Levaquin and poison

i ave a friend who has just had a bad case of the flu which has turned into pneumonia. her doctor out her on levaquin! i almost had a heart attack, called her and begged her to stop it. i sent her a bunch of info about it. why not put her on augment, something with less chance of adverse effects.
now i find she had a stroke over the weekend and is in the hospital! has anyone heard of anything like this on levaquin?

In addition to all I mentioned in my posting before, I am now having burning skin feeling and my shirt can't touch my skin sometimes without it burning, hurting.

Has anyone heard if this drug leaves your system or not???

After you read a representative sampling of this website's testimonials, you certainly ask yourself inter alia: Can this be true? Did thousands of people inject an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone family, which crippled them for longer or for shorter? Most of us, I suspect, never really get beyond the initial litmus test: Did this medicine poison me or save me? (The answer depends, of course, upon the age, gender, medical condition, and most importantly, the DNA make-up of the individual patient. For hundreds of thousands of patients this antibiotic is a boon. For thousands of other misfortunes this antibiotic is a disaster.) But there is another important question here.

Who gains from self-revelation? To be sure individual sufferers gain certain emotional catharsis from posting their adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to levaquin. E-postings are one-way anonymous tracks that form ruts on a well-traveled trail of tears. Unless these postings are hoaxes written by mischievious gnomes, then they consitute prima facie evidence for a causal link between levaquin injection and sundry crippling ADRs.

Curiously, this e-forum cannot be used as a tool for organizing thousands of potential litigants who might coalesce under a class action lawsuit. Yes, we can analyze each other's anonymous revelations to see if they muster our respective sense of the "ring-of-truth" re: levaquin toxicity, and we may contact each other one-on-one, but no-one can harness this intoxicating communication's technology to reach simultaneously all respondents en masse as a bloc.

So, who wins? The emotionally unburdened e-poster who learns belatedly that s/he is not alone and that prescription medicine likely caused more pain than the underlying malady for which s/he is being treated? Or big pharma that continues to manufacture and market a medication that poses downside risk to many consumers who unwittingly incur more damage than therapeutic value?

Indeed, who wins in a forum where consumers anonymously reveal their symptoms and unconfirmed suspicions? The answer is big pharma wins. Pharmaceutical companies data-mine our postings to estimate the frequency and bredth of ADRs about which consumers complain. House statisticians estimate the ratio of active complainants : silent complainants, i.e., the ratio of complaints who show up on this website to the far heftier percentage of complainants who never post on this website because either they are technology-challenged or they are incurious. House actuarians proceed to estimate how much operating profits their employers must set aside to cover losses in out-of-court settlements or in awards made to plaintiffs in class action lawsuits.

I think this is how the game is played in a behavioral sink where billions are made in a deregulated marketplace that allows predators and prey to interact anonymously. Sorry to be such a downer, but I fathom only the desperate plight of tens of thousands of levaquin consumers for whom no monetary award ever will compensate them adequately for their suffering, and the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in court awards if consumers ever brought to bear their aggregate numbers and draw a bead on their big pharma tormenters.

I think it a true horror and shame that pharmaceutical companies have not devised a test which determines in advance which patient safely may consume levaquin and which patient's DNA places him or her at risk. I suspect the genome technology is available, but would dig too deeply into big pharm's bottom line. The economics of "parachutes-for-everyone" is infeasible. We are all guinea pigs in a B-grade movie featuring Russian roulette, billion-dollar pay-offs, and an FDA that pretends not to know.

I took levaquin for 10 days and then cipro for 10 days after being misdiagnosed with bacterial pneumonia when I really had cocci mycidioidosus (valley fever) a creepy lung infection from a fungus that lives in the dirt here in Ca . Within a few days of stoping the antibiotics I experienced severe joint pain,dizziness,swollen neck ,hives,pain and tingling in my legs and feet,taste perversion,neck pain,hallucinations,nightmares,suicidal thoughts,dead skin,head ache,conjunctivitis. All of which I thought were valley fever related . A few weeks later I started noticing loss of vision and an inability to focus or concentrate on anything. I have ruptured 5 tendons and sometimes can't lift my right arm off the table.
I'ts been a year and 3 months and I still suffer from these side effects and about 3 months ago I started to notice some hearing loss and then ringing in my ears so load that it wakes me up!

This drug has ruined my life.I have lost 2 profitable businesses,a house a car .a commercial building, my credit score is 309 from 760 a year ago.All from a stupid antibiotic that should not be sold in the first place unless you are going to die if you don't take it.....personally I would rather be dead I think.

I think that we (the 1000's of people effected by this drug) should protest,march at ORTHO McNEIL's doorstep and perhaps the FDA....write a letter ,call or write to OPRA...do something ...It's not right that they get away with selling this crap.

Please email me ...I see 1000's of you on these sites...lets get busy!

******

Thanks for reading

DOESN'T ANYONE REALLY READ THESE POSTS????? Please don't take anymore of this poison.
Send in a medwatch report by going to www.fda.gov. That is the only thing that might help save others from this horrible nightmare.
I'm going on 5 years since I was poisoned by levaquin. I still have the effects of that horrible poison.
Tell everyone you know not to take it.
Change doctors. Find one that reads and knows what to give for a virus and isn't looking for kickbacks from the pharmaceutical companies.
Go to www.fqvictims.org and you will find some helpful hints to help you through this.

