Levaquin and prednisone

I took my first pill of Levaquin 500 and started having abdominal pain.later I started feeling cold and shaking for about one hour. My arms and legs were so sore that I couldn't stand straight. Joints hurt a lot..My husband told me that my eyes were rolling and he was scare. Next day I had red dots in my whole body.mostly my legs. I went to the doctor for a blood test and my platelets were 35. Put me on prednisone. week before were 220. Almost sure was the levaquin. Shoud be taken out of market.

My husband was given Levaquin and Prednisone in April for a bad chest infection. The last day of Levaquin, his knees began burning. He has been suffering with pain and cramps from his toes all the way up his legs. It has been in his fingers up through his elbows. He has shaking in his hands. He had an abnormal EMG. He has intermittent low grade fever. He started having trouble swallowing a couple of weeks ago. He now has to go to speech therapy because his tongue muscles aren't working correctly. He had none of this UNTIL he took this medication. The doctor now finally feels it is as a result of taking the Levaquin. The prescribing doctor had the nerve to lecture us about NOT stating he was allergic to the medication because he would be in the hospital with an infection otherwise. We are not returning to this doctor.

I was given Levaquin for a kidney infection. It seemed to help break my fever but after only one dose, I broke out in rash and later that night had tingling in my legs. My hand felt numb. When I called the oncall doctor she told attributed to anxiety. I told her I was anxious because all of a sudden my hand had gone numb and knowing that was a danger sign I refused to take anymore. Later that night, I could not walk or stand or bear weight on my legs. My shins and Achilles tendons were burning and only because of the internet did I know what was happening to me. Only 1 out of three doctors would agree I was having a drug reaction. For some odd reason, the doctors REFUSE to believe or acknowledge this was caused by Levaquin. No wonder the side effects are "rare" if no doctor will acknowledge the pain their patients are going through....how can the drug companies get any real feedback. Funny thing is only after I sent an email out to my team essentially warning them about this drug did I find out my coworker who had been on medical leave had suffered the same fate of torn achilles tendon and only after 3 months of PT is finally walking without pain. WHAT IS WRONG WITH our world when no one will listen to us. Thank God for the internet. I can walk now and have no pain standing (lasted only 2 and half days) but I am scared about the future as I know the results are lingering. I have been exhausted this whole weekend and wonder if its just me recovering as my PCP had me quit all antibiotics even at the risk of getting my kidney infection back. Well nice to know our stories are the same...and its not in our heads. BTW, my ER doctor told me it was a good drug and very unlikely the cause of my leg pains. They rather believed I had pneumonia or lyme's disease before they would believe it was caused by their beloved drug. All I can think now is I hope one day they are given this drug and it cripples them like it has so many others. Sometimes that is the only way they will acknowledge the truth. It has to happen to them or someone they love.

I am happy to find this site. I was given Levaquin for UTI. A few weeks prior to getting this prescription I was given a sulfa based drug (generic for Bactrim) and started feeling some pain in right wrist and hand. Dr. prescribed Levaquin since this sulfa based drug didn't clear up infection. Took 2 doses of 250mg and the reactions hit - both hands swelled, joints ached, both knees swelled and both feet and ankles swelled. Went to ER and admitted and spent 3 days in hospital on morphine and started prednisone treatment of 20mg a day with Aleve to also help with pain. This Levaquin is NASTY stuff. I can't believe doctors prescribe this medication. I am still not well. How long does it take to recover? I still am stiff and ache. I too am very active runner and finding myself frustrated in the slow recovery.

