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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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| Levaquin And Muscle Pain |
| posted by Barbara Bennett on 08 Nov 2006 at 8:04 am |
| I took Levaquin 500mg for 7 days after minor surgery to prevent an infection. Two days after taking the Levaquin I began experiencing extreme pain in my upper arms, neck and shoulders. The pain made my hands tingle and feel numb. I couldn't even sleep at night on sleeping pills. This is still going on after being off the Levaquin for 6 days. I can barely work. I have to leave early every day, as by 2:00 pm I feel extremely tired and achey all over as if I have the flu. I would like to join the class action suit. |
| Levaquin And Muscle Fatigue |
| posted by Tammy Burns on 08 Nov 2006 at 7:44 pm |
|
Hi,
I am so glad that I came across this web site. I was starting to think I was just a whimp. I have been on Levaquin for 5 days. I am taking 500mg once daily. I am supposed to take it for 2 more days, but I am not going to take the rest after reading this web site. I am being treated for a unsure problem. I was having abdominal pain in my lower left region. They first thought it was a cyst on my ovary, pancreatitis, gall bladder or diverticulitis. After having blood work run and a ultrasound they put me on Leviquin, because I had a slightly elevated WBC count and my amalayse was elevated. The first day I took Levaquin I was a little tired, by the second day through the 5 th day I have been experiencing musle fatigue and now aching in my ankle joints. I have also been exteremly tired. I asked my Doctor not once, but twice if this could be the meds. He told me to I had to continue taking the medicine. He didn't think it was the medicine. After reading this web site, I see that other people have experienced the same effects. For those of you who have already been through this, how long does it take for your muscles and joints to return to normal? Any imput would be greatly appreciated. Tammy |
| Levaquin - I Feel Weird! |
| posted by steve cowan on 09 Nov 2006 at 8:00 am |
| I have been taking 500mg of Levaquin, once a day, for 5 days. Side effects are: fatigue, inability to make decisions or do anything, some nausea, loss of apetite, ringing in my ears, but the worst part - and that has kept me from work these five days is that I feel not myself. Kind of hopeless, all I want to do is sleep and avoid people. On the upside - I was on 2 months of Sulfa drugs but my prostate infection never fully went away. The levaquin did indeed get rid of it. Although I can understand why someone posting here would say 'never take it!', think of how many people may have died from infections that are resistant to other drugs, if they hadn't taken Levaquin. Its kind of the lesser of two evils - and also a weighing of how many people are helped vs. hurt. But, given the choice, I'd probably take it, or something like it, again, since my prostate infection would have eventually killed me. |
| Levaquin - Why Are They Still Prescribing This Drug? |
| posted by Julia on 13 Nov 2006 at 9:50 am |
|
I was on Levaquin for what was supposed to be seven days for a resistant sinus infection. Well, the first night I was a shaky mess, unable to sleep because my heart was pounding so bad. Second day was somewhat better, though I still felt nervous. Third day my legs started aching but nothing major. Fifth day I woke up with the worst stiff neck, could barely turn it without being in excrutiating pain. Sixth day my joints were all aching & the pain from my neck had spread to the base of my head, I felt like passing out from the pain.. I didn't take the last pill since I was so freaked out.
I stopped about a week ago & I still have pain in my joints, espeically my neck, shoulders &base of head.. My throat feels extremely tight as well, I don't know if this has anything to do with the Levaquin or from the sore neck but I feel like I have a contant lump in my throat. So all in all I feel worse now then I did before I started the Levaquin.I'd rather deal with a sinus infection then not be able to move my neck... I asked my pharmacist about possible side effects before taking it & he said "Levaquin is great, haven't heard anything negatibe" so either he's trying to push the drug as much as he can or could it be that nobody else has complained? But boy was I duped, stay away from this drug! It's scary! |
| Try The Vitamins |
| posted by anon on 13 Nov 2006 at 7:12 pm |
| I posted a vitamin combination that really helped me on September 9. See above. Has anybody else tried it? It really worked for me and worked fairly quickly. I saw my doctor today and he said that my mastoid infection was still gone and hoped that the treatment had been worth it. |
| Levaquin - Muscle Aches And Pains |
| posted by Pam Goldsmith on 14 Nov 2006 at 4:05 am |
| I am 40 years old and took levaquin for 10 days for bronchitis. Its been over 2 months and I still feel strange- muscle pains near my kidneys, and legs. Could this really be from taking the levaquin??? Somehow I believe it must be. |
| Side Effects Mostly Mental, So Far |
| posted by Jim Pivonka on 14 Nov 2006 at 11:28 pm |
|
Prescribed Levaquin 500x7 for a possible intramuscular abcess which came up suddenly, 5 days ago. The worst part of the inflammation around the central swelling has subsided, but the abcess may need lancing and evacuation.
