Levaquin and severity

I was a healthy 42 year old male who took Levaquin for a sinus infection. The same day as the Black Box Warning was issued; I was having my third tendon reattachment surgery. I have to wait at least 6 weeks before I can undergo yet a fourth tendon rupture reattachment. At least it takes my mind of the Achilles Tendinopathy, joint pains, headaches, uncontrolled muscle twitching etc. I consider myself one of the lucky ones since so far it has not affected my kidneys, liver, heart, eyes and other side effects that many are dealing with from this class of drugs. I would urge a real journalist to take the time and look at the real number of cases. The Fda numbers are misleading. The clinical data coming from other counties are showing much higher rates of tendon ruptures and other life threatening side effects.

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.

Terrible, terrible rash on both legs. The itch is unbearable! That crazy doctor prescribed this for supposedly prostate infection - which did not have any symptoms! I never felt this bad in my life. He made me take it for one month and then discontinued.

Joint pains, sleeping forever, drowsiness. I agree this drug should never be prescribed. Were it not for my wife, I would never have known that this drug is the culprit. She researched the drug in the internet because of the severity of the red, blistering rash that covered both my legs - front, side and back!

Went to a doctor about an issue and wanted to take a bacterial culture sample of the wound. When he got the results, he insisted that I should take 2 weeks worth of Levaquin.

I did so without any troubles, but since stopping the medicine, I've been extremely itchy practically all over my body. There's bumps, I suppose, but most of the itching is not related to the actual bumps. It just itches.. everywhere.

It's been about a week and a half with no change in the severity of the itching.

If this continues for months, someone will die.

Don't give up. For me, it is getting better. I was given Levaquin 5 day dosepack for a recurrent URI and also after extreme fatigue following major surgery that just kicked my butt. In 24 hrs of taking the drug, I went from pure exhaustion to no sleep for 48 hrs straight. The severity of pain in my wrists, calves, feet and various other extra muscle pains (that were not there before taking Levaquin) was unbearable. It was over the weekend and I did continue taking the drug until Monday - finishing the dosepack that day. I was in the doc's office that very day and all they could say was "I've never known this drug to do that...." and of course my reply was to 'read the side effects in the PDR'. That was about 5 months ago and they have noted my file to no longer give me this class of antibiotic - even though this was the first time I was on Levaquin, I'm told there are other meds in it's family that I've taken for years with no problem (Bactrim?). Today, I still suffer from hand weakness & pain and bilateral feet pain. It is nowhere near the severity as the initial onset. Hang in there, take it ODAT & drink plenty of water & juices to flush your system.

I just finished 14 days of 750mg of Levaquin. I have not found anyone who has taken this size of a dose. I am having the joint aches and pains. This morning I had difficulty breathing because my back and ribs hurt so much that to expand my lungs hurts. My husband is a physican assistant and he is feeling riddled with guilt. He and I both feel as if the drug company had done its part to not make the severity of these side affects known. These horrible side affects are listed as "less common or rare." That leads one to believe that very few people will have these problems. I just mentioned to someone yesterday how I felt worse since taking this medicine than I did before. They immediately said, "You aren't taking Levaquin are you?" There husband a healthy 30 something year old accountant had the same problems I am having. His gastrointestinal doctor said Levaquin is poison and he would have never put him on it. He told him to stop it immediately. Obviously some doctors are aware and admitting the problems this medicine causes. I am trying to be hopeful this morning after reading all of the posts that are echoing how I am feeling right now. I am afraid! For those of you who have gotten better many of us would benefit from knowing that these side affects are temporary and will pass. Thanks to all who have posted and provided clarity about this medicine.