Levaquin and steroids

Prescribed Levaquin 750 mg for diverticulitis. This was a higher does than prescribed for a previous bout of diverticulitis. Experienced extreme nausea at each dose. Eventually developed a skin rash that burned so bad it felt like I was being skinned alive. I have had shingles in the past and they were less painful than this!!! After 5 days of antihistamines, steroids, oatmeal baths and pain killers I am finally able to put clothes on again!! The dermatologists diagnosis was delayed reaction to the Levaquin...never again!!!!!

My wife is experiencing severe muscle pain in the back and rib area after taking this drug. Has anyone gotten better after they stopped taking the medication or is everyone still suffering?

I have taken Cipro & levaquin or several occasions for several years. I DID NOT KNOW OF THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF THESE DRUGS ON TENDONS AND OTHER MUSCULOSKELETAL EFFECTS. A FEW DAYS AGO I HEARD A LEGAL AD ON TV WHICH CAUGHT MY ATTENTION: ' IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAS TAKEN LEVAQUIN AND SUFFERED A RUPTURED TENDON, CALL....... ' OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS , I HAVE HAD THREE ROTATOR CUFF INJURIES, TWO OF WHICH REQUIRED SURGERY AND A LONG REHAB, AND A "PROBABLE" TENDON TEAR OF MY FOREARM FOR WHICH I WAS ON LIGHT DUTY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, REHABBING W/ PT, STEROIDS, BOTH ORAL AND INJECTIONS, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MEDS. AS MOST OF THESE INJURIES OCCURRED AT WORK- I AM A CCU NURSE- AND WAS TREATED BY OCC MED DOCTORS, AND THEN REFERRED TO SPECIALISTS WHEN I WASN'T GETTING BETTER, I WAS MADE TO FEEL AS IF THESE INJURIES WERE SOMEHOW MY FAULT, THROUGH POOR LIFTING TECHNIQUES,ETC. AT NO TIME DURING ALL THESE TREATMENTS FOR INJURIES DID ANY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER PUT THESE TWO THINGS TOGETHER AND ASK QUESTIONS, AND NOR DID MY OWN PHYSICIAN. THIS WOULD LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF THIS DRUG HAS NOT BEEN WELL DISSEMINATED TO THE MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

I am diagnosed with COPD. On March14, 2008, I visited my pulmonologist due to having a bacterial infection in the lungs and nose. I was given a script for Levaguin 750 mg for 7 days. After my first dose, my feet felt like they were on fire. I spoke with the pharmacist and he said it could be a side effect. I finished the meds with a lot of trepidation, feeling uneasy and anxious. However my large toes began to have a tingling sensation, which I reported to my PCP and he said to keep a check on it. I just came from my PCP today, July 8,2008 and now, in addition to my lung problem, I have peripheral neurophathy, involving all my toes and also my hands. This medicine is dangerous, as looking back at the time after I took this medicine, I was seriously considering ending it all! I will never take any medication in the future until I research it thoroughly. I trust my PCP and I trusted my pulmonologist, but I feel the pulmonologist should have informed me of the possible bad sich effects. Be careful out there!!!

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,.

While taking Levaquin I experienced insomnia and anxiety. One week after completing 500mg a day for 10 days, I began experiencing Tendonitis in my right hand/wrist and have had an incredibly painful earache with tinnitus and vertigo. The ENT doctor diagnosed TMJ, but I do not grind my teeth or clench my teeth. My jaw operates just fine with no immediate pain, but the earache persists almost constantly. The ENT doctor's solution was Vicodin, but I want a cure not a pain treatment. I don't believe I have TMJ and wonder if it could be the temporal tendon. I am indirectly aware of two other people who have had the same experience, and I wonder how many others are out there. If any one else has experienced this and has any knowledge or advice to offer, I would greatly appreciate it. I have no idea who to go to about this. The ENT doctor does not have any solutions, and I doubt a dentist can help me because I don't think it's TMJ.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. Shortly after taking the drug, I noticed a heavy metallic taste in my mouth. After two doses, I did notice the sinus infection was getting much better and decided I was well enough to go out to dinner with my husband (who prescribed the Levaquin). We arrived at the restaurant and within seconds of being seated at our table, I felt an explosion in my head. The pain, slamming through the whole left side of my head, was beating along with my heart! I have never felt head pain such as this. Thank God my husband is a doctor and I quietly told him there was no way I was going to make it through the dinner because my head was EXPLODING! In a our state of fear and embarrassment, he took me home and put me in a hot shower, gave me Advil, steroids, Ativan and Vicodin. I'd never had that many drugs on board in my life! The pain receded from about a level 9 to a 3 within two hours, then completely disappeared after 5 hours. I woke up fine this morning and my husband and I decided Levaquin probably is not a good drug for me, though it does help many other people.