I went to the doctor on 9/11/09, having been sick for a couple of weeks w/ nasal congestion and then developing muscle aches, fatigue, and a fever, along with the new symptom of a cough. My doctor was on maternity leave, so saw someone else in the practice, who hastily diagnosed a sinus infection and prescribed penicillin. Got the beginnings of hives on Sunday early in the a.m., called the pharmacy, discontinued the penicillin. Still had a fever and was miserable, called the doctor on Monday to document the hives for my medical chart, and said I thought it was flu, not an infection. Finally was called back, and they called in levaquin, despite my thought it wasn't infection. Fever had broke finally, and I was making some progress, but figured the doctor knows best and took one dose of levaquin before bedtime. Had horribly vivid daymares/hallucinations and kept telling myself, "Its not real!" Woke the next morning, and could barely move. Couldn't get from the couch to the tv a few steps away and knew I was in serious trouble. Called the doctor and the nurse said they wouldn't see me, no appointments, so my husband took me to the ER. ER doctor said it was a reaction to levaquin, discontinue use, and it would take probably a day to pass through my system. Also said I had a virus, not an infection to begin with. (Horribly ironic, huh). It is now Thursday, 9/17, and I move like a snail. I have no stamina, and can barely walk. I went to work (I'm a teacher) and cried after walking my kids down to art. Am I ever going to feel normal again? This is really depressing. I was a healthy, active person before I took a dose of this poison.

I took this poison 5 years ago and I'm still suffering the effects of it. PLEASE send it MEDWATCH reports so that they can get this off the market.
For all of you just starting your journey into hell, only time will help you. Take hot baths, don't over exercise ( you will tear tendons), change doctors tell everyone you know not to take any FLUOROQUINOLONE (LEVAQUIN, CIPRO, ETC.)

I was prescribed levaquin back in May for a sinus infection. Have suffered from severe side effects, worst of which being joint and muscle pain, stomach pains, weakness and hives (last dose was taken 10 days ago). This has been the most physical discomfort and pain that I've ever been in. In addition, my ability to concentrate and recall easy things has lessened.
The "Bafoon" of a doctor that prescribed this claimed he didn't know what was wrong with me after a normal blood test. My new knowledgeable doctor told me that some people can't even walk after taking Levaquin. She says it takes on average 7 days to 6 weeks to feel improvement. Being a 36 yr old woman, having to move turtle speed, and feeling like I'm in a 90 year old body is very depressing.
If anyone has any information on any class action or mass tort litigation lawsuits please send me the information. This drug is poison and should not be prescribed for minor infections!!!

I have been taking this Leviquin for 4 days. I have had severe cramps in my calves and feet in the middle of the night. So bad that I get up and try to step em' off but to no avail. My muscles hurt so bad in my legs arms and I have been very sick to my stomach. Do these things go away? I am not taking one more of those pills. I would rather have sinus and bronchitis problems than deal with these horrific side effects!! Any feed back?

My poor Mother was prescribed this medicine 2 days ago and she's not slept for 2 days and has had horrible pains in her legs. I just found out today that she started taking this and I looked it up only to the horror of all the complaints on this medication. DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION, IT'S POISON! It's so sad what people have to go through in taking some medications. I never take a medication without looking up all the side effects. I wish my Mother would have called me before taking this, but she trusts in her Doctor. I don't think Doctor's check complaints on medications, at least some don't. I had her STOP taking this right away and contact her Doctor tomorrow.

I was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection, later to be told it was e-coli. After several days of intravenous antibiotics along with prednisone in my IV to help manage terrific arthritis pain, I came home from the hospital with a prescription of levaquin, prednisone and something for my stomach that I could have gotten over the counter. I have progressively gotten sicker on my stomach, had severe attacks 3 to 5 times a day, headaches, extreme fatigue and weakness. Worst of all were the crazy thoughts when I woke up partly due to nightmares and partly to just not feeling myself and having a feeling of loss of control of all my emotions. I told my husband I believe I was going into a depression. After stumbling onto this site, I threw the 5 remaining levaquin in the trash and thank God that I found all the information I have today on this POISON. I agree with many that the side effects far outweigh any good this antibiotic has done for me. I continue to be very sick and weak. I just hope when I wake tomorrow this mess is out of my system for good.

My daughter is 16 and was given Levaquin 500 for a sinus infection. While on the medication she was tired but not much else in the side effect category. Now here we are 4 weeks later and she has acute abdomen pain, extreme fatigue,nausea, a headache, and she has lost 21 lbs in 2 weeks. I took her to the doctor and they ran a cbc, chem 12, urinalysis, and an electrolyte panel. All came back negative. Basically my perfectly healthy little girl is suffering from this. I went back and looked at the Levaquin packet because I know it can sometimes take a few weeks AFTER medications are stopped for side effects to show themselves and of course, all her symptoms are listed.

