Levaquin and uti

I will never put this drug in my body and I will never forget the levaquin night. Dad was already on an antibiotic. He’s been gone 8 years now so this is somewhat of a blur. His catheter sprung a leak so he had to go to the urologist. While there doc noticed a UTI and prescribed the levaquin. Even though dad was already on an antibiotic he was told to start the Levaquin once he was done with the other. Who knows if the infection was even there by the time he took the levaquin.
Dad was on drugs for seizures. (Unexplained seizures to this day)
I filled the prescription. I was the one down on him for being on so many drugs. I should have read and noticed it said not to take this drug if you’re taking seizure meds. I’d programmed myself by then that things are what they are and no one would listen to me about the drugs and side effects etc. They all see me as a witchdoctor as my husband would tell me. The doctor later told me he doesn’t have the staff to stand around checking drug interactions all day long…..
Dad took the levaquin. I said let’s get you out for a while and come down to my house. I drove the 2 miles to my house with him and by the time we arrived he could barely stand. It was all I could do to get him into the living room. He couldn’t get comfortable. He seemed out of sorts and agitated. I assumed it was his surroundings and he just wanted to be home in his chair. I struggled to get him to my car and back home. .
Once back to his house, we were talking, his eyes went off into a dead stair. He wasn’t aware of anything going on around him. They became fixated (seizure). This lasted a long minute or so and I watched his eyes come back and him come back to awareness. It was then I went to the printout info on taking this drug and saw to not take it with seizure drugs. I called the doctor and was told to immediately stop the drug. (if my memory serves me, he took one a day).
Later that evening, I went to check on him lying on the couch. He had this dopey smile on his face and when he spoke this really creepy gibberish came out. He wasn’t making any sense. I couldn’t understand a word he was saying. My sister and her boyfriend arrived. Dad was calling my husband by MY name and insisting he wanted to march. ( He used to march in the front of the parade every year in his sailor uniform) My sister and her boyfriend had to hold him up to march. His legs and muscles were too weak to hold himself up. He was like a noodle. He would not sit down or calm down. It was constant moving him from one place to another.
I offered to spend the night and sit with dad. It didn’t look like either of us was going to get much sleep that night. Dad laid awake most of the night. Occasionally he would speak to me and I could barely tell he was indeed in there ….. somewhere. He looked wired with a somewhat terrified look in his eyes. He could barely speak and just seemed to be on a bad trip. I moved him around the living room all night from couch to chair to chair. He finally fell asleep and I dozed. I woke to find he had slid out of the chair and was on the floor staring at me. Huge wide awake eyes looking at me when I woke. Mom woke up. We helped him to the kitchen for breakfast. He did really well walking. You could tell the drug was wearing off. I felt some relief. I went to work.
After work I went straight to dad’s to take him to the doctor. We all gathered in his office at the hospital to discuss trying to get dad off most or all of his drugs. We were grasping at anything to give him relief. Herbal remedies were finally being considered for some of his conditions. It was time for his next Levaquin dose. He went into what the dr. called a “life threatening” seizure.
He was rushed to ICU and pumped up on more drugs. It was said his seizure drug wasn’t working because…. He had a seizure. No one would even consider the Levaquin causing ANY of this. The “side effect” was simply treated with more heavy duty drugs. The new seizure drug was doing practically the same thing the Levaquin did! Or from what I’m reading and researching online now.. maybe it was the levaquin. Doctors would tell me it was long out of his system and wasn’t causing any adverse effects. You could watch them put the new seizure drug in him and watch him leave reality and his mind. I was later told he had a rare brain disease. They couldn’t explain why this was happening, nor would admit that dad was in there somewhere. I’d see him there when the drugs were wearing off, before the next dose would arrive. We’d hold normal conversations. My husband saw him too. All my other family members were FREEKING OUT at his condition and didn't have their minds about them... in my opinion. They couldn't and wouldn't believe a drug could cause any of this. I can’t recall the name of the seizure drug. I have this all written down somewhere around here!
I do believe though, they would have never changed the seizure drug if not for the levaquin causing a seizure by being prescribed because the doctor has no staff to check drug interactions. I will always believe it was the Levaquin that started him on his downhill climb to not being with us today. He was a strong man before Levaquin. He became weaker and weaker to the point of getting pneumonia and having a heart attack before leaving us 4 months later. Levaquin may not have been the end of him.. it was just the beginning of the end………….

I am 23 years old and I was prescribed Levaquin 500mg for three days to treat a urinary track infection. Immediately after I drank the first dose my nose got very stuffy and it was hard for me to breath; my head felt heavy and body as well, I was afraid to go to bed. Then, I started to feel my joints a bit weak and my right knee ached. Today, a month after I drank this pill my right knee still aches and feels weak. I am so afraid I might have done damage to my body for just three days of drinking this drug. If my doctor would have told me this I would have NEVER drank it. Plus, after my treatment I still had the UTI.

I was given Levaquin for a UTI about 2 years ago and ended up in the ER, the side effects were so bad. Thought I was having a allergic reaction,
heart poundings, felt like a just drank 3 cups of coffee, also muscles reacting slowly, like I couldn't move my arms and legs how I wanted to.
Unfortunately I have take Cipro a couple times in the last year, and the last dosage of that did it for me. On the 5th day I all of a sudden had extreme pain in my left knee, could hardly walk. I took a couple Advil and rubbed some icee stuff on it and it went away but that night my lower back and hips became also extremely painful. Severe pain. That was the last dose for me. (The pain was much less the next day and almost completely gone after about 4 days.) I called the Dr. and they told me to stop taking Cipro- which I had already done. What really bothers me though is I mentioned this to my orthopedic Dr. and he said he never heard of Cipro causing joint pain!
I am going to send him some literature, but wow!! couldn't believe that.

