Levaquin and tendon

this is not a new side effect ~~~ today is 16 Nov 2009
I never knew of the tendon side effect, neither did my doc

I have literally been bedridden as I cannot walk from these pains,
horrible side effects

this is not my doctors fault - new, old drugs fill tons of books, PDRs - please file against drug companies for these horrible drugs they are
allowing the FDA to approve

THE FDA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DRUG ON THE MARKET

I took levaquin (750) for a bronchial infection about 9 months ago. My doctor gave me individual samples with no info. on any side effects. Like most people, I trusted my doctor and took the pills without question. The aftermath has been a complete nightmare as I have suffered severe joint pain, depression and an atypical anxiety that at times that feels like a drug induced brain fog. I've seen numerous specialist searching for an underlying process causing the symptoms but nothing is ever found. Since the beginning I've contended that the Levaquin was at the root of my problem, but no doctor has ever given that thought any consideration. Prior to the Levaquin I was perfectly fine with no history of any joint pains or mood disorders. Does anyone have any ideas on how to reverse or heal the process?

My Mother took Levaquin Oct. of 2008. You got so sick taking the drug, she felt like she had the flu. She had fever, dizziness, and felt like she was going to throw up. She is very depressed now because she can't do anything anymore. She took all 7 pills 500mg. each. Now she hurts from head to toe. They can't figure out what is wrong with her. She has had MRI's. xrays. Blood work. Everything you can think of. Her Tendon tore in her shoulder, she had surgery on it and is still in rehab for that. She can sleep at night because of pain throughout her body. They gave her a patch to wear for the pain and it made is better at first. Now she can't even tell she has it on. Does anyone know of anything that can help get out of all this pain?

I was prescribed levaquin back in May for a sinus infection. Have suffered from severe side effects, worst of which being joint and muscle pain, stomach pains, weakness and hives (last dose was taken 10 days ago). This has been the most physical discomfort and pain that I've ever been in. In addition, my ability to concentrate and recall easy things has lessened.
The "Bafoon" of a doctor that prescribed this claimed he didn't know what was wrong with me after a normal blood test. My new knowledgeable doctor told me that some people can't even walk after taking Levaquin. She says it takes on average 7 days to 6 weeks to feel improvement. Being a 36 yr old woman, having to move turtle speed, and feeling like I'm in a 90 year old body is very depressing.
If anyone has any information on any class action or mass tort litigation lawsuits please send me the information. This drug is poison and should not be prescribed for minor infections!!!

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...

This is the 3rd time I am taking levaquin in about 3 years. I had a MRSA type infection in my eye 2 years ago that I got in the hospital visiting my dying mother. She by the way died of a mysterious"infection" in her spine but frankly reading all of this I suppose it could have been caused by levaquin because they never found an infection but she complained of so much pain in her spinal collumn that they had to put her of morphine. No cause was ever determined but she was a dialysis patient and was given Levaquin on a regular basis for the infections that are common with having a stint in her arm. Her circulatory system collapsed and they could not do dialysis on her and she died after a week.
Getting back to my situation. I got the infection when rubbing the tears out of my eyes and woke up the morning of her funeral with a bad infection in the eye. Was going to eye doctor every week for 3 months thought I was going blind. Took 3 months of 750 mg dose. And multiple eye ointments. My eye sight took a hit and I now need to wear glasses for driving always. Used to have near perfect vision before this. This past year I took it again for Lyme's disease and after about a month after I developed and nerve or tendon pull in my neck that they could not explain how I got it. But I went to the emergency room and they gave me a neck support to wear.
Just was on Levaquin again for upper respiratory infection. Woke up in the middle of the night second day I was taking it. My head was pounding and it felt like it was going to explode (literally). At the same time my chest felt like it was collapsing. I thought I was really going to die and I was entirely coming undone in my mind. I called a friend at 2:30 AM and asked him (who is religious) if he knew any prayers for those who are about to die. I truly felt this was it - the end. No one told me about Levaquin's side effects until the other day when I was reading on the internet. I now have a pulsating sound in my ears that sounds like it is linked to my heartbeat. Never heard this sound before. Its been there for almost a week and it started a few days after I stopped taking the levaquin. I also have been noticing I have a shortness of breath and I am trying to move in a week. I keep getting very fatigued and have to lay down. Find myself falling asleep quite frequently.

I have been taking this Leviquin for 4 days. I have had severe cramps in my calves and feet in the middle of the night. So bad that I get up and try to step em' off but to no avail. My muscles hurt so bad in my legs arms and I have been very sick to my stomach. Do these things go away? I am not taking one more of those pills. I would rather have sinus and bronchitis problems than deal with these horrific side effects!! Any feed back?

