Levaquin and marsh

Not sure if you got this last announcement so want you all to know we DID IT!!!!! They are posting warnings now all over the place. Good work guys!!!We should all take a bow!!!!! Marsh

I took Leva-kill last November, 500mg for 10days due to a resistant ear infection. On the 3rd day, my back felt like it was on fire. Went to ER, did one blood test for muscle deterioration, came back fine.Told to keep taking. I thought I was going to die. I felt and still feel like I was poisoned. Seems to be permanent. Some days worse than others. Check out FQVICTIMS.ORG.Any doctors and dentist I have seen says not Levaquin {about ten]. One ENT said "I bet" when told levaquin made me feel like dying, but that was it. Has anyone heard of any hope? Is this really permanent?

I work in a health care system and we have used levaquin for this last cough, cold and flu season. It has worked wonders for the various upper respiratory infections.

No one has developed rashes, boils, or bone/muscle pain. After reading the first response, her abnormal reaction sounds more like a bad case of shingles.

Then, I read the last post where the person drank two glasses of whine to help with the blah blah blah. Mixing alcohol with any type of medication will not help with Your sypmtoms were a "full fledged panic attack" as you stated from the beginning.

Nothing but idiots posting here!

I have a freind who had a bladder nfection, not the first of course. She is 80 years young, very active etc. I told her about my problems with Levaquin and told her NOT to take the Cipro they gave her, because every time she does she has "trouble with her knees and back" mysteriously!!!! Well, she took it anyway and ended up in the hospital with heart paplitations ,irregular heartbeat etc. Guess what they put her on to stop any further infection, you guessed it, Levaquin!!! Shes been home from the hospital now and in the house for over two weeks, has trouble walking now!!When will it end? Marsh

I have a friend who has recurrent bladder infections. I had told her a million times not to take Cipro because of the side effects. She is elderly and whenever she does take it she gets these other symptoms with her knees and back and is almost a cripple for quite a while. Well, she started it three days ago and is now home with a BAD BACK, etc. Why do the doctors prey on these older people and not tell them the consequences?I asked her about her infection,"Oh, thats gone" she says, but her back and kness are acting up!!!Shes been in the house for 2 weeks unable to move. What a cure!!!!Marsh

yes i took Levaquin 5 pack for sinus infection. after the last dose i noticed i had severe pain in my left leg and hip.. i couldnt understand what i had done to cause this pain. it has been 3 weeks now and the pain is so bad in my left leg and knee i about cry all the time.
i went to the er and had a x-ray and ultra sound done on my left leg and knee. they found nothing. doctor said it was likely arthritis.. i told him about the Levaquin. he just dismissed my concerns... i know it is from this medicine. I'm scared this pain will never go away..

I took Levaquin 500 mg for 10 days for pneumonia starting Jan 23, 2008. It got rid of the pneumonia but after about a week being on them I ached all over but especially in my biceps, moving was agony. My doctor said I must now have a virus but I've never had a virus that made my biceps so painful. Yesterday my left knee swelled up twice its size, today after being off it for 18 hours it is still just as big. Sleep is impossible, everything hurts and feel wired. I've been off the Levaquin for five days now and symptoms are still progressing. Was going for a battery of tests today, then last night my daughter who is an RN found this site and said there is your problem. Don't know what to do. Any suggestions?

I had bacterial pneumonia a few weeks ago they gave me Levaquin as well, After the hospital I notice some pain in my left arm. A week later I was unable to straighten my arm now the pain has moved up to my neck and back and is slowly reaching my right shoulder. It seems that though you ask doctors question you never get answers and yes its true about this pain I have been in agony for almost a month now and can not find any type of relief. I was treated with a 7 day regimen of medication and I don't know what is worst the pneumonia or the pain. If there is any where to find relief as a natural source please post it

Thank you

I don't know what to do, I have been on Levaquin (750 mg) for approx. 8 days now, I have 6 more days to go. I was prescibed this drug due to being diagonosed with MRSA. However the infection has gone away, I began to have extreme pain in my both knees. Sleeping has been difficult as well waking up with night sweats. I will bare the pain for the 6 remaining days. But if the pain tends to get worse, I will need to consult my physician