About a month ago I was given Levaquin, for Pneumonia. After about 5 days my face and neck swelled up, Then came the Prednisone at the hospital. I have never in my 38 years not been able to control my own body. I do take Zoloft,and Xanax for anxiety. No one said I would have a problem walking (legs are not working properly) eating,sleeping, Buzzing in my head. Unable to lift my 3 year old let alone care for her, I get extremely fatigued easily. My Husband has missed a week of work, and if your like us....NOT GOOD. Even trying to type is hard I must look at every letter, It's like I REALLY have to think to make my body move.My kidneys feel like balloons in my back when I lay down,Uncontrollable crying. I can't believe this has happened. We have been going through this the whole month of May.Is anyone able to control the shakes? Even my head is shaking??? I suppose if I had tried hard drugs ever, this might be what it's like. I Pray someone can help me. I am so afraid of what is happening to my body. By the way, when they put me on the Prednisone they did not give me a taper... Had to see another Doctor for that. So as I sit here today, hands shaking, head shaking, knees feeling to loose to walk on them, Hard to breathe, or even to think the way I could a month ago. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME...

I was 54 at the time (2007) and in good physical health, however, after having my first round of chemotherapy as a result of breast cancer, I developed a severe throat yeast infection and my white blood count plummeted. I had ceased taking my many vitamins that have kept me in reasonably good health for the past 25 years because of nausea and generally just not feeling good. The doctors prescribed Levaquin.

Almost immediately, I developed heart palpitations and continued to have fever, nausea, and a rushing feeling throughout my body that was draining me of all energy. I could tell I was fading fast. Upon calling the doctors I said then that I thought it was the Levaquin but they insisted I stay on it otherwise they would put me in the hospital.

After the 4th day on it and with my blood pressure sinking (80/30) my husband called the doctor and they said to go to the ER. I again said to the ER doctor that I thought it was the Levaquin and he scoffed at that. After several hours and many tests, the ER doctor released me and said I could stop taking the Levaquin and he prescribed something to help me to sleep.

By the next day, I already started feeling better and within 3 days I was back taking my vitamins and feeling much better. I never took chemo again after this experience. Unfortunately since then, I have experienced severe ankle and leg cramps in the middle of the night, muscle spasms in my legs. I don't trust my ankles, they feel weak. I assumed it was linked to the chemo and never guessed it could be tied to Levaquin.

I went to my internist doctor who prescribed Flexeril which has helped with the cramps. My massage therapist has noted many times that my tendons and ligaments seem twisted and she has to really work on them which ultimately feels better. I never thought any of these symptoms were tied to Levaquin until last night when I saw the ad on TV regarding Levaquin and tendinitis. I will show this info to my Internist the next time I see him. How does one know if what I am experiencing is linked to Levaquin.

My husband took Levaquin for ten days along with Prednisone for a chest infection. On the tenth and last day of the Levaquin, he began having burning in his knees. It then progressed to cramps in his feet, calves, thighs, knees and now his forearms. He has been referred to a neurologist. I plan to go with this information in my hands when I take him tomorrow. He had called the prescribing doctor's nurse and asked if the problems could be caused by the Levaquin since I had read nerve damage as a side effect. He never got a call back about it. He has also had nightmares so bad he kicked my in the middle of the night while having one. He has been in so much pain, he can hardly walk. He has incredible fatigue with other things already. He takes tramadol as a muscle relaxer, but then he can't drive to pulmonary rehab he is supposed to go to three times a week.

Was prescribed Levaquin in November 2008 for suspected pneumonia, then 5 other times until last week. I've had really bad knee, thigh and arm and shoulder pain for the last 2 months. My legs get so weak and painful that getting out of a chair makes me want to cry, i've got to the stage that i need to hold on to something just to get on to my feet. My arms are rather weak, i can't even lift a small 10lb box without pains shooting down my arm. I've since stopped my last prescription of Levaquin 750mg daily for 7 days, the pain seems to have eased a little but not enough.

My pulmonologist keeps prescribing Levaquin each time i catch a cold or have shortness of breath. I was also taking 60mg of Prednisone from November 2008 until March for newly diagnosed Lung Disease. I've complained to him more than once about pain and weakness in my legs etc. He keeps telling me my muscles are deconditioned.

I've now started physical therapy and i'm doing aqua therapy, so we'll see if this works or not. Maybe it will also help my restless legs, which seems to have intensified this past few weeks.