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.

I went back to my PCP today. Yes the one that gave me the Levaquin. He was very nice and even agreed it was the Levaquin I took back in December. He said that these types of side effects we all are describing are RARE (I would have kicked him for all of us, but my legs hurt to bad).

But he did acknowledge pain and my symptoms (listed in my December post) and prescribed me Prednisone for my ligaments and Lyrica for my nerve pain. He also said it was going to be a long haul. I know that some of you are dying to telling why these meds are bad too, but I am going to try it because I haven't really been out of my bed for two weeks.

I just wanted to let you all know, that maybe some doctors are starting to listen... and that we should keep speaking out and warning others about the HIGH risk of our side effects.

I went to my doctor on Monday December 17, 2007, because I was experiencing a fever, chest congestion, with an extremely painful cough. He gave me 7 sample blister packs of Levaquin 500mg, and a sample Pulmicort Flexhaler 180mcg. He also prescribed a cough medicine for night time if I needed it. He said I had bronchitis or a possible pneumonia he couldn’t hear. I also used a nebulizer with Abutrual.

On December 23, 2007 I awoke with the most intense pain I have ever experienced. My wrists, finger, toe, elbows, knees and ankle joints all hurt. My muscles in my legs and back burned. My hands, fingers, feet, toes, and shins felt like they were “asleep” or the worst pins and needles ever.

My husband went online and found out that is was most likely caused by the Levaquin. And thankful I was taking TWO steroids! So when I called the company that makes Levaquin they told me to stay in bed! When I asked them how long this could last they said 1 week to two months.

As of today, the pain in my fingers, toes, wrists, elbows, ankles and knees, which is like tendinitis is mild to moderate. The burning in my muscles in my legs and back is still intense. The “pins and needles” is affecting mostly my hands and feet and my left leg from the knee down. I also still have a deep pain under booth knees. I have also experienced a periodic facial twitch on the left side, below the eye about 1.5 inches.

I am weak, and completely unable to get around do to the pain in my legs and feet. I am furious that my doctor prescribed a medication that could cause these problems without warning me, as samples do not come with warnings. I feel disabled, angry, and would like to know what I am supposed to do now!! Has anyone found anything that helps with the pain?

I took my first Levaquin pill at 8:30 at night. A short time later, I felt kind of funny, like my mind was separate from my body. I figured that I was just sleepy. Then, my bottom lip felt slightly itchy & swollen. I told my husband I might be having an allergic reaction, but he couldn't tell any difference in my appearance. Next, my bottom gum started to feel swollen. When I went to the restroom, I noticed a red bump on my upper thigh. I was becoming suspicious, but tried not to worry about it. Then, I felt my face flushing, but it didn't appear red enough for my husband to be concerned about. I checked on my legs a few more times & after seeing more red dots appearing, I knew I was having an allergic reaction. I popped 2 Benadryl pills & yelled at my husband to take me to ER. My face was burning so badly, I had to open the windows on the way too cool off. I calmed myself down by telling myself that it was just my adrenaline. When I got to ER, it was 10:30, but it felt like only an hour had passed since I took the Levaquin. I told the ER staff I was having a mild allergic reaction, but in reality, it was worse than that. I waited patiently until I looked in the mirror & saw that my neck was pink & covered with hives & welts. It came on so suddenly that I freaked out & ran for help. They quickly administered steroids & said it was good that I took Benadryl. By then, more hives started to appear on my body. I noticed red patches on my hands, too. Although I could breathe alright, my throat was real dry & I was having a hard time swallowing. The doctor said the Benadryl was making my throat dry. I gradually started to feel better & my head started to feel more clear. Two hours later, most of the hives disappeared & I was dismissed. The next day, however, I woke up with tightness & dull tingling in my knee joints & areas above my wrists. I figured it was due to dehydration. By the end of the day, the tightness went away in those areas, but traveled to the areas above my thumbs. That finally went away, too. After reading the side effects, I now know that Levaquin was to blame for those uncomfortable sensations.

Daughter's ear infection was not responding well to prescribed antibiotic. Dr called in levaquin as replacement. Within THREE MINUTES, daughter was having reaction to levaquin. Within thirty minutes of taking levaquin, I had her in the ER. She is 15 years old, 5'5" 115 lbs, active healthy teen. Heart rate was 130. BP 130/88. She couldn't stop shaking, difficulty breathing, lips/tongue swelling, face, hands and feet numb.