I am a 29 y/o male.this month i got a terrible sinus infection, probably due to a month's struggle with allergies. I was initially prescribed Augmenting but after just 1 pill i was up all night with stomach cramps & diarrhea. I was scared to take another dose so my dr. prescribed me Levaquin as an alternative. After reading the warnings I became very worried due to the fact that I already have lower back/hip and joint pain issues. I also work evening freight at Home Depot. After 1 Levaquin yesterday morning, I went to work ready to take it easy and not hurt my body more than it already does... after about 30 minute of simply opening small boxes and putting light-weight merchandise on the shelves, i began to feel extreme tension/aching in my hands and fingers.I was being very careful with my back & neck, but never even thought this might effect my hands??? I woke up this morning hoping it would be gone... no such luck, even after a full night's rest they still feel like i have arthritis, and no my hips (S.I. joints)are popping out like crazy. i am about to take the 2nd dose, only b/c my ears nose and throat do feel much better. I am just glad I picked up paperwork/and can afford to take a few days of LOA if this gets any worse. It is hard for me just to type this now : (. I'm scared.

My husband was prescribed 500 MG of Levaquin for 10 days due to respiratory infection. When I got the medicine home, I read all of the warnings and possible side affects. He is 61 and has had tendon damage in his shoulder and his lower leg from taking Cipro two years ago. He had severe joint pain from Bactrim and hallucinations from Flagyl. From these previous antibiotics he still suffers pains and limitations of movement. What is worse is that they prescribed Prednisone with the Levaquin. It clearly states in the warnings that Levaquin taken with Prednisone increases the likelihood of tendon damage. The warnings state that people over 60 have increased risk of tendon damage. Why on earth did his doctor prescribe this? My husband is 61 and was too sick to research all of this on his own. It has obviously become more profitable to make people sicker.
I found this forum and called his doctor. I refused to give him this terrible Levaquin and asked for a prescription for something milder. The Doxycylene seems to be working just fine to clear his infection.
A word of warning to all to not drink the Kool Aid that they give you without asking questions. Any health care system that sustains itself by keeping people ill is a bad one. Think about it. If people are healthy, then where is the profit?
This Levaquin sounds like some kind of bad snake oil to me and I am thankful to have read the warnings and then found this helpful forum. I am so sorry for the pain that most of you have suffered and are suffering. We are living with damage from antibiotics and we understand your anger. Take good care of yourselves.

Our government is allowing these big drug companies to kill us. I only took Cipro for two days for UTI and quit it. I am so much sicker now and it has been 3 days since I quit. I am bloated severely, my neck hurts so bad, I am nauseated. It won't go away.
I feel so bad for the elderly and the people that can look these poisons up.
The companies that make these should be sued. It is terrible. My UTIs always got better immediately on the old sulfa medicines I was given before and never had these side effects.
I can't sleep either.
Don't let anybody take this poison.

This is not a side effect but some good news. I saw yesterday on television that the FDA is being forced to put a Black Box warning on the antibiotic Levaquin. This is going to force doctors to recognize the dangers of this drug and that the side effects are more widespread than they are being told by the FDA.....D.

WOULD EVERYONE PLEASE SEND IN A MEDWATCH REPORT TO WWW.FDA.GOV. IT'S THE ONLY WAY THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO GET RID OF THIS POISON.
PLEASE DO IT TODAY!!!!!

My doctor prescribed levaquin for a sinus infection AND possible stomach ulcer - kill 2 birds with one stone. Took one pill yesterday and had a rather quiet evening. Very difficult to wake up this morning, but got up anyway and headed to work. Found it VERY difficult to drive!! I was shocked - I didn't realize until I got part of the way to work that I was extremely spacey. Maybe the coffee I'm drinking this morning is spreading the drug around in my body / brain?? After arriving at work, felt even worse, and became very irritable. Want to just close my eyes and go to sleep! I have cold chills and I also feel very depressed and started to cry for NO reason. I called my doctor and she said to stop taking it right away.

As a side note - I have just started taking Femera (post cancer medicine) about 2 weeks ago and wonder if it's a combination of both of these drugs that is making me not feel well, or if it's just the Levaquin...I feel a lot worse emotionally today than I did yesterday, so for that fact alone, I know it's the Levaquin that's doing it.

I agree with other posters that I would not take this drug again unless it was absolutely necessary. The sinus headache was bad, but feeling like this is WORSE. I feel out of control and like an emotional wreck.

It has been almost two years since I took one tablet of 500 mg levaquin for a throat infection. I immediately felt lightheaded, then came the hot prickly skin, rapid heartbeat, insomnia and just a feeling of doom. I did not take another pill. Right after this my ankles started to hurt and podiatrist said had a torn posterier tibial tendon. To this day, I cannot walk without a limp, and can only wear athletic shoes with orthotics. If I stand for or walk for a small period of time I am in a lot of pain and have to sit. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis from the inflammatory markers in blood tests and rf factor, even though mri of my hands and wrists are normal. My right shoulder and arm hurt, my wrists and fingers hurt, my knees, neck. It is better, but I will never be the same as I was - no more running, walking my dog, going camping with my daughters girl scout troop - can't go hiking. I am 50 and I feel like I am 90. Would like to sue someone.