My son (14 years old) was given levaquin for a sinus and ear infection
2 weeks ago. Around the same time he began practices for his high school baseball team. He complained about his legs being stiff and aching. We assumed it was the intense practices causing his muscles to ache. After a week on the drug, he could barely walk and his knees were swollen. We were very concerned and looked up the side effects of levaquin on the internet. We were shocked and angry when we found out that levaquin should not be given to children under the age of 18 because on the possibility of joint and tendon problems. Today we went to the orthopedist and he drained a lot of fluid off of both knees (it looked like about a 1/2 cup from each).The doctor thinks it has to be a side effect of the drug, because the symptoms began at the same time. He doesn't
think after examining the knee and having him perform certain tasks that he has damaged any tendons. He has all the symptoms of rheumatiod arthritis. He is very athletic and plays competitive sports and we are praying that his knees are not permanently damaged by this drug. Parents please research all drugs and there side effects before giving them to your children! Doctor's DO make mistakes!! The pharmacist failed us too.

took the drug for only 4 days and ended up with MAJOR hives. My doc said he's never seen this side effect before and even took pictures to share with his collegues. It did get rid of my sinus infection, but what a price to pay. I took prednisone to get rid of the hives and that did work, but I still have faint scars where the hives were bad. This was back in May of 08.

There may be no way to get Levaquin out of one's body except time. But I wanted to at least try to speed it up. I don't know if it will work for me or others, only time will tell. There is genetics involved since each of us has a unique tolerance for Levaquin. But here is what I am doing:

1. 8 glasses of water daily with fresh-squeezed lemon juice.
2. Lots of fiber - a tblsp of wheat bran 3 times a day with more water.
3. Plain yogurt with live active cultures 5 times a day.
4. A hot bath with epsom salts once a day.
5. Magnesium, Calcium and Iron, a couple of times a day.
6. Vitamins B and C a few times a day.
7. Body Cleanse and Liver Cleanse from the drug store, as directed.

I took 7 Levaquin pills and stopped 10 days ago. Some symptoms have improved. Notably, my appetite is better, the bloated stomach is gone and food moves through normally, anxiety spells are gone, the brain fog is still there but maybe a slightly better each day.

I will be watching my body for any signs of tendon pain in the 12 - 18 months ahead. No pain so far, but Levaquin is capable of doing damage with the pain not felt until later. I will ease back into exercising very slowly over the coming months.

I will be posting updates periodically over the next couple of years. I am a 50 year-old man.

Good luck to all and God bless.

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!

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.

I was on Levaqin for a week (500 mg) for bronchitis. It seemed to work and I didn't notice any side effects and I am usually sensitive to antibiiotics (dizziness, etc..). However, the day after I finished my last dose I developed an itchy rash on my outer thighs, my back, my underarms and a few other random places. I also now have a yeast infection which I guess is a common side effect. The rash is what concerns me. At first I thought it wouldn't be related because it came on after I finished the antiobitcs but after reading some of these posts I see that you can get rash after taking the medication. Has anyone else had a rash AFTER taking Levaquin?

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??????

I was put on Levoquin after 4 days of Bronchitis. My body was not responding to the antibiotic so they added Prednisone. I continued on both medications IV for 8 days. After the second day, I developed a severe pain in my groin. I mentioned it to the NP treating me and she said, "we will worry about that once we get the Bronchitis under control". The pain continued as the medication continued. After the Bronchitis was resolved, the pain in my groin was terrible. My doctor sent me for CT scans and and MRI. The next thing I knew I was in the Orthopedic Surgeon's Office talking to him about a total hip replacement. He said the test showed very mild degeneration and he was not sure a total hip replacement for me was the answer. I opted not to have the hip replacement. Diagnostic Testing continued. Finally, my doctor told me that the combination of Levoquin and Prednisone caused a tendon rupture in my groin. He said it would heal but would take a long time. It is now 8 months since I took those medications and my hip is more painful now than ever. I am on pain medication and it does not help. I see my doctor today and we will discuss other options to relieve this awful pain. I walk with a cane and I feel like I will never walk normally again. It has totally disrupted the activities of my life. My doctor tells me to stay off my feet as much as possible to rest the tendon, this is impossible as I am a registered nurse and I am on my feet constantly. This has destroyed my life!

