Levaquin and weakness

In July of 2005, I was prescribed 14 doses of Levaquin 750 mg for a bad case of viral pneumonia and mononucleosis. After two days of insomnia, I developed extremely painful feet, especially the bottoms of my feet. Last month (Aug 2007) I was diagnosed with Avascular Necrosis of the Hip, and just had my right hip replaced (total). At age 45, I am fairly young to have developed such an ailment and other than July of 2005, have been healthy and active my entire life. In retrospect, I am beginning to wonder if Levaquin caused my avascular necrosis, as the doctors are at a loss.

I am a physician and have prescribed levaquin to many people. I have had some of them complain of what they thought were serious and variable side effects but mostly I attributed their problems to anxiety and hypochondiasis. I now know differently. I took levaquin, and for over a year I have had serious CNS anxiety, insomnia, joint and tendon pain, and widespread peripheral neuropathy. It has been an awful time and since realizing that the effects are often long term I have been able to identify many other patients who have developed serious long term problems with anxiety, depression, arthropathy and tendonopathy, neuropathy and possibly endocrine effects like gonadal failure and worsening of diabetes. There are no long term studies done post marketing to identify these effects and to unify all of these problems into one syndrom of fluoroquinolone toxicity. This is a big problem and I believe thousands of patients have been adversely affected by the use and misuse of levaquin and probably the other fluoroquinolone antibiotics. I have other colleagues who are beginning to recognize the long term consequences of levaquin and the fluoroquinolones. More research and study needs to be done. In the mean time I am sure that Johnson and Johnson, Ortho- Mcneil, will continue to refute that the incidence of serious adverse reactions is much higher than they report.

About 4 months ago I was put on a 10 day treatment of 500 mg Levaquin, because of an on going sinus infection. I took the pills for 5 days and experienced muscle twitching, weakness, dizzyness, upset stomache, irregular fast heart beat, extreme anxiety, I had this weird tingling numb feeling from my knees down and couldnt sleep at all. I called my doctor after 2 days of the medication and told her about my side affects and she told me to continue the medication. After 5 days went by I looked up this web site and was shocked to hear that I wasnt alone. I threw away the rest of the medicine and prayed I wouldnt have long lasting affects. I continued to have muscle twitching, cramping, and weakness for the next 3 months and my leg muscles would ache and tighten by themselves. I have played sports my entire life and had just gotten done my season of college basketball before I got sick and after I took this medication I could barely walk up the stairs without feeling like I was going to pass out. I was in and out of the hospital having blood tests they tested me for lyme disease, and did 2 cat scans of my head. I went to a neurologist and had tests done worrying it was ms or als and they sent me to have an MRI of the brain and my neuroligist asked me if I had been on any medications and I told him levaquin. After 3 months of crying myself to sleep being put on about 8 different medications to control my anxiety my neurologist diagnosed me with BFS. BFS is a neaurological disease that affects your nerves. It is not life threatening but many people suffer because of the anxiety that comes along with the disease and I get muscle twitching all over my body and feel tired most of the time. It took me to get a long time to feel even a bit better but I began taking magnesiun, B12, Potassium, and other ones to help nerve function and a mild anxiety medication and I have felt a little better. Nobody believed me when I told them my illness was from levaquin but after I was diagnosed I realized that just 5 pills may have ruined my life. Now today I have my good days and bad. I just turned 21 but I cant drink or have caffiene because of BFS. I met the love of my life about 3 weeks after I got out of the hospital and I knew we were meant to meet because his step father had passed away a month before. His step father took levaquin for an infection and his kidneys and liver failed 11 days later and he passed away. I was so devastated when my boyfriend told me about this and called my parents to tell them how SCARED I WAS. I am dealing with what this medication has done to me by staying positive, and telling as many people as possible about how bad this medication is. I wish I would have rad this site before I took those 5 pills but I didnt. Levaquin should not be on the market and I will pray for those who have had the same heartbreaking experience as myself.

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to this sight I now know why I have had all these symptoms for months now. I took this drug 750 5 days in the fall of 2006...a 2nd time in winter of 2007, and again in August 2007. In March I complained that my big toe was burning. Doctor had no reason for it. Then muscles would cramp and skin burn and hurt. Numbness in arms and feet. The left palm burned all the time. Muscle loss and weakness. I work out so I could tell something was wrong. Doctors sent me to Neurologist.

Now after reading this sight I see others have had the same thing happen.

The bad thing is my doctors new I was allergic to Cipro and gave them to me anyway. This week they gave me Avelox with steriods. My vision is very messed up in left eye...I went into a brain fog on dose three.

Rite Aid pharmacy said I should of never been given either of the drugs after a side effect from Cipro.