I have had pain in my knees and legs after taking levaquin for pneumonia for 10 days. I am weak. It is hard to get up and down and very painful with steps of any kind. I am very depressed from the pain and inability to find anything that will help. I have been to an orthopedic doctor and had X-RAYS. Just given anti-inflammatory. No tendon or obvious reasons for pain. What do you do now? Who do you go to for help? In
the mean time, my breathing at night has gotten worse again.

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 daughter is 16 and was given Levaquin 500 for a sinus infection. While on the medication she was tired but not much else in the side effect category. Now here we are 4 weeks later and she has acute abdomen pain, extreme fatigue,nausea, a headache, and she has lost 21 lbs in 2 weeks. I took her to the doctor and they ran a cbc, chem 12, urinalysis, and an electrolyte panel. All came back negative. Basically my perfectly healthy little girl is suffering from this. I went back and looked at the Levaquin packet because I know it can sometimes take a few weeks AFTER medications are stopped for side effects to show themselves and of course, all her symptoms are listed.

I am a 29 y/o male.this month i got a terrible sinus infection, probably due to a month's struggle with allergies. I was initially prescribed Augmenting but after just 1 pill i was up all night with stomach cramps & diarrhea. I was scared to take another dose so my dr. prescribed me Levaquin as an alternative. After reading the warnings I became very worried due to the fact that I already have lower back/hip and joint pain issues. I also work evening freight at Home Depot. After 1 Levaquin yesterday morning, I went to work ready to take it easy and not hurt my body more than it already does... after about 30 minute of simply opening small boxes and putting light-weight merchandise on the shelves, i began to feel extreme tension/aching in my hands and fingers.I was being very careful with my back & neck, but never even thought this might effect my hands??? I woke up this morning hoping it would be gone... no such luck, even after a full night's rest they still feel like i have arthritis, and no my hips (S.I. joints)are popping out like crazy. i am about to take the 2nd dose, only b/c my ears nose and throat do feel much better. I am just glad I picked up paperwork/and can afford to take a few days of LOA if this gets any worse. It is hard for me just to type this now : (. I'm scared.

After what I have seen here and on some other sites I'm 99% positive this drug has hit me with several of the side effects listed. I'm a fairly healthy 49 year old woman. I have never had any health problems, no high blood pressure, no heart problems nothing. I went to the dentist in late March with a problem wisdom tooth. I'm allergic to penicillin so I was prescribed Clindamycin (sp) but it did make me sick to my stomach so I couldn't get the entire daily dose down. I had made it thru 90% of the prescription when I went back on 3-31-09 and still had some infection left in the tooth. My dentist took my BP and it was normal. He then said he wanted me on antibiotics for another week, and prescribed Levaquin as "a wonderful drug, it won't make you sick and you only have to take one a day". So I took the 7 day 500mg dose, went back the next week. True, it didn't make me sick. But I did notice my Achilles tendon was really sore and stiff. I also had a re-occurrence of an elbow problem that had healed and was no longer bothering me until then. I also noticed I wasn't sleeping well, and was having vivid dreams, which I attributed to the pain medication (vicodin) he had also prescribed. Went back on 4-8-09 and my BP was sky high!! As I said, never ever have I ever had an issue with my BP including when I was pregnant! He said he couldn't do anything with it so high. I mean a week and up almost 100 points! He attributed it to "White coat syndrome". So another week of Levaquin and back again yesterday. BP was the same story again, this time he didn't even see me but sent in the assistant to tell me to go get on meds with my Dr. So after that, I'm angry and totally confused. So I came home, hit the internet and I'm seeing what changed in that week to make my BP go insane. I'm also seeing other symptoms here. The Achilles tendon, Knee aches, Back ache, Hip ache, difficulty sleeping, and Steven King quality nightmares. I also read somewhere on the net that supplements like MoveFree with MSM would help and I do take that as a regular supplement to help with things just getting a little older as I'm a pretty active gardner. Now I have been off this since Monday and my aches are better today than they have been. I picked up a BP machine yesterday and it's down a little since at the doctor's. I'm keeping a close eye on that for a couple of days before I submit to a chronic disease for the rest of my life. Hopefully the side effects will gradually go away. Has anyone else's symptoms gone away after stopping the drug? How long did it take for them to go away if they did?

