what...SO FAR EVERYTHING IS NEGATIVE!!! So it has been 7 weeks,instead of doing normal activities like walking the dog,yard work,sports,etc, I am walking with a cane,have shortness of breath,extreme cramping of my calf muscles,popping joints & lots of fatigue. Next set of tests are neuromuscular & to check for the "parvovirus"(I'm not a DOG!) but now the doc seems it is related to my dog of 12 years that stays at home & never leaves the yard. The dr & his collegues still wont admit that this is the "horrific side effects attributed to Levaquin", but we all know better,may we all strive to get well!

Im a 39 year old male in good health, diagonosed 2 days ago with Epydidimitus of my right testicle, possibly bacterial. My GP prescribed a 4 day dosage of Levaquin after giving me 3 sample 500mg tablets, told me to keep out of the sun and to call him if there were any reactions like a rash/sunburn. When I enquired as to whether I could continue my daily 2 mile bike rides, he suggested I not and I concluded it was due to the Epydidimitus. There was no insert in the sample packs, I filled the prescripton and would pick it up later that day.
However, at work I proceeded to do an Google search on Levaquin at Ortho-McNeil and was alarmed at what I read. I found this site and concluded that I didn't want to take fluroquionones for my illness and now understood why bike riding wasn't a good idea (possibility of Tendon Ruptures!!!).
I called my GP's office, spoke with the nurse and requested an alternate antibiotic. I was told the GP would be get back to me. The next morning his nurse called and instructed me to either take the Levaquin or see the in-plan urologist. An co-worker told me he'd requested not to receive Levaquin for a UTI, as it gave him leg cramps after he'd stopped taking it. I called a drug-rep friend of mine, inquired about Levaquin, was told it was being given out "like candy", most widely prescribed AB, safe, he's taken it, etc. But he'd also seen side effects and was surprised my GP wouldn't prescribe an alternative. He put me in touch with a PA at my urologists office, who called me back within an hour. The PA agreed that it was reasonable to prescribe something less powerful, as fluoroquinones are usually 2nd or 3rd line drugs. He agreed to see me the same day. I then called my GP's office to request that he get on the phone for 5 minutes at his convenience to discuss an alternative drug, but only received a call back from the head nurse who would relay the message!?? The PA did an exam, explained that quionones are often prescribed at his office after a patient hasn't responed to other antibiotics prescribed by a GP. His prognosis was the same as my GP, however he also suggested I get an ultrasound in addition, just to be sure.
End result, I was prescribed Doxycycline 100mg/2xDay for 14 days and will follow up in 3 weeks.

DON'T GIVE IN WITHOUT A FIGHT! If these drugs are unsafe, and there is even a 1% chance of major complications (Levaquin 46% of all patients reported adverse effects of some sort), why take them unless absolutely necessary! This is a family of drugs, that while being very powerful, was originally approved as a 2nd or 3rd line of defence, when other AB's didn't work. GP's may be prescribing them as wide-spectrum cure-alls without knowing the frequency of adverse side-effects. They already work 10+ hour days, why would they hop online to investigate negative effects reported to non-profit watchdog sites? We're not doctors, so what do we know...right? WRONG! Do your homework, ask questions, be considerate but firm. You have the right to ask for alternative treatments so long as you are informed. God Bless, best wishes.

I began taking Levaquin, 500 mg @ 1-per-day as an substitute dosage over Amoxicillin after a follow-up visit to my personal physician. I was given the Amoxicillin as part of a regime after a visit to the emergency room the Sunday before with a swollen face due to an outer ear infection--the attending called it: "Swimmer's Ear gone Wild."

He prescribed Levaquin, to knock out one ear infection I had contracted the week before (which wasn't healing fast enough) as well as a new infection (middle ear) which began to bother me on Thursday.

I am an avid cyclist and felt good and fit enough to participate in a 100 mile bike ride on Sunday. 62 miles into that ride I had to retire due to extreme leg cramps (both legs) of which I had not experienced in my 25+ years of cycling.

In fact, it's Tuesday, I'm back at work and the legs are still sore.

I know some of you will say I should not have gone riding, but I am physically fit and always ride with a heart monitor to keep my pulse in the proper range.

Other side-effects include bouts of anxiety, followed by depression, insommnia, and diarrhea.

I will continue to take the meds, but will refrain from riding (except for shorter distances.) until the infection subsides.

Thanks