I can not believe I found this web-site. I honestly felt like I was going crazy and that this was in my head. I was prescribed Levaquin for a sore on my finger to fight infection. I was taking 750mg every morning, once a day. The morning of the 8th day, I woke up and felt like I had been ran over by a truck. I felt foolish telling my family even the "back of my knees hurt." By the evening of that day, after laying in bed for just 45 minutes, I couldn't put down my right leg or put any pressure on it. I haven't taken the Levaquin for 24 hours now and it still hurts to try to open doors because my hands are so cramped. Does anyone else feel dizzy? All of sudden I just won't beadle to focus and my head hurts, only last a few seconds, but it is definitely there. Does anyone feel they have long term pain or affects of this drug? This is unbelievable that so many of us fell this way. Just yesterday I was at the doctor because of the pain. He instructed my to stop taking the Levaquin and told me, he has never hear of anyone feeling this way, but it is listed as one of the side effects and is very rare. Apparently it isn't that rare!! Glad I found you guys.
Stacy

Hi again, I just wanted to give you all the web link to the copy of the injunction filed against the FDA by Public Citizens Inc. on Jan. 3, 2008.

http://www.citizen.org/documents/ciprocomplaint.pdf

It is for tendon damage only, but it is a start....

Lisa

I went back to my PCP today. Yes the one that gave me the Levaquin. He was very nice and even agreed it was the Levaquin I took back in December. He said that these types of side effects we all are describing are RARE (I would have kicked him for all of us, but my legs hurt to bad).

But he did acknowledge pain and my symptoms (listed in my December post) and prescribed me Prednisone for my ligaments and Lyrica for my nerve pain. He also said it was going to be a long haul. I know that some of you are dying to telling why these meds are bad too, but I am going to try it because I haven't really been out of my bed for two weeks.

I just wanted to let you all know, that maybe some doctors are starting to listen... and that we should keep speaking out and warning others about the HIGH risk of our side effects.

I had a fever of 100+ degrees for 7 days and went in to the ER to see what was going on with my body. Anyway they said I must be getting over a virus and that they usually last about a week or so. On the 14th day of continual fevers I went to see my doctor as I was getting angry with not knowing what was wrong with me. Blood work was done and I was put on 750 mg of Levaquin for 7 days in the event I had a bacterial infection. My temps spiked to 104.1 and again I went to the ER and had more blood work done. On day 21 my fevers reduced and I had more blood work done. Apparently I had CMV a virus that 80% of the population has or had. Needless to say I have been off the Levaquin for a couple weeks now. I have pain in my right arm the entire length of my arm between the elbow and shoulder and if I extend my arm the wrong way the pain is so bad that I cannot breath and almost throw up. The pain is a true 10 out of 10 and I am beginning to feel soreness in my thighs. I will be contacting my doctor tomorrow morning as the pain will not go away as I was hoping it would. This is bad.

I have had an infection in my lungs for about a week and finally went to the doctor. I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg. It has worked better than anything I have ever been given. Each year I end up in the hospital with pneumonia where I am kept for at least a week each time. For the first time in 10 yrs. I didn't have to go in to the hospital for a stay. I don't care what anyone says about this medicine it worked for me and I plan to request it any time I get sick. 5 pills later and I am well. No more pain from coughing, no more feeling as if, I can't get enough air to breathe, I say that's a good reason to stay with this medicine.

I was put on Levaquin for 21 days to treat chronic sinusitis and I am only 17 years old. After about the 3rd day I was having great pain in my hips and knees and we called the doctors office to say we were having some of the side effects you're supposed to notify your doctor for, and they told me to keep taking it because all medicines have side effects and not to freak out. By the fifth day I had to be rushed to the ER because of serum sickness and i finally stopped it. Now, 2 and half months later, I still walk like a 95 year old and have to use a wheelchair to get around. I've also developed hypersensitivity to cold and touch and my limbs go numb randomly.

I was prescribed Levaquin for Chronic Sinusitis and ended up with gout like symptoms in my left big toe. It has made it very difficult to walk and carry out everyday responsibilities.I am only 29 years old and have two young children to tend to and this has made it very difficult. It is very difficult to walk and stand and I am unable to wear shoes due to the inflammation and swelling. Does it get better?

I have been on Levaquin for close to 4 weeks. 27 days at 500mg and the rest at 750. I have a severe open wound after a foot surgery. I started feeling like my shoulders had been hit by a bat. Slowly every single joint in my body is in pain. I cry with every move I make and dread going to sleep for fear of how painful and stiff my body will be in the morning. I begged the Dr. to remove me and he has agreed. i just pray it leaves quickly.

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.

