Levaquin and throught

Recently, my phisician gave me some samples to take home for a lung infection. Was at Sams club getting the rest of the prescription filled and I took one of the 500 mg Levaquin she had provided.

Within seconds my inner lips felt funny, then started tingling and felt very odd. Sat down and sneezed about 40 times in a row. Face started to swell, eyes were sending out streams of tears, and blisters began to form on the inside of my mouth. I could not talk -- throat was closing. Very panicked, I croaked out to the pharmacist I was having trouble. Throught the fabric of my pants he injected an "epinephrine" pen dose, called 911 and (a first) ambulance ride to an ER. Had incidents of belng unable to take in air, or breath in or out, and was given more injections of epinephrine and I don't know what else. It was so scary. In the end I would say -- That pharmacist surely saved my life.

I am a healthy,active 25 year old woman. Here is brief discription of my experience with the drug.

About 2 weeks ago, i was seen in the Er for a kdney infection, they immediately startedm me on IV levaquin, as well as an oral dose and an NSAID (which can cause a severe reaction). I was not given much literature on the drug, and the pharmacy printout was BLANK. The only warning I recieved about this medication was drug interactions (which they gave me in the hospital) and typical allergy stuff. They mentioned nothing about joint pain, or any of the other horrible effects of this medication.

3 days later I naoticed a little pain in my knee, and my back hurt. I thought nothing of this because I have had a previous minor injusry to that knee, and just thought it was another flare up. The next day, the pain was in both my knees and my ankles. I didn't know what to thiink.

I then researched the symptoms, and was shocked that the medication was causing this.

Now my right arm is pretty much useless(too much pain in my fingers,elbow and shoulder) And I have suffered a TIA (which is a mini stroke) No ease in the pain os of yet, and I just hope that I live throught this.

On May 18, 2004, my doctor prescribed Levaquin for a sinus problem. I took one pill at 4 p.m. that afternoon and had a stroke that evening and the morning of May 19, 2004. It caused a blood clot to pass throught my brain stem and made my left arm and leg useless. I was in the hospital and out of work for 2 months. I have regained most of my functions but still have many side effects. This product, I also believe should be taken off the market.