OMG, I thought it was just me! I went to my doctor because of an ongoing infection and the worst cough I've ever had. I was given Levaquin 750mg and a steriod shot. Then it went down hill from there. My ankles began to swell, then my fingers and hands. I had a very hard time using my hands to open my back door and it even hurt to use my stapler at work! Then other joints began to hurt, like my neck and my knees. It was painful to get up or sit down. I tried to get up and get ready for work one morning, but I just stood in the shower crying because my entire body hurt. I went to an emergency clinic and asked them to start doing lab work to find out what's going on. I felt like I was 90 years old and had been suddenly stricken with menopause, lyme disease, fibromyalgia,arthritis and migraine. All the lab came back normal. I went back to the doctor that gave me the drug (handful of samples) and was referred to a pain and joint center. I am still trying to recover from this drug. .

I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. Started taking the 500 mg. tablet on Thursday. Within 24 hours of the first dose, my sinus symptoms started feeling better, but I had wild dreams along with difficulty in sleeping, accompanied by bouts of sweating, then chilling. Friday nt. the diaharrea started and continued every 30 min. This was accompanied by severe abdominal pain and weakness. I have stopped taking this drug, only took 3 pills, but the diaharrea continues. Has anyone else had this awful side effect, and if so....how long did it last after discontinuing the medication. I, like many others have posted, will NEVER take this medication again, nor will I let it be prescribed to any family member!

Just got back from the dr. She said it is definitly caused by Levaquin. The knee pain etc. is from this drug. She said it putme right over the edge after taking it for only one week. Hopefully it will subside. This is a powerful drug that attacks cartilage and joints and should not be used by people prone to arthritic conditions. Anyway, I feel better knowing I don"t have Lyme or anything more serious. GoodLuck to all of you out there, hang in there.Marsh

It is 2:00 a.m. and i am up writing about the seriousnes of this drug after reading all other postings.This is my third nightof taking levaquin and I am just coming down from a major aniexty attack tonight. I had a major one the first night of taking this medicine but i thought it was stress related. I realize now it was not. I cannot sleep without having crazy dreams and wake up feeling like the world is crashing down on me. I can't breathe and feel like my heart is racing fast. Earlier i was walking in the mall and actually felt so much pain and weakness in my legs that i was afraid i was not going to be able to walk out. that never happened to me before. I was at work earlier today and felt an overwhelming sleepiness. I notice that the joints in my hands and knees hurt. I cannot believe a madicine can cause so many problems!! I felt like calling an ambulance from the panic attack i just had. This drug should be removed from the market and people should get together to protest this drug and file a class action suit. How do we go about it? Anybody know steps we can take?

Help!
My father who is almost 73 was prescribed Levaquin for a possible sinus infection. He took the last dose of a ten day prescription on April 26 (Today is May 17} Almost a month later he is suffering from many flu-like symptoms(fever, chills, weakness, loss of appetite, and etc. As well as the typical tendon pain and according to the Dr. - Bronchitis) My question is how typical is it to have the flu, bronchitis symptoms 3 weeks later? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Still improving--so those of you who are new to the levaquin side effects, note that I am improving each day over 4 days of ending the course of treatment (500mg, 12 days). I have much less trouble walking in the AM, but I do still have pain in my legs, particularly at night. The weakness seems to be subsiding. It appears that some people have much longer-lasting problems, and some don't. However, I am not completely recovered and I can only hope I gain back my strength and flexibility. Again, highly recommend lots of water and I am taking antioxidents and folic acid. I am intentionally NOT stressing my tendons. Best health to all.

TO Guest #41844
Who do you work for a drug rep.?

I began taking the drug three days ago due to severe sinusitis. 750mg. for 5 days. I stopped today due to severe weakness, nausea, pain in lower back, diarrhea, blurred vision. sleeplessness and lack of appetite. A coworker told me the same day I started taking it that her son had a severe allergic reaction to the same drug within half an hour of taking the first pill. Since then 3 other co-workers have told me they have experienced very similar reactions to the drug and my mother as well.
After picking up the drug at the pharmacy I asked the pharmacist if there had been any complaints about the drug since I had never taken it, heard of it and the doctor said it was very strong. The pharmacist indicated that no problems had been reported. As many antibiotics as there are on the market I would certainly ask for something else........
BTW I reported it to my pharmacist and my doctor today.

