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levaquin side effects
posted by Helen 'Cenzi on 23 Aug 2005 at 2:40 pmYou list the two most common side effects for levaquin as being diarreaha and nausea. The horrible side effects of this drug are tendon damage (irreversible) cns damage, hearing loss, psychotic episodes, etc, etc. This is dangerous medicine to thousands of people and I like many others wasn't properly warned. My life has been ruined by this medicine along with thousands of others. Please check into http://www.fqresearch.org.
Read the news article that this opinion was posted about:
Acute Bacterial Sinusitis - Levaquin(R) (levofloxacin) FDA Approved for Short-Course Treatment
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| WOW! |
| posted by Ken on 14 Jun 2007 at 10:28 pm |
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I have been prescribed Levaquin for being diagnosed with Epididymitis. Here I am on day 3 with a rash from head-to-toe. The rash came on after a day in the sun. I'm not sure of the rash is from the medication or from being in the sun while taking the medication. The label says to avoid sunlight...oops! Either way, I can't sleep.
Day 1 was upset stomach, dizzy & bloatiness. Day 2 more of the same, but today I felt somewhat normal, until early evening. I've taken a benedryl, so we'll see what happens next. Interesting info. on this post. I'm going to ask for another med. |
| Knee Pain |
| posted by Lyn on 15 Jun 2007 at 10:01 am |
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I was put on Levaquin for 10 days, 500 mg a day for a bladder infection. The first evening I took the medication I could not sleep ...vaguely associated it with taking the Levaquin. After that sleeping was no problem. HOWEVER...on the 11th day after taking the medication I experienced very, very stiff, sore knees like I had gone through a tremendous work out.
I am 57 and in pretty good shape, living on a farm and doing a lot of work outside. I had spent several hours behind a lawn mower and thought that was the cause, although odd, because I have always done this. Today, I looked up Levaquin on this site to see what kind of drug it was and discovered all this information about people having joint and knee pain. So that's the reason!!! Now I just have to figure out how to get rid of it...maybe some Aleve and cold water to the joints (like we do for horses...cold running water does wonders for sore legs and joints). I am not one to obsess about side effects and usually never have any with meds but this is certainly worth thinking about. |
| From Levaquin.com |
| posted by Ken on 15 Jun 2007 at 11:33 am |
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR LEVAQUIN
The most common drug-related adverse events in US clinical trials were nausea (1.5%) and diarrhea (1.2%). The safety and efficacy of levofloxacin in pediatric patients, adolescents (under 18), pregnant women, and nursing mothers have not been established. Levofloxacin is contraindicated in persons with a history of hypersensitivity to levofloxacin, quinolone antimicrobial agents, or any other components of this product. Serious and occasionally fatal events, such as hypersensitivity and/or anaphylactic reactions, as well as some of unknown etiology have been reported in patients receiving therapy with quinolones, including levofloxacin. These reactions may occur following the first dose or multiple doses. The drug should be discontinued at the first appearance of a skin rash or any other sign of hypersensitivity. As with other quinolones, levofloxacin should be used with caution in patients with known or suspected central nervous system disorders, peripheral neuropathy, or in patients who have a predisposition to seizures. Tendon ruptures that required surgical repair or resulted in prolonged disability have been reported in patients receiving quinolones, including levofloxacin, during and after therapy. This risk may be increased in patients receiving concomitant corticosteroids, especially the elderly. The quinolone should be discontinued in patients experiencing pain, inflammation, or rupture of a tendon. Some quinolones, including levofloxacin, have been associated with prolongation of the QT interval, infrequent cases of arrhythmia, and rare cases of torsades de pointes. Levofloxacin should be avoided in patients with known risk factors such as prolongation of the QT interval, patients with uncorrected hypokalemia, and patients receiving class IA (quinidine, procainamide), or class III (amiodarone, sotalol) antiarrhythmic agents. Antacids containing magnesium or aluminum, as well as sucralfate, metal cations such as iron, and multivitamin preparations with zinc, or Videx®* (didanosine) chewable/buffered tablets or the pediatric powder for oral solution, should be taken at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after levofloxacin administration. For information on Warnings, Precautions, and additional Adverse Reactions that may occur, regardless of drug relationship, please see full US Prescribing Information. http://www.levaquin.com |
| Levaquin 750 |
| posted by William Palmer on 17 Jun 2007 at 5:28 pm |
| I was given Levaquin 750 for a bronchitis infection and developed tendonitis in both archilles tendons. My tendons are still sore 2 weeks after I stopped taking the medication. |
| Levaquin, Side Effects |
| posted by Blake Frahm on 18 Jun 2007 at 1:04 am |
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I'm 22 years old and have never had a side effect from any drug ever prescribed to me. I got a really bad sinus infection and was prescribed Levaquin... I started getting diarrhea and asked my doctor why, he said it probably was nothing and that if it continues he'll test me for mono... He didn't even think to mention that it might be a side effect from the drug he prescribed me...