To the best of my knowledge I never had any of the 'immediate' symptoms.
My problems are probably due to the fact that I was prescribed Cipro 3 possibly 4 times from Aug 06 - Dec 07 and then finished up Dec 07 with a round of Levaquin. My father is over 60 and was recently given Levaquin and had immediate and serious problems. He is seeing a doctor recommended by the CDC today. Yes, he is even working with the CDC on
this one. Due to all he is being told he is convinced that the medication is behind my medical decline as well. Since taking these medications (symptoms started slowly in 07), but after taking the Levaquin at Christmas time I never got up from the couch. My thyroid gland has quit working, my adrenals are shot, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, blew out 3 disks in my back, vision is deteriorating rapidly, and really so many things I can't list them all. I had a complete physical
in Oct 05 and was given a perfect bill of health. Through Aug 06 I was riding my bicycle 33 miles per week. I'm still trying to figure out what hit me??
What my father has been told is that in some individuals Levaquin will attack the glands (like the thyroid) and will compromise the immune system. This damage appears to be permanent. All I know is that I went from being extremely healthy to terribly sick. If in a day's time I have enough energy to load and unload the dishwasher it is a banner day. I can
not work and seem to get worse instead of better as each day passes.

My husband also had pneumonia at Christmas and took Levaquin but does not seem to have had an problems. I suspect it was possibly the cumulative effect of having basically 4-5 rounds of the antibiotic in a years time. According to the people at the CDC that have spoken to my father the symptoms that I have can all be traced back to the medication. One never knows what effect a medication will have. Just please be careful when taking this medication, and limit how many times you take it.

I am taking Levaquin one time a day, 500 mg. for diverticultis. I have fibromyalgia so attributed symptoms of EXTREME FATIGUE to that but this is fatigue like I've never known. I can't do much of anything. I don't work outside the home so will just deal with it if it cures my infection. I'm using sleep meds too...but that could be fibromyalgia kicking in too. But fatigue is much worse. I hope it kills those bad bacteria!

I am 23 years old. I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg for a uti. I took my first pill at 3:00pm yesterday. That night, I wasn't able to sleep. I layed in bed, so tired, just wanting to fall asleep but couldn't. Then the cold sweats and trouble breathing started. By 2:00 a.m. I was having what I can only describe as a panic attack. It's 1:00pm the next day, and i've never felt this bad. THIS MEDICINE IS NOT GOOD.

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!

I have some of everything above and am in so much pain that I feel as if I am dying a slow, painful death. I am on heavy pain meds and even with those I have severe abdominal cramping. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have this pain relief. I am very worried as to what is happening to me internally. They are scheduling cat scans and I am awaiting a phone call to get something diagnostic done. This all started 8/15 and not only are things not easing up, but I think this is getting worse. I also have a urethral discharge, UTI, and alternating constipation and diarrhea. Initially, I had a 102 degree fever and now my temp is low, only 97.1! my husband plans on calling a lawyer today, 8/26. One day I passed brown urine and it shocked me! I'd appreciate hearing from others as I feel so alone in this horrible nightmare which is unfolding! FYI, my doctor feels that my muscle tissue is breaking down...has anyone heard anything like this from their doctor? The stomach and abdominal pains are like labor!

Im only 16 years old and ive been on levaquin for about 3 days now. My doctor told me off the bat that the only thing wrong with the drug were some "theories" on cartilidge damage, how ever, now i see for myself, and for many other people that is not the only side effect. He told me that no one under 18 is supposed to have it but i caught a severe case of sinutitus, and a uti which ive had for 2 months and nothing was working, so he put me on levaquin, once a day for 7 days. Ive now been having the following symptoms and im extremely scared!!
1. Constant fatigue
2. Extreme Migraines
3. Nausea, vomiting
4. Rapid heart beat (and chest pain)
5. Stiffness in joints and horrible pain...
6. Constant anxiousness, to where i cant get to sleep
7. Dizziness

Is there anyone i can talk to who's had these same problems? please email me or something im scared and i don't know what to do my mother doesn't believe me and she says its just a head cold....

******

Please help me!!

I was prescribed 500 mg Levaquin for 5 days for a uti.

After two days I got a cramp in my left calf muscle.

It's been 2 weeks now. My UTI still remains and I feel horrible. I'm taking Vicodin for all over pain. My calves, lower back, shoulders and knees ache badly. I feel like I have the flu, but without the nausea.

My Doc prescribed Nitrofurantoin to treat the UTI again. Can't wait to check it out.

I just found this site and have been reading the posts and I'm so pissed.

I read some posts that said this poison had left a metal taste in some mouths, so tomorrow I'm going to a CHELATION treatment center and start IV treatments. Chelation by intraveneous is good for getting metals out of your system. I had some treatments about 10 years ago to clean out my arteries and felt better, so hopefully this will work. I'll post the results here.

i was prescribed Levaquin in April for pneumonia. I took 1 pill in the morning and by mid-evening felt gross. My stomach was in knots, head was fuzzy. I decided to NOT take any more and let my body fight it. Last week I had awful pain in my ear/jaw and thought it was my tooth so didn't go to the DR. right away. Finally I couldn't handle the pain and went. He said I had an ear infection and immediately wrote a script for Levaquin despite me telling him how it made me feel in April. He said it was no big deal, the feelings would go away. I came home and against my better judgment took what I had left from April. (6 pills) I am done them now, but was looking up Levaquin on line because I feel like crap, my ear and jaw still hurt like hell, and tonight my leg started to hurt. I have a flaming esophagus as I sit and type this at 2 in the morning because I cant friggen sleep. Pain my chest feels like I inhaled glass. My husband said he noticed I haven't been acting right...news to me. I'm cranky because all this crap did was make me feel worse. DR. told me to take 2 aleve in the a.m. and Tylenol/Motrin every 4 hours after that for pain. I just got done reading that NSAIDs shouldn't be taken with Levaquin. Nice to know after the fact. My stomach has been turning for 5 days and food is absolutely disgusting. I have awful diarrhea from this med too, which the doctor said was normal.. good to know that spending hours on the toilet was"normal". I've been teary too. Crying over nothing, literally sitting at the pc playing a game of cards and I busted into hysterical sobbing OVER CARDS!! Hopefully I will feel better in a few days and nothing else happens. DO NOT TAKE LEVAQUIN!!! Save yourself the trouble.