I started taking Levaquin on Aug 8th for bronchitis 6 days after taking medication I was awoken about 2am with severe shoulder pains in both shoulders I went to the ER to find out why I told them that I was taken Levaquin they took an X-ray of my shoulders and said they were fine prescribed percocet for pain. Pain got worse went back to ER was given a shot for pain and was told to get an appointment with bone and joint Dr. On the day of appointment my right forearm, wrist and hand swelled up. I told my Bone and Joint Dr.that I was taken Levaquin I told him that I stopped it immediately after reading side effects He prescribed an anti-imflammitory Pain got more severe went back to ER was given EKG and took blood and urine test all test came back fine. Went to another doctor he then checked me for Lyme disease. which came back neg. I then went back to first doctor that prescribed the Levaquin. she thought that I had arthritis. 8 different blood test were given all came back fine. Ended back in ER because by the end of day I could not walk, had high fever, sore throat, severe head ache, and was sick to stomach. Several more blood test were done. all came back fine. ER doctor prescribed prednisone which seem to help some. I went and seen another Dr. Still no one knows what is really wrong. I believe it is the LEVAQUIN it has messed me up bad.

I've been taking Levaquin for about 3 weeks. Last week, suddenly, every joint in my body started aching. I mean from my neck, hands, hips, knees, ankles, feet, everything. For the past week, when I wake up, I can't even make a fist without experiencing excruciating pain. I've always been very active, running, basketball, soccer, skiing, you name it, so this is scaring the heck out of me. I'm 47 years old, and up until a week ago, I was hiking with my family, running everyday with my dog. Now I feel like I'm 100 years old. It hurts to walk, stand up, etc! I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow! I'm ticked about this!

I too was given 20 days of 750 mg each of Levaquin and felt a pop in my shoulder while rolling over in bed and not have intense pain there which is probably my rotator cuff tear. But I also experience the most crippling intense pain to both my knees and lower back. My knees felt swollen and very painful to where I couldn't even get out of a chair, climb steps , sit on the toilet. I am a paramedic and am seriously considering leaving this job after over 25 years due to this pain. I have had some minor dizziness and some mood swings. I went to the doctor after being off Levaquin for 1 week and told her of my symptoms and she put me on a Prednisone pack which has helped me with my back and knee pain to the point where I can walk with little pain but it didn't help my shoulder pain with decrease strength in it. I don't know yet if this is a permanent cure for my knee pain or back pain. As far as my shoulder, I believe that I tore the rotator cuff and will need surg. I have also heard that prednisone is not good to take with levaquin. I was prescribed prednisone prior to taking levaquin and wonder if that started all the problems. AND OF COURSE MY DOCTOR DID NOT TELL ME OF THE SIDE EFFECTS WHEN EITHER OF THESES DRUGS WERE PRESCRIBED. But at this point, trying prednisone after completing the levaquin DEFINITELY helped my knee pain.

I've been on Levaquin for only 2 days, combined with Prednisone... Taking them due to a nasty sinus infection. One of these two meds is making every joint in my body hurts, as well as me having lost almost every bit of my sense of taste. I ate general tso's chicken today for lunch and could not taste anything, so as an experiment I ate one of those little red Chinese peppers that I normally throw out because they are WAY too hot - I couldn't taste a thing. Last night I had to drop the air condition down to 68 degrees as one of these two meds made me sweat very heavily and uncomfortably hot.

My husband has COPD and was prescribed Levaquin along with prednisone for bronchitis. He developed acute tendinitis in both achilles tendons and then the right achiiles totally ruptured about 6 weeks later. It has been a nightmare for him.

It is so important that everyone who has suffered an adverse affect report it to the FDA. Unless they receive these reports, they do not know how serious this problem really is and most doctors are totally oblivious.