My son is 14 years old and was given two rounds of this drug for an infection (two weeks and one week respectively). Last round in the middle of September. The pain started with the first round and got worse the second time. Real bad. We had him tested for a multitude of diseases and x-rayed the knees - all came back normal. We finally stumbled onto the fact that the joint pain coincided with the drug - WE WERE NEVER WARNED!

Well, he's a heck of an athlete/student/good kid...and has been wrestling since he's 5 years old, has competed nationally and this sport is "his thing." Well, now he's finally in high school and can barely make it through practice - can't go live at all. The pain and stiffness ain't going away even though he's been off it since September!

What in the world can we do to treat this effectively (or t all)? Doctor prescribed anti-inflammatory meds and they did nothing. Physical therapy is doing nothing. Ultrasound treatment on knees is doing nothing.

How long will it last?

Help please anybody with any information - we're disparate.

Prayers are welcome too.

Thanks.

Craig V. (Dustins Dad)

My wife was taking Levaquin, I say was taking it because she is dead. My wife died on August 4th 2007 due to the side effects on this poison. my wife died of heart failure at the age of 32. The doctor who prescribed Levaquin to my wife is a killer. If this helps someone stay alive or stay healthy then i hope that you take heed to this message. Stay far away from this drug as possible please.

I was given Levaquin in the ER via IV Push which should never have occurred. It should have been infused over 60-90 minutes. Almost immediately I had a strong metallic taste in my mouth, my face and head felt hot and throbbing and I told the nurse I was having a reaction. Her response was that I could not have reaction that fast. I immediately stood up and began pacing and felt a burning sensation travel down my arms, to my legs and up the center of my body. I FELT LIKE I WAS ON FIRE. Then it was if a heavy brick was dropped on the center of my chest. The last thing I recall is seeing the ER doctor's face and hearing him say, "Pupils dilated. She's gone". When awoke I was in CCU on a ventilator. Since this experience I have had intermittant chest pain in one area only, EXTREME fatigue, and tinnitus. Most days are spent in a haze. I am so tired all of the time, but have difficulty falling asleep because of the ringing in my ears. I have not had one moment of quiet. There is no peace or quality left to my life. NO ONE SHOULD EVER TAKE LEVAQUIN. Many other antibiotics are available without the potential devastating, permanent adverse reactions of this one.

I had a sore throat. The first doctor said mono. The 2nd doc. said no mono or strep --must be viral. Third doc says viral and puts me on predinsone, levaquin and darvocet because my uvula was swelling from infection. White count was elevated and had low grade fever. That was Friday..............................The Monday after that I had severe pains in my left side. After teaching went to ER they said gas after 2 minutes. Next day level 8 pain same side went back to ER. They said skeletal prescribed me 4 more drugs and told me it was viral too. Went to internist on Wednesday had to miss teaching he scheduled CT on Thursday morn. Level10 pain almost passed out on Thursday eve missed school/teaching. Friday admitted to ER at different hospital beyond any level of pain I have ever had, blood pressure through the roof, heart palp, they gave me morphine and phenagrin and muscle relaxer for spasms.

Here I am a perfect state of health get a sore throat and the next week I am in the hospital because of the 2nd ct saying that I am full of poo. 4 weeks later I am still in pain, missed 12 days of teaching and now they say i have ibs. I miss my active life before. I believe the combination of these drugs caused this. I am young no children and very healthy. Ultrasound,s blood works, 2 ct scans with dye, colonscopy, xrays show no probs. Which is great but still in pain. Anyone PLEASE HELP the doctors are taking their sweet time while I have lost weight and stay in bed which helps the pain. Bending over, lifting, eating, pooing, sneezing, coughing, hiccuping can make it worse. It is intense SHARP pain. I have cut out everything med wise except for Miralax and now I have diarrhea and joint pain.

They want me to take Dicyclomine and IMIPRAMINE, MIRALAX and Levisin sublingual and Diflucan.

I have experienced an allergic reaction to Levofloxacin:
face swelled up, strong heart arythmia, throat was closing and about 24 hrs later my skin burnt leaving a dark necrotyzed patch that fortunately turned normal after a couple of days. After more than 1 year my body seems to react to any kind of medicine that i used to bare, even if taken in small quantaties. I suffer of liver pain if i eat food containing a bit of fat, regular stomach pains and now suffer of arythmia. I have a child and am scared that i couldt pass on any kind of consequence on a second one.