My husband was prescribed 500 MG of Levaquin for 10 days due to respiratory infection. When I got the medicine home, I read all of the warnings and possible side affects. He is 61 and has had tendon damage in his shoulder and his lower leg from taking Cipro two years ago. He had severe joint pain from Bactrim and hallucinations from Flagyl. From these previous antibiotics he still suffers pains and limitations of movement. What is worse is that they prescribed Prednisone with the Levaquin. It clearly states in the warnings that Levaquin taken with Prednisone increases the likelihood of tendon damage. The warnings state that people over 60 have increased risk of tendon damage. Why on earth did his doctor prescribe this? My husband is 61 and was too sick to research all of this on his own. It has obviously become more profitable to make people sicker.
I found this forum and called his doctor. I refused to give him this terrible Levaquin and asked for a prescription for something milder. The Doxycylene seems to be working just fine to clear his infection.
A word of warning to all to not drink the Kool Aid that they give you without asking questions. Any health care system that sustains itself by keeping people ill is a bad one. Think about it. If people are healthy, then where is the profit?
This Levaquin sounds like some kind of bad snake oil to me and I am thankful to have read the warnings and then found this helpful forum. I am so sorry for the pain that most of you have suffered and are suffering. We are living with damage from antibiotics and we understand your anger. Take good care of yourselves.

I took Levaquin shortly after a complete hysterectomy. I was intrigued to hear that this drug causes tendon damage. I took at least a year to heal, I felt like the tendons in my stomach were torn, lifting caused great pain. I couldn't sleep or lay down crooked, I always had to keep my body flat. If I sat up it had to be straight up, no slouching as it cause great pain in my stomach. Apparently the uterus is cut off of tendons. Everyone said I should have healed so much faster. I couldn't wear slack for at least a year. I took the Levaquin for a sinus infection. The doctors decided that I was having interstitial cyctitus causing all the pain, I still have that but it causes pain lower. I had diarrhea for 6 weeks after taking it. Someone told me you're aren't supposed to take it and lay down, you're supposed to sit up for at least an hour, which I couldn't, and it wasn't a caution on my medicine bottle-this was in April of 2007. My stomach area still isn't great, I get a tearing feeling when I throw the ball too much to my dog or do too much housework, or cleaning/scrubbing. What a nightmare. Did anyone else experience tendon damage of this same type?

It has been almost two years since I took one tablet of 500 mg levaquin for a throat infection. I immediately felt lightheaded, then came the hot prickly skin, rapid heartbeat, insomnia and just a feeling of doom. I did not take another pill. Right after this my ankles started to hurt and podiatrist said had a torn posterier tibial tendon. To this day, I cannot walk without a limp, and can only wear athletic shoes with orthotics. If I stand for or walk for a small period of time I am in a lot of pain and have to sit. I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis from the inflammatory markers in blood tests and rf factor, even though mri of my hands and wrists are normal. My right shoulder and arm hurt, my wrists and fingers hurt, my knees, neck. It is better, but I will never be the same as I was - no more running, walking my dog, going camping with my daughters girl scout troop - can't go hiking. I am 50 and I feel like I am 90. Would like to sue someone.

35, male, athletic: i took 3x 500mg and immediately got sore joints and severe flu-like symptoms. i was completely bedridden, loss of balance, sore from head to toe, major bloating and cramping... MISERABLE. this was near the beginning of November. while most side effects have lessened, i have had tendon issues as recently as last week. basically, any "strenuous" exertion will injure the tendons, although i haven't ruptured anything yet. bottoms of feet were sore for a couple weeks for no apparent reason. having trouble remembering words, finishing sentences, etc... digestion seems to be "off", and there is a bitter taste in my mouth that has been there since the beginning. also, "phantom itch" deep in both ears that comes and goes, and earwax production seems to have ceased... weird. oh, and D-R-Y eyes, nose and mouth upon waking. very dry skin as well. it did kill the infection though. i guess i'll be back to normal again someday. i hope.

The doctor prescribed Levaquin for an infection that I had. After taking one pill I awoke with a heaviness on my chest, shortness of breath and tingling down my left arm. I have never had any of these things happen to me before so I suspected a reaction to the Levaquin, but the doctor told me to go to ER, from there they admitted me to the hospital but found nothing wrong with my heart or lungs....I continued with the Levaquin and after 6 days I had a pain just behind my left knee. On the 7th day it went to pain behind my right knee. I could not straighten out my leg without having pain. It was like the tendon was very tight and hurt....tendinitis???? On the 8th day we discovered Levaquin could cause tendinitis so stopped taking it. That has been over a week ago and I can hardly walk and if I straighten out my leg it produces excruciating pain. It has effected my shoulder and wrist also....Also found out that this tendinitis can come back in the future just from this medication. Is there a suit going on about this? Please reply if anyone knows of one. I think we need to take action with all the problems this drug is causing.