I started taking Levaquin for a sinus infection. On the 3rd day I started getting heart palpitations and felt very tired. By the fifth day I woke up with excruciating pains in both shoulders and very limited movement of both arms. I went to my primary care Dr. He stopped the Levaquin and gave me pain pills and an anti-inflammatory. I was sent to an Orthopedic Surgeon who injected both shoulders with steroids. I then went through a series of acupuncture treatments which helped somewhat, but finally admitted that I needed more help. I went back to the Orthopedic Surgeon and had surgery on June 11, 2007 on my right shoulder. At first this Dr said that there was no possibility that this could have been caused by the Levaquin, but after the surgery he admitted that he was starting to see other patients with the same problems from Levaquin. I can’t afford to have the left shoulder operated on but the pain has lessened and I still have limited movement of both arms.

Thanks to this sight I now know why I have had all these symptoms for months now. I took this drug 750 5 days in the fall of 2006...a 2nd time in winter of 2007, and again in August 2007. In March I complained that my big toe was burning. Doctor had no reason for it. Then muscles would cramp and skin burn and hurt. Numbness in arms and feet. The left palm burned all the time. Muscle loss and weakness. I work out so I could tell something was wrong. Doctors sent me to Neurologist.

Now after reading this sight I see others have had the same thing happen.

The bad thing is my doctors new I was allergic to Cipro and gave them to me anyway. This week they gave me Avelox with steriods. My vision is very messed up in left eye...I went into a brain fog on dose three.

Rite Aid pharmacy said I should of never been given either of the drugs after a side effect from Cipro.

I am normally a very physically fit specimen, working outside every day. One 500 mg. tab of this poisencompletely debilitated me. Within six hours of taking levaquin I experienced excruciation soreness in my arms and shoulders. My throat swelled up and I could barely breath. I was perscribed steroids to stop the swelling - I took only ONE 500 mg time release tab 7 days ago and today I am still experiencing incredible pain.I am so sore I can't sleep. If anyone wants to start a call action suit I am in - I have NEVER sued anyone - but I am furious.Any advise out there as to how I can flush this poisen out of my system?
Chris

I am on Levaquin 500 now for what I was told was a respirtory infection, this is my 4th antibotic for the same problem. I am extremely sore and feel as if there are hundred pound weights on my ankles, it hurts to walk. My stomach is sore, my muscles are so tired, it hurts to situp. I am so lightheaded after taking this medicine, I feel ok before I take it but it all hits me at once after I have taken it. I have only been on Levaquin 4 days is this normal?

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 taking Levaquin and Medrol Dospak for an upper respiratory infection in the beginning of May 2006. On the fourth day I became violently ill-vomiting and diarhea every twenty minutes, weak pulse, cold clammy skin, low blood pressure, dry mouth difficulty swallowing, muscles spasms and extreme weakness. I was taken to my doctors office where I was given IV fluids as I was dehydrated. All medications were stopped. I went home to try to recover from what I thought was the flu. I had muscle aches and started getting severe joint pain and burning in feet. My mouth was painfully dry ...back to dr. he said I might have Sjorgens Disease (autoimmune disease) and Reactive Arthritis. I have never had anything like that before. He recommended a Rhumatologist...that Dr. said to keep doing what I was doing with first Dr...I was trying despartely to find out what was wrong and get well as my daughter was getting married in June. These symptoms increased and the fatigue was awful. All blood tests were normal except for a slight elevation of CRP which shows inflammation. I still do not know what caused this and what to do about it. I have started to feel better regarding the finger and wrist and shoulder pain as I was prescribed pain medication and more steriods. The pain in the joints of the knees and ankles and toes is lessening. The fatigue is still there. The scary thing is I never thought it could be from a medication and right now I am again on Levaquin and Medrol Dospak for another upper respiratory infection....I am on my second day of meds and after reading this I wonder if I should contiue??

To Guest 22402 PLEASE LOOK UP THE INFORMATION ON THIS DRUG AND SEE THAT YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT WITH STEROIDS (PRESISONE) . SORRY YOU HAVE ANOTHER DR THAT CAN'T READ. TRY WWW.FQRESEARCH.ORG AND WWW.FQVICTIMS.ORG TO GET SOME HELP