Wow! I am shocked. I have taken Levaquin on several occasions in the last two years for various infections - cellulitis, pneumonia and UTI. Over time my legs, knees and right hip have become so painful that I have actually checked the terms of my life insurance policy because I did not think I could go on. I have been attributing my severe pain, which is not helped by narcotic pain medication to any significant degree, to an old fall injury, new over-use injuries, being overweight, not being fit, etc. I never thought for a minute that my only available antibiotic choice, Levaquin, could be the culprit. I was just researching severe leg pain on the net (again) and stumbled on this site. I have had unusual headaches, loss of appetite, and of course severe leg, knee and hip pain, as well as weird visual perceptions (I keep thinking the light is too low) and horrible muscle pain in my right thigh and calf. I had a trip and fall accident and now have lymphedema in the right thigh and have had many other complications since '92. When I went back to my doctor last Monday, he told me to take a second course of Levaquin for cellulitis in the thigh when I complained about the horrible pain in my thigh muscle, knee and hip. Does he really have no idea that Levaquin has these serious side effects being reported? I am now terrified that these painful conditions are going to persist for a long time to come. I can barely walk at this point and I have chronic severe pain and I have missed many days of work since taking these last three rounds of Levaquin (500 mg. x 10 days each) since September. Again, wow!

THE WORSE STOMACH PAIN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE AND BLOODY DIAHERRIA!!!

O>K> here i am again. After taking Levaquin back in the spring I SUDDENLY developed a severe case of arthritis!!! Imagine? I had a UTI and then wham!!! Can"t walk joint painb beyond belief! Now it"s Almost November and my knees are still killing me and my hands, the joints are so swollen,. The doctor can"t understnad why this happened. She sent me to a rheumatologist and my counts went so drastically up he thought the lab test was a mistake. ThankYou, Levaquin!!!! Marsh

I took levaquin, cipro and avalox in a 4 month period due to a severe sinus infection, back in Jan to april of 2006. I had tolerated it most of my life, but at that time, I had had 'neck surgery due to 2 pinched nerves, left shoulder operated on, major tears, due to extreme 'flat roof roofing repair' for 6 months trying to save our 'dream home from satan'. (we lost it, foreclosure)
I complained to my dr the next day, (and most every week) he ignored my halluciations, (actually "snickered" in my face), mood altered, ignored my complaints of feeling like a hot rake tearing my muscle and tendons apart. pain, told me to continue taking it:(, blame me for listening and NOT doing research soon enough, I learned later the dr is supposed to STOP the drugs immediately to rule out tendonitist to prevent pernanent irreverable damage AND it's not to be given to 'muscle challanged people'). after that 3rd round in a 4 month period, I told him I'd rather die than to take them again. mom always told me I was allergic to pennicilin, I wasnt, it helped clear my infection.

I now have hodgkins lyphoma, (affects men mostly, i'm female, 51 yrs of age), I shouldnt have 'this cancer'. My face started breaking out w/2 types of skin cancer, basal cell, and precancer A. keratosis eveywhere. I was 120 lbs, cut muscles, always had been physical. Now, flab, lost mucle strength everywhere. Every day now is filled w/severe pain and NO dr will listen, I've been called crazy so many times, I could puke. The dr's dont WANT TO KNOW because of the extensive lawsuits that will exist due to them NOT knowing side effects and stopping meds, it's their 'brotherhood', protect each other no matter what the patients 'cost' is, as in mine, complete mind and body destruction:(
To MOST people, this drug is okay. To many of us, it's a life destroying slow death. Cant work, cant get disability. Have reached for 'help to heaven' so many times, but never followed through:(. I still HOPE for some dr to listen and do necessary tests so I can sue the crap out of my previous g.p. He should have known . HOPE is a forbidden 4 letter word, yet I cuss like a sailor.
Peace my fellow quin sufferers, Sandie in S.C.

I started taking Levaquin for a sinus infection. On the 3rd day I started getting heart palpitations and felt very tired. By the fifth day I woke up with excruciating pains in both shoulders and very limited movement of both arms. I went to my primary care Dr. He stopped the Levaquin and gave me pain pills and an anti-inflammatory. I was sent to an Orthopedic Surgeon who injected both shoulders with steroids. I then went through a series of acupuncture treatments which helped somewhat, but finally admitted that I needed more help. I went back to the Orthopedic Surgeon and had surgery on June 11, 2007 on my right shoulder. At first this Dr said that there was no possibility that this could have been caused by the Levaquin, but after the surgery he admitted that he was starting to see other patients with the same problems from Levaquin. I can’t afford to have the left shoulder operated on but the pain has lessened and I still have limited movement of both arms.