Do not take this drug and exercise!! I was given samples of 750mg for 10 days for bronchitis. I was trying to get well for a 20 mile race that was quickly approaching. I have never had any side effects, so I was determined to get my runs in. After I felt a little better, I went on a long training run. My quads were on fire and I had no power in my legs. This does not happen ever during a long run. Needless to say, I did not make it to the race, but I did do a half marathon 6 days after my last dose. I had the same symptoms! Burning of the quads after only 6 miles, and loss of power in the legs. This stuff must stay in your system for a while. Afterwards I had a friend tell me (who works for an internist) that he never prescribes athletes this drug due to tendon damage! Repeat: do not take if you are an avid athlete!!

Please, is the anyone who knows of a way to treat the dibilating muscle/joint pain experienced as a result of taking the antibiotic, levaquin?

On Sunday I went to the emergency hospital due to a infection from some minor dental sugary (Tooth pulled) on Friday. I had puffed up with infection on the whole side of my face. My dentist advised me to go to emergency so that they could give me some antibiotics that get in my system quicker.

I was given Levaquin in an IV I was never informed of any side effects. I was fine for a few hrs. then I started experiencing racing heart and anxiety and could not sleep or concentrate on anything. I felt weak in my legs. It is now Monday evening at 1:18 AM I am still experiencing occasional heart flutters and am still awake although I am finally starting to slow down.

I feel like I was on speed for the past 2 days. . I was also given a 10 500MG tabs of levaquin to take. I am not taking them I am glad I looked up this drug. I hope that there will be no other side effects and stopped before taking the pills

I am really upset that I was not informed of these possible side effects at the hospital and was not given the change to say no to it.

All the bad things that this drug does and an IV bag full and it did not get rid of my infection in my face completely still have swelling.

Guess I am going to my doctor and ask for my Keeflex 500 Mg that I never had a problem with.

I was diagnosed with 'a "spot" on my chest upper left, after doing an x-ray.I had 100.4 fever really bad chills and sweats, terrible loss of appetite. I am 41 years old. No diagnosis given at initial visit. After 5 days of Levaquin 500, I felt that the dose was too low as I was not improving. When I called my doctor he said, we usually given 750 mil. I thought, well why didn't you do that in the first place? I would be over this thing by then! I was hacking and plenty of phlegm greenish yellow was coming up. He said to use Mucinex DM and Ambien to sleep. Ambien didn't work so I discontinued it. Don't recommend Mucinex at night it keeps you awake, daytime fine. I felt depressed, super fatigue and very anxious, with difficulty sleeping, but thought that is the way everyone feels when sick. I had trouble having my twins jump on the bed to see me, do to the aches, again I thought that is from the illness, now I wonder if these symptoms were exacerbated by the Levaquin . I had the original script that Dr. told me to refill, it was for 500 mil, so he said do another course of that for another 5 days, 1 per day. I did, at that point 10 days total. Still wheezing, I called and said I was still not any better after 10 days of Levaquin 500 and in bed all of the time. Finally I asked him what was wrong, 'bronchitis' he said. I never had it before but I started looking it up before he told me as it had to be that! He said do another 5 days of Levaquin 750. Very hard to get rid of cough still there, however weird wheezing slowly getting better. It is weird though, I have incredible pain on my lower right ribcage from my back radiating to the front. I think it is from being in bed so long, but hope it is not from the tendon issues people are talking about on this forum. My friends who had same symptoms one week before me, (her family and I got bacterial bronchitis from her 4-1/2 son on a play date we had the week before Thanksgiving) was prescribed Amoxicillin 250 per day and was over it in 1 week! My doctor said he didn't like the way Amoxicillin worked over the gastro track. My opinion, stick with the tried and true meds. unless we all become immune to everything, Amoxicillin worked for me with other illnesses in the past and that is what I will be requesting next time! Hopefully there wont be a next time! Good luck everyone. I hope and pray we have not suffered permanent damage from Levaquin!

I took Levaquin 750 for 10 days for a sinus infection. I took first 5 doses, went to see my doctor again 6 days later because I was still sick. She prescribed again 5 does of Levanquin 750. I am still coughing and I feel very tired. It did not help at all. I am still sick and I have muscle pains in my two calves and stress Achille tendon. I am a runner and I have sometimes problems with my calf: I have been not running too much recently and I was wondering how come suddenly I had those muscle pains in both my calves. I am not sure if it is related to Levaquin, but when I read all those comments, I am worried. Why I have been prescribed this antibiotics if it is obviously dangerous?