Levaquin was prescribed due to a possible reaction (hives) to sulfa (Bactrim) many years ago. Sulfa would be the preferred treatment, I understand, for this possible Antibiotic resistant Staph infection. Truth be told, I'd prefer hives to the side effects described by others here, and those I describe below: I am now in day 5 with two more to go. I have been tired, but sleeping poorly the last two days - the first three I was taking Benadryl on the off chance that the problem originated in an insect or spider bite. So, I will take the Benadryl again tonight. The side effects include tiredness, lack of enthusiasm and optimism verging toward depression, sensitivity, easily hurt feelings, inability to hold a train of thought or plan more than very simple activities, and a lack of mental focus and discipline. If I had not had long personal experience with depressive mood, I might be letting myself be more affected by those feelings. I am possibly more irritable and less patient than usual. I feel less sure of my judgement and more needful of reassurance and advice from others. Hmmm. I wonder if that is a long term effect. If so, it might account for the FDA's enthusiasm for these drugs. (Did I mention the paranoia? That's a joke, folks.) So far no muscle, tendon, or joint problems. That may be explained by the fact that I have long been on a nutritional support regimen something like the one posted by "anon" on Sept. 9. I have been taking substantial amounts of food and water when I take the Levaquin, on the advice of pharmacist and physician. |
| Levaquin Altered My Health And Welling |
| posted by Life ultered by Levaquin usage on 15 Nov 2006 at 11:47 am |
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It is time that phycians, pharmists, medical traing programs, FDA, and maybe the insurance companies get more education about the drugs they prescribe, or the rx's they pay for. The FDA, along with the physician that prescribes Levaquin need to be held accountable for its side effects on the patients they prescribe it to. Many phycsicians do not even know what the signs and symptoms of toxicity are, nor do they even know who to look them up.
When a physician prescribes a drug to a patient for use, they need to be held accountable for explaining to the patient what to look for in way of side effects. In reading all of the side effects and the residual life alterations that many people have reported about their experience with the Drug Levaquin, I believe that the medical world, the FDA and the Pharmacy world have failed to offer safe practices. They have failed the american public in making sure that they do their job safely and effectively. If we do not make the FDA, the physicians, the pharmists and the medical schools accountable for they actions, then they will continued to prescribe drugs that are dangerous, and they will use the carelessly, because there are no consaquences for their sloppy work ethics and habits! |
| I Tried To Love An FQ Victim. |
| posted by Suzanne K on 16 Nov 2006 at 4:38 pm |
| I know his and all of your stories. I took a year of my life trying to help this man I loved. He decided to leave to go die at a relatives house. Each and every day I had more and more info to try to help him. He was getting better. I have more information, doctors that study just this, here in Philadelphia and upstate NY as well as doctors that we had been to before he left that were willing to bring him back to normal. It's been 4 1/2 years for him. I don't blame anyone, I realize that you all get tired of dealing with pain.....but the pain that I am dealing with now....is needless. I didn't take anything. I tried to help. Why is it that some just give up hope? With out hope there is nothing. It has driven my normal optimistic, uplifting spirit to the point that I wish I was dead. I suppose some of you may now understand what depression is like. Well, I've suffered that all my life and now I am at the point that I don't even care about myself. I don't understand. I know that being afflicted with an FQ drug interaction is severe. I've seen it first hand. I tried helping