Then I noticed a large rash developing on my right thigh and while the diarrhea got worse, bad stomach pains precede it. The Sinus infection is gone, which is great, but these side effects just suck. I can only be so lucky that I haven’t received some of the more horrifying effects that I've been reading here. Thank you for posting this everyone. I thought there was something terribly wrong with me, but now I see there’s a big possibility it’s the Levaquin |
| Unbearable Body Pain |
| posted by Anon on 19 Jun 2007 at 2:07 pm |
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I am a 35 year old healthy fit athletic female. I was recently prescribed Levaquin 500 mg for 10 days to treat a minor respiratory infection. I took ONE 500 mg dose and 4 hours later I began experiencing intense side effects of the levaquin. Most of my symptoms appeared over a short period of time (1/2hr).
I experienced jaw pain, aching, searing low back, butt, leg, calf and forearm pain. At the time this all occurred I was laying down reading. I tossed and turned trying to get comfortable and relieve the pain and was also wondering what the heck was happening to me! Over the next hour the pain became more intense and now my teeth were pounding in pain and I had an extreme headache. My heart was racing and I was miserable. I was so uncomfortable and experiencing whole body pain that I have never felt before. I went online to look up levaquin to see if I could take Advil or Tylenol to attempt to relive my extreme discomfort. That is when I saw the side effects and found this website (and numerous others) describing the agonizing side effects of this drug. Another hour went by as my pain intensified. Not sure what to do and desperately seeking relief I went to the ER. An IV dose of Fentanyl was finally able to put a dent in the pain consuming my body. After numerous tests including a spinal tap & cat scan the docs could not find the cause. I informed them many times that I was certain I was experiencing the side effects of levaquin. The ER docs were unfamiliar to the side effects of levaquin and so was my doc who prescribed it. The back, leg, calf and arm pain has continued for 4 days after my one and only dose of Levaquin but is improving greatly each day. I can’t express how grateful I am that I found this information and acted quickly. I believe levaquin and other fluoroquinolones have legitimate uses in treating infectious diseases, but it appears they are overused for minor conditions and often to loosely prescribed. I strongly believe that anyone placed on levaquin and other fluoroquinolones should be warned about infrequent yet serious reactions. I will never take levaquin or any fluoroquinolones again and can only hope that patients are better informed. |
| Levaquin |
| posted by Anon on 20 Jun 2007 at 5:56 pm |
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I was prescribed Levaquin for a swollen, painful spot on my thigh that later was determined to be an insect bite. After the second week, a one-half black stinger was observed on the bandage. I took Levaquin for six days; when the bite site was looking worse, my doctor took me off the Levaquin (it had been 1 tablet once a day) and put me on a sulfa drug.
After one week, I was taken off the sulfa drug and given five days of Penicillin, two a day, and also taken off Zocor. This was because after the first three days or so of Levaquin, I developed severe aching in my arms, shoulders, neck and lower back and also in my right knee. ( I had a total knee replacement in my right knee on Jan. 26th). A visit to the doctor today confirmed that I have tendonitis; she took three blood vials for analysis and said I am to stay off the Zocor, use a heating pad for the discomfort and take pain medicine. (I take generic Fiorcet for headaches and she said this would be all right to take). She will let me know in two days what the blood tests reveal. I am in continued pain from the tendonitis, it is like I worked out at the gym and overworked my muscles or tendons. She said the tendons in my right knee were reacting to the Levaquin as well as my arms, shoulders, etc. She said in all her years of practice, only one man and two women had reactions to Levaquin. The insect bite is healing, whatever it was, I never felt it when I was bitten, I will never take Levaquin again! |
| Safe if you can handle the drug |
| posted by JENNIFER on 21 Jun 2007 at 1:10 pm |
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I have been on levaquin off and on for years for sinus infection and have no problems besides not being hungry.