I took Levaquin for 10 days for a sinus infection. On the sixth day, my knees began to ache. Since I stand all day at my job, I thought it was job-related. By the 10th day I had terrible pain in my knees and pain in my calf muscles. After 3 days of agonizing pain in my knees and calves, and having to hold onto to furniture in order to walk, I called the dr. to relay my symptoms. The nurse said it was a side effect of Levaquin. . .sore tendons, aching joints. When I asked if there was anything I could do, they said it would just have to work itself out of my system. They would mark it in my file. I asked how long the side effects would last. . answer. . .4 to 5 days. It is now 14 days since I took the last pill, and the pain is just starting to subside. However, I'm still having difficulty getting up after sitting, and have weakness in my knees. I am 63, have a little arthritis, and now feel this medication should not be given to anyone that has slight joint problems. The pain has been 10 times worse than any arthritis pain that I have had. I have stepped up my anti-inflammatory medicine in the last 5 days. This may be why the pain is lessening, also. I agree that if I had been able to read the side effects warnings before paying for this prescription, I never would have taken it. I just hope these side effects are not permanent. You are always told to finish your medicications. . .however, in this case, I wish I had.

Levaquin 500 mg. I have never had side affects in 64 years of life till this drug. Weakness, and sever cramps in the calves both legs. I was given this drug for Bronchitis for 7 days. On my third day I had a leg cramp in the right leg and on the 5th day, the left leg.

I was prescribed Levaquin 500, because of bronquitis for one week, in that time I experienced:

diarrhea
nausea
numbness in arms, hands, fingers
extreme swelling in joints
insomnia
difficulty to stand up, walk
bruses in eyes and arms
no strength
tingly or electric sensation in hands

I went to many doctors, but none of them knew what was happening, until one of them told me this was called Serum Sickness, which is an extreme reaction to the drug. TWO MONTHS HAVE PASSED AND I STILL HAVE THE SYMPTOMS. It is affecting my life, because I depend of others to do certain things for me, because of the extreme pain, and weakness.

The company that manufactures Levaquin is called ORTHO-McNEIL. They have a main website.

I have entered here before also.

I can't believe that so many of us are telling the world here what happened to us taking Levaquin...and NOBODY...is doing anything about this !

These stories are not made up or exaggerated. These stories are telling us that we are being given a poison!

If someone just printed out all of the stories on this board and put them in a book form and mailed it to "all" the newspapers in the country...maybe then this insane denial and non-concern would end! Maybe then the nation would see and acknowledge the massive damage this drug is doing to thousands!

Just read these stories...what more does our FDA have to see before they shut down the administering of this toxic substance?

It's been a year since I took 7 days worth of Levaquin.

I did "not" have the swollen throat and hives and red skin "immediate" reaction to Levaquin. Therefore, my doctors say it didn't damage me. They get angry if I bring up this possibility.

But within 24 hours of taking this drug I awoke at home in the night with burning pain in my shoulders, arms and hands so bad I was calling out. I was so confused. I had never felt anything like this before. My hands would also get cold and go numb.

My insides went haywire this first time too. My bladder would feel the urge and then not. I was feeling wincing sharp pains all over. I could not sleep except for a short nightmare type thing. I was anxiety ridden. Shaking inside and out. My legs felt weird. My sensitivity to cold became unbelievablely extreme. I was freezing.

Next morning my stomach went into literal shock with pain and I had to call an ambulance to go back to the ER as I was seconds away from passing out. The weakness? So bad....let me repeat that...SO BAD that I could not lift my hands while laying down! My entire body felt like it was going to die.

I could not walk, legs so weak and body shakey, and feeling so unbalanced. Crying with pain and anxiety and just unbelievable crashing of everything. Lost 35 pounds in 2+ months! Couldn't eat. Metallic taste in throat. Still have most of these symptoms after 1 year! Sorry to tell you all this last point.

Since all my tests "supposedly" haven't shown anything that would explain these most extreme conditions...I have been relegated to the psychiatric area almost totally.

Yes, my nervous system has been effected...damaged.
Yes, I get so anxious and depressed and scared and frantic at times with my suffering and non-treatment and adversarial treatment. Have lost my self-confidence of my body.

My regular doctors have found ways to dump me or schedule me so infrequently they are really out of this situation.

It is like living in cold war Russia. I have made too much protests against my regular doctors refusal to consider levaquin...and now my record is full of psych visits. Once you have these on your record. Let me tell you...most new doctors eyes get real big when they first see these. They label you immediately and silently to themselves as a "problem" case. Your care is different because of this. It's an incredible injustice and almost Kafka'n in it's implications.

But that's just one of the "levaquin" poisoning problems. A medical community refusing to acknowledging it...and if you protest to much to their view...you will be sent off to the psych ward.

54 years and I never saw a psychiatrist in my life. 54 years and I never ever had a problem with drugs, alcohol, the law or even in my first and still on-going 25 year long marriage. I have raised two responsible kids...both working and in college. I had a wonderfully social job as a hotel concierge that I loved for 5 years previous to this "levaquin" poisoning.