him. I loved being there for him. Now, I feel that I wasted my life for a year, trying to get someone to come beyond what they have had to deal with. I did it with depression, but it's now back and I don't know if I want to go on anymore. I thought this was someone who would love me. He promised me that but gave up hope even with all the promising research I had done. I feel helpless, hopeless and useless as a human being. Just remember....all of you....where there is hope there is the heart. Were we put on this earth to throw away what we were given? Even if we were given crap? I hope I find a way out of this. He doesn't know at all that he was put here to help me and not the other way around. I wake up every day sick to death and I don't know how to move on. It was just as if I took one of those drugs....and now I am even scared to take anything to help my depression. I'm lost in a world of people who feel sorry for themselves, who have every right to, but hurt others in the meantime. Its not fair. What happened to you or what happened to me. |
| I Had Surgery Because Of Levaquin |
| posted by Donna Spencer on 17 Nov 2006 at 10:42 am |
|
I went to my regular ENT Dr., for a dose of antibiotics, since I suffer from severs sinus infections. He prescribed Levaquin (I had taken it before), along with prednisone to cure the infection. Within 7 days I had swollen knees when I woke up in the morning. I could barely walk! I saw an Orthopod immediately.
I was scheduled for surgery, and had a torn miniscus, and cartilege damage. My knees still hurt. The one I had surgery hurts all of the time. It will never be the same. DON'T TAKE THIS MEDICATION!! My ENT Dr. then told me knee problems are a side effect of the medication!!! So why are they prescribing it? |
| Tendon Pain, Levaquin |
| posted by Anon on 20 Nov 2006 at 7:04 pm |
| I am on my last day of a 7 day regiment of Levaquin (500mg). It has basically cleared my upper respiratory infection. However, during my stretching preparations for my workouts, I pulled both tendons connecting my right inner thigh muscle. The pain went way after a day or so, but the same thing has happened today. Now I see on the internet that this is not the "rare but severe" side effect, but a highly common one. I'm a little upset at my doctor for prescribing because other contraindications are neural tumors (I had an acoustic neuroma) and cardiomyopathy (I have HCS) other potential side effects are hearing loss (I have one ear). Bummer. I hope the tendon problem isn't permanent, I have kept the stress on the tendon to a minimum. If the pain subsides again, I will treat it gently and slowly increase the stress over time (what I read to do with similar sports injuries). I'm only 39, I can't believe they still prescribe this drug to elderly patients! |
| Scared |
| posted by Lin on 02 Dec 2006 at 12:02 pm |
|
I had clogged ears and was feeling dizzy. I thought I had an ear infection-since Im from Hawaii living in Cincinnati never had sinus/ear problems So i wanted to make sure it wasn't my ear. I went to urgent care yesterday and this indian doc tells me its not my ears but a sinus infection and says"I'll give u something to "wipe it out".
I couldn't hear or understand part of what she said due to her accent and my ear. I just went and got it filled. it was levaquin 750 for 5 days. I was suspicious since I never had this type before but I took it when i went back to my office. she also gave me some levall G ER caps for sinus- which i can breathe just fine, its just my ear and I know i cant take anything with ephedrine cuz my heart goes nuts. But when I got home hours later I just felt panicky about things and then I come online and got more scared. no effects (yet) Needless to say i was due for another pill 30 mins ago but choose NOT to take it.THANK YOU TO ALL FOR THE WARNING! i am a healthy 30yr F and I can deal with clogged ears w/o this poison!!! |
| No More Levaquin |
| posted by Jen on 09 Dec 2006 at 8:45 am |
|
I took Levaquin 6 months ago but stopped after 5 days because I couldn't sleep more than 2-3 hours a night and it was affecting my job performance.
