Levaquin and muscle cramps

I was prescribed Levaquin 1000 mg. for 5 days for pneumonia the last week of December 2006. I was also prescribed Prednisone. Everything I ate tasted like metal. A couple of days after I started taking the Levaquin I started experiencing muscle cramps in my rib cage which are so severe it makes me double over in pain. After more than a year I still have the muscle cramps which now include not only my rib cage, but the arch of my feet and sometimes legs. I have a torn tendon in my left arm which didn't happen until about a month ago, but I am sure it is caused from muscle damage from the Levaquin. I am also on Advair Discus 250 which I didn't take before using the Levaquin. I didn't require inhalers or other medication before the pneumonia. My doctor now says I have COPD caused from asthma and chronic bronchitis. I used an Albuterol inhaler when I first got sick because the pneumonia was so bad. I thought after taking the Levaquin I would get back to normal. But even after the infection was cleared up I would get out of breath, so I returned to my doctor. She did an x-ray and said I had COPD and prescribed the inhalant. What I don't understand is that I didn't have breathing problems before the Pneumonia. I didn't have joint pain and muscle cramps either. I have had to quit working this past year because of it. I cannot go without the Advair, I can no longer walk long distances without pain. I have constant muscle pain just trying to do normal housework. How long do the effects last? Must be a lifetime.

I was prescribed 750 mg of Levaquin for a skin infection after a minor burn. On the third day I noticed flashing lights in my right eye and the next day I felt as though I was looking through a black lace curtain. It has now settled into a large thread like floater that is in my central vision. My eye doctor said it is a large vitreous tear which is permanent. I also had tinnitus and burning on my lips and tongue which stopped after I stopped the medication. Two weeks after stopping the meds, I was biking and lost my balance. I turned my ankle, not violently, but it resulted in ruptured tendons all around the ankle. Three days after that, my right shoulder began popping in and out of its socket. Each evening, I had a low grade fever and chills. I'd wake up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. I also had a rough eczema-like rash on my elbow and neck, however that has gone away. I'm sleeping better now and last night I did not have a fever or night sweats. My ankle is improving and I can now get through the day without having to take Advil. The shoulder is still popping when I extend my arm, but I'm hoping that will improve with time. So far, the only permanent damage seems to be the eye floater. It's annoying, but I'm adjusting. I'm planning to go back to the gym today, but honestly, I'm feeling like a ticking time bomb and I worry that new symptoms will continue to pop up. Has anyone out there been completely symptom free for any period of time? Has anyone discussed their case with an attorney?

Just checking back in to see how everyone is doing. Update concering my levaquin "experience" Took this drug for seven days back in november for bronchitis. Developed horrible itchy hidious rash that lasted for 3 weeks and also muscle cramps in calfs which by the way i am STILL having and I have NEVER had prior to taking this drug. During the time i was taking the drug i got depressed and actually just wanted to kill myself to get some kind of relief. I hope i never get really bad sick because if so I will just die because i have made up my mind to NEVER go to a doctor again!!!! Am eating organic food now, trying to elimanate all chemicals in cosmetic products ect...taking flaxseed oil and cottage cheese and vitamins every day. Anything to try to keep from going back to a doctor!

My 14-yr-old son was prescribed levaquin for a chronic sinus condition. He just finished day 2 and started suffering extreme muscle cramps in his legs. We're taking him off this medication....

I went to the emergency room for a dull pain in my lower back left side and was given an IV, a blood test, and a CT scan. After no signs of kidney stones were found the ER doctor sent me home and prescribed LEVAQUIN, IBUPROFEN, and METRONIDAZOLE antibiotics thinking that I might have gotten diverticulitis.
After 1 week of taking LEVAQUIN the side effects were right on! I could not sleep for more than 3 hours, I have anxiety attacks and my skin became dry no matter what lotion I put on it. I also had the runs and blackened stool ( and I thought I had a serious case of internal bleeding ). I have prolonged dizziness and nausea that even when lying down I feel like I'm gonna throw up. I have a lower center backpain that makes me feel strained ( like dead weight on my shoulders )and although my backpains have dulled a little bit but now, I'm still feeling muscle cramps in my lower and upper back, and have muscle spasms on my left inner thigh.
I always feel like I'm going to have a headache but I become lightheaded like I can't think straight and I am very anxious.
I have not have had any serious diseases and my checkups are always clean.
By reading these articles I have found relief knowing it could not be a serious problem I have, but could be major side effects caused by this drug.
I don't know what this drug cures but one thing i know is that it is very potent and dangerous for people with other health disorders relating to asthma, anxiety, insomnia, and others.

I cannot recommend this drug at all from what I see posted here today. And knowing the side effects are so extreme I begin to wonder why it is being recommended by physicians.

Should'nt they know any better?!
This experience has really awaken me to the new culture of drugs we have in the market today. Before I take another drug, I will find out more about the side effects.

Eleven days ago my doctor gave me Levaquin for bronchitis. I took one dose and twelve hours later I had muscle cramps in both arms and legs, back pain, severe nausea, an anxiety attack, insomnia that lasted 48 hours, and my blood pressure shot up to 180/112. My doctor seemed surprised at the muscle pain, said it should only happen to kids under 12 or adults over 70. (I'm a 50 year old woman.) He told me they should go away in ten days, but I am still suffering from all of the above except the blood pressure. I have totally lost faith in him and have made an appointment with another doctor who is a specialist in infectious diseases, and according to the friend who referred him, he carries an electronic version of the PDr to check for drug interactions. Hopefully I can get some help, since
suffering from all these things in a lesser way is agonizing.

My 76 year old mother began taking Levaquin for a foot infection. Seven days into the course she developed severe muscle cramps and joint pain. She has been off this drug for one week and is still stiff and sore! She said imagine having lifted a 70# barrel and that is what her shoulders and arms feel like, almost like ripped tendons. Her knees and lower legs also ache and she doesn't do regular exercise (fell and broke her back some time ago) so this med does affect people who aren't exercising on a regular basis as well.

Took Levaquin for 2 days for a urinary infection, and had muscle cramps in left calf so intense could hardly wallk, the calf was rock hard. Later in the day, right leg seized up. Took one (1) more pill when finally realized that it was probably the medicine so I quit taking it. A week later after getting home from a trip, took one (1) more pill and both calves started to get hard and hurt again. Will not take this medicine again!

Levaquin was prescribed for me 7 days ago. I previously had a reaction to Tequin which caused confusion and a diabetic episode, so was concerned and asked my pharmacist about this medication. She said if I noticed any of the same reactions, to stop levaquin immediately. It took only 2 days before I began to experience muscle cramps & tendon stiffness, which I had also experienced from Tequin. Do not take any Quinolones without discussing it with your physician and pharmacist!