I was giving Levaguin for a sinus infection/upper resp. infecton poss.
brincittis. after taking this medicaton for 5 days I began to realize the side effects this drug was giving me. I was feeling funny all over like I was in a fog or sometimes I felt like I could not carry on a confersation. My legs did not hurt but they felt very heavy likeI had weights strapped to them and sometimes my arms would feel this way to. I started having tightness in my jaws shortness of breath and rapid heart rate also my b/p was up this was certainly not normal for me. I also had some nausea and headaches I became scared of all these things that were happening to me so my husband took me to the E.R. I thought I was having a stoke or something bad was wrong with me after seeing the E.R Dr. He could not really tell what was wrong all the test I was giving were normal THANK GOD! However the Dr. did sat it was a poss. side effect of the medicaton I was taken (Levaquin) like everyone else I was just passing these symptoms off as me just being sick but after looking up this drug I have come to realize this was my problem and I only pray to GOD that this gets better and is not long term effect. I do not reccomend anyone to take this medication.

I took Levaquin 500 mg. because of recurring Cellulitis. I will NEVER take this antibiotic again! I fell into a sense of hopeless and felt like I was hit by a mack-truck. I have been experiencing joint pain like never before. THe doctors have said it is okay to return to exercising, but i will not likely be able to do that because of the ongoing joint pain. My knees, feet, ankles, wrists and fingers continue to be painful, even 2 weeks after being off this medication. I continue to struggle with ongoing low-grade nausea and occasional dizziness, which is scary when driving! This is the worst medication in the world and should be taken off the market. I am PRAYING that these side effects go away.

I started taking Levaquin on Thursday October 4 for a sinus/throat infection. 5 days later and I feel wired out of my mind. Strange thoughts, increased energy intertwined with panic, wrist/hip pain, very little sleep. Severe stomach pain, constipation, nausea and vomiting, gagging reflex. Also mouth sores, and terrible taste in mouth. This has me very concerned. I am grateful that this isn't my imagination. Thanks for this forum. Why is this drug still on the market. Karen in Winnipeg, Canada

I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg for pneumonia. The first 2 days I felt ok, then the 3rd day about an hour or two after I took the pill I was getting really anxious and depressed. I was acutally having thought of suicide! The anxiousness and depression lasted for about 4 to 5 hours after the start of them. Also on the third day, I was experiencing my heart pounding and some muscle cramping. The 4th day the symptoms started getting a little worse. And so today, being the 5th day of my 5 day treatment I feel like a truck hit me. I called my Dr. and he told me not to take todays dose, that Levaquin is probably causing the symptoms that I'm having. As I type this I've had to stop numerous times because of my fingers and hands cramping. Also I dont think I've ever sweat this much in my life. I probably would have never called my doctor about my symptoms if I didnt stumble across this page.

So let's do something. This is our life that is slowly being destroyed.
I started with the office Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro.
I found a bit about them on the link below. *****

I have a seve4e bronchial infection and was prescribed Levaquin 750 mg once a day for 5 days. Tomorrow will be my fifth day although I will not be taking it. When I started the medication I was beginning to feel better although I still had a really bad cough. I was also put on an inhaler.
I woke up today and felt like I have been hit with a truck. I can't hold anything in my hands, my kneew and ankles feel like someone took a bat to them and I have spent all day trying to figure out why I felt worse overall and now why I was feeling this horrible pain that is practially crimpling me.
I found this site when I googled "sever bronchial infection and joint pain".
I'm calling my dr tomorrow but I'm scared. Will this be permanent. I already have 2 herniated discs in my back and now I can't even walk or get up from a seated position.
I have a 1 year old I cannot even hold and have ot have someone help me take care of.
I hope this goes away and soon. The pain is close to unbearable.

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 went to the clinic with a severe urinary tract infection. I was prescribed 500 mg Levaquin for 5 days and started taking it immediately (if you've ever had a UTI, you will understand!) I woke up on the 3rd day and could not move my fingers - my entire hand ached and was so stiff. It began to progress down to my elbows. I recieved a call later that day from the clinic saying they had prescribed me the wrong drug...a culture proved a different bacteria to be the culprit. Apparently the Levaquin was fighting nothing in my body besides my hand! I thought the pain was from the UTI going untreated for so long, but now I can see it was obviously the Levaquin. I still feel stiffness in my hands every morning, but it goes away and I am able to function. But I find it incredible that taking a prescribed medicine can affect me daily...and this was around 3 months ago that I took it!

