Levaquin and monster

I was prescribed Levaquin for what appeared to be impetigo on my outer ear. The first dose gave me a monster headache and very weird almost-dreams (because I couldn't sleep). After the second dose, I had a horrible stabbing pain in the middle of my back, my wrists and upper arms began to ache, my vision was disturbed and I couldn't concentrate. Weirdest of all was a sudden compulsion to shave my head (which I thankfully snapped out of). I'm a textbook normal 45 year old woman, otherwise healthy, and professionally employed. It's been 30 hourse since my last dose, and the mental stuff has subsided, but my arms and hands are still very painful. This is a bad bad drug. I'd have to be on the verge of death to consider it again.

Easter weekend (April 8. 2007) i came down with an outer ear infection. The Othorhinolaryngologist whom I consulted discovered that I also had a severe maxillary sinus infection and put me on Levaquin 500 mg, one tablet for ten days. After three days of taking Levaquin my neck and shoulders began to hurt severely keeping me from sleeping. On day seven I noticed signs of tendontitis in my right Achilles tendon. A day later the left achilles tendon also had symptoms of tendonitis, as do my aductor tendons in the groin, my hips hurt also, so do my fingers and wrists. I am absolutely MISERABLE and unable to sleep even now, six days after taking the last Levaquin. I was caught by surprise: how could a sinus infection and prescribed antibiotic cause me to walk like Frankenstein's Monster? But taking Levaquin was the only thing that had changed in my life. I did finally find the insiduous tendonitis connection ("If tendeness of tendons or rupture occurs, stop taking Levaquin immediately") that was NOT mentioned in the flyer from the pharmacy about possible side effects. I am certain that the Nose/Throat/Ear specialist doesn't know about the fact that prescribing Levaquin might clear up a sinus infection but keeps people from being able to walk and puts them into absolute misery because of severe tendonitis pain all over the body. I do hope this will wear off as it is almost causing me to contemplate that this is no way to live. Friderun Ankel-Simons, D.Sc.