Levaquin and upper abdomen

I had cough for almost a month when I started to feel a light localized pain in the lower rib area, between the breast and the upper abdomen. ( when taking a deep breath or coughing).Then I was prescribed levofloxacin (levaquin) 500 for 10 days for a “supposed” pneumonia and sinusitis, no RX or lab tests done, by one pneumologist. Well, I felt others side effects but what really matters is that after 2 days taking the medication the pain worsen a lot, felt like a stab. I could not move in bed, was difficult to move, seat, get up, drive, work, whatever… In the fifth day I complained to the doctor who said I had muscular pain and the pneumonia was gone, but I should continue the 10 days treatment. So I did. After 7 days I felt when coughing that something was stretching and unsticking in the pain area. After the total disconnection the pain diminished a lot. Second week, back stabbing pain, third week front pain again, same type and disconnection, then diminished. Fourth week I felt something was loose , crackling in the area while driving or doing some movements. I also felt painful, loose knees and painful elbows. After many doctors, many exams and RXs done, now I know I had chronic bronchitis and costochondritis and I ended up with two ruptures of the costal cartilage, ( costochondral junctions ) 6ª and 7ª ribs, caused by levofloxacin. The RXs now show calcifications , body repairing the ruptures. I can not exercises now for 3 months. Ah…The sinusitis was back 2 weeks after stopping the medication. What I say now is: God protect us from some stupid doctors and these dangerous medicines !!!

Wow.....after reading so many of the stories here, I am immediately stopping my prescription. While visiting another state I was hospitalized with fever, extreme tremors, and after having a burning pain in my upper abdomen. Was immediately put on IV Levaquin while tests were being run. After 3 days of numerous blood tests, urine tests and 2 CT scans the doctors determined I had a blood infection and the bacteria was E-coli (but not the kind that comes from eating something???). No determination was made as to where the infection came from. During this time I experienced extreme diareah, headaches, insomnia, pain in my right shoulder, extreme heartburn, acid reflux and loss of appetite. All these symptoms were reported to the doctor and nursing staff, but no relief (except a dose of Malox and 2 Tylenol every 4 hours if I asked for it, which offered no relief). They wanted to do more tests but I finally checked myself out with the promise I would see a doctor when I returned home and get more testing. Could barely walk without assistance of my husband for the first hour but improved drastically a couple hours later. Had the first best night's sleep that night. Boarded the plane the next morning with a prescription for Levaquin 500 (11 pills) and took the first one on the plane and within 10 minutes felt a warm rush spread through the back of my throat and into my head. Felt extremely exhausted immediately. After arriving home I felt normal again and the best I had in 4 days. I took my 2nd pill the next afternoon at the same time of day and again felt the same symptoms and went from fully functioning to barely making it to the bed. After a 2 hour nap I arose and within another hour was feeling well and "normal" again. Went shopping for some necessities but found it extremely hard to make a decision on anything and came home with unnecessary items and not the things I needed. Slept well that night and woke up to feeling "normal" and energetic. Shampooed my carpet and cleaned house until time to take the pill. Again, severe fatigue, warm rush in the back of throat and chest pain within 10 minutes. I found this site while researching side effects and am scared to take any more of this stuff. Am still feeling the side effects 4 hours later and not bouncing back like last night. I will immediately stop these pills!!!!!! If the infection comes back I will deal with that in some other way. Good luck everyone and hang in there. I will tell everyone I know about this drug.

I have been on Levaquin for 5 days and have had an ache and tightness in the back of my neck since the first day. I have slept very poorly for the last three nights and over the last two days have developed significant chest pain..feels like the muscles in my chest and upper abdomen are in a constant contraction. I went to my internist yesterday thinking it may be an unfamiliar type of asthma attack. I used my inhaler on the way and blood oxygen was fine when I got there but the chest pain continued. I was given a chest Xray and an EKG, both of which were fine. My doctor did not feel that it could be the Levaquin and advised me to continue it. The contractions in my chest have continued, almost crushing at times. The neck pain has been continuous. I am stopping the Levaquin and willing to risk having the infection return.