I am very susceptible to side effects from medication but I have never experienced any serious, or even minor, side effects from Levaquin. This is the 2nd time I've been prescribed this medication and I'm satisfied with the results. I take 500 mg once a day. Maybe the people experiencing these side effects are prescribed a dose that is too high for the body to handle. Doctor's like to over-medicate. Make sure the dose is appropriate for your body type.

I am currently taking Levaquin for the first time; just finishing a one week course @ 500 m.g. / day. Had a bacterial infection on knee similiar to an insect sting (one hole). Not only cleared up but also helped with a undiagnosed condition in the lungs which has caused a chronic cough for at least five years now .... now gone. Never had any indication of side affects.

I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to all the people that have posted their experiences here. I am so sorry to hear of your miseries, but you have prevented me from going down the same road.

I was prescribed Levaquin and my wife suggested before I take any antibiotics check on the side effects. Yikes! I have not touched one pill nor do I ever intend to. I will take my chances on the infection any day!

I was diagnosed with a bacterial infection six days ago and injected with Levauin, followed up by 500mg/day. The morning after the injection, my legs started aching as though I had run a marathon, particularly my shins, calves, ankles. Today, I woke up in more pain than before and am starting to notice knots in my shins. Every step is becoming more painful than the next, and I don't know how to fix this. I stopped taking Levaquin yesterday, but this problem keeps getting worse. Has anyone else had this experience, and when do the knots go away and the pain cease? Thanks for any info.

I took this drug for 9 days of a 10 day prescription. I suffered from insomnia, but didn't connect that to the meds. On day 9 I awoke with slight pain in one knee. As the day wore on, that pain got acute and spread to the other knee, elbows, shoulders and hands. I thought perhaps it was a severe attack of osteoarthritis, but that didn't seem right. Three days later in a newspaper column called "The People's Pharmacy" I read about Levaquin causing severe tendon problem. A light went off in my head and I heard a "Boing!" It is now day 5 of my symptoms, some of which have abated. I still have to wear a knee brace on one leg, can't bend either knee very far, and am in acute discomfort. I took some naproxin to alleviate the inflammation and it seemed to work, but I won't take NSAIDS for a long period of time. I'm furious. Neither the doctor nor the instructions for the medication warned me of this side effect. Now I'm left to hope this goes away with time and I can walk comfortably again without this giant brace on my left knee. I remind myself of Igor in "Young Frankenstein!" Sleeping is uncomfortable as well - I awoke in severe pain last night because I had rolled onto my side and my right knee was resting on my sore left knee. Not good. I'm furious.

3 weeks before my wedding I started Levaquin for the second year in a row for a sinus infection. Last year the sinus infection was so bad I was in bed with face pain, so any other pain I had didn't register, so if I had the joint pain I wouldn't have noticed. But this year I got such bad knee pain I couldn't even stand up. Who knew it could be associated with the antibiotic I was taking. I was barely able to walk down the aisle. That was one month ago, I still have knee pain, can not stand up from a kneel. I was not told about this side effect until I saw the Dr. last week for a follow up. The pain is in my elbows also, limited movement there.
Depressing.

Thank God for this forum. It's my second day taking this poison and I am feeling AWFUL ..insomnia, anxiety, flu like sympotoms and all this time I was thinking I was going crazy. I am just worried about what would happen if I stop taking it, but at this point I can't feel any worse. It is obvious to me now that we cannot put our heath on anybody's hands, except ourselves. I can't believe this things is still being prescribed after everything I've read about it.

You all seem literate so why don't you read more about LEVAQUIN instead of symptoms swapping.

It is a FLURO (floride) quinelone. The foride replaces the iron in your metalloproteases. The structure is like a horseshoe and its base is like an INHIBITORY neurotransmitter, GABA. So your muscles get weak because of the inhibition of nerve to muscle transmission and your tendons get sore and even brake because of the fluro replacement of iron in metaloproteases.

A self-educated consumer is one who goes beyond the stupid TV commercials. You will find GABA type action can explain a lot of your psycho-symptoms. LEVAQUIN is a dangerous drug. Don't drink coffee with it and be sure you get an EKG before using it as it is a cardio hyperpolarizer.