But with this case, my normal past means nothing. I am just all of a sudden a nut case for complaining too much about my belief that Levaquin did this to me. That Levaquin destroyed me. Especially since the doctors say they can't explain why I got so sick and I am still so sick. I still feel like I am going to die almost every other day! And it's been a year.

Also, my statute-of-limitations one year period to sue the hospital that gave me this drug ( and never ever told me to quit taking it even after I came rushing back to them with these incredible, unprecedented symptoms just 1 or 2 days after they prescribed it to me and were told it was the only medicine I was taking ) and the drug company that manufactures Levaquin ( Ortho-McNeil ) are almost up.

Not one lawyer I have contacted out of maybe 50 will even consider taking this case. They say it's too hard to prove, drug companes can ruin them they are so rich and powerful and that Bush has limited suit awards to 250,000 dollars and they would need a lot of this to prove you have been damaged!

They say if my liver failed and I died and I had never had liver problems before I took Levaquin...that they would then "consider" taking on a case like mine. But as long as I am alive I haven't got a chance.

I wrote to Ortho-McNeil and told them their product Levaquin has destroyed me and I asked for their financial help with my tens of thousands of dollars I owe in medical bills as financially I am also ruined. I also asked them to help me finanically get more specific, technical tests done beyond my small ton area. Never a word back.

on day 4 of a 5-day dose of 750mg....I experienced intense shoulder pain in both shoulders---later diagnosed as impingement syndrome for which I need to do physical therapy in hopes of getting back to normal again! Also, weakness and pain in my hands and upper thighs...I cannnot unscrew a jar or open a door without pain. I am normally very active --aerobics, swimming(up to a mile 3x weekly), step, and walking....I can do none of the above!...I told my doctor to add to my chart ---no Levoquin!....the cure for my flu has been worse than the flu!....they should remove from market and/or highlight the muscular problems associated with the drug.

I have had many different reactions from this drug. I was given the prescription for osteomylitis from a compound toe fracture. I had 2 infection strains and after the Augmentin only cured one strain, this drug was a last resort to kill the other strain. It works, but I am getting boils in the genital areas, having abdominal cramps, extreme joint pain and weakness even after 2 weeks of being cured. My alimentary canal will be in pain much like mild cholitis for months but the toe appears to be saved, and that is definitely a miracle in itself. I am a 7 day a week exerciser, and my life has been altered emotionally and physically after taking this nasty drug. I recomend not using this for any reason.

I WAS prescribed 500 milligrams of Levaquin for 21 days. After 14 days on the medication I could barely walk. My achilles tendons felt like someone had hit me with a baseball bAT. That was in January. It is now August and I still have pain. My thighs hurt and I can barely lift my legs to walk up stairs. My knees ache severely, but it is mostly the weakness that is bothering me. I always had strong legs. Now I find it difficult to get up from a sitting position. I can't imagine what it will be like in a few more years. I am under a new doctor's care and am trying to weed out any other causes. I plan to sue if I do not regain the strength in my legs.

Severe nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, headache, exhaustion, weakness, sweats. I stopped this after 7 days. I hope this horrible feeling goes away soon. I did not feel this bad with the diverticulitis I had before going on this, and now I feel horribly sick and have even missed work because of this. I am also having trouble sleeping. I never will take this again.

I took levaquin for a few days. Had pain in tendons in legs, difficulty walking, rapid irregular heartbeat, weakness. Had to go to the emergency room. I am allergic to sulfa and quinadine. Dr. said levaquin was in the family of these drugs. After stopping the drug and drinking lots of water to rid it from my system problems stopped.

I am a 32 year old male who gets occasionally bad sinus infections. i found this site yesterday after 3 days on levaquin, and had numerous side effects, notably: light headedness, weakness in my legs and hands, headache, sleeplessness and a nigthmare that caused me to sleepwalk. ( which I had never done before!)

I planned on stopping this medication as I did not feel right and had a softball game in the evening. Well I only lasted 2 innings of the game when I chased a foul ball and crashed into the fench and went to the hospital with a severly sprained ankle. i blame this on the fact that i was out of sorts and not really paying attention to my location on the field due to the lightheadedness of the medication.

at the hospital I was asked if i was currently on medication. when i told the nurse i had been taking leviquin and was not feeling right, she responded by saying she did not like the drug and had similar effects herself. Another nurse agreed. When I told the attending doctor she stated that levequin was not normally a drug she would prescribe as it is very strong and recommended i talk to my physician and use something else.

Use caution when using this drug, do not plan on doing any strenuous activities as your degree of concentratioin could be altered. I will not take this drug again and have been drinking lots of water to get it out of my system. It seems to be helping .

