Levaquin and severe headaches

I have actually been prescriped Levaquin a few times for sinus infection. My experience has been good. No side effects, quick relief of sinus pain and pressure. I have taken each prescription exactly as directed with great results. At the advice of my doctor I always eat yogurt each day and for a few days following taking any antibitic. I would like to add that some of the symptoms described here (emotional trouble, severe headaches, mood etc.) remind me of what my daughter experienced when she had an undiagnosed (therefore untreated) severe sinus infection. I am not a doctor, and do not mean to minimize the seriousness at all, but maybe some of them are due to the infection not being cleared.

I just finished a 7 day prescription of Levaquin for a ear, nose and throat infection and I am truly scared at what I am reading here. I cannot imagine having these headaches keep going for much longer. I have had the worst headaches I have ever had. They come once a day and are the worst. A couple days after starting the Levaquin I felt really anxious and almost paranoid. At one point I wished for death. That feeling has gone away for the most part but the headaches are still here. I am afraid to go back to working out because of the tendon problems I've read about. Can anyone tell me if the side effects eventually go away???

I was taking Levaquin for a sinus infection. After taking the first dose of 750 mg, I noticed that I started having tingling and numbness in my hands and arms. After the second dose, I started feeling the same tingling and numbness in my arms, hands, and legs. Because I had been having severe headaches anyway, I started wondering if I had some kind of neurological problem and my headaches were linked to the strange sensations. However, I noticed that I didn't have any problems with my arms and legs until after I started taking Levaquin. Some of my other symptoms were: tightness in my neck muscles and sore muscles. I also remember seeing a flashing light from the corner of my left eye and floaters. I stopped taking Levaquin after just 2 doses because it began scaring me and I feared what might happen after my third dose. I can't afford to take any chances with my health. That's why I appreciate this post, and I see that I wasn't just imagining these side effects. Since I've stopped taking this medication I still have problems with my arms. They feel heavy like I've been lifting weights and the ache. A couple of times, I've had to take pain medicine for the pain in my arms because they've hurt so bad, it feels kind of like when you hit your funny bone and you try to figure out why they call it a "funny bone" because it's definitely not funny! My arms hurt so bad I couldn't lift them, and I could type or write so I just took some medicine (tremadol) and laid down. It's been weeks since I've taken levaquin, but I still I have sensations and aching and heaviness in my arms. Has anybody been off of Levaquin for a considerable amount of time and found that the symptoms go away? Please give me some hope! :) Thanks.

I took 750mg Levaquin for 5 days for a sinus infection and after the 2nd day had a horrible headache, nausea, dizziness, insomnia, muscle aches and metal taste in mouth. At first I thought I was getting the flu or that it was from the sinus infection. After taking the 5th pill and not feeling any better, I found these postings which explains everything. My doctor did not tell me anything about the side effects. It is 3 days after I took the last pill and I am still suffering from severe headaches, dizziness and some nausea. Do not take this medication unless you absolutely have to. I do not normally have any side effects to medication and am not on any other meds. I just hope the headaches go away because I am having to miss work as a result and not able to give attention to my family. My fear is that the headaches won't go away. One posting said that her daughter's headaches went away after 6 days...I can only hope at this point. Terrible drug and shame on the doctor for not warning patients. Try other antibiotics first before you take it.

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.

It has been three weeks since my daughter and I have taken our last pills of Levaquin. She still has terrible pain in her hands and has suffered from severe headaches. I have all of the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke in fact, I spent several hours at the ER and went through many tests. No heart attack or stroke and sent me home. My son and his wife did research and found out all of my symptoms are from taking levaquin. My heart rate regularly is never over 65 and it jumped to 117. My blood pressure went up to 209/106. The top of my head went numb from front to back and also numb in the back on the bottom half. So bad at times I thought I was going to faint. I have word recall problems, diarrhea, strange taste, vision problems, had an irregular heart beat, extreme anxiety, upset stomach, nausea, loss of appetite, fear of dying, heels on my feet hurt bad, sweats, muscles twitching, swelling in my throat and made me hoarse, can't sleep.
Levoquin is not for me!!!!! I am so thankful to my kids for looking it up so I know what I am fighting against. I am also thankful to all of you for writing it here so that we can try to help each other.