Hi all, I was amazed to find this site. I too have had a rough life for the past eight years! I am going to be 39 in a few days but this story starts back in August 21, 2000. The day that put me in HELL for the next eight years and still going through it. Prior to this day, I had a lot of UTI's and Pneumonia and several times prescribed both Levaquin and Cipro. I did develop Achillies tendinitis but I thought this was due to my active life style, see I was an LPN and a firefighter. So I went for treatment to fix the Achillies tendinitis. This was a foot Dr that of course gave me a cortizone shot in it. I cant remember how much earlier this was that this took place and I am still not sure if this is what did it but as I am thinking back these are the things that come to mind. On August 21, 2000 I was on a fire call and my right Achillies tendon popped off the bone! They took me away by ambulance. The Dr in the ER said to go home with an air cast on, eat or drink nothing and come back in at 10:00am and they would possibly do surgery. Well, I did just that. The orthopedic Doc said oh yeah it is achillies rupture will have to go in and tie back all the little fibers. So away to the operating room I went. They gave me a spinal and just knocked me out. I was awakened suddenly by my Dr. voice loudly saying " Holy shit it peeled off the bone!" And another nurse saying let me see! I came up on my hands and they grabbed me put me back down and knocked me back out! (I still have night mares over that!) Anyway, I spent the next 3 months in a cast. During this time, I was told from over usuage of my left foot, I now was developing tendinitis in my achillies tendon in the left foot! Which this sent me to a wheel chair. They took the cast off in 3 months then I was still no weight bearing for another month. Then i had physical therapy for about 6-8 months with little improvement. I complained to the Dr about the left achillies tendon and he said he would not do anything about it unless it too popped! So now many Dr later, and many many medications tried and many surgeries later, and now diagnosed with Lupus, Sjogrens, and Fibromyalgia, the most my rheumatoligist says is I have a connective tissue disorder, and taking cancer medication (Methotrexate) I am now disabled at 39! My life taken from me. I have situational depression, panic attacks, sleep trouble, Suffer from post traumatic stress, nightmares, basically my life is a mess and it is over. On July 1, 2008 I had to go to the ER cause I was sick. I had been run down and feeling bad and sleeping a lot, disoriented, couldn't stay awake. They found I had another UTI and a sinus infection. The Dr Says we will put you on Levaquin and that should take care of both problems. So he left, it took me a while for it to sink in that I should stay away from that drug, so I caught him and told him, he said to me that this was only found to be in kids while they are young and developing that it causes tendon rupture, and besides he said, one dose will not hurt you. I took 5 pills, one a day. Since then I have been in so much pain all over my body it is unreal! It still took me days to figure out that it was the Levaquin doing this to me! I feel like at random someone is sticking a knife in different muscles in my body! I felt like I had done Tie bo for 24 hours straight! Even my butt muscles hurt so bad to sit here and write this email! I have days when I cant even use my hands! Write my name with a pen. I am not sure if this is all due to these drugs, but I am most miserable and not a bit better. I may have just made it worse by taking this last round of them. Has anyone else had this kinf of symptoms?

I was given this demon drug for a UTI, in May 2003. I have had severe skin rashes ever since. Cannot get in the sun at all. I have a beautiful back yard w/a pool. All my friends and family enjoy it, but not me.

Muscle weakness, pain, tingling

After taking levaquin, I still suffer from muscle weakness, pain, and tingling several years later. My doctor who is one of the top specialists in New York has seen what this drug has done to me and is doing research for an article in a medical journal to put the word out of the horrible side effects of this drug as well as increasing the knowledge to hopefully figure out how to counteract this.

If you are/have suffered similar results, please contact me at ****** and we can discuss how you can send your case information to my doctor for the study and medical journal article. We need more scientific studies and literature out there about this drug and the side effects.

Hey guys i was given LEVAQUIN for a Bacterial infection, maybe a UTI or some other types pertaining with E-coli. At first i was fine. I was given 750 mg for 5 days. Today is 9 am of the 4th day and i have one more pill to go. First night was fine. Had a few nightmare, specially one pertaining to my umbilical cord poping out of my belly. VERY WEIRD... Second day was ok felt a little weak from the drug, but have severe anxiety attack. On the third day i started noticing. Some sores most probably thrushing form the drug ( years infection ) but more like sores in circles on my tongue. The fourth day i was the worst. My mind could not stop racing. I was very anxious. I could not even sit through a movie without going crazy. I had bed tremors. Left very HOT real quickly and started sweating and then feel cold when there is too much air blowing. Weird things like that. I got a lump in my throat. NOt sore but more like i can swallow my spit. I had no headaches at all from this drug. ( I THINK YOU GUYS NEED TO REALIZE THIS, headaches are caused by this drug if you do not drink A LOT OF WATER. I am now drinking about 4 to 5 liters of water a day. It helps with the JOINT ACES and headaches. BUT NOT the physiological effects. Man those are killers. I think i am going to take my last pill this evening at 7:30 and hope for the best. I have had no fever at all but soem fluxuation in degree of temp from 97 to 99 degree in general. Please if any of you guys have similar symptoms like mine, specially hot and cold sweats and mouth dryness and soars on your tongue. Please email me back i would like your input.
I am going to call my doctor today and ask him what to do but i am sure i ca continue on this drug.
thank you so much for all your post this put my mind at ease !! Because honestly i though that there was something wrong with me.
btw i am a 28 year old male