I am an 80 year old male----quite good health except for having right hip replacement since 1988 industrial accident---several months ago, my orthopedic surgeon told me the severe pain; again in right hip, required surgery to correct. I had that surgery about 3 weeks ago and it went well--had usual pain, muscle cramps, but nothing alarming---I also had a left knee implant 4 years ago, so I know what to expect. I was discharged from hospital after 3 days and seemed OK-----however, I developed a mild infection the the drainage area of the surgery, my Orthopedic surgeon said not to take any chances and prescribed 500 milligrams of LEVAQUIN---one tablet each day fro 30 days!!!!~the very first day I took Levaquin, I was very stiff and sore in muscles, arms, legs and the worst insomnia I have ever experienced---I took a SECOND pill next day because I trust my doctor-----I immediately began having HORRIBLE NIGHTMARES, anxiety and absolutely unable to sleep longer than an hour at a time.----I feel like some of the descriptions that people said about LSD---I thank God I had sense to stop drug and am cleansing my system---I pray I am more successful in clearing this poison that some others I have read about-------BAN LEVAQUIUN it is a deadly, multifaceted poison that damages, muscles, eyes, joints ------THE WHOLE BODY!!!!! B.

I was prescribed Levaquin 500 mg today because of pneumonia. I was told to take 1 tablet for 10 days. I'm allergic to penicillin so my doctor prescribed Levaquin. After I took my first dose today, 15 minutes later, I started to have what I would call hallucinations . I would see all these weird colors. I was in the shower at the time and it was certainly not a pleasant experience. I also had a tingling feeling in both arms. I would almost describe the feeling of when doctors inject a dye into your vein to take a CAT scan. After a half hour of this, all went away and actually felt better throuout this afternoon. After reading other complaints on this site, I'm calling my doctor first thing in the morning because this medication sounds like trouble!

I was prescribed Levaquin after coming in with "walking pneumonia" I was given 5 days of Levaquin along with Prednisol. I have been off Levaquin for over a week and I am having severe stomach pain. I have tried Mylanta, Tums and everything imaginable and the pain will not go away. The doctor said the side effects should not be lasting this long. The stomach pain started about two days after taking Levaquin along with dizziness and has not stopped.

SO SORRY TO SEE SO MANY NEW PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM. PLEASE SEND IN A MEDWATCH REPORT BY GOING TO WWW.FDA.GOV. EVEN THE PERSON THAT THINKS SHE'S BEING HELPED BY THIS NEEDS TO DO THE SAME. PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR DR. AND BE VERY VERY CAREFUL. THIS STUFF DOES DAMAGE EVEN WHEN YOU'RE DONE WITH IT,
I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR 4 YEARS NOW. I'VE HAD HEART PROBLEMS, DEPERSONALIZATION, TENDON PROBLEMS, TINNITUS 24/7, HEARING LOSS. MY LIFE WAS RUINED BY THIS POISON. THERE ARE SAFER ANTIBIOTICS AVAILABLE. WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE WITH KNOWN POISON LIKE THIS???
GO TO****** AND YOU CAN GET SOME HELP THERE.

NO SIDE EFFECTS: POSSIBLE HELP WITH SUPPLEMENTS had very serious sinus infection. two weeks of anit-biotics with no result, symptoms got worse, before taking levaquin for an additional two weeks. within three days was back on my feet. i previously have taken the supplement MSM for continual joint pain in past years, and was pleased to find a wide array of other health benefits from taking it. Having two kids, building a home and busy work schedule led to neglect of my heath supplements. (not smart) Resulting in immune dysfunction, chronic sinus infections over the last two years. After realizing that my health was was in ruins, i decided to start taking my supplements again around the time of my course of levaquin. started taking my multi's again and more importantly my MSM ( similar to chondroitin or glucosamine) Note: I recently read that MSM has been proven to help the body fight infection, as it is required to be present for the body to fight infection. MSM is simply (organic sulfer) found in everyday food we eat. with processed foods and preservatives this element is removed. To make a long story short, after first taking levaquin, I did have some minor joint and back pain (among other things) started taking MSM and effects were diminished, and then gone. After reading what others went through, i made the correlation between the two, and with my previous history of joint pain i would think that i would be a prime candidate for these symptoms. It worked for me, it may work for you, and the worst case scenario is that is doesn't work but you become stronger and healthier from taking it. Brief History. I use to love to play basketball. after joint pain and swelling could only play once a week, and couldn't even walk up stairs the next day. after taking MSM continually for a couple of weeks i was able to play daily, for as long as I wanted. a true miracle. The good news: its at the health food store, it's really cheap, and its a completely natural supplement. take 1000 mg daily with meals or without. its worth a shot for no symptoms.

I had a very bad time with bronchitis my doctor prescribed Levaquin 750mg. 2/19/09 I took one tablet around 6PM this evening it is now 3AM I am wide awake. Out of no where I was hullucinating, I thought I was at a house with my husband, my cat called my cell phone and was meowing that my baby had fallen out the bed and was crying. I am single I do not have children. My body and head felt like things are crawling on me. I knew something was happening to me I got out of bed and googled "What is Levaquin?" The only thing on the prescription bottle is to TAKE THIS MEDICATION WITH PLENTY OF WATER. My stomach feels nauseous I am going to drink as much water as I can to get this stuff out of my body as quick as possible. The pharmacy did not put the usual explanation of the drug and the side affects in the prescription bag. I'm so thankful that this is the first site that came up. I pray that I won't have any other problems later today. I will not take anymore of these pills, I just paid $224 for 7 pills. The other six pills are going to be flushed.