It's been 7 months since I was poisoned by Levaquin. I am suffering every bit as much now as I was months ago. No improvement at all. My entire body feels as if something is in the entire inner system, just racking everything with pain and indescribable feelings, like gripping, weakness, shuddering, etc. Dear God, why do doctors deny that this is happening and that Levaquin is the cause. Why do they get angry and space out your visits for two months and even threaten to drop you because you persist in believing that Levaquin did this? Why?

I HAVE BEEN ON 875 MG AMOXICILLIN FOR 8 DAYS FOR EAR - THROAT & SINUS INFECTION - STILL WASN'T QUITE WORKING- SO MY ENT DR GAVE ME LEVAQIN 750 FOR 5 DAYS - AM ON DAY 2 - AND FEEL AWFUL- WEAKNESS- INSOMNIA & QUEASY - AM NOT TAKING ANY MORE OF THIS GARBAGE! THE FEELING I GET IS HOW I'VE HEARD CHEMO DRUGS MAKE YOU FEEL! THANKS BUT NO THANKS! I THINK WE ARE ALL JUST GUINEA PIGS FOR THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES! MY MOTHER ALMOST PASSED OUT- AND TEMPORARILY LOST HER VISION FROM TAKING TEQUIN - IS IT THE SAME AS LEVAQUIN?

It's been a couple of week since I've stopped taking Levaquin (5 days for bladder infection) but am still suffering from terrible muscle pain and weakness. My whole body hurts. I am also allergic to sulpha drugs but apparently it is not supposed to be related. I had a rash all over, fever, headache, mental fogginess, muscle pain and now I'm just left with the terrible muscle pain and swelling. I read somewhere that Milk of Magnesia can help get rid of toxins. I can't believe taking something for 5 days can cause effects that can last for weeks, possibly months or years.

Angry? Depressed? You can't believe how much I feel this way.
I am absolutely convinced now that this is what happened to me.
I am 54.

That first week that the ER doctor got me on Levaquin for the flu and bronchitis ( and no other medicine ) is when these entire body attacks and failures ( pain, weakness, and almost every other symptom you all have realted here, began. I had an abulance take me back to the ER as these were so bad and were so different from anything I had been experiencing with the flu and bronchitis the 3 or 4 days preceding taking Levaquin and having these attacks start within one or two days of taking this. At the ER they just check basically your vitals and when these checked out they kept giving me sedatives to stop the shaking and saying they didn't think anything was wrong with me except anxiety! Couldn't they have ONCE asked what medication I was on and at LEAST considered the possibility that maybe I was having a bad reaction to this? And IT WAS THE ONLY MEDICINE I WAS ON!

Now, I am going to have to present my beliefs again to my doctors, who when I barely mentioned this possibility the last time I saw them cut off the conversation as if I was talking about flying saucers!
If I was a doctor...one of the first things I would do is go back to when all this first started and looked at what medicine I was taking at the time. And if I saw that there was only "one" powerful drug entering my body at this time and just looked at the potential side ffects listed in their brochures...I would have suspected that this was probably a bad reaction to this!
But I can't even get them to consider this logical reflection. IT is just maddening, insane...that they won't even consider this possibility. And in the mean time, six months later I have lost my job, my legs, I still have every symprtom I had the first wek to either worse or improving levels and I am so depressed and scared that this might be permenet damage. It looks like with the new Republican shutting down on the little persons ability to sue the big corpoartions that thousands of law firms don'tt even want to consider taking something like this on. What they want are absolute fool proof cases that even a jury of Drug Company CEO's couldn't vote against.

I am going public with this and I am telling you this IS THE ONLY WAY any of us will ever get any recognition and chance at some compensatory justice here. I have already e-mailed vanity Fair. I have contacted Parade Magazine. I have left an e-mail message with well know A.P.Health issue correspondent Linda A. Johnson. I just came across this site last week and it has answered so many of my questions. But all of you. All of us, must start writing to everyone, congres people, newspapers, magazine and anyone else you can think of. I am convinced that we are the vistims of not only a terrifically poisonous damaging drug that is damaging way more people than anyone is acknowledging and in much greater ways, but we are up against a machine of extremely powerful self interest corp[orations and the individuals who own the majority interest in them but also compromised medical doctors and other health care professionals connected to this; pharmacies etc.

On March 20th,I was given samples of lavaquin 750 mgs for a 10 day treatment of a severe bronchial condition. On the fifth day, I developed painful upper arm muscles-felt like I had lifted hundred pound weights and pulled muscles out of their normal places, and could not life my arms above my waist. The next day, I had severe swelling in my left knee and ankle, and could only climb the stairs with grea t difficulty. The pain in t he muscle tissues was incredibly sharp and buring. At the time, I did not associate the reaction to medication, but have since discussed this with my pharmacist who alerted me to this kind of side effect. I am concerned as to how long this severe pain and weakness in the muscles will persist.