In July 2007, I was put on Levaquin for pneumonia. I was 53 years old, working full-time, active. The pneumonia was caused by aspiration when vomiting. I had never had these problems - pneumonia or aspiration - before. I had gradually worsening generalized joint and muscle pain and stiffness, which I reported to my doctor after about 5 days on the Levaquin. The pain I was experiencing was worse than the pneumonia symptoms (mostly high fever). The course of levaquin was supposed to be 14 days. After 9 days, I could not tolerate it any longer. My doctor put me on a Z-pack (azithromycin) for the remainder of my treatment. It is a year later, and I am still plagued with muscle pain in my back, shoulders, arm, abdomen - and, at its worst, my legs. The only way I'm able to function is on prescription painkillers, which I detest having to take - but they're a lifesaver. I've been seeing a rheumatologist since December '07. He dosen't seem to believe the levaquin - pain connection. He thinks I may have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I have consistently elevated blood levels of creatine phosphokinase, a muscle enzyme which indicates muscle damage. I was on prednisone 10 mg. from early March '08 which I have just weaned off of after suffering a depressive episode with a suicide attempt at the begining of this month. I can't work now. I'm terrified of becoming permanently disabled. Finding answers has been very difficult but I firmly believe that the Levaquin started all this.

MARCH 17TH MY MOTHER WAS A VERY HEALTHY ACTIVE FUN LOVING PERSON AS OF TODAY SHE IS TOTALLY CONFINED TO THE BED. SHE TOOK 4 PILLS OF LEVAQUIN FOR A MINOR CHEST COLD AND GOT A VERY BURNING RASH AND BLISTERS ON HER ARMS NECK AND CHEST AFTER THAT THE SORE THROAT AND EXTREME MUSCLE FATIGUE KICKED IN .HER DR. PUT HER OFF SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO QUIT TAKING THE DRUG ON HER OWN ON APRIL 8 SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS WHICH HAVE ULTIMATELY MADE HER UNABLE TO USE HER MUSCLE SHE CAN NOT SWALLOW HAD TO HAVE A PEG TUBE PUT IN SHE HAS NOW BEEN WEENED OFF OF THE 120 MG OF PREDNISONE SHE HAS BEEN ON AND NO END IN SIGHT ON RECOVERY. I HAVE NO MEANS TO TACKLE A DRUG COMPANY BUT I WILL TELL MY STORY AS OFTEN AND AS I CAN. 50 DAYS LATER WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GRASP ALL OF THIS

Prescribed 500mg of Levaquin for sinus infection, along w Medrol Pak steroids. Although steroids can cause restlessness, they do NOT cause COMPLETE anxiety, nightmares insomnia and aphasia. I took only 4 pills, 1 each day, and it's like i boarded THE CRAZY TRAIN. Fluoroquinolones are apparently known for their intense and dangerous side effects, and if it is true that this is also an antidote for anthrax poisoning, it's probably something that should not be prescribed for sinus infections. SEVERE side effects, chest tightness, etc. No wonder they will not rx it for teenagers-I am a healthy 42 yr old woman and would NEVER take it AGAIN,.

