Levaquin and tetracycline

April 10, 2005- I was exposed to what is a suspected case of whooping cough and developed the symptoms quickly. I went in and was given something like tetracycline for 10 days. I was still coughing violently at the end and so went back in. A young doctor gave me Levaquin and I took 3 or 4 of the pills but developed a back ache and went in. That doctor x-rayed me to make sure I hadn't cracked ribs from coughing so hard. I hadn't. He put me on a different antibiotic. Within 3-4 days I went into the ER because I had one of my coughing attacks (they're violent and you can't inhale because a rubbery-like phlegm get stucks in your windpipe and your body tries everything to expell it!) As I coughed that time I suddenly felt a horrible pain, like something exploded deep inside my back, not a surface muscle. A separate pain started and that was a slow, burning, tearing feeling. I've never felt such intense pain. I couldn't raise my legs to sit in our car and so we called the ambulance. The ER md was more interested in my lungs and found that I did have some pneuonia as well, gave me morphine so that I could sleep for 24 hours, and told me to continue the antibiotics. He also told me to go ahead and finish out the Levaquin as well! And stupidly I did. I had pain from the tendon and whatever tear in my back for months. I couldn't sleep easily. I ended up having pneumonia again in Nov. 2005 and the coughing made that injury hurt again. This year I have Achilles tendonitis in both legs and fasciitis in one foot. I don't know how long it takes for Levaquin to clear out of the body and I also don't know if these symptoms are related to taking Levaquin last year. In looking back, I think it's odd that you'd prescribe a medicine that has the adverse effect of ruptured tendons and the like to a person that is having violent coughing for weeks on end. There were times during what we think was Pertussis, that I was coughing with that spasmodic type of cough 8 times a night and regular coughing every 5 minutes or more. If anyone was going to experience the adverse side effect, it would be a person using muscles repeatedly and violently! Don't you think???
I am so angry about all of this.

Nasty metallic taste, loss of appetite----but need to lose some weight anyhow----Knees feel like 2 hot coals----Although I do have arthritis in my knees, they are much worse post Levaquin. Awake until 4am. Very emotional.
Have had 4 doses-500mg- & will not take more. Hands much more painful & stiff than usual. Was placed on this junk because of a chronic skin condition which no longer responded
to Tetracycline. Most of these symptoms started after first 2 doses, but are worsening. I have not been drinking enough water & this may be adding to the problem. But I am quitting.
Almost unable to do stairs although, to a lesser extent, have had some trouble with that before taking this drug. Good luck, all. If I had a really life threatening condition, it might be worthwhile, but not for this skin problem.