My doctor prescribed Cipro for a UTI I had. My symptoms were minor. Within 2 doses of Cipro though, my symptoms got worse. Fever, excruciating lower back pain, shakes, all over pain. Thank God my boyfriend was aware of what was happening (because I wasn't). He gave me Cipro 2 more times and had been keeping track. Within 15 minutes of me taking it, all the symptoms would flare up. Finally he said we need to call the doctor, this drug is making you ill. We called the doctor and he said, "no way is it the drug, just continue taking it" So I did 2 more times. And then my boyfriend demanded and threatened the doctor to reconsider. And you know what, I went in to the doctor they gave me a shot of something else, and within 10 minutes I had no fever, no pain, no nothing. And they said I must've had an allergic reaction. It's interesting now to hear how we all MUST HAVE had an allergic reaction. Or that the drug is unsafe. My input here is to just remind people to pay attention to how their bodies respond to any drug. Keep track. No one knows our bodies better than we do.

I am a 49 year old male and took a 14 day course of Cipro for a UTI. By day four the souls of my feet were very sore, especially first thing in the morning but no other side effects. Mentioned sore feet to Dr after 7 days of Cipro but he did not believe it was from Cipro and had me complete the course. After 14 day course of Cipro feet were now so painful that I could barely walk on them especially after resting or getting out of bed. Also burning sensation on skin of feet and hands and some minor tremor. Saw a specialist and he immediately confirmed Cipro as the culprit and advised never to take that drug family again. Have since done the whole web search thing and discovered the whole saga of these drugs. Other symptoms have also appeared, some pain in middle of back, sharp pain in middle of back of both knees, hot and cold flushes, pain in left bicep, fingers that are very susceptible to joint injury and feelings of weakness and anxiety. Has been over three weeks now since I stopped Cipro and condition shows no improvement, may even be slightly worse. About to try a shotgun approach with treatment as there appears little documented evidence of anything conclusive on line. Starting course of anti-inflams (Voltaren) and these have already reduced the pain in my feet. Also magnesium and calcium supplements (theory goes that it may mop up any remaining Cipro and there is plenty of reports from sufferers saying that symptoms continue to appear for some months after stopping Cipro), Vitamin B6 (can apparently help with some types of nerve pain and tingling) and Fish Oil (omega 3's can help reduce inflammation). Not very scientific I know and can't be sure that all these are compatible with each other but am a bit desperate at this stage. Bracing myself for a three to six month recovery (just based on experience of many others). At this stage I am just hoping that damage is not irreversible as this appears to be a real risk. As everyone here will agree it is amazing how this situation is being allowed to continue. I could have stopped my Cipro on day two or three if I had been made fully aware of the risks and what to look out for. I am no expert by any means on this but from what I can gather Cipro and its relatives do nerve damage by the very way they work. It appears that anyone taking these drugs will inflict some nerve damage but for many it will not manifest to a degree that is a problem or at least a noticeable problem. So in some ways we are all sufferers, just to varying degrees. Another point mentioned often is that the symptoms may not appear for some months after the Cipro is stopped and therefore is not always associated with the drug. Also some say there is an accumulative affect with using the drug a second or third time. Symptoms may appear only after multiple use or symptoms may get much worse and more likely irreversible with multiple use. It's all scary reading. At this stage I am just hoping I can make a full recovery. Do damaged nerves repair themselves, does the Cipro eventually leech out of our systems .... I don't know. I will post in this forum again in a few months or sooner if I make a recovery.

It's 2 am on my 7th day of taking Levaquin. I was prescribed the antibiotic after being diagnosed with a UTI. I still have a UTI even though I am finished with my dose. I am awake not because of insomnia, but because I've had my 5th nightmare this week. This one was so bad I woke up screaming and crying. I went outside for some air to try to cool off. I still felt terrible anger for the people in my nightmare and really felt like I was ready for the psych ward. Finally it hit me, the only thing I've done differently this week is taking Levaquin. These nightmares are intolerable! One was understandable I suppose but every night two bad nightmares a night! And these aren't just "someones chasing you" nightmares...these are terrors! After figuring this out I would stop taking this right away if I wasn't finished already. No one I know will ever take this medicine, I will tell everyone of this crazy medicine.

I am a 54 year old, very active female. Had a UTI and was given 750 Levaquin. I have taken 10 days worth and began having a sore swollen ankle, followed by right knee pain, followed by shoulder and arm pain. I have never experienced muscle pain to this degree before. I am scheduled for a doctor appt in 3 days. I started trying to imagine what could be causing this. I took a shot and looked up Levaqin side effects this morning, after another night of no sleep and severe shoulder pain. Well guess what, from everything I just read I think I found the source. The problem now is how do I get my life back???? The one thing I am sure of is it's time to stop taking the poison!!!