Sorry for the long post! I started taking Levaquin in mid Feb and I'm still feeling the effects. I am a 37 year old female who has never had any kind of reaction to any drug. When I say never - I mean not even slight nausea. I was prescribed Levaquin for bronchitis - 500 mgs for 10 days. I took it for 5. My bronchitis cleared up but I experienced feelings of depression after 3 pills. No nausea, headaches or loss of appetite at all. After the 5th day, I experienced numbness and tingling in my hands and feet. I went back to the doctor that same day because I was terrified. I was prescribed prednisone. 5 days after that, I started experiencing full body pain. It hurt to even lay down. Went back to the doctor that same day was prescribed vicoprofen. It didn't really help. I was given a muscle relaxer to take w/vicoprofen and that helped me get through the day at work but the pain was always there and that caused many sleepless nights. I went back to the doctor because the pain had left my torso and pretty much my legs too but settled in my arms and hands and was even more intense than when it was all over my body and prescribed Cymbalta. The pain was so intense, I was crying the whole weekend. Since my doctor didn't believe the intensity of my pain, I was desperate for a moment of relief and felt very ashamed to have to call a friend who's an RN and she had her doctor prescribe vicoprofen for me. I was able to semi-function again. 1 week later went to a rheumatologist and was told I had swelling in my nerves in both wrists and it may be carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, nerve damage or rheumatoid arthritis and given Lyrica. Had an EMG/NCV(Horrible) and the results were negative. I also had extensive blood work and was told on 4/21 that I tested positive for drug induced Lupus possibly caused my Ibuprofen. I stopped taking Motrin and my doctor prescribed Vicodin and I'm finally starting to feel better(the pain is not as intense) but I don't believe for one minute that Ibuprofen was the cause of the Lupus. I believe Levaquin broke my system down( I have Vitiligo - an auto immune disease) and made me even more susceptible to other auto immune diseases. Levaquin is finally starting to leave my body. My calves are stiff when I get up in the morning and my hands still hurt, but it's nothing compared to how I felt the previous 10 weeks. Sleep is still disrupted by pain.

I am going back for a blood test next week to see if the Lupus is still in my system. I'm happy for the people that have used this drug and have been fine, but for my body, it's toxic. Hopefully, there will be a blood test in the future that will show if you are prone to have severe side effects to this drug before it's prescribed.

For All of you suffering, you are not alone.I have found great comfort on this board knowing that I'm not alone.

I was given a 10 day dose of LEVAQUIN for a mild bronchitis/respiratory ailment on Jan. 29, 2008. I took 1 500mg pill for the full ten days. Three days after I stopped taking this medication, I experienced incredibly painful swelling in both knees. I could barely walk, and couldn't bend my knees. I was scared, upset, and in absolute misery. I spent a week literally throwing myself backwards onto chairs. It was unbelievable. When I could finally get to my normal health care provider 5 days later, she immediately identified the culprit as the Levaquin I had taken. She said she knew it to cause people's tendons to burst. It was obvious since it was both knees that it was not an injury and I never had any other problem with my legs. I am, or shall I say I was an avid walker. I was told to see an orthopedic doctor if I had not improved in one week. I had not improved in a week. The orthopedic doctor sent me for an MRI which showed irreversible, permanent cartilage damage in my left knee. The right knee he didn't MRI at the time, saying he could determine what he needed to know from the one knee and would only be able to do corrective surgery on my knees in 6 week intervals. This horrible drug has permanently altered my way of life. I was a 53 year old active, ambulatory adult who would walk miles a day. Two months later, I still have constant knee pain, cannot stand for long periods of time without leaning on something and can no longer kneel, etc. I can only walk around a bit and if I'm on my feet for long periods of time I experience knee, ankle pain and swelling. I sent a report to the FDA who obviously cares nothing about this situation, since I'm not the only unsuspecting person to have this happen. I've been studying this drug now and there was evidence in animal clinical trials of joint and tendon damage, To me it would have been no different an experience if someone had come up and hit me with a baseball bat across both knees. I am permanently damaged from Levaquin. I think it's criminal this drug is given to younger ambulatory adults at all.

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.

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 took Levaquin last January. The day after I finished it, I had severe swelling of my ankles, knees and pain in my hip. I was unable to bend my legs. Prednisone reduced the swelling, but the pain in my hip continued. It is a year later and my hip is still extremely painful. I have had x-rays, an MRI and nothing shows other than a strain injury. I cannot walk up the stairs and when I am on my feet more than 15 minutes the pain returns. I have had injections and epidurals and nothing helps. Prior to the Levaquin, I had no problem whatsoever with my hip. I wear a TNS unit which helps, but nothing, even medication eliminates the pain.

Anybody know if Prednisone and Levaquin are a bad combination together because that is what my doctor put me on and it almost killed me. No one seems to be able to find anything written that they should not be prescribed together. Doctors and pharmacies are all saying it is fine. I have so many side effects now that I don't think I will ever be back to normal. All I had wrong was a sinus infection.