I am scared to death after reading what everyone is going through. I was put on Levaquin for 10 days and got to day 9. My joints ached so bad I thought I had arthritis, and even had my Dr. do blood tests for it (I had no idea it was the Levaquin). I am only 35 years old and never worried about arthritis before this. Also, within 5 days I started developing hives all over. Again, I was stupid and didn't realize until day 9 that the hives were because of this med. I told my Dr. and he told me to stop taking it which of course I did. I assumed the hives would go away after the med was out of my system. But a week later the hives were unbearable. I was put on prednisone (another issue altogether) and that helped the itching, but now every time I try to go off or back off the prednisone the hives come back- and they are terrible! Now my Dr. thinks the hives were from something else because there is no way that the Levaquin is still in my body. But after reading what other people are going through on this med, I am convinced this stuff is as everyone says- POISON!! I am so worried about the joint and hip pain that was so bad I couldn't stand for long without excruciating pain in my right hip. It felt like I had a one hundred pound weight just sitting on it. And my hands were the worst. I have a newborn and could barely pick him up without worry that I'd drop him. I don't know what to do.. Is there anything to do?? I'm still on the prednisone, and have been for a month. I need to get off of it but every time I do I itch so bad with the hives that I cannot function. Also because of the prednisone I noticed last night that I am getting "moon face" my face is swelling up and there are a million side effects from that drug too. How long does this last? Has anyone else fought the hives that come with this? Please help me, I am so scared!

Doctor prescribed 500mg 1x day for Upper Respiratory Infection. I took it the first 7 days. I experienced insomnia, anxiety, loss of taste and smell and loss of appetite. After a meal, food just sat there and bloated my stomach for 10 hours. I also was shocked to experience increased sexual desire and that is the last thing I wanted while in the dark mental state of panic induced by Levaquin. It's a horrible drug.

I found this site and stopped taking it. I called the doctor, who said he did not agree that Levaquin caused those symptoms. It's time for a new doctor.

I have read the dreadful Levaquin experiences of others here. May some good come out of the suffering of these folks and may this site serving as a warning to prevent others in the future from ever taking Levaquin. God bless everyone.

I was prescribed 750 mg per day yesterday for 5 days for bronchitis. I took my second pill today and I cannot bare weight on my legs, the achiness and knee pain is excruciating. My husband called my brother-in-law to help get me to the car so we could go to the emergency room. While we were waiting for him, I looked at my prescription info because that was the only thing different. I am also allergic to sulfa drugs and thought it could be a reaction to the meds. I called the pharmacist and was told this was not a common side effect but definitely could be from the drug and to stop taking it. We didn't go to the er but decided to wait and see if this would become better. I can't walk and I'm 42 years old! After 2 pills!!!

Currently on month three of side effects. LIghtheadedness, head pressure and tingling, feeling like I am going to pass out, awful Castro pain, gas, belching, chest pain. Tendinitis in both knees and left wrist with swelling. Weak, tired, sick 80% of the time. I have been scoped, had mid section ultrasound, heart stress test, numerous EKGs, blood workups, all within range except for low potassium. This is poison and it just goes on and on. Most Doctors are skeptical although I have found two that believe this is a result of Levaquin, after seeing a half dozen including my internist, Gastro Doctor, urgent care Doctor, ER Doctors, cardiologist, etc. I would think the insurance companies would want this off the market. My medical bills are out of sight and my deductible which is rather large was met two months ago.

PLEASE SEND IN MEDWATCH REPORTS AT WWW.FDA.GOV.

IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET THIS POISON OFF THE MARKET.

I'VE BEEN SUFFERING NOW FOR 4-1/2 YRS. HELP GET THIS OFF THE

MARKET. H.

Folks, please stay away from this poison! I started taking Levaquin as prescribed for the thunderbolt-like strike of a prostate infection. The infection hit at around 8 PM on Friday, took the first 500 mg Levaquin Saturday at 10 AM. Later that day, after having taken only one dose, I started having difficult to breathe and my speech became faulty, as I could not naturally coordinate breathing with speaking (later I learned that I was having, and still have, diaphragm spasms.) In addition to that, I suffered for the next couple of days from intense dizziness, extreme difficulty in walking, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and 100% loss of appetite (could not ingest any solid food for two days, period). Still not connecting the dots, I took the second pill from hell on Sunday at 10 AM. By Monday morning I had read enough info on this site to know better and not take the third dose. I realized that, at the rate my breathing was deteriorating, things would get pretty grim very soon. I showed up in my doctor's office unannounced and was told right away to switch to Cipro. One of the problems I see with detecting a medication's side effects is one's ability to distinguish them from the actual symptoms of the disease: a good example are the intense chills and shivering associated with fever, but apparently much more intense and lasting long after the fever is gone when provoked by Levaquin. Please question your doctor if he/she prescribes this poison from hell to you and recommend that friends do the same.

As I have stated here before, I had a terrible time with side effects from Levaquin. Everything from extreme fatigue to a ruptured distal bicep tendon. The damage this stuff causes is not to be taken lightly. It is poison! For more info: ****** While a wiki might not represent a professional opinion, it sure does show that others are having similar problems. How long will the medical community continue to deny the reality of this stuff?