I was prescribed Levaquin for Pharyngitis...Two other Anti-biotics didn't work...The Levaquin seemed to work. The pharyngitis is almost gone--but still there...dosage 5 tablets @ 750 mg...Side effects---same as everyone on this board...Headache,,ear problems,,,weakness,,,muscle/joint pain,,lower bowel pain,,,,conjunctivitis,,,,allergy symtoms,,,,stiff neck,,shoulder pain...If this is a cure for pharyngitis--it ain't worth it.....CFC

Warning!- Don't take this antibiotic! I went to the Dr. for sinus infection. The first day I stared feeling worse; achy,tired, nasuea, headache. Second day I had severe shooting pains in my head, loss of appetite, general weakness, aching allover like feverpain. then periods of high anexiety and nervousness, my stomache was cramping,alot of gas. Third day severe oains in head increased,general felling bad and weakness, While sitting and writing I developed severe shoulder pain. the tendons cramped and I could barely extend my arm. The pain the went to the tendons on either sid of my elbow and weakness down into my hand, my grip was affected. I know the Lord woke me up in the middle of the night to reveal my symptoms were a result of the Leviquin. I am a hairdresser/stylist and this is serious! I will put upa sign in my shop warning people about this Dangerous drug! When I red all the other warnings, I'm so mad this is still on the market! I hope the side effects leave Quickly!

Incredible weakness, back pain, tinnitus.
During surgery for sinus disease, had levaquin administered through iv with general anesthesia. I was supposed to go home in the afternoon, but couldn't walk or even talk coherently. Intense back pain followed along with difficulty hearing and pains in shoulders as well. My tongue was thickened and I had trouble talking for three days. Today I saw the doctor and he feels that leviquin caused the problems. The back pain and speech problems are slowly disappearing. This drug is dangerous to anyone who is sensitive or allergic to medications. I once went into shock from three compazine tablets, and had to have adrenalin administered, so I know how very powerful medications can be.

I am 61 years old, very fit and I exercise rather vigorously 2-3 times a week. I was given a free sample and a 7-day prescription for Levaquin by an urgent care physician. By the third day I was unable to pick up my coffee mug with one hand and had difficulty even using two hands due to weakness, muscle pain and joint stiffness. Since my PCP was out of town, I cut the pills in half. By the 6th day my heart was skipping every 4th or 5th beat and I had mild chest pain and gout-like symptoms in both big toes. I did not complete the last dose, as I was afraid it would kill me. Two weeks later, I continue to experience difficulty going from lying to standing and from sit to stand. I have to stand for a moment and then as I begin to walk, I am so bent and stiff that I look like something out of a nursing home. Once I begin walking, the pain and stiffness dissipates considerably, but the weakness is intermittent. I walked through Lowe's yesterday and wasn't sure I was going to make it to the other end of the store. I am having difficulty opening jars and bottles and even lifting pillows to make beds seems to be difficult. My hands are hot and swollen for a considerable time after getting out of bed. I am a medical transcriptionist, so this interferes with my typing. The pain, stiffness and weakness appear to be worsening and I am very concerned.

Caveat emptor! Apparently, big pharmacies make billions and then find it more profitable to pay a few law suits than to pull such poison off the market.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a prostate infection. 500mg per day for 30 days. Took it for a couple of weeks and it worked, cleared up the infection, but oh my goodness, what horrible side effects...

Parathesia, especially in hands
Unpleasant dreams and fitful sleep
Heavy, heavy fatigue and weakness
Muscle and tendon pain extraordinare - twitchy too
Joint pain, back pain, you name it, it hurt
Lower left leg even feels sunburned when lightly touched
Slightly psycho / depressed

I will never, ever take this medicine again. I stopped taking the medicine over a month ago (at my physician's suggestion) but the symptoms still linger. Although, they have improved somewhat. It's nasty stuff. How on earth did the FDA approve it?

I was given Levaquin for a Uti. I only took one pill that evening and two hours later I was out of this world!!! I had weakness, dry mouth and could not swallow and my skin felt like it was on fire. Like a very bad sunburn. I couldn't get out of bed for 48 hours. NEVER AGAIN!!!! LIVE AND LEARN.