Eyes sensitive to light, cloudy vision, tongue metallic taste, jaw pain, tooth pain, loss of circulation in lower extremities, joint, bone, tendon, muscle pain, high frequency buzzing in ears, pain from head to toe literally, chest pain, stomach pain, digestion problems, bloating, pain in liver and pancreas, kidney and lung areas, heart and right side chest pain...

I am a 42 year old healthy male who works out and, therefore, I know what muscle fatigue and common muscle cramps feel like. However, today was my 10th dose of a 14 day supply of Levaquin 500 mg for a chronic cough and possible sinus infection. Suddenly this morning, after walking down 1 1/2 flights of stairs at our church, both of my calves simultaneously cramped so severely, I lost feeling in both of my feet. I had to grab the handle bars to keep from falling. Once we got home, I wrapped my calves in a heating pad for an hour which did little to relieve the pain and cramping. My calves are now noticeably swollen with continued cramping. I can barely walk. Suspicious of the Levaquin, my wife googled the drug and found this website. Thank God! Now all we can do is pray that the suggestions for self-help posted on Oct. 27th will work and that I do not develop any further side affects as others have posted. I will also alert my GP on Monday of this website as well as everyone we know.

I just spent $40 on a 10 day supply of Levaquin (750 mg). I am so upset - for one I am out $40, and now I don't want to take it. Of course the pharmacist will not take it back. I am a 30 year old female, (weigh 105 lbs) and have had serious reactions to medication before. To top it off I have fluid in both ears, which is why I got this medicine in the first place. I am assuming that most of you would tell me to stay away from it. I feel like I should try it since I spent all that money on it, but I am afraid to now. Any thoughts from anyone. I can't believe my doctor didn't say anything about the possible side effects.

Im sad to find out all the problems people are having from levaquin. But now Im able to put 2 and 2 together because Im realizing whats been compromising my health. This is my second year with bronchitis and my second prescription of levaquin. I now believe its what has caused me horrible nightmares, suicidal thoughts, irritation, mental anguish, stress tendon/muscle pain in my arms and shoulders. I bent over to pick up my dog to help him into the car and I got a terrible pain in my chest. I thought I was dying. And I still have a rattle in my lungs after 2 weeks of levaquin so it has not helped at all. If anything it has caused me more problems that has opened the door for additional medications of unknown origin. I wish I could find a real witch doctor.

My doctor gave me 5 'samples' of Levaquin 750mg for a sinus infection.

2nd night I had frightening heart palpitations while sitting watching a movie with family. Later that night experienced insomnia, depression, body aches and extreme cold feeling all over despite blanket, comforter and furry throw.

3rd day I experieinced severe nausea, dizziness, over-heating, dry mouth, body pain, headaches and motion sickness on pubic transit about 2 hours after dosing. Almost passed out. Was shaking, feeling hypoglycemic. Curled in a ball praying by the end of the 45 minute bus ride.

Stopped for water and a bagel, thought it was awhile since I had eaten. 2 hours later after my appointment, same thing again o the bus ride home. Took me 2 hours to calm down.

Looked up side effects online and was shocked. My doctor knows I had a head/neck injury ( 3 dislocated vertebrae ), knows I have prescription Vicodin and Tylenol 3 for pain, but fortunately I only took one Tylenol 3 today and no Vicodin for weeks. But I did take Advil yesterday, another pain reliever my doctor knows I use, but conflicts with Levaquin.

Doctor also knows that I'm concerned about possible pre-diabetic condition as mother has developed type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, he knows I have had bad experiences with previous prescription medications including asthma inhalers destroying tooth enamel and depression reactions to Singulair.

Apparently Levaquin and Singulair both have suicidal depression side-effects.

So why was this drug given to me?

Basically, who do I sue?

The medical professional is particularly unhelpful in this matter. Talking with medical personnel about fluoroquinolone poisoning is a go-nowhere exercise. In an era when Monsanto genetically-modifies our seed stock you might think medical caregivers would advise us in advance that their prescription antibiotics mess around with their patients' DNA. (IT's that deregulation thing, yes?)

I experienced painful calves and a strange dream, possibly a nightmare, immediately, e.g., on the very same night, after having injested one Levaquin dosage for a prostate condition and maybe a year after separately having taken cipro for a week to combat traveler's diarrhea. The post-Levaquin early evening dream was strange insofar as I rarely drempt, and I never recall having been roused to wakefulness by a dream shortly after having gone to bed. Early on I did NOT associate Levaquin with the really terrible symptoms that I experienced within 60 days of having injested Levaquin.