Well, I have had tinnitus for a year to the point I may have to quit work and go on disability. I noticed that every time I take an antibiotic, the tinnitus gets better (but doesn't quite go away). I recently took LEVAQUIN for bronchitis and after the first pill my tinnitus subsided substantially. It remained much better during the ten day treatment. I had no side effects from the antibiotic although it did seem to take the whole ten days to help my bronchitis.

Now that I am finished the LEVAQUIN my tinnitus is increasing again.

I liked the experience of taking it.

SEND IN MEDWATCH REPORTS PLEASE. THIS POISON WILL REMAIN ON THE MARKET UNLESS ALL OF YOU NOTIFY THE FDA ABOUT YOUR SIDE EFFECTS. WWW.FDA.GOV

I took Levaquin for about two weeks, I started out with 500mg.. and went down to 250mg once a day. I had MRSA and that has healed up nicely.. but I developed the rashes.. on the backs of my hands and arms for some relief I put peroxide on then rinse with cold water, and pat dry then I put Calamine lotion on which is used for rashes, poison ivy and such.. the pink stuff.. It helps a lot with the itching and the pain from itching it. The rash on the back of my hands is almost gone now, I have been putting the calamine on my arms. The rash on the back of my hands ive had for about 2 weeks.. try the peroxide and the calamine lotion.. it really helps to relieve the itching.

OH MY GOD!!!! I thought I might be imagining things. I was prescribed Levaquin and clyndamycin on December 15 2008 for a urinary tract infection that appeared to have gone systemic. After 2 days my right knee swelled up. I went back to the Dr the next day and he looked up both antibiotics in his little book and said the clyndamycin could cause joint swelling and pain. He told me to stop taking the clyndamycin and take 600 mg of ibuprofen for the joint paig. His little book said nothing about levaquin. Well I kept taking the levaquin and the pain spread literally to every joint in my body. I could not walk and had trouble even holding a coffee cup. The pain was unreal. I completed the 10 day course of the levequin as instructed. The joint pain was getting worse. I called the Dr. again and they did blood work to rule out arthritis and stuff like that. He put me on prednisone which has significantly helped with the pain. He said it may be a coincidence that I have developed arthritis and that it had nothing to do with the UTI. Well as I was watching TV last night I saw a lawyers commercial for a law suit against levaquin and cipro. Then today got on the internet and found this site. I am going to call the Dr. and tell him to update his little book he looked up the levaquin in. My fear is how long after you stop taking this poison does the joint pain end? I wish I would have known all of this sooner. I will never take this drug again.

Today is Christmas day 2008. And a Merry Christmas to me ha!!!!!!!! I was given a prescription for the drug Levaquin on the 19th of December for a suspicion of pneumonia. The x rays done at the hospital found no evidence of pneumonia but my doctor wanted me to take it anyway because since I have asthma and my lungs sounded so bad I was told that I was at risk for developing any secondary infection that was out there. My husband filled the prescription on the 20th which was Saturday, took the first one of a seven day supply 500 mg tablets. About 4 hours after taking just one pill was awakened by severe and agonizing pain in both of my feet and my knees that I was writhing in pain. Since I have nerve damage in my feet anyhow I know what the pain that I normally experience feels like and instantly knew that this was not normal for me. When I thought that I finally might be able to walk I hobbled into the kitchen and dug the list of side affects out of the garbage (stupid me had not read them first.) I discovered that it was one of the side affects. Called the on call doctor in the morning since it was on the weekend and he stopped it immediately and put me on something else. I only took that one pill and since Saturday night every night I wake up in agonizing knee pain and I have never had pains in my knees before. The pain is so bad that I feel like I am ready to go on a morphine drip, or cut my legs off above the knees. Six days now from one pill, how much longer can this go on? I really feel bad for the people that contined to trust their doctors and continued with the full course of the medication and I realize that what I am experiencing is minor compared to what others are going through. This drug should come with a handout that says: Take this drug at a risk to your health!!!!!! Last night the pain lasted all night and I cried all night. Have to get through this day am entertaining for the holiday and have had no sleep. Actually getting afraid to go to sleep at this point.............D.

Hello, I have read over most of these side effects and i would have to agree and be afraid of most of it. See I was diagnosed with bronchitis/pneumonia, they prescribed me these pills along with steroids. I have not taken the steroids yet but I did take my first dose of levaquin about 12 hours ago around 8 pm. With my dinner and plenty of water and fluids. I went to bed late with my fiance but not cause of the medicine, we decided to stay up and watch movies. Although, it did help my coughing and breathing, I felt bloated or ballooned up all of a sudden and it was starting to hurt my stomach. I figured it was the food I ate and all the water I have been drinking. So, next I noticed some minor vaginal discharge of which looks like when I'm ovulation so I pasted that as that. Now I woke up at 5:30 in the morning when I went to bed at 2 am and I can't go back to sleep! I woke up from a nightmare to see things in the dark to scare the %$^* out of me. I had this really bad taste and dryness to my mouth I felt like it was suffocating me. I cant seem to think straight or type well (I had to go back and review what I wrote but I might not have gotten all my mistakes) I feel like I have ADD I keep forgetting how to spell simple words... I mean the list keeps going and going. I am writing now because I am currently on it. I will not be taking this medication anymore much less the steroids but if anyone reads this, I hope you read first then take.