My face is blushed too, but it’s summer time and the sun maybe affecting it. I only take it for bad sinus infections when claritin doesn’t work. I also had a cartozone shot yesterday, so the redness could be from that. Good to know other people’s side effects though. I can't take sulphur drugs or phencilyn, so there not much I can take. Jennifer, b.r. louisiana |
| It Helped Me |
| posted by DJW on 21 Jun 2007 at 11:49 pm |
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We all react different ways to meds- for example, I can't handle Nexium without getting the 1% side-effects. As for Levaquin it has been VERY helpful!
I went in with severe burning pain in my head, sinus pain, and pounding behind my eyes (I left a sinus inf. go for 3 months-thought it was stress headaches). I have never felt worse! My brain felt like it was on fire-it was horrible. The meds have helped me a lot, and continue to do so. I am already a fybro sufferer, and am in no pain other than that you get from not keeping active. I have ITBS & a ulcer, and it hasn't hit that at all. It has been great. Remember ALL meds have side effects, and if we pulled every one off the market that had a side effect we would have no meds. Every person is different, and needs to pay attention to what his/her body is telling them and report it to the doctor. If your doctor doesn't listen-get rid of him/her, and go to someone who respects you and what you have to say about YOUR body. Good luck to all of you who have had the bad side effects, I understand-been through the bad stuff with Nexium and it sucks. |
| Levaquin Bad |
| posted by Robert in St Louis on 22 Jun 2007 at 2:42 am |
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I started taking 750mg of Levaquin for a bronchial infection and my left achilles tendon became strained after the first day, by the second day it was very swollen, red, hot and sensitive to the touch, the pain went deep inside, by the third day it felt ready to explode, along with fever, chills, depression, the fourth day I could barely walk, the fifth and final day of taking Levaquin it started to get better.
All the bad symptoms subsided over the next week. Then my right ankle swelled up the same way as the tendon. The doctor assured me 99% that it wasn't the Levaquin and after checking my uric acid levels decided I had gout. He put me on Colchicine and Predisone to be followed by Allopurinol. The ankle cleared up after a week and when I was done with the prednisone it all came back again in both the tendon and ankle full force but with a little added twist. In addition to the swollen tendon and ankle I had migrating bands of a rash on both legs from below the calves to just below the knees. The areas around my left achilles tendon and right ankle were solid red and purple, very swollen and very painful deep inside and to the touch. Dermatologist took a biopsy and said I have "gyrate erythema" caused by the levaquin and not gout. It felt kinda good to have a doctor who knew and understood the dangers of this drug. I have always done well with antibiotics and never had a reaction like this to anything. I am slowly healing up and getting better, walking is not the same. I had many of the other symtoms people talk about but none so severe as the tendon and ankle problems. Beware and be scared, you never know. |
| Levaquin Reactions |
| posted by Connie Liccketto on 22 Jun 2007 at 6:43 am |
| My husband who had a stroke 2 years ago was doing pretty good as far as his abilities went. He was able to raise his arm, say a few words, laugh, write, move his leg etc. After being put on Levaquin he is like a zombie. He cannot do anything. He was in the hospital for a UTI and was on Levaquin for several days. He was also on it for Pneumonia for several days. He is not able to do anything now and I know it is from the medication. I hope there is something that can be done about this. Too many people are suffering because of this drug. |
| Levequin |
| posted by barb on 22 Jun 2007 at 9:55 am |
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I also started this antibiotic 4 days ago. My dr. was treating my pneumonia, and after changing my antibioitc to this, I was shocked and so glad to see this website. I got so sick, throwing up, pain in my ovaries, back, It really scared me. I was also sweating so bad at night.
