Levaquin and physicians

Levaquin 750 I took one pill almost took my life 2 days ago it felt like I swallowed a bee and it keep stinging as it went down and my blood felt like it was boiling I looked like a lobster within seconds swelled up 3 times in size I look horrible my lips swelled out my eye lids my hands everywhere and my skin turned deep purple like leather and I couldn't breathe my throat swelled shut had to call an ambulance and the had to get me breathing again and rush me into the emergency room, now I have tightness in my chest and tingling in my finger and toes and bad pain in my stomach omg they need to take this drug off the market!

My 16 year old son took Levaquin 6 months ago and had a bad reaction to it. His symptoms were severe muscle weakness (he would get exhausted walking from the parking lot to a store and back, severe joint pain (in thumbs, wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles), dizziness (he felt like the room was moving away from him and would lose balance), and headaches (a severe pressure in the back of his head that was constant and then shooting pains in his his head that would come and go for no reason). I should say he was in top shape before this and wrestling in the 125 pound category. He took Levaquin to prevent an infection after sinus surgery.

Now 6 months later, his joint pain is completely gone except for his knees. They still hurt when he does squats and they are not good enough for him to go back to wrestling, but he can walk around pain free. His dizziness is also gone as well as his muscle weakness. His headaches are still there and still constant, but not as bad as they once were; however, he has had them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 6 months. He is on Lyrica which has helped make the headaches subside.

I have taken him to more than 16 medical doctors of all specialties, had multiple MRIs, CT Scans, blood tests, spinal tap, and an MRA. All come back negative. Thankfully, despite all of this, he still remains happy and positive that he will once again be 100% healthy; it will take lots of time, but he will get better. I know the first three symptoms (joint pain, dizziness, weakness) are clearly Levaquin related, but I haven't heard much about the headaches from people. Anyone else out there that has suffered from a constant headache after Levaquin? I REALLY want to hear about headaches from others!!!!

By the way, we have filed a medwatch already. I also know that Levaquin is not approved for anyone under 18 years old and he never needed such a powerful drug to prevent an infection, but there is nothing I can do about that now except to warn others. One of his UCLA doctors wants to write a case study on him to make this more known to others and I am helping him with that.

If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. If you have had a headache from Levaquin, please let me know where in the head the pain was, if it is constant, what it feels like (pressure, shooting, throbbing), how long you have had it, and what, if anything, helped. THANKS.

Im not wanting to scare any of you, but my reaction to this family of antibiotics happened in Spring 2002. I took one dose of this quinolone antibiotic for a sinus infection and was in the ER four hours later. After taking the medication, I felt very fatigued and lay down on the couch, I woke up a few minutes later feeling like I was falling, and my heart sustained 170+ beats per minute heart palpitations for several hours. The last thing I remember was calling 911 because I was home alone and knew something awful was happening. The ENT's said that they had never seen anything like it. I experienced horrific anxiety attacks for weeks afterward. Keep in mind I had been a very healthy gal before and had never experienced any type of health problems. I now see a rheumatologist, a neurologist and a gastroenterologist. I have been diagnosed with MCTD (Multiple connective tissue disorder) a Lupus like illness. My neurologist says that my central nervous system was damaged in the reaction as well. He also says that physicians are grossly misinformed about this family of antibiotics, and in his opinion, anyone who prescribes them for anything less than a life threatening condition is committing medical malpractice. I agree wholeheartedly since my life will never be the same.

Hi,

I took Levaquin for one day, the first pill out of a pack of five.
Next day I had severe pain in legs back, shoulders and across my chest,
I thought I'd had a heart attack. I immediately suspected the medication
because it was the only one I had taken.
The pain is still with me but it only three days out, am hoping that it
will go away. Recently today I have begun to notice knee pain.
Anyway I have warned everyone I know not to take Levaquin under any circumstances.

My son is 16 years old, a wrestler, and was in excellent health. He developed sinus issues and had surgery on September 17, 2007 (he had a headache on the left side of his head which the ENT said was due to sinus issues). After sinus surgery, the doctor prescribed Levaquin for 10 days. After 4 days, I called his doctor and told him he was getting worse and not better. The doctor said not to worry. After that he had sleepless nights, felt like the room was moving away from him, became dizzy and light headed. Then the joint pain came. First in his thumbs, then wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. He developed severe headaches in the back of his head. The headaches were moderate to severe and with him 24 hours a day. He became extremely weak and his dizziness continued. He was tested for many diseases through numerous blood tests, had a spinal tap, MRI, MRA, CT of the spine, CT of the sinuses, x-rays of the knees, and an EEG. All came back normal, except his sinuses were still swollen which is normal after sinus surgery. He has seen numerous medical doctors (primary, pediatrician, two neurologists, allergist, two Ear Nose Throat) and is now seeing a pediatrician in UCLA and has appointments to see more UCLA doctors.