I took Levaquin 500mg for ten days for a UTI, by the 5th day my right shoulder and bicep was hurting and hard to lift. On the 8th day my left arm was doing the same. I went to the doctor and was told it was Osteoarthritis and take Advil. Two days later I called the doctor told her this was not some little minor pain, she ordered an MRI. It showed torn and severed tendons in my biceps and rotator cuff. I had surgery on my right arm to repair all of this plus the tendons in my thumb on 2/26/08. I am scheduled to have the left arm repaired at the end of May. All this has been caused by the Levaquin, I have Multiple Sclerosis and my daily life was tough and this drug has made things twice as bad.
dfwtexan

I have a freind who had a bladder nfection, not the first of course. She is 80 years young, very active etc. I told her about my problems with Levaquin and told her NOT to take the Cipro they gave her, because every time she does she has "trouble with her knees and back" mysteriously!!!! Well, she took it anyway and ended up in the hospital with heart paplitations ,irregular heartbeat etc. Guess what they put her on to stop any further infection, you guessed it, Levaquin!!! Shes been home from the hospital now and in the house for over two weeks, has trouble walking now!!When will it end? Marsh

I have never, ever responded to any of these "side effects" websites before! As a healthy person who very rarely requires medication, I had to find something on the web that would "explain" my suspected side effects for the Levaquin I've been taking for the last three days. This was prescribed for a UTI. The "new" side effect (that I didn't see addressed anywhere here) was what I can only describe as "asthma-like," to include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Anyone else with this symptom? I was also overcome with a great sense of futility that just scared me. I am normally a positive, "the-sun'll-come-up-tomorrow" type person, but this just knocked me for a loop!

Wow! I am shocked. I have taken Levaquin on several occasions in the last two years for various infections - cellulitis, pneumonia and UTI. Over time my legs, knees and right hip have become so painful that I have actually checked the terms of my life insurance policy because I did not think I could go on. I have been attributing my severe pain, which is not helped by narcotic pain medication to any significant degree, to an old fall injury, new over-use injuries, being overweight, not being fit, etc. I never thought for a minute that my only available antibiotic choice, Levaquin, could be the culprit. I was just researching severe leg pain on the net (again) and stumbled on this site. I have had unusual headaches, loss of appetite, and of course severe leg, knee and hip pain, as well as weird visual perceptions (I keep thinking the light is too low) and horrible muscle pain in my right thigh and calf. I had a trip and fall accident and now have lymphedema in the right thigh and have had many other complications since '92. When I went back to my doctor last Monday, he told me to take a second course of Levaquin for cellulitis in the thigh when I complained about the horrible pain in my thigh muscle, knee and hip. Does he really have no idea that Levaquin has these serious side effects being reported? I am now terrified that these painful conditions are going to persist for a long time to come. I can barely walk at this point and I have chronic severe pain and I have missed many days of work since taking these last three rounds of Levaquin (500 mg. x 10 days each) since September. Again, wow!

My wife had a UTI (urinary tract infection) and the doctor prescribed cipro-something which did not work. Two days later the pain continued and it started to make her back feel very sore (infection spread to kidney). The doctor prescribed Levaquin and she felt better within an hour or so. As I recall, a 5 day supply cost $100 so this is not cheap, but our insurance did offset that quite a bit. Two days after she started taking it, I found this site and read all of the horror stories. Fortunately for us, the 5 day dose is now over (since yesterday). My wife has not experienced any side effects and her UTI issues have disappeared.

I just finished a 7-day dose of Levaquin prescribed for a mild UTI. I noticed that for the past week, I have not been feeling like "myself." I have experienced nausea, light-headedness, loss of appetite, weakeness, a bit of insomnia, and just plain old crappiness! I really thought it was just me at first because I took Levaquin about a year ago for the same problem and didn't have any side effects that I can recall. This time, however, they have been very prominent. Your comments really helped to shed some light. I feel better now knowing that my listlessness can probably just be attributed to the Levaquin. Glad I'm done with it!!!

O>K> here i am again. After taking Levaquin back in the spring I SUDDENLY developed a severe case of arthritis!!! Imagine? I had a UTI and then wham!!! Can"t walk joint painb beyond belief! Now it"s Almost November and my knees are still killing me and my hands, the joints are so swollen,. The doctor can"t understnad why this happened. She sent me to a rheumatologist and my counts went so drastically up he thought the lab test was a mistake. ThankYou, Levaquin!!!! Marsh

I was on Levaquin in February of 06. Although it helped the sinus infection, the price has been great. I had severe burning and tingling in my lips. Lower lip still numb after 20 months. Soreness and weakness in fingers--sprained two fingers while doing routine things. Stabbing pains in soles of feet, decreased over 4 months. Excruciatingly sore Achilles tendon, especially sore to the touch. Large muscle twitches in arms and legs. Decreased over several months. Ear ringing began--still have it. Dramatic increase in floaters in eyes also during the course of the drugs--still have them. Serious back problems began then also, with 4 herniated discs being diagnosed 5 months later. I have read that connective tissue damage may result from Levaquin. I feel that everthing that stated then is related: back, ears, eyes, numb lips, hands, etc. I checked with my doctors office, told them the symptoms, and I was instructed to keep taking the drug if I wanted to get well. But I only spoke with a nurse. . .shame on me. Good luck to all of you.