But, now today is the 4th and I am feeing better. the side effects are gone. I have one more pill to take, and the next time, I will ask for another antibiotic. |
| What Now |
| posted by Lori on 26 Jun 2007 at 7:02 am |
| I have taken levaquin 750 for 5 days and My hands ache so badly it is driving me nuts. Just like I overworked them, I kept trying to think what I did to make them ache, then I decided to look up levaquin online. What do I do now? Is there anything to make this stop aching or will I suffer forever? |
| Levaquin Side Effects |
| posted by Grover on 26 Jun 2007 at 12:44 pm |
| Took levaquin for a urinary infection. After about 6-7 days started to get upper leg cramps. My Doc said to stop taking it which I did. After about 3 weeks I still have serious pain in my upper leg muscle and or tendon. Can't play tennis or move sidways without pain. After reading the side effects experienced by others, this appears to be a problem drug. |
| Caution With Levaquin |
| posted by marianne Brennan on 26 Jun 2007 at 3:10 pm |
| I was given levaquin for 10 days while trying to fight off a bad case of bronchitis. During the time I took it, I only experienced a terrible, disgusting metallic taste in my mouth... when I completed the prescription I suddenly lost my sense of smell.. Now, 4 weeks after , I still am unable to smell anything!! I wish I had know about all the side effects before I started the treatment.. I would have avoided this particular med. |
| Side Effects |
| posted by Gary on 26 Jun 2007 at 5:19 pm |
| I was on Levaquin 500mg, after about a week I started passing blood. Went to the ER and was admitted for several days. I was then given Levaquin IV every day. Every time they would start the IV my arm would start to itch and burn, I would develop a sever headache, and violent nausea. I also started having bad backaches, Since I have stopped taking Levaguin everything has gone back to normal. Think I am very allergic to this medicine. |
| Levaquin |
| posted by BBB on 01 July 2007 at 5:02 pm |
| Levaquin made the muscles and tendons in my legs and feet hurt and burn so bad that I could hardly walk. All the muscles in my body hurt so much I could hardly move at all. It wasn't until my Dr. put me on Levaquin the third time that I figured out what was causing this problem. My Dr. acted as though he had never heard of this before and that's why I started hunting on the internet and found out I'm not the only one. |
| Levaquin 500mg |
| posted by Carrie on 05 July 2007 at 9:08 am |
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I was prescribed levaquin 500mm qd on Tuesday June 26, 2007 for sinus infection. I was prescribed by the doctor and injected by his nurse 40/100. She gave me an injection in both hips. I went to the druggist and had the prescriptions filled.. That night I took a levaquin and clarinex 10mg. I didn't close my eyes all night and my toes began to draw and hurt.
I called the nurse and she asked if I were swelling and I wasn't she told me to continue to take the meds and that night after taking the second dose I starting in my left feet , legs and my head began to hurt real bad. The next day I felt like I was on a high and my heart was racing. |
| Bad Side Effects With Levaquin |
| posted by Marie on 08 July 2007 at 11:43 am |
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I recently visited my doctor for a sinus infection. He decided to treat it with Levaquin. He wanted to change the anitbiotic since I had just visited him a month earlier. One of the first effects that I had was a tightness in my chest and unable to breath well. I took it as a sign of extreme fatigue from constant running around and from fighting the infection with OTC medication for a week.
The second day I began feeling very fatigued and not wanting to do anything because I would run out of breath doing it. Just loading the washing machine was a tough...I was winded and out of breath. Through out the day I felt very lathargic, even walking was a chore. That night was horrible, I wasn't able to fall asleep until about 3:00am. and I also seemed to be getting a rash. Levaquin was not go for me. I'll take that infection any day over these bad side effects. |
| How Do I Get This Out Of My System! |
| posted by Debbie on 09 July 2007 at 5:01 pm |
|
Took my third dose of Levaquin today at noon. Have totally fallen apart tonight. I'm fighting back panic attacks, irrational fears, my stomach is upset - I'm a basket case. Finding this site actually HELPED me.
I thought I was just going over the edge until I read all the posts. I have diagnosed Panic Disorder in the first place - but this is way above and beyond what I usually experience. My PD is well managed but this med has shot me over the top. I'm drinking gallons of water. Any idea how I can shove this out of my system faster? Anybody know how long it lingers in the system? Sorry to babble. I'm just really scared right now. |
| This helps the muscle pain |
| posted by ANON on 10 July 2007 at 10:22 am |
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I took levaquin twice for pneumonia and realized the pain in my muscles was from these antibiotics. The first time the pain was still with me a month after getting off the medicine. Then I got pneumonia again and knew for sure it
Were the medications giving me the terribly sore arms, like before? I quit the levaquin and got on ampycillian. In the meantime, my sister gave me a couple of arthrotec prescription pills and it has stopped the pain. Have your Dr. Prescribe it for you and try it. It is for inflamed muscles and it worked miracles. My pain is still there if I miss a couple of doses (take it three times a day), but it is great!!!!! Anon |
| Help Please! |
| posted by Lori on 13 July 2007 at 7:42 pm |
|
Okay I started taking levaquin after 10 days of augmentim (sp?) didn't work for bilateral ear infections and sinus infection, well on the third day I noticed I had horrible knee pain, I went swimming the first day I took it, and walked the 2nd day (this is my routine, sometimes I run) well by the third day my knees started to get sore and I NEVER associated it with the medicne.