I have a seve4e bronchial infection and was prescribed Levaquin 750 mg once a day for 5 days. Tomorrow will be my fifth day although I will not be taking it. When I started the medication I was beginning to feel better although I still had a really bad cough. I was also put on an inhaler.
I woke up today and felt like I have been hit with a truck. I can't hold anything in my hands, my kneew and ankles feel like someone took a bat to them and I have spent all day trying to figure out why I felt worse overall and now why I was feeling this horrible pain that is practially crimpling me.
I found this site when I googled "sever bronchial infection and joint pain".
I'm calling my dr tomorrow but I'm scared. Will this be permanent. I already have 2 herniated discs in my back and now I can't even walk or get up from a seated position.
I have a 1 year old I cannot even hold and have ot have someone help me take care of.
I hope this goes away and soon. The pain is close to unbearable.

after 2days of 750 mg of Levaquin, I have severe headaches and tons of anxiety. can't sleep past 12:30 pm every night..I am having a hard time dealing with these bouts of strong anxiety..switced to Doxycline for infection, but side effects of levaquin continue for 1 week now..no md believes me...

I am 31 years old and very healthy but lately I have had bronchitis that I can't seem to shake. I have have been prescribed levaquin 500mg twice. I'm allergic to a lot and I have not had any allergic reactions to levaquin! I am on my second round of it and I dread taking the medication. I get severe headaches and I feel pain all over. I cannot sleep and I seem to feel worse???After reading every one statements I don't think I will continue to take levaquin.

im on levaquin for serious sinus infection 30 days of 500 mg. I am having the worst headaches and am aware of the headache when Im sleeping, if you can call it sleep. my neck is stiff. I never had such severe headaches and neck pain before taking this drug and out of deseperation decided to see if by chance it was this drug and thats how I found this site. Im not sure what to do. Will call the doc after reading all of your messages. thanx for taking the time to input

I started taking Levaquin last night. I could not sleep and have severe stomach cramps, diarhea, blurred vision, broke out in a rash on my chest, severe headaches, muscle ache. I took my second pill tonight and am having all the same symtoms all over. I will not take this drug ever again.

I visited the doctor after not being able to kick a chest cold and was prescribed a Z-pack. 10 days later I had to return when I was more sick than before, I now had pneumonia and was given Levaquin. The exact day I was given the first dose in the morning by the doctor I experienced confusion, faintness and exhaustion that afternoon--in fact I was worried I wouldn't be capable of driving myself home from work that afternoon. I initially attributed this to the illness and severe head cold, however as two weeks wore on I was continually losing my place in conversations, my body hurt worse all over than being sick, I had several severe headaches, and typically had about 1 hours worth of stand-up time energy per day, the rest of the day I would have to spend lying or sitting. This is very odd for me since I am an avid runner and have maintained good fitness for many years, I'm 33. Additionally I was in the middle of two important projects related to work which had to be sidelined because of depression. I tell people I have been more "sick" with the flu for far shorter periods of time but I have never been this sick for this long. After reading the many responses on here I believe I too was a victim of the effects of Levaquin. What frustrates me is I spoke to my doctor again on day 4 into the medication and told him that I felt WORSE, all they said was continue taking the medacation, never once telling me it was all common for this medication. Now like several other posting I am experiencing pretty painful digestion problems, I have taken myself off of it for about 36 hours now, and need to start eating yogurt--I will NEVER take that drug again.

To Guest MD: I cannot believe your audacity in stating that Levaquin could not be the cause of our problems, and I think you are a coward for not leaving your name. I was given Levaquin in June of last year, and within 3 days began to experience pain in my joints and muscles. By day 5 I was in so much pain, I literally could not get out of my bed. I also experienced severe headaches, insomnia, and tremors. In the following 3 months, I developed tendonitis with no preceding injury, elevated white blood counts with no infection, so many complications that they are too numerous to mention. Prior to taking Levaquin, I lead an active and fulfilling life. Now that life is nothing but a memory, and my doctor said IT WAS THE LEVAQUIN. The sheer volume of the research material documenting fluoroquinolone adverse reactions simply highlights your inadequacy as an MD. I sincerely hope that none of your patients have been harmed because of your ignorance and lack of compassion and understanding of adverse drug events. How you manage to maintain your license and patient base is beyond my comprehension! All I can say is I am truly grateful that you are not my physician!

I was given 500mg Levaquin for 7 days prior to percutaneous kidney stone removal procedure. I started getting 'visual migraines' which became severe headaches. I have never had migraines in my life before. I also have had trouble sleeping, and pain in my right arm. I have never had trouble sleeping, and I didn't know what was causing the pain in my arm.....until I found this message board. I wish I had seen it before I took the Levaquin. Now I am having decreased urination, and difficulty urinating. I have stents in both kidneys, and a nephrostomy, so there shouldn't be a problem. Fortunately, I have stopped taking the Levaquin. Unfortunately, not before the 7 day cycle was up, and not before I found out all the trouble it has caused!