He has been out of school now for a couple of months. Luckily, the school has him on home instruction and sends teachers to the house and he is maintaining his honors classes. To give you all hope, he does appear to be getting better, but it is a very slow recovery. Up until two weeks ago, some days were okay and some days were pretty bad. It comes and goes like that. At first I never suspected Levaquin, but stumbled across the side effects when I was trying to research what was wrong with him. The only thing I found that had helped some people was taking high doses of magnesium (the kind ending in "ate" is better absorbed). I was and still am nervous about giving my child a lot of any type of vitamin, but no one was able to make him better, so I gave him 250 mg three times a day for three days. It could be just a coincidence, but about 3 days after I stopped giving him the magnesium, all of the joint pain was gone except for his knees, which still hurt if he bent down.

After a couple more weeks, he still had severe headaches, knee pain, some dizziness and some weakness, so I thought I would give it another go and gave him magnesium three times a day for 4 more days. After the 4 days of magnesium, he started on a new medication called Lyrica. His knee pain is almost gone and his headaches are minor with only an occasional flair up. I can see in his eyes and how he reacts that his is feeling better than he has in a long time. He has always been a happy kid, but I can tell he has his special spark back.

For the last two weeks, I just give him one 250 mg of magnesium a day, multi-vitamins, and Lyrica. By the way, one of the blood tests I requested was for magnesium, and it showed his level was normal. So, I have no idea if it is time that is making him better, the magnesium, or the fact that he is taking Lyrica. He will still continue to go to the doctors, none who believe Levaquin could be a cause, until he is completely back to normal. I believe that Levaquin was likely a culprit in his overall health issues, especially since no one can figure out how my healthy, energetic son suddenly became so ill he could no longer go to school. For the past two weeks now, he has had good days mixed in with okay days (no bad days though!!!) He has had only 2 weeks so far of better health and we hope it continues to get even better. Good luck to all of you and my prayers are with you. I hope somehow this will help someone.

Who would think an antibiotic would have such effects? I have been experienceing pain in my shoulder for about 3 weeks. This began less than 2 weeks after taking Levaquin for 2 weeks. In addition to that, I experienced side effects during the treatment. This include chest pressure and rapid heartbeat.

Yesterday, I saw an orthpaedist who diagnosed me with a rotator cuff injury.
I have one month of physical therapy to endure 3x per week now. If the pain doesn't improve in 2 weeks, then an MRI will be done. If it is ruptured, there will likely be surgery.

I am a healthy 35 year old woman with no history of shoulder problems. The doctor and others have asked what did I do to hurt myself. My answer is that I made the mistake of taking a drug that shouldn't be on the market. I don't lift weights and I didn't pitch 9 innings before this. So the only connection is a drug whose website states "ruptures of the shoulder, hands, and Achilles tendons have been reported...".

I have woarned all of my friends and co-workers about this drug. I am now on a crusade to prevent others from falling victim to this drug. I understand that the risks to the few outwiegh the rewards to many. However, when you are one of the few who is affected, your viewpoint changes. I am an educated woman and did read the side affects prior to taking the drug. I knew this was a possibility but it was "rare". Who knew an antibiotic could be so helpful and harmful at the same time!

My 17yr old son was given this antibiotic for a sinus infection, he had not been on any antibiotics for at least one year.
Our family doctor gave him a HUGE dose of Levaquin, 750mg for 5 days. He finished the dose 2 days ago but is still experiencing sevaral negative side effects of Levaquin.
He has pressure in his chest and feels exhausted, weak, nauseated, and feverish. He has no appetite and has an extreme headache in the back of his head. He is unable to go to school because he is dizzy and sleepy.
In my opinion, our doctor should never have prescribed this particular medication. There are several other antibiotics available without these side effects. Another factor was the expense, the cost was 125.00. This is ridiculous when other options are available. I am left to wonder if the physicians have a motive for prescribing new drugs, could it be more beneficial to themselves than to the patients receiving the medication?
I am disappointed and feel this drug needs further testing.