Above all, go easy on joints and muscles for a month during and after LEVAQUIN. The drug campanies are sharks after your blood. The doctors are so overcome by HMO paper work that they don't have time to read. YPU MUST EDUCATE YOURSELVES IN ORDER TO SURVIVE. America will not survive with a population that knows no science and math.

Just an update! First off, PLEASE I implore you, CONTACT the mfg! They need to submit these side effects to the FDA which can alert and prevent this from happening to other unsuspecting patients like ourselves!

Okay just got back from the dr's (rhumotologist) Good News, Bad News and Good News! First she knew IMMEDIATELY what was going on and this is what happens with this drug (to those who get the burning of the knees and muscle pains) you get tendonitits from the medicine and it works so rapidly it breaks down all your muscles in your legs, joint areas ect. Your arms and hands bounce back easily because they're not weight baring joints for the most part, however, the legs, knees, ankles are not so easy to build back up. The bad news is that this did happen and it is going to take 3 to 6 months of aggressive therapy (my choice on aggressive, I could have done low impact, but I don't have the patience, would rather brave the pain and get it over with!) to build your muscles back to where the medication broke them all down. The other good news is that it will go away (according to dr.) So I am VERY optimistic and have a great outlook now!

To the poster who asked about gaining weight, I lost weight, had nightmare, sleeplessness, tremors and nausia, all that disappeared (tremors being the longest lasting out of them) pretty much after I stopped the medication. The knees, ankles and thigh muscle contractions, are still going strong but I am being careful where I was not before I knew what was going on and now I am looking forward to getting back to the gym and therapy and get this over and done with!

Okay PLEASE again EVERYONE www.levaquin.com will give you the manufacturer's information, PLEASE contact them, PLEASE if they are forced to put warnings on the lables, then someone else will know when to stop taking the medication if they start to feel muscle pain and burning. Thanks everyone and I hope everyone is feeling better!!

Just got back from the dr. She said it is definitly caused by Levaquin. The knee pain etc. is from this drug. She said it putme right over the edge after taking it for only one week. Hopefully it will subside. This is a powerful drug that attacks cartilage and joints and should not be used by people prone to arthritic conditions. Anyway, I feel better knowing I don"t have Lyme or anything more serious. GoodLuck to all of you out there, hang in there.Marsh

I have finally figured it out. The drug causes uric acid crystals to build up and the result is gout. I am going for another blood test today and will find out for sure but I know the knee pain etc. is the result of gout, for sure. Marsh

I took 500mg of Levaquin once a day for two days. I stopped taking it because of the frightening side effects that I experienced. The doctor prescribed the antibiotic for a mild case of campylobacter. I normally never take medicine for anything, but the doctor assured me that this antibiotic was very strong and would take care of my problem. However, after a few hours after the first dose I began to experience a rapid heart beat, tightness of the chest, and about once every fifteen minutes I could feel my heart skip a beat. Unfortunately, I took another dose the following day, but I experienced much of the same. I stopped taking it after that because I thought that no treatment was worth these effects. It has been 3 days since I took my last dose and my heart is still racing and skipping beats. I told my doctor and he told me that this was just a common side effect of levaquin when caffiene is mixed with levaquin. But I have avoided caffiene for days. It's very scary to have something wrong with your heart when you are otherwise very healthy. I hope these symptoms leave because it's driving me crazy!!!!

PLEASE READ THIS! UPDATE FROM ROCCO21ELM

I suffered terrible joint/muscle pain after taking Levaquin for 9 days. After reading all the posts here I was terrified that it was going to be an ongoing problem but it's been about a month now and the pain is nearly gone completely. Worry and fear seem only make the pain so much worse!
Pleae go to the doctor for a blood test. If everything comes back negative then you can relax. I suggest a proper diet, (AVOID foods known to cause inflammation and eat more foods that are anti inflammatory! Stretching in the morning, and swimming in warm water, hot baths help, and above all else, have a positive attitude. It goes a long way!! Good luck to all of you.

I took this drug for a kidney infection and now can hardly walk or sit on the toilet. The pain in my knees is excruciating especially at night. I can not turn over in bed without pain and they don"t seem to bend anymore. My doctor thinks I am nuts.I have not slept an entire night since this started. It came on all of a sudden after two weeks on this crap. Please, somebody tell me this is going to go away in a while!!!Marsh