Extreme fatigue, inability to eat, terror attacks, and a tendon rupture. These were just some of my side effects. It has been 2 yrs and although I am recovering (ever so slowly) I have some PERMANENT damage that I am living with. The tendon was repaired surgically but my arms are in daily pain and it's not the "take an aspirin and sit with a heating pad" kind of pain. It pretty much makes my arms useless. I also have problems with knees and ankles too. I never imagined this would happen given how fit I was at 46. Now at 48 I like to remember how I used to be.

Why in the world would anyone suggest "just take it with lots of water" or "be sure to take it on a full stomach" or "after it's out of your system you will be ok"??? How condescending and inconsiderate. It is NOT worth the risk. Please don't take the chance. I only hope my suffering can help someone else.

This stuff is poison. It's not "like a poison", it is a poison. I'm sure it does kil lots of bad things..... along with way too many good things. I am not left to suffer the long term effects and it is not fun.

DO NOT TAKE THIS POISON!! I have spent the last 4 years dealing with
adverse side effects of this medication. I have central nervous system damage, digestive disorders, anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, achiness-it feels like a really really bad flu. My dad who is a doctor didn't believe that Levaquin was the cause at first however he had a chemist look up the compound makeup and was told to never prescribe this or any other fluoroquinolone again (cipro, avelox, etc!) Side effects can last long after you finish this medication. Also animals can get this stuff so it can be in the meat you eat which will make you feel worse or it could kill your beloved pets. Do your research. Warn friends and family-even strangers. Make a mediwatch report. Helpful sites if you are dealing with poisoning.
There is also a yahoo group.

I posted earlier today about my side effects: ringing ears, headache, nausea, agitation/anxiety, inability to think straight, stuffed nose, etc. Though no fun, I was tolerating the side effects ok so far. Not for long...

Update: Took pill number 4 of 10 (500mg, 1x day) tonight at 6pm. Oh my God. Within an hour I am itching, and where I scratch, there are welts. Then nausea and belching, like I'm gonna vomit. I immediately take 50mg benadryl in case of allergy. Breathing is ok, itching stops. But this poison is making me shaky on the inside, and still nauseous with terrible headache, and muscle aches in my neck and back. I also have a sense of muscle stiffness, bodywide. All this for a "possible" post surgical infection. You couldn't get me to take this again for a million dollars. I am ordering a MedicAlert bracelet with Levaquin on it, as I don't ever want this in my body again. I almost had my husband take me to the ER. I am drinking lots of water to flush it out. I'm sure I am in the minority, and many people take it with no troubles. But all I can say is that I feel like I just took rat poison.

Thank God I found you guys. I thought my sinus infection was killing me! I just finished a five day course of 750. I've had pain in my chest, tendency to cry, horrible pain in my neck, almost totally inability to sleep, little appetite, and one weird thing I've noticed is my stomach seems to be emptying very slowly. Tonight, I threw up before I even had anything to eat and some of the food was stuff I ate yesterday. Yeah I know, T.M.I. Has anyone had this problem? Any ideas how to get this crap out of our system? Our doctors have betrayed us with this poison.

S. in Bossier City, LA

I never have the side effects that other people have. I am allergic to a lot of antibiotics but can take this one. It always clears up my infections with no problems. I always drink the extra fluid they recommend while taking it. I am not sure if this is what helps. Also, there is a warning that people over 60 are more likely to have side effects. So if you are over 60 maybe this is not the med for you. I am grateful that this medication exists.

I am 35 years old and I live in Jacksonville, NC. Five days ago I was prescribed Levaquin for a serious sinus infection. After taking the first pill, I kept telling my husband I felt weird. Like I was numb. This was Saturday. By Monday I had no feeling in my face, no sense of smell or taste. It was horrible. By Monday eve my heart was pounding. I felt like it was coming out of my chest. I was so dizzy and I found it hard to concentrate. I woke up Wed. morning telling my husband I felt weird. I felt like I couldn't move my eyes and I couldn't feel the left side of my body. My lip on the upper right was swollen with blisters. Not to mention they were so dry because it seemed like no matter how much I was drinking I could never stay hydrated. By lunchtime Wed my left side of my body became very hot to where I was actually sweating under my armpit on the left side and my right side was cold. My heart began to race very badly, I became very dizzy, I felt like I couldn't breathe, my throat felt like it was swelling up and I couldn't swallow, then I started to shake uncontrollably, my body broke out in the horrible hives/rash. My blood pressure soared to 198/109 my pulse was 148. Then everything went black and I lost conscious. When I woke I was told I was unconscious for nearly three hours and that they injected me straight in the neck with epinephrine and injected me in my arm with 50 cc of Benadryl. They told me that they believe I suffered a serious reaction from Levaquin. It is the day after, cant even go to work, so weak and have the worst case of diarrhea you could possibly imagine. I was not even aware that the FDA put a black box warning on this drug. Meaning it is the worst warning you can have without removing it off the market. What the hell is wrong with these doctors? Why the hell would you keep giving that poison to us if you know it has such severe reactions. I am a mother of five and yesterday I thought my kids were going to be without a mother, that is how bad it was. I still have the bouts of paranoia and swear I am seeing things. My mind is a blur to most of yesterday. I still have no feeling on the left side of my body, or my face. I still cant taste or smell anything either. I am having bouts of dizziness and anxiety. I only consumed four of the 750 mg tablets, they gave me seven. They have prescribed me a different antibiotic, however because of yesterday, I am petrified of taking any medications, even Tylenol.