hello everyone - i was prescribed levaquin on christmas eve for a severe sinus infection. i took one 500mg pill daily for 10 days. i had several of the side effects you've had - insomnia, loss of appetite, pain in my back (which i don't usually have), headache, bizarre dreams (the few times i could sleep), and others. i've been off the drug for over two weeks now and i still experience insomnia (though to a lesser degree), upset stomach, and my appetite is still markedly decreased. i went to www.levaquin.com and read the prescribing info and found all of what i feel is due to the drug. when will my appetite return and when will i feel like myself again??? the sinus infection was awful but the levaquin side effects are almost worse!! i'll never take this antibiotic again!! i've taken bactrim and keflex before and though i did have a few side effects, they were NOTHING like this. for all our sakes, i hope this won't be one of those drugs we'll hear about in a few months that's been withdrawn from the market and has been found to cause god knows what!!! no one ever told me to avoid caffeine and ibuprofen while taking it. i was told to avoid vitamins, antacids, and dairy products two hours before and after a dose, and was also told to stay out of prolonged sunlight. i did take advil on occasion during the course of treatment, however (neither doc or pharmacist mentioned not taking ibuprofen). physicians don't know most side effects of the drugs (especially the newer drugs) they prescribe anyway. they only know what the rep from the drug company tells them when they come to their offices. i happen to have a pdr and have mentioned side effects from other medications to physicians, only to hear 'where did you get that info from?' DUH! be educated consumers, my friends, it's YOUR body and your responsibility to ask questions as well as do your own research. keep safe and well. happy new year.

Have taken 500Mg Levaquin for bronchitus or bacterial pnemonia. Experiencing four days of night sweats and symptoms of paranoia, wandering the house hold and causing general upset. I am also a diabetic Type 2 which was considered during the diagnosis. I find nothing good to say about the drug and consider it detrimental to my ongong health issues. What with halo vision and nausia.
The couse of Levaquin treatment was prescribed for ten days. Will discontinue today. How do these drugs get recommended by physicians without clear warnings.

"it is your responsibility to ask about potential side effects, interactions with other drugs you are taking, etc. It is also your responsibility to read the detailed informa tion that comes with every prescription from a pharmacy that lists possible side effects"

Excellent advice but with one FATAL flaw. The majority of the information recieved from the physician and/or the pharmacy is wholely inadequate regarding the side effects of these drugs. (the majority of them are not even listed) When asked about the potential side effects the physicians routinely state that these are safe and effective drugs with minimum side effects. Nothing could be further from the truth. The monographs indicate once again that such events are rare and occur at rates approaching 1%. Once again, not true, in reality they rapidly approach 27%. One recent study indicated 65% (Cipro when given for prostatitits) When such events manifest again the medical community denies any and all such assocation stating that they have never heard of such things, even though it has been reported in medical journals for almost forty years. Of the hundreds and hundreds of adrs reported within this forum you will not fnd ONE that is not a known, listed and published adverse event. It has been only through forums such as this that such knowledge is shared. You certainly will not find such information readily available from your physician or from your pharmacist. Herein lies the problem. Nor will you find it within the monographs as such warnings are couched in antiquated descriptions such as uticaria (itching) and other greek and latin terms for common medical conditions. This has been done deliberately to mislead the general public regarding such events. It is not lack of common sense that these victims are lacking, it is the trust that they have placed in their physicians to have an intimate knowledge regarding toxic chemotherapuedic agents that they hand out like Halloween candy. Such ignorance is rampant and to expect a physician who routinely fails to recognize, treat and report such events to be of any value during such a discussion is asking far too much. Patients are routinely handed free samples of these drugs, with no risk vs benefit discussion ever taking place, no monograph or any other information provided by the physician, and then told when such events manifest "..it cannot be the drug.." are instructed to continue taking it. The majority of the medical community has no idea what a fluoroquinolone is and what drugs make up the class let alone what the potential side effects may be. If the lack of common sense is found to be so disturbing then perhaps the lack of common sense regarding the prescribing of these toxic drugs that needs to be addressed. Not the ignorance of the patient who trust the FDA, the manufacturers, the physician and the pharmacist, only to find that thier trust has been grossly misplaced. There are anything BUT a safe and effective antibiotic with minimum side effects. They in fact are not even true antibiotics. They are a toxic and dangerous form of chemotherapuetic agents of last resort. ONLY to be prescribed when nothing else has proven to be effective. They are not and never were intended to be a first line agent. These are one form of such therapy that indeed have the potential to do far more harm than good when carelessly prescribed. Such ignorance cannot possibly be considered the fault of the patient. It is the fault of the prescibing physician. Should one wish to attack the lack of common sense I suggest that they start there. The victims of such scripting abuse have enough problems to deal with without adding such nonsense to thier never ending list.

I was given Levaquin for a toxic spider bite. I was given Levaquin & Clindamycin to remove the toxins from my body. I have a wonderful doctor. She would have NEVER given me this drug, had she known about the possible side effects. For over two weeks, every muscle & joint in my entire body has put me through agony everytime that I moved. Please, let's get drugs such as this off the market. When I finally found information on the drug, it stated: During & even after you are taking this medication you run a risk of tearing tendons in your body. The main ones being in your shoulder & your achilles tendons. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO WARN ALL PHYSICIANS OF THESE SIDE EFFECTS!! Some of us are already in enough pain without adding to it with an antibiotic that is SUPPOSED to help you. WHAT A JOKE!!