Levaquin and six months

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!

Began taking Levaqauin on/about 19Mar08. Became symptomatic (agitation + insomnia followed by a host of psychiatric ills) within eight weeks. I'm in a living hell now, which might or might not be related to flouroquinolone, e.g., levaquin poisoning. There are more than 2000+ posting on this site that go back five or so years. Most of the postings constitute one-way communiques from hell. (Go ahead, read a representative sampling of the postings.) Here's the question: what became of these people who wrote their awful posts? Are they still alive? Did they find cures? How does one contact some of the earlier posters?

I took levaquin 750mg as prescribed yesterday, after leaving my doctors office at 330pm ( june 18th). along with calrinex d (1tab) and a tsp of tussionex suppension syrup and 4 nose shots of astelin in increments of two over a 4 hr period of time. I was awake a majority of the night unable to sleep. But had some bouts of sleep. This morning (june 19th) I awoke at 930 am forced awake due to an appointment, and took 550 mgm of levaqin and the array of other drugs, around 12pm I noticed a headache and believed it was due to the exertion of coughing so much, my appetite is non-existent and around 6pm I felt flushed and sweaty, however this feeling subsided. I am now in hyper drive, I want to fall asleep but when I do my throat has the sensation of being choaked and then I have this odd gush or air emmited nasally which awakens me from the doze. My left corotid arrtey was tender and my heart is palpitating. While my sinus infection is almost gone I do not think I will be continuing this medication. There will be a call made to my physician at first reasonable light, I am sure I will be awake.

Are you guys for real? In reading through the side effects blogs it really reads like it is all the same person writing, maybe someone trying to beat up on the competition or something. It did scare me out of letting my 24 year old son take it for severe sinus infections, however and I just hope that two days of a 750mg dose per day doesn't show forth the negative effects in the days to come!! Please tell me it's not as bad as it sounds!

Well after all the hype of the negative side effects of levaquin I did the 7 days and tho I felt like crap mainly due to the flu I think I seem to be fine a week after stopping. The side effects I did experience were wrenched stomach. This could of been a flu symptom or maybe a side effect of the antibiotic. Knowing that antibiotics can cause pretty much most of the symptoms that people here complain of and having experienced ten years of allergies due to antibiotics from 93 to 03 and curing myself thru education on the subject I knew before hand that taking any antibiotic is a gamble. I think the reason most people have bad experiences is due to an already compromised out of balance system. Candidiasis is a controversial subject that a lot of doctors do not believe in but recently it has made a lot of headlines both on tv and in the holistic field. So knowing I did not want another ten years of hell I bought good flora, probiotics from a health food store. I have been taking about 5 a day with meals. So far i have no side effects. I feel good. I will take probiotics for a month or so to make sure I get enough good flora back into my system. Anyone taking an antibiotic needs to know that it will kill most all benificial bacteria but does not kill candida so without the good flora which keeps candida in check candida can grow and leak into your blood stream and attack any part of the body. I personally do not agree that antibiotics should be used in a lot of situations but sometimes you have no choice. If one does not have the knowledge to use them responsibly I do believe your life can be altered dramatically. Its easy to blame the pill which in most cases you are correct in your assumption but its also your own fault and the doctors to of not educated yourself beforehand.

I recently took 750 mg tablets of Levaquin for six days for bronchitis. The bronchitis went away but on the 7th day I had a gelastic seizure. I had never had a seizure in my life. I passed out, my wife called 911 and I went to the emergency room for help by ambulance. Enroute I threw up really bad. Once I was checked in they ran a cat-scan and found nothing. The admitted my into the hospital for more tests and observation. The next day I had an MRI with contrast, and eeg, and the tests were normal. The following morning my doctors came in and told me the results of the tests and they were going to send me home. The doctors really did not know what caused the seizure. The Doctor that prescribed it to me said he uses Levaquin all the time and none of his patients had a problem with it. I told him that since that is the only thing that changed, my opinion was it did and that I would never take it again. Unfortunately I can't drive for six months and I now take Dilantin to prevent any more seizures.

I was given levaquin 500 mg 6 days ago for phlebitis. Since I started I have had terrible anxiety, panic attacks, fear of dying, nightmares, crying jags, and very sore neck and shoulders. I called my doctor today and asked about the side effects of this medicine. I am NOT going to finish my 10 day dosage. I'm done. I've never been so miserable. This is strange because all this past summer I took low-dose levaquin, 250 mg 4 days a week because I have bartonellosis, a co-infection of Lyme disease. It didn't bother me beyond some leg pain then, but now it's a whole new story. I am TERRIFIED of this antibiotic and modern Western medicine in general.

was given Levaquin for ear infection to take 10 days about half way thru taking I began to have aching or sore joints. Thought it was from over exercising but didn't go away .Legs began to hurt and knees swelled Have been treated for this with steroid pk and 10 days of antiinflamitory med which has not helped. I have stiffness and pain in my hips and legs and elbows. This has been going on for a month. Have seen dr 3 times .

I was in the hospital to have out my gallblader in April 2006,
They had it in my IV. My arm started iching right away, and in mins, you could tell where all my vains was. They were turning bright red. Then they started blustering threw my skin, in a swelled upline with the way the vains ran. My husband got the nuse who then pulled it out of my arm right away, and flushed my system as fast as she could. Then later on I had my operation.
Six months later I got a knot in the side of my neck, and I wonder if its related to that happening to me. (If it could cause my vains to look like that. I am wondering what else it did to my insides.

I am just writting to tell my story. I started taking Levaquin on Friday 2/25/04 for a sinus infection and on Monday I was rushed to the hospital. I was in ICU Monday and Tuesday. I was released Wednesday 3/2/04. I had a siezure and they were not sure I was going to recover. I could not speak, was having tremors and had an anxiety attack. The doctors told my daughter they did not know if I would be okay. I have know been told that they have to make sure there are no lasting effects so for six months I can not drive, cook or take a bath by myself. I am still shaking and have trouble thinking clearly. Well thanks for listening. Not sure what to do now...

I originally posted my side effects the end of April, 5 wks after stopping Levaquin. The lingering side effect at that time was severe spasms in my hands especially left one. Pain got worse before it got better. After six months it finally seems to have let up. (I'm almost afraid to say anything) It has been very depressing because you think you'll never get better. Just wanted to let people know that it is possible for this medication to get out of your system. Good luck everyone.