I finished taking seven days worth of Levaquin about one week ago. I feel like I am dying. I have Fibromyalgia so I thought I was having a bad flareup. I told my husband this is the worst I've ever felt. I usually exercise, walk, swim and try to move so I dont get stiff from the fibromyalgia. This is very different. My muscles in my thighs and calves are burning, upper body weakness, bizzare nightmares (I usually dont remember my dreams). I cant get out of bed untill around 11:00. I just keep falling asleep when I try to get up earlier. I try to get some exercise and fall onto the couch in tears. I cant think straight and I am so weak. I cant believe my Dr. gave it to me knowing I suffer from chronic pain already. I took it in the past and stopped because of nausea and depression. But I wanted to tough it out this time to get rid of UTI. I also read that you should not take if you have had a reaction to Cipro. I had huge hives from cipro. I wish I had that reaction with the Leviquin so I wouldn't have full body pain. Even my feet hurt. I wish I never heard of this drug!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad that I found this page. I injured my back 3 years ago and have been taking prescribed opiods for the pain. Recently got a bad UTI that lasted 3 months and they thought it spread to my kidneys, so they put me on Levaquin. The first 2 days nothing but soreness,I felt like I had been held down and beat with a bat. The 3rd day I noticed some swelling on my ankles and attributed it to working and standing on my feet all day. By the 6th day(this past Saturday) I can barely stand my knees and hips hurt so bad that I cut short my training with my Thoroughbred Shelby. I even had to ask my husband to come with me so that I could at least get him brushed out and groomed. I couldn't even hold a large groom brush. I literlly have to roll out of bed and try to prop myself up. My hands and wrists are so swollen that it's hard to just sit up on the side of the bed, and my lower legs, ankles and feet are all pitting edema with pain in every joint and difficulty just standing and walking is even harder. Thank God I have a cane that I use intermittently for my back. Here I was worried that my kidney's had shut down. I also have been looking on the net and found all my symptoms related to Levaquin. I'm not taking this any more.
This drug is dangerous, like others here, not 1 doctor even said a word about this side effect/ allergic reaction I could have. Not even the pharmacist. Sickening. All for a buck in their pocket.

I was given Levaquil after takin Cipro to get rid of a UTI. Shortly after taking a five day prescription of levaquin I started to notice pain in my right foot and knee. My doc told me to take advil and to come back in a week. A week later I still have pain, now it is in both feet, my right knee and my left ankle. It has now been six weeks. I wanted to know how long these side effects are going to last. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I went to the clinic with a severe urinary tract infection. I was prescribed 500 mg Levaquin for 5 days and started taking it immediately (if you've ever had a UTI, you will understand!) I woke up on the 3rd day and could not move my fingers - my entire hand ached and was so stiff. It began to progress down to my elbows. I recieved a call later that day from the clinic saying they had prescribed me the wrong drug...a culture proved a different bacteria to be the culprit. Apparently the Levaquin was fighting nothing in my body besides my hand! I thought the pain was from the UTI going untreated for so long, but now I can see it was obviously the Levaquin. I still feel stiffness in my hands every morning, but it goes away and I am able to function. But I find it incredible that taking a prescribed medicine can affect me daily...and this was around 3 months ago that I took it!

I had racing pulse, heart pain, headache and nausea the first time I was prescribed Levaquin for a UTI. I called the doc's office and was told I it had nothing to do with the med. I took it, all the while feeling miserable, for the whole prescibed dose. I was prescribed it again, and had similar reaction, called and asked about it, and was told that my culture came back negative and I should stop taking the med. I was happy to do so. Third time it was pneumonia. I got a shot first of a penicillin derivitive, then was prescribed Levaquin. Within 24 hours I had severe hives, along with feeling awful, which my have just been related to the pneumonia. Went in to the doc, and was taken off the Levaquin, and told to never take any of this class of drug again, because my doc said the next reaction could be much worse. I was switched to a penicillin derivitive and put on a prednisone pack for the hives, which took a couple of weeks to go away even after stopping the Leviquin.

I have taken Levenquin for years - so far nothing bad (at least that I have noticed). I have had cohn's, fibro, CFS, UTI, kidney stones, COPD (from having my immune system suppresed by crohn's treatments), diabetis (caused by Prednisone), high blood pressure alternating with very low bp (ranging from 234/142 down to 53/36), racing pulse then very low pulse (ranging from 156 down to 29 bpm) and some of these (pulse and BP) can be all in one day (both caused by Prednisone).

Thing is - I just turned 29. I have been dealing with these since I was 18 or so. I have often taken Levaquin with Prednisone and other antibotics.

The only thing that seems to concern me this time is extreme sweating - It is hot enough in the deep South without this med. I am noticing now that since the diabetis is under control (without meds now), I am very shaky and low sugars.

Also, if this causes racing pulse - I am in big trouble. I was given this med for a UTI, along with Prosed (which contains Atropine - from the Belladonna plant). Atropine was given to me in the hospital when I had the pulse crash of 29.

Just praying that I won't deal with any side effects like this.

Oh and I see insomnia- I am dealing with that enough now! If this is similar to Cipro - I should sleep well though LOL

I was prescribed 5 days of 500 mg of Levaquin for a possible UTI. I had some vision disturbances - seeing spots and shapes that weren't really there on the 2nd day. On day 3 I had a night of complete sleeplessness. On day 4, I noticed a slight soreness in both calves. I thought it was just from gardening. On day 5 (after I had taken the final dose) the calve stiffness/pain got much worse - it was like the muscles had become extremely tight and was centered around the tendons. I realized it was from the Levaquin when the insert and way down at the bottom it said to call your doctor if you had leg or tendon pain. Since then, I have looked at several sites and it's very scary. I can only hope that the leg pain goes away in a few days - I can hardly walk and it hurts with every step. I have always been a very active person. If this is permanent, it will change my life completely, as I walk everywhere and right now can barely get down the street or up and down stairs. My doctor said that only prolonged use would cause tendon tears, but that is not what I am reading. It damages cartilage, muscles, tendons. That's one of the reasons they don't prescribe it for under 18-year olds.

It should not be prescribed for anyone. There are thousands of entries on the web about the sometimes permanent and very serious side effects of this toxic antibiotic. I feel very sorry for all of us.