By day 9 (of 10 days) I could barely walk and when I knelt down to get something tears were streaming down my face to get up and the next morning I decided that I would not take the medicine and call my dr. Well they said, yes it causes "tendonitist" and I didn't know what that really meant. I saw my dr who said that since I stopped taking it the day before that it should have been out of my system and like a miracle I should have felt better (sleeplessness and nervousness went away but not the knee and joint pain). Well she took lyme test and said it MUST be that because although the levaquin causes joint pain, it's usually in teenagers. I am in my forties but in pretty decent shape, I walk, run or swim 3 or 4 times a week. Well I have not been to the gym in 9 days, my muscles in my legs are shaking the knee pain is excrutiating to the point where my kids are worrying about me bending down and I don't know what to do. My dr is convinced even though the lyme came back negative that it must be lyme and wants to start me on dycycline (sp?). I DO NOT want to take another antibiotic, this is due to the medicine, she said so, but was also convinced that I should have been back at the gym and dancing up a storm 24 to 36 hours after stopping the medicine. Here it is. day 3 going on 4 and the pain has only subsided a tiny bit. Is there hope? Most of the other joint pain (arms, neck, etc) have subsided but the knee and thigh pain and the shaking muscles are scaring the crud out of me! I am not seeing the dr. till tuesday, they want to see if it stops on it's own. Has ANYONE out there actually had this and it's stopped? |
| Levaquin Psychosis Plus |
| posted by Kathy on 14 July 2007 at 11:32 pm |
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I am a 49 year old healthy female who recently had removal of a no longer needed cervical plate and screws. My surgeon placed me on a 7 day post-op regimen of Levaquin 500 mg. daily. I slept the first night home from the hospital probably related to the anesthesia. However, I am now going in to my 6th post-op day and have slept horribly if at all, with the most bizarre nightmares that I have ever experienced.
My moods have been very labile and hostile. I never swear, but at the slightest annoyance I am saying horrible things! I feel like I am crawling out of my skin! Last night I had an argument with my husband. He was so undeserving of the things that I said. After he went upstairs to bed, I started crying uncontrollably--the feelings of despair were so intense, I started having suicidal ideations just to put me out of my misery! One minute I was cold and another I would be burning up. I felt like I had taken tons of No-Doz and I don't even drink caffeine! I don't like any chemicals in my body and eat organic. I took a walk today just to stay in my regular 1 1/2 mile daily routine. My left hip felt like I had pulled a muscle. My husband asked me if I needed to take any pain medication and I told him it wasn't my incision that was bothering me but the aches through my shoulder blades and shoulder. Right now I am so nauseated--wish I could vomit to get that Levaquin tablet that I took tonight out and releive the nausea, but I can't. After reading this website, I will never take another Levaquin dose as long as I am still breathing! Speaking of breathing, that's another thing. I am very easily short-winded and feel like it takes extra effort to inhale and intentional force to exhale. I've never had any problems with breathing in my life. I am a nurse by profession and have frequent patient contact. I will surely put out the word on this dangerous drug and will give my surgeon an earful on my first post-op visit. It's 2:30 AM and I'm just as jittery and mind-racey as I have been since my 2nd night home while on Levaquin--looks like it's going to be another long night and weary day to follow. |
| Side Effects -Levaquin |
| posted by Jett on 16 July 2007 at 11:36 am |
| I was on Levaquin once a few months ago and now am on it for 10 days..at first I did not suspect that was cause but after reading some of the other notes, I cannot believe it. It is as if I wrote some of them. A few days ago I was kneeling and could not get up, had trouble getting out of tub, climbing stairs, feel like I am walking on stumps, my knees are swollen and muscles stiff as if I had worked out. My arm/shoulders ache and it really scared me. I thought of what was different past week and realized it was taking this drug. Thank you all for sharing. |
| Levaquin |
| posted by Joy on 17 July 2007 at 12:47 am |
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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 |
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