I have fibromyalgia. I was given Levaquin after 3 other rounds of other antibiotics didn't work. The Levaquin was prescribed by a ENT Dr. He never mentioned the side effects to me or the several drug interactions. With my fibromyalgia I take several medications including NSAIDs and narcotics, antidepressant, asthma meds and blood pressure medication. He was aware of my meds. He also prescribed prednisone at the same time. Since I've been looking up this drug I see it interacts with almost everything I'm taking???? How could he still give it to me? Any way I took it for 10days 500mgs/day plus the prednisone for 7 days. I started having weird side effects right away but I blamed it on the steriods. So I took my 10 days and I still had the sinus infection and he prescribed another 10 days. I took them all even though I felt like I was dying because I thought I was having a terrible Fibro Flare. I went to my regular Dr. and told him of the pain and side effects I was having and he said it was my fibro and prescribed me morphine to go alone with my vicodin and tramadol I was already taking. I was still having severe pain even with the pain meds. Today I put 2 and 2 together and started searching the web. I looked up all my meds and looked at their side effects and was horrified when I found out what it was from. It is totally scary that once you get the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia that Dr. don't search for any other cause for your pain and just blame every symptom on Fibro and refuse to do any tests. They just give me a bandaid and sent me home with more drugs with more side effects and more drugs to help those side effects, etc.,etc. I quit taking the Levaquin 3 days ago and my side effects I still have are the following:
SEVERE SWELLING OF MY WHOLE BODY - MY STOMACH LOOKS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT, I HAVE PITTED EDEMA IN MY LEGS, MY FACE AND EYES ARE SWOLLEN, TO THE POINT I HAVEN'T BEEN TO WORK OR IN PUBLIC BECAUSE I AM SO HUGE

SEVERE PAIN IN ALL JOINTS OF MY BODY(ESP KNEES,ANKLES)

SEVERE PAIN, WEAKNESS AND STIFFNESS IN ALL MUSCLES IN MY BODY(ESP LEGS AND ARMS)

SEVERE PAIN IN ALL TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS

SEVERE FATIGUE, WITH INSOMNIA (IT'S 3:15AM RIGHT NOW)

PAINFUL SKIN SENSATIONS - BURNING, SORENESS, TINGLING (EVEN HURTS WHEN THE WIND BLOWS BY IT)

SHORTNESS OF BREATH FROM MINOR EXERTION AND WHEN LYING DOWN, CHEST TIGHTNESS

CLUMSINESS, TRIPPING

MUSCLE SPASMS AND JERKING

FEELING WARM, SWEATING (ESP. AT NIGHT)

LOWER ABDOMINAL PAIN AND IRREGULAR MENSTRAUL BLEEDING

HARD TIME WALKING, DRIVING OR GETTING UP FROM A SITTING POSITION

IN THE BEGINNING HEADACHES EVERYDAY FOR ABOUT A WEEK

DRY MOUTH, THIRSTY ALL THE TIME

BLURRED VISION, SEEING THINGS MOVE IN THE CORNER OF MY EYES

#1 question is this going to ever go away and is there any way to treat it? I don't think I can handle another debilitating disease. I have 2 kids ages 6 and 9. They need a mother. I'm thinking of going to the Dr. in the a.m. but not sure where to go so they won't just dismiss me again. E.R.? I feel like I have kidney failure, colitis, ruptured ligaments and damaged joints. It's my son's Birhtday tomorrow I hate to ruin his party but am afraid to wait. I here it could be deadly??? Please help!

I'm addressing this to the 52 year old healthy woman. I believe whole heartedly that the pain that you are suffering is an ADR (Adverse Drug Reaction) to the Levaquin. You must stop taking it and tell your doctor that you insist that he/she prescribe another antibiotic that is not part of the Flouroquinolone (Cipro, Floxin, etc) family. When you stop taking the drug the pain should subside, but it can linger for weeks or months after you stop taking it. Also, do not take any form of Ibruprophen (Advil, Motrin, etc) with the Levaquin. I know that I read somewhere that the two should not be taken together. Also, no steriods should be taken with Levaquin either. I am about for weeks out from my Levaquin experience and I also suffered from severe joint pain in my arms, wrists and hands down to every finger. My pain has gotten better, but every day when I wake up one or two of those joints still hurt. It comes and it goes. Trust me, everyone who reads this site or posts to this site believes you when you say it's the Levaquin. My doctor knew it was the Levaquin that was causing the pain. I didn't have to convince him and you shouldn't have to convince your doctor either. Make that doctor change that prescription to another antibiotic to treat your original problem. Take the suggestion from the other guest on this site and visit those websites to get yourself educated about this drug. You may also find comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Trust me, you are not alone.

I took Levaquin from May 1, 02 until July 19,02 for an infected hip prothesis. I developed severe pain in my fingers, knuckles, hands, shoulders and TMJ joints. The Dr. said it would go away. As of May 9, 03 I still have the problem and am seeing a rheumatologist. He, through blood test said I have ANCA Positive vasculitis which is caused from taking Levaquin. The course of treatment is steroids. I took steroids and the raised havoic with me, and only made matters worse. His next course of action is massive doses of steroids. IV therapy for three days followed by 100, yes 100 days of taking 15 mg prednisone daily. He treated his only other patient with ANCA Positive and it did not work.
I'm currently waiting to get in to Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic or University of Michigan Medical Center.
My question to anyone out here is if there is a class action law suit going against the manufacturer of Levaquin.
jcoleman@shianet.org