Marianne
7/3/07

After reading the first page of posts, I realize I am very lucky that some of the worse side effects. The first time I was prescribed Levaquin, 500 mg. for a UTI, I noticed that after one day my tongue tingled. The second day of treatment left me with a very sore tongue, as if someone had rubbed it with sandpaper. The next day, I got several large white blisters in the roof of my mouth, under my tongue and in the back of my throat. None of these symptoms were listed in the information pamphlet from the pharmacy. I called my doctor and he said it must have given my an oral yeast infection. He called in a prescriptin for Diflucan and Nystatin (an awful tasting orange liquid you have to swish in your mouth and swallow). It did not help. I went to him again so he could look at my mouth in person and I had lost 9 pounds in 6 days! I could not even stand to eat chicken noodle soup and I was living on water and jello. I am a diabetic who has to inject insulin, so my blood sugars were going crazy. He prescribed some other mouthwash and it took almost a whole week after finishing the Levaquin for all the blisters to get to a point where I could even brush my teeth again. I can't begin to describe the pain. I have UTI's a lot, but I made him promise never to prescribe Levaquin again. Well, two months ago, I got another UTI and tried 2 other meds that did not clear it up. He once again prescribed Levaquin, and now my mouth is inflamed and blistered. I don't think it is an oral yeast infection, because the symptoms are not the same. It feels more like some kind of chemical burn. Has anyone else had these symptoms? I just came back from a family reunion and I was miserable the whole time I was there.

I took 500 mg Levaquin for 5 days for a UTI. I experienced powerful headaches and wild nightmares. I just finished the medicine two days ago and the headaches are gone as well as the strange dreams.

I started a 5 day dose of 500 mg (UTI) last week right before I flew to Chicago for a weekend vacation. Before my flight I was a NERVOUS wreck! I hadn't flown in a while and couldn't believe the anxiety I was feeling. While there, on my 3rd day of levaquin, I went horse-back riding for about an hour, no biggie. The next day, I tried to go on a walk, and had to lay down right in the middle of the woods because my thighs were so sore and my hands were trembling. I had terrible fear of getting back on the plane sunday night, and wanted to write out a will! I was crying my eyes out. Not normal for me. When I got home, I awoke at 3 am extrememly sick to my stomach. I have now been off for 2 days, and the hot sweats and leg pain made me think I had something very wrong. I'm 37 female, healthy.

This morning I awoke with my heart racing and a very anxious emotional state of mind. I felt irrational,frantic, like crying, hand-wringing & completely out of control emotionally! It was very scarey - I've never experienced this before. This is my 7th day on the antibiotic, and I'm seeing no improvement in the sinusitis that I'm taking it for.

I am 43 healthy female, my doctor prescribed levaquin 500 mg for 10 days for a UTI. I took 1 pill after dinner and when I tried to go to sleep my heart was pounding out of my chest I couldn't sleep. Every movement I made - my heart pounded harder. This prescription cost 100.00 - yet I won't take it one more day.

It seemed to begin with a 2 day headache. As I had a severe UTI, I was not sure if the symptoms I was having were because of the Levaquin or the infection. The headache was the first "unusual" symptom I had within 1 hour of taking the Levaquin. Then the muscle aches, tendon pain, arches of feet hurt, arthritis in hands became more painful than I had ever experienced, very fatiqued, skin sensitive to touch, tingling sensation on arms, racing heartbeat (may have been due to anxiety of other symptoms). These symptoms continued for 6 days until 24 hours after stopping medication. I discontinued it after researching side effects on internet as Patient Information sheet that came with medication was vague. I still have tendon pain in left elbow, and arches of feet. Amazingly, I have had knee surgery and back surgery, but neither of these areas seemed to have been affected. Still don't feel "right", but hopeful will continue to improve.

I was put on levaquin for a 5 day treatment at 500mg. for a uti. On the 3rd day I was having pain in my upper arm by my nuscle and shoulder. The next day I woke up out of my sleep with bad pain in my knees. I did not finish the medicine. It has been 48 hours since I stopped and I have pain in my arms and fingers. My legs knees hurt and pain in my stomach. I did not relize these were side effects until I read this post. I had headaches and pain in my back and stomach but I thought it was from the UTI. Just typing hurts know. I wish people would post follow ups to give some of us some hope. THe pharmacist told me I should feel better in a couple of days, but after reading this I am alittle nervous. Today my arms are worse, and that is after 48 hours after taking the medicine

500 mg for 5 days UTI Burning pain in upper and lower extremities, tin tast in mouth, burning eyes, hair falling out, severe constipation, dry skin, muscle twitches, tremors, extreme anxiety...FDA does not respond to reports..I think the adverse drug effects are ignored because of profits.. they are not interested in the true # of individuals who are seriously hurt by this drug..pharmaceudical companies are too powerful...and Dr are thus not well informed so they prescribe dangerous drugs without even knowing how they can harm their patients...

I started Levaquin for a UTI. The night of the first pill I had such severe leg cramps and paid, I was up all night. I felt like my legs were on speed. They were throbbing and tingling. I am afraid to take another pill. I can't believe they are giving this antibiotic to women. After one day, what would happen with the entire treatment? something has to be done. I will jump on board with whatever has to progress to get this taken off the shelves.