After taking Levaquin for 4 days for bronchitis, I could barely walk. I had incredible pain and weakness in my knees! I am 52 yrs old, but felt 80! I saw in the literature that the medication could cause joint pain and stopped it immediately! I am now researching to find out if this is a temporary side effect! Gaye

In June of 2003, I went to the Dr. for sinus infection syptoms and weakness. I have never been seriously ill in 60 years.
She prescribed 500mg of Levaquin.
After taking the first pill, I woke up on the bathroom floor with a bath mat around me , disoriented. The Dr, advised me to go to the ER. The ER Dr. said to take only 1/2 a tablet and go home; I did so and ended up in the ER the next day in a coma that was life-threatening. The diagnosis was bacterial spinal meningititious, I recovered but never tied it to the drug.
A year later, I went to another Dr. for a checkup and was feeling fine. He suspected some prostatitous and prescribed Levaquin. I took it for 5 days and then became unsteady on my feet, with a tendency to almost fall to the left when I walked. I began to drag my left foot slightly. I went to the ER. The ER Dr. took me off Levaquin.
During the hospital stay, the Dr. administered an MRI and declared that I had a small stroke on the right brain (thallamus area). It has been a few days since hospital
discharge,and my walking has improved. I am concerned about the coincidents that have occurred with my taking Levaquin.
Does anyone know of brain problems that may be associated with taking Levaquin?
I am not an alarmist, but I am concerned about this drug.

I posted previously.
I also suffered terrible side effects from Levauin.
I was given it for a sinus infection.
I didn't have the pains in my limbs but I suffered terrible quivering and constant crying and weakness in my arms and legs. Thought I was losing it....
It took me four months to get over the withdawal.
The doctor and pharasist did tell me that it is a powerful drug and it will take time to get out of your system.
LIke I said, its been since December and little by little I did get better. Just takes time!!!!. So hang in there everyone....You will get better and be back to yourself again.
Thats a good idea about wearing a bracelet. I also told all the members of my family about this and if I'm ever in a situation that I can talk for myself and need an antibiotic. "Please make sure its not Levaquin or any antibiotic thats in the Quinolone family."
Janet G

wow, I was prescribed levaquin 9 days ago for a UTI and started having a pain in my neck 2 days agoI didn't give it much thought as this happens off and on in that spot over the years. Then last night my right arm developed deep and severe pain as if I had worked out wrong. Except I haven't worked out in months. I became suspicious and decided to look up side effects of the drug, something to this point have never felt motivated to do, to see if joint pain was listed as a possible side effect. I happened upon this site and found that as a recurring and prominent side effect. I am very grateful to find this site. I was considering refilling my precription as I feared my infection was getting worse. I had sever prostitis ten years ago which caused weakness and muscle pain in my legs and abdominal area. I now realize that my fear of that recurring is probably based on symptoms which are for me simply a minor side effect of this medication. My arm though is in severe pain, like I was hit by a baseball bat. I am discarding my last two pills now, realizing that the medication has probably helped me clear up the UTI. I am hoping that I will recover in the next few days from the pain which clearly appears to have been induced by the "cure". Once again this site has been very very valuable to me in confirming my suspicion. Thanks again
Richard W

its 500 in the morining. i thought it was wierd the pharmisist warned me not to play sports while on this drug as it tightens up tendons that can lead to other injuries. im on my 7th day now on a 10 day prescription. it has been getting harder to sleep every night, now i have a burning rash or hives that started in one leg and are spreading everywhere, my jaw is shaking uncontrolably, and my eyes are on fire, what kind of testing do they do, what kind of doctors give prescriptions based on wonderdrugs. there is adeeper underlying problem than my current joint weakness upset stomach, shaking, and hives and did i fail to mention my eyes are on fire, im tired during the day and the rash has been getting worse. i dont like to not sleep suspect LEVAQUIN at 500 in the morning and find this website. im a very physically active person but not lately my tendons ache. this bs better subside soon IM FINISHED WITH IT all my body cracks topped with hives

insomnia, anxietyconfusion, loss of focusconcentration, intestinal gas, loss of appetite, weakness, sweating, and labored breathing , restlessness, lightheadedness, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, nightmares, and a feeling of being in another world. How can one be awake so long and time seems to fly by so quickly but your not sure what you were doing...I was afraid to move.... The nice doctor gave me 7 pills with no papers. Told me to make sure I took every one . Gave me a prescrition for predisone. I stopped the predisone thesecond day thinking that was the one causing the weird things to happen.... I knew the next morning at 3 a.m. When I found this site. I only took four of the pills . I want my old self back.

I have been taking Levaquin, 500mg since 5/30 for a UTI. It has slowly been eating away at my infection. However, my skin is now hypersensitive and even the softest cotton tee shirts are extremely irritating. I have no rash or hives, but it feels like I do. I did look at the Levaquin site on the following Monday and it warns of this side effect. In addition, the site advises to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. I have also experineced weakness and though it has not made me drowsey, the medication has rendered me unusually slow-witted.

At the beginning I had no effects. But then by the seventh, I had bad nausea, headaches, joint pain in both of my knee caps, sleeping problems, weakness, sweats, bad dreams, fever, severe stomach cramping.