I am 35 and I took Levaquin about 3 months ago when I experienced pain in my hands and achilles tendon. Fortunately I figured out what was going on before I had a rupture. In an effort to repair the damage one of the things I did was take a few joint and tendon supplements. I took Ligaplex I, Super Cissus RX, Fish Oil, Glucosamin, Condroitin, and MSN. I believe these supplements where a big help in my recovery. If you are going to use these supplements make sure you take them as directed because each has it's own recommended schedule.

I have taken three 500mg doses of Levaquin since Saturday. They were prescribed by my urologist for a "possible" minor prostates that might be affecting my PSA (2.2). The very first night I was unable to sleep, tossing and turning all night. Thought nothing of it, and blamed it on diet or too much sleep the previous day. However, insomnia has continued for three straight nights and last night I woke at 4:30 AM with shortness of breath (had to take long deep breaths to feel like I was getting enough oxygen) that felt like an anxiety attack. Although there was no pain, I felt like my heart was pounding and rapid. Finally got a little more sleep and woke up feeling OK in the morning, but blood pressure was elevated. I continually feel like I'm on a caffeine high. I never associated it, but, I woke up second and third days with a sore throat and have had a few minor muscle twitches in arms, legs and abdomen.

I feel fortunate compared to others on this forum. I have stopped taking the Levaquin and have an appointment with my family doctor tomorrow. As a side note, I had an acute prostates this time last year and took Cipro for over one month with no similar side effects that I can recall. Does anyone know if two drugs from the same group can have such different side effects, or can I expect the same problems if I start taking Cipro again?

HELLO EVERYONE, I HAVE READ YOUR POSTS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. PLEASE JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST THIS POISON AND SEND A MEDWATCH REPORT IN TO WWW.FDA.GOV.
GO TO WWW.FQVICTIMS.ORG AND WWW.FQRESEARCH.ORG AND YOU WILL GET SOME HELP THERE.
IT'S BEEN 4 YEARS FOR ME AND I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS BUT SOME OF THE THINGS DO GET BETTER. HANG IN THERE BUT BE SURE TO WARN YOUR FRIENDS NOT TO TAKE THIS POISON. THERE ARE MUCH SAFER DRUGS AVAILABLE.

My name is Heather I am now 32 years old I took levaquin when i was 29. After i took levaquin I went on a roller coaster ride I have yet to be able to get off of. First when i took it I had the worst night mares i have ever had only to wake up to a splitting headache and a very sore body. took another one the next day same reaction.I figured it was the bronchitis that was causing the problem. on the third day i was worse still I could hardly move. I stopped taking the drug. after another two days i felt better. two weeks later I was out with my father and he noticed a rash on my legs. I was also starting to get little blood blisters. I started to become concerned and the next day after going to the zoo with my family i came home and my legs were swollen three times there normal size and very sore. I put them up just to find the felt like play dough had been stuffed in to them and I had blood blisters the size of pencil erasers. I made an appointment to see the doctor. he said and i Quote " Heather I have No idea what the Hell you have" he sent me to a specialist. between the time of my first appointment and the appointment with the specialist my legs stopped working from the hips down i was 90% paralyzed (not spelled right ) they just wouldn't work right. My ten year old daughter was helping me get to the bathroom. I was soooo sick i had a headache all the time couldn't eat or sleep and when i did it was only for a few hours I couldn't move very well and to get up out of bed hurt so bad i almost fell every morning. by the time i had gotten to the specialist I had gone to the E.R. three times for the pain.and the last time was because my toes stopped moving altogether. at the appointment the doctor ran all kinds of tests checking me for everything from S.T.D.s (which i have been happily married for years) to Lupus. I felt Like and 80 year old Lady And like i said i was only 29. after the extensive tests and everything coming back normal the doctor put me on a steriod. for 4 months i was told i had to take prednisone After the first dose i could move again I still hurt but i could move.But now i had the side effect from that. i was gaining weight like it was going out of style, but at least i could move. after the 4 months things seemed normal kinda. I could move but if i sit still to long my legs go numb not fall sleep go completely numb even if i am standing to long. I am still afraid that i will wake up again feeling like i did that Fall three years ago. I still have problems but im not sure they are tied in but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. I only took three Pills of Levaquin three years ago!!!! How long does this stuff hang on really??????

For any of you writing in and asking should I take this drug because I already pain the money, DON'T. My side effects have NOT gone away after a year (muscle pain, dry eye, rashes, anemia, tendinitis, etc.). There is always an alternative to this poison.

I was prescribed levaquin for a skin infection called cellulitis. I was meant to use it for 12 days but i stopped on day 10 because i started feeling a sharp pain in the right side of my chest. I intend to talk to my doctor today about this but I'm sure there won't be any real solutions considering the posts I've been reading on this website. I'm currently at work and just can't concentrate as a result of this chest pain. I can't stretch, I can't swing my right arm, I can't even lift anything heavier than my cellphone with my right arm!!......Pls if there is anyone out there who has a solution to this problem, kindly send me a reply. I feel sorry for everyone on here with this experience with levaquin especially with those who are in a more serious situation than i am. Thanks as I look forward to someone's suggestion.