My wheels fell off when I entered a period of insomnia. I thought my sleeplessness was stress-related because my health history includes a major depressive episode 11 years ago. I presented myself for help to a psychiatrist who prescribed a small dose of an atypical antipsychotic as a sleeping aid. My drug-induced sleep felt like a coma that lasted each night for a couple of hours. There were heart palpitations, agitation, panic attacks, racing heart, racing thoughts, insomnia, depression, paranoia, poor cognition, body shuddering, muscle twitching, night sweats, and pain in both Achilles heals. The symptoms filled a note book page. I felt like Jean D'Arc who was being burned chemically at the stake from the inside out. I would rise in the morning and then minutes later fall back into bed. I could stare off into space and completely lose track of time. I could not even find the right words in mid-sentence. I could not fill-in the registration papers when I presented myself for a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. I became a full babbling idiot. My wife said that I had retreated or devolved into some kind of primate or ape who communicated solely his emotional states by means of eye contact only.

I asked my doctors if the sum of levaquin and cipro had pushed me over my peak quinolone tolerance level. Or was it the medicine that the psychiatrist had prescribed to make me sleep? . I was no stranger to depression and I knew my symptoms were not merely emotional or psychological in nature. Why did I always feel as if I had been poisoned? The psychiatrist decided my paranoia warranted higher med levels. I declined the advice and stopped taking the meds altogether. My anxiety today is lower, my sleep is improved but fitfull. My neck aches. My head feels as if it were in a vise. It's not a headache and it's not painful, but there is a tingling, crawling, scorching sensation at my forehead and behind my eyes as if someone had beat me with a pillow and then filled my head with novocaine.

I'm not sure there's a moral to the story. It might sound a tad over-the-top, but I think we're faced by a pharmaceutical plague. There's really no excuse for the absence of informed consent. There is nowhere above ground, e.g., nowhere on main street, and no-one with whom you can speak in order to take the full measure of fluoroquinolone poisoning. If you are at this URL merely to find out about the FDA's recent black box warning re: Levaquin's link to ruptured tendons, you are in for peep into hell. Read the other thousands of postings on this site, and decide for yourself who bears the ring of truth.

I was prescribed Levaquin in July 2008 for a kidney infection - 500 mg for 7 days. I experienced insomnia, muscle cramping in my calfs, and aching a chilies tendon while taking the drug. Approximately 5 days post Levaquin I started having generalized muscle twitching (head to toe) which is intensely noticed at rest, severe anxiety, burning sensation, vibratory sensation, and most recently weakness accompanied w/ pain in my right arm. I have seen 4 separate doctors in 3 months and have had blood work done along with an MRI of my brain. All tests came back normal... I am scheduled for an EEG and EMG this coming week - which too will probably come back normal. Between all of my doctors I have been diagnosed w/ a virus, anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, and a mild case of Guillain-Bairre Syndrome. Luckily all the doctors have agreed that they do not believe I have MS or ALS. Before the kidney infection I was healthy and RARELY made a visit to the doctors. I have issued a Medwatch Report to the FDA as I am completely convinced that my medical issues are related to Levaquin. I have been dealing with these symptoms now for 3 months and would appreciate any feedback from individuals who have experienced the same side effects and what they may have done to ease the symptoms.

They deleted my prior post. Apparently I included too much information that might be helpful to someone. I took Cipro and it's in the same class of drugs as Levaquin. If you want to know about herbal remedies that may help you, type in my name on this forum followed by dot com. That's the closest I can get to giving information without being censored. Sorry.

I was prescribed 7 days 750mg of Levaquin on 9/10 and finished 9/16. I was originally diagnosed with bronchitis but went back to the Dr. yesterday cause I was not doing any better and he now says it's viral. I've gone to the hospital because I passed out on 9/13 and continue to faint at least once a day. I have tingling/numbness in my hands, ankles, toes, my knees hurt, my lower back is in a lot of pain, almost to where it is not tolerable, I'm dehydrated (I'm drinking and eating, just not as much) it is extremely painful to eat, my tongue and my gums hurt terribly. Last night I had a horrible dream (I don't dream usually, not nightmares) and today I started to hallucinate (mildly) A week ago I was functioning normally, a mother of 3, playing with my kids and now I can hardly walk without assistance, I can't go to work, I'm in constant pain. Someone please give me some kind of guidance. Will these feelings ever go away? What should I do? Thank you!!!!

I was prescribed an 11 day supply of Levaquin - 500 mg. I'm on day 7 and struggling to make it 4 more days. The first day I took the tablet around 5 pm. I was up all night. Since taking in the morning, I've been fine. Now, I'm suffering from very sore biceps, heels and stiff knees. The fatigue is overwhelming. I also experience extreme dizziness as well. I may call the doctor tomorrow to see if I can stop this. I've taken various antibiotics throughout my lifetime and never have experienced the side effects such as this one.