In my opinion, this drug should be completely taken off the market. It not only affects you, but the ones you love too.

If I don't feel better once I stop the medication, I will seek legal counsel.

Was prescribed Levaquin 500mg by an ER Doctor that could not definatively find the cause of a high fever (103.5). After 3 days on the pills I had to investigate the numerous side effects that I thought I was experiencing. This web site confirmed that they were indeed side effects. They included, insomnia, anxiety\confusion, loss of focus\concentration, depression\mood swings, intestinal gas, loss of appetite, weakness, sweating, and labored breathing. I am glad I stopped taking the pill before full 10 days. It's been 4 days since the last dose, and the side effects have finally passed. Good luck to all taking this evil drug.

My mother took Levaquin three times for a unirary tract infection. The first time she could not sleep all night. So we discontinued, and got a prescription for Bactrim, which cleared the infection up. The infection came back a few weeks later (pain on urination)and since we did not have another prescription, she took one tablet of Levaquin and it seemed to clear up the infection, and she did not have sleep problems, but did complain about joint pain, which we did not associate with Levaquin. The infection came back again, and she took another Levaquin last night--she slept OK, but this morning she felt dizzy, but blood pressure was OK, and could not stand up, and toppled over, with weakness in her legs. We attribute this to the Levaquin. Do not take this again. The doctor precribed Cipro, but I don't know if we want to take Cipro, since my late father had a seizure taking Cipro (he eventually died from the effects of all the antibiotics the doctors gave him). It is unfortunate that one has to be so careful about drugs precribed by the doctors.

I started taking this drug about 2 weeks ago, It has cleared up my sinus infection VERY well, and I have felt little to no side efects other than a little bit of weakness, but even then not that much difference in strength. However, I am still taking it and yesterday afternoon went to a tanning salon. I figured there were side effects with UV rays as with most Rx's but I have never had a problem before. Today I woke up itching and scratching uncontrolably, and it has gotten worse through the day. Lotion won't help, so I just have to put up with this pain. So just a extra note on the side effects. DO NOT GO TANNING while on this drug. It's hurts the next day...

My father has taken Levaquin in the past and had problems with a rash on his "private parts". Got sick again - Levaquin prescribed. In just a day, weakness, loss of appetite, general ill feeling, nausea, and soreness, he says everwhere. Now after taking Levaquin for 4 days, rash is back. Dr prescribed Cipro. Thank you for this web page.
I'll have him stop taking Cipro immediately. The sad thing is, he told the Dr he was allergic to Levaquin and the hospital gave to him anyway. Drs all said the Levaquin could not have caused the rash he experienced. Anyone else with similar rash?

Was given Levaquin for pneumonia. Experienced sleep problems and nightmares but was more concerned with fighting the pneumonia. On the sixth day I became very depressed and had long bouts of crying. Still not sure if this is weakness from Pneumonia or medication. Spoke with physician who didn't think t was the Levaquin. Don't know what to do.

TOOK LEVAQUIN 500mg 1TIME A DAY FOR 44 DAYS. HAS BEEN ABOUT 3 WEEKS SINCE LAST PILL. HAVING SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT,HAVE BEEN GETTING A RASH ON HANDS AND FEET SOME SMALL RED SPOTS FLAT,SOME RAISED. IS THIS A NOTED SIDE EFFECT OF LEAQUIN? THIS RASH IS ALSO ITCHING.WAS ALSO TAKING ALLEGRA-D BUT I HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT ANY SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS FROM THIS DRUG FOR ALLERGYS AND CONGESTION.WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS ITCHY RASH ON HANDS AND FEET COULD BE THE LEVAQUIN AND WHEN IT GO AWAY ALONG WITH THE PAINS WEAKNESS AND JUST NOT FEELING GOOD.

Does the muscle pain and weakness ever go away? I posted my side effects here over 10 days ago, and still have extreme pain in my arm that now extends from my shoulder to my elbow. I stopped taking Levaquin over 2 weeks ago.

I took Levaquin for 2 days 500 mg once a day. After the first dose had muscle pain/weakness, tired, chest tightness and dizzy. I also had diarrea after the 2nd day. My chiroprator figured it out it was this med. I took myself off this med after day 2 and feel somewhat better but not quite 100%.
I would do some research before taking this med. or check into alternative medicine.

I am on my 8th day of Levaquin for pneumonia and have had no side effects. I am a 35 year old female who have NEVER been sick in my life other than strep throat twice. I do feel a bit more tired than usual but I have to believe it is from the pneumonia. Went for a somewhat vigorous walk with my daughter tonight - no aches, no pains, no weakness. Levaquin seems fine for me. But to me, it is important to go with what you believe. If your instinct tells you something isn't right - don't give up, keep calling your doctor.