I was given 2 doses of 750mg IV Levaquin in my local emergency room for a UTI, then sent homw with a RX for 750mg oral. I went back to the emergency room 2 days later with a temp of 101 and complaints of leg pain and numb feet. The emergency again gave me 750mg Levaquin IV admited me into a observation ward when they continued to give me three additional does 750mg Levaquin IV, and sent me home. I went back to the emergency for the third time, severe pain in feet, numbness in feet and swollen and red, burning, elevated temp and this time elevated liver and pancreases enzymes. Admitted into the hospital, they proceed to do a spinal tap to see if I had Guillian Bria Symdrome. I was concluded that I had acute sensoury neuropathy induces by Levaquin toxicity. It is four weeks past, I still have numbness and buring in my feet. I must have had my allergic reaction after the second does because as we look back, I experienced a rash around my abdomen, a sever headache and elevated temp as I received the third does. Because the temp kept stayed elevated and the leg pain got worse, they kept giving me the Levaquin, which resulted in the overdoes toxicity, that was escentially casuing the elevated liver and pancreas enzymes, which was causing the high temp and leg pain. The temp, and elevated enzymes started to decrease when the Levaquin was stopped. As for the nueopathy in the feet and lower legs, only time will tell. If you have never taken this drup before, DON"T. They are other drugs out there that can be used.

After 4 days of Macrobid didn't help my UTI, I was prescribed 750mg of Levaquin per day. On the first day, the doctor had me take a double dose. That night, my left arm was tingling and numb no matter what I did. I woke up suddenly after only an hour of sleep. I tried to stumble to the restroom but could barely stand. My legs were completely weak, my anxiety was through the roof, my heart was pounding and the room was spinning out of control. I couldn't tell if the bedroom was upside down or sideways.

After a trip to the ER, they told me I was reacting to the high does of Levaquin but it wasn't an allergic reaction. They gave me a lot of fluids and sent me home and told me to still take the Levaquin since I had to get rid of the UTI.

The next day, the UTI was much better. I took a 1/2 dose of Levaquin. I had some side effects (weak all over, anxiety, feeling hot, slightly dizzy) but not terrible. I hate to take this stuff but I know it is working. The half dose seems to be enough.

24 yr old relativly healthy Male. I developed a Urinary Tract infection and was prescribed by an ER doctor 8 days worth of Levaquin (500mg) within days I was so depressed, anxious, couldn't keep any food down. its been 6 days and I've lost 14 lbs. I stopped after the 4th dose and refuse to take it again. I threw up after just about every meal and was only able to keep the broth portion of Chicken Noodle soup down. I experienced several panic attacks, numbess in all my extremities, and my heart was racing. My blood pressure was normal but I felt as if it was beating out of my chest and the pulse could be felt in various portions of my body. I remember by the 4th day of taking it that I wanted my Urinary Tract Infection back as the side effects were much worse than a UTI. Its been 3 days since I've been off it and I'm still experiencing some nervousness, tingling in arms and feet. my body is aching. I am still exhausted and still trying to gain my appetite back. I can eat solid foods agian but only so much and I find I'm turned off by foods I would normally be craving. I experienced confusion, loss of concentration and cold sweats. I remember waking up in the middle of the night freezing but within minutes of wrapping up in a blanket I felt I was in a Sauna. This Drug has no place on the market and I'm scared to find people on here who have been off it for months and still feeling side effects. I am also relieved that I figured out the cause. If the side effects linger for long than a couple of weeks, you can add me to the list of people who will look into a lawsuit!

Oh my heavens, I had no idea this site was even here. THANK YOU!! I was given Levaquin back in April 2006 for a urinaty tract infection. At the end of a family vacation in Florida I was feeling ill. I have been in the hospital 48 days, 3 hospital stays, including being transferred to Jefferson in Philadelphia, where they saved my life. I developed C Diff, a severe intestinal bacterial infection that I am still fighting over 4 months later. This is the second time I have had this infection. I was hospitalized with it in 2001 also, and just realized that I had been on Levaquin for a UTI then too. I know of at least two other people who have become ill from this of late also.
Yes, we need to get this medication off the market. I almost died twice before being sent to Philadelphia while in my local hospital. I will take NOTHING without talking with my Philly Dr. now. I had to go back to Jefferson again this past week because I'm sick again with the same symptoms. I'm only 59 and spend most days in bed, or at least near a bathroom. I've had so many test that I cannot count them anymore.
Thank you for letting vent this.

Am a 28 yr old female and I was given 4 samples of Levaquin for a UTI, i went on the website to read about the drug, since am healthy and have never had any bad reactions to drugs and they listed minimal and rare side effects I took it, the first night I didn't sleep but my UTI was clearing up, but the second night within two hours of taking, it made me crazy, panic attack, anxiexy, my head was racing out of control, and i was soooo hot i run to put cold water over me, i turned on all the lights cause i was afraid i was being attacked by a force, and at one point i wanted to take a knife and stab my head, thats when i began to scream and my husband ran to comfort me, he held me and i began to pray and am not religious, out of deseperation i took some night quill and after 30 min i began to calm down and to somewhat sleep,thank god because we were about to go to emergency room, this all happened last night and am still in bed cause i feel out of focused, and still a bit afraid. i have been on-line today researching and am appaled of how bad this drug really is, i will never take this and i will tell everyone i know about it, and i went n filed a complaint with the FDA and suggest everyone else does so, now i just pray i don't get any other side effects.

I had a UTI (urinary tract infection), I was given Leviquin too.. I had to go to the ER due to the fact I felt like I TOO WAS HAVING A STROKE.. SHARP PAINS IN MY HEAD CONSTANTLY!!! P.S. No Dr.. I repeat, no Dr. will put down a medication, this is there domane!! I was up all night last night and really thought i was goind NUTSSSSSSSS!

I want to thank you all for sharing your stories, at the same time im VERY sorry for all youve all been thru that is just HORRIBLE!!!!!
The main reason im saying thanks is because today I took a Levaquin 500mg I happened to have in my car from a yr ago when I had a UTI, (but I never used them) I didnt know anything about it, but I took it anyway now that I have another one thinking it would help...which it did! But now I wont take anymore knowing my chances of something awful happening, I have 2 young girls and work 40hrs a week, so I dont have the time to become sick like that...nor would I want to anyway, hehe