Numerous side effects including but not limited to: spontaneous tendon rupture (right distal bicep), CNS agitation accompanied by anxiety and panic, extreme fatigue, digestive problems, on-going fluctuations of blood sugar level, rapid changes in body temperature, nausea, etc.

Some here insist on reporting the "good" this stuff has done (other than lining some peoples pockets with profits). I disagree. As I post this I see 2250 adverse effects have been posted previously. I urge yo all to look deeper ask the question: "Why so many problems with this class of drug?" The 2250 number is only for Levaquin..... don't forget to add in all the responses for all of the other drugs in the quinolone family. And while you are at it, find out how many other drugs have death as a side effect and how many have been reported. This is a defective drug.

Wow, this is so scary! My boyfriend, incredibly strong and physically fit was put on the antibiotic for a UTI and has used the antibiotic maybe 5 or 6 times over the past couple years. He noticed severe pain in his feet and went to his family doctor as well as an Orthopedic doctor, neither came to the conclusion that this drug was his problem. We just found all of this information that has answered so many questions as his tendons have been torn in both feet for quite a while now with no explanation. Does anyone know....IS THERE PERMANENT???? He is also having soreness in his biceps as well as in his shoulder area? He just stopped taking the drug and any information would be great! I believe that everyone should get together and sue these drug companies...this shocks me!

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 was prescribed Levaquin for a bout of diverticulitis six weeks ago. About a half hour after taking it each morning, I felt completely unwell--dizziness, fatigue, overall weakness, odd sensations of pressure in my head, chest, and bladder, weird bouts of sudden joint pain. The worst side effect was terrible insomnia. I'd go to sleep OK, but wake up after 3 hours and not be able to get back to sleep, sometimes for the rest of the night. Instead of getting the rest I needed to get better, I was getting more and more exhausted. Now, a month after stopping the medication, my sleep hasn't returned to normal. I'm still awake in the middle of the night for two or more hours. Is this a residual side effect from Levaquin? Has anyone else experienced it? When can I expect my sleep to improve? Is there a way to detoxify from this drug?

Have taken 500mg Levaquin for 10 days on numerous ocassions to fight lung infections in between Cat Scan follow-ups for Lung Cancer since 2006.

Worked fine for my lungs, and I've been LC free for some time. Two months ago rt elbow swelled up, first like a mushy sack, now more firm, size of an egg, no pain then or now. Few weeks later Lt elbow began to swell but not as large and no pain. Dr. said wait few weeks and he'll refer me to surgeon. Now this FDA report on Levaquin has me wondering. I have full motion and no pain. Could this be a pre-cursor to possible tendon damage from Levaquin. Your input would be appreciated. Bill B

July 8,2008
In October 2007 I had surgery to remove a salivary gland. Due to severe infection, I was on 500mg of Levaquin for 20 days and an additional 10 days of Avelox. While taking the medication I suddenly had severe leg and knee pain. At times I could hardly walk. I would be awake a night with severe pain in my knees and legs. I also had the tendon in my left shoulder start "snapping" while sitting in a chair. My shoulder became so bad at one point that I could not lift my arm. I never related any of this to Levaquin until at a later date learning of this kind of damage. My shoulder finally got better after weeks of not using it. I still am experiencing pain in the muscles and tendons in my legs. I have just started seeing my doctor about it this past week. She has me taking Celebrex, which has helped somewhat. I keep hoping that tendons will heal eventually.

It is quite amazing how when the story hits the news, the number of postings here jumps up! How sad it is that many people now realize the same things that many of us have known for quite some time. I only hope that the floodgate have now opened and that everyone will now keep the pressure on to limit the use of thee dangerous chemicals.

After 20 months I have had my right distal tendon surgically repaired, I endure tremendous pain in my left arm daily, and I fight the other unmentionable adrs. A black box warning is a start but it is not nearly enough.

New side effects: intense anger with the FDA and drug manufacturers, distrust of the medical community, and the required development of pain management skills.

I have taken Levaquin on and off for the past few years for sinus infections. I am now recovering from my third aquillies tendon surgery where they had to remove/replace the tendon because it was torn beyond repair. I didn't understand how this could happen until I saw the news release yesterday. I will never take this again.

Hello,
I have just found out about this and have been on cipro and levaquin and guess what. 2 weeks ago i was jumping in a pool and the tendon in my arch let loose. I went to the orthopedic doctor and he sent me for MRI then put me in a boot cast. It felt like i stood on a golf ball and it still hurts like hell. I have problems walking on it still. My doctor stated that i will most likely be flat foooted now in the foot that the tendon let loose. then i seen this on the news. Damn i have never had problems in my foot. He called planter facititus.

Question for you all. I have been on levaquin for 6 days 750 mg. For the last 3 to 4 days my hands have been killing me and it is getting worse, my knees, and shoulders hurt now. After reading your remarks I am calling doc first thing in the morning. Please let me know if you have any advice for me.

Everyone make sure you report your ADR's to the FDA. Here is the link. It only takes a few minutes and maybe we can stop this. I have filled one out before but since I have ruptured another tendon I am filling another one out.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/

If you are having musculo-skeletal symptoms such as soreness, arthritis, tendons, etc., they have known about those side effects for eleven years.

Toxicol Pathol. 1997 Nov-Dec;25(6):635-43.

Links Toxic effects of quinolone antibacterial agents on the musculoskeletal system in juvenile rats.Kashida Y, Kato M. Drug Safety Research Laboratory, Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. JDN07402@niftyserve.or.jp

Quinolone antibacterial agents have adverse effects on the musculoskeletal system in humans, consisting mainly of myalgia and arthralgia, and additionally of tendon disorders and rhabdomyolysis. The present study was conducted to examine the toxic effects of quinolones on the musculoskeletal system in juvenile rats using light microscopy, 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Single oral administration of 900 mg/kg pefloxacin (PFLX) or levofloxacin (LVFX) was found to induce lesions in the muscle + fascia, tendon + sheath, and synovial membrane, in addition to articular cartilage in the fore- and hindlimbs. Articular cartilage lesions were not necessarily associated with changes in the muscle, tendon, and synovial membrane, or the reverse. Among all lesions, the ankle and elbow showed the highest incidence and severity. Changes were more severe in the PFLX than in the LVFX group. Lesions in the muscle + fascia, tendon + sheath, and synovial membrane were similar and characterized by edema and increased number of mononuclear cells, many of which were positively stained with BrdU, as well as vascular endothelial cells in the Achilles tendon sheath and synovial membrane in the ankle. Electron microscopic examination revealed an increased number of fibroblasts and macrophages and collagen deposition in the matrix of the synovial membrane and tendon sheath. Capillary endothelial cells were hypertrophied, increased in number, and stratified. These results suggest that quinolones have toxic potentials in the muscle, tendon, and synovial membrane in addition to articular cartilage, and that local vascular hyperpermeability may contribute to the development of these lesions. PMID: 9437810

Also had baddddd viral infection of lungs/pneumonia...was put on Levaquin...hadn't connected the body/joint aches I've had ever since with the medication until now...
Feeding and grooming the horses last Saturday caused me intense pain the next day....
My rt ankle's tendon/ligament? on outside has a burning pain at times now....
I've never really been one to have much joint pain....

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.

Started Levaquin 500 mg for 14 day treatment 4 days ago for chronic ethmoid sinusitis (15 months of battles!). Within 1 day, my symptoms were significantly better - and now 3 days later are about 95% gone. Only strange side effect happened on day three (3rd pill), got severely nauseated and dizzy and felt disoriented within 20 mins of taking the pill, but all subsided within 3 hours. Might have happened because I had taken a Zyrtec the night before - I believe that the 2 don't really mix well. Have been fine since (not taking Zyrtec with it again!).
Do also feel a little tendon pressure in my knees and elbows, but is very little and doesn't bother me at all.

I'm 17 and I took Levaquin back in November and still have to use a wheelchair to get around. I ended up having to go to the Mayo clinic because there were so many factors to my case, and we were not getting anywhere with my doctors at children's hospital. i also have mono and west nile virus and so all that viral activity made the reaction so much worse. They discovered Levaquin caused severe tendinitis in each and every tendon, but my hips mainly affected causing them to be extremely fluid-filled. I also have a permanent peripheral neuropathy from it. They discovered an autonomic syndrome called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) , however that can logically be attributed to either the mono or the reaction.
I go to physical therapy every week now for my hips and my ability to be ambulating well enough to go to college in 6 months is being questioned.

I took Levaquin 500 mg for 10 days for pneumonia starting Jan 23, 2008. It got rid of the pneumonia but after about a week being on them I ached all over but especially in my biceps, moving was agony. My doctor said I must now have a virus but I've never had a virus that made my biceps so painful. Yesterday my left knee swelled up twice its size, today after being off it for 18 hours it is still just as big. Sleep is impossible, everything hurts and feel wired. I've been off the Levaquin for five days now and symptoms are still progressing. Was going for a battery of tests today, then last night my daughter who is an RN found this site and said there is your problem. Don't know what to do. Any suggestions?