Three weeks ago, an ENT dr. prescribed it again for a bad sinus infection. I was reluctant and mentioned the sleep problems I had experienced before, but she persuaded me to give it a try. I had the sleep problems again but soldiered through because I really wanted to cure the sinus infection. I took it for the full 14 days and the entire time had so much trouble focusing at work due to the mental fog and sleeplessness that comes with Levaquin. Unfortunately, it did not help my sinus infection. I did end up with an extremely itchy rash on my side and a painful knee that hasn't gotten better. I started having small facial spasms a couple days ago. My GP confirms it is probably from the Levaquin. I only hope it goes away! I am sorry I allowed my dr. to persuade me against what my intuition was telling me. I will never take Levaquin again. |
| Levaquin - Horrible Rash! |
| posted by Bonnie on 15 Dec 2006 at 4:53 am |
|
I was prescribed Levaquin 500mg X 10 days for Pneumonia that did not respond to Zythromax. Around day 5 I broke out in the most horrific, itchy, burning rash all over my back, neck, back of my legs, and in the bend of both arms. I have been off the Levaquin for over four days now, and the rash persists. I have mild excema, and am used to dry skin and the need to ensure I moisturize and take care of my skin - but this rash is unlike anything I've every experienced. I can barely function due to the itching, burning and pain. I also have very sore knee joints and my ankles and feet feel as though I've overworked them, such as with a marathon!!
Levaquin - never again. SHAME to the pharmaceutical companies who manufacture this drug. I always read the prescribing information from the pharmacy THOROUGHLY, and nowhere was there mention of tendon damage and rashes. |
| Levaquin - Don't Take This Drug |
| posted by Jennifer on 17 Dec 2006 at 11:21 am |
|
I was prescribed this drug after only two days on Augmentin for an ear and sinus infection. I got that Rx through an over-the-phone consult, but when my doc saw that my eardrum was torn, she gave me the Levaquin. Mind you, I've always had success with Augmentin.
Anyway, from the first day I have had a high feeling. I wake every night at 3am and can't get back to sleep. I have had nightmares 2 of six nights. 4 of 6 mornings I have had severe headaches. I have a burning pain in my hips which I thought was from my sleeping position, but now it makes sense that it is from the drug. I have a tingling in my feet and hands. The worst side effects, though, are the distraction, the inability to make decisions and general feelings of being discouraged and anxious. I am seeing my doc tomorrow and I will demand something else. |
| Severe Joint Pain - Levaquin |
| posted by Judy on 20 Dec 2006 at 4:49 am |
| Started on Levaquin for a sever sinus infection. First my hips started to hurt, a couple of days later my shoulders and finally my left knee. I tried to figure out what was happening and looked up the side effects of Levaquin. That was scary. It has been 2 weeks now and am taqking motrin for the pain and it is not working. The pain feels as if a muscle is tearing. I can barely hobble around because of the knee. And cannot even get a plate downn out of the cupboard. The hip pain has left but not the other pain. I will join any class action lawsuit against this drug. I feel it should be banned. |
| Almost Killed Me |
| posted by Leslie on 20 Dec 2006 at 8:52 pm |
|
I was prescribed Levaquin 750 for the first time to fight a serious sinus infection. The first day I took the drug, and left for work about an hour later. While traveling the interstate I started to have major difficulties breathing which quickly got worse to the point where I could not breathe at all. I managed to pull the car over where someone was able to call 911 on my behalf. Unaware of what was going on, I did not realize that there had been conversations by the ambulance team and the ER doctors concerning the rash all over my body.
While still in the ER it was determined that I had lung and heart problems and was ultimately scheduled for thousands of dollars of tests and missed 3 weeks of work. Still unaware of what was going on I took the Levaquin on days 2 and 3 and 911 had to be called to my home where they carted me back to the ER because I could not breathe. Further convinced that I had severe lung and heart problems I dutifully completed the 10 day regimen of Levaquin and could not leave my bed because I was so short of breath. Two weeks later I got another sinus infection and was again put on Levaquin. The first dosage once again put me in the emergency room where I almost died from not being able to breathe. It was only on this day that the ER Physician on call recognized the rash that was all over my body, the swollen eyes, etc. On this day it was first recognized that I had actually been going into anaphylactic shock from the Levaquin. I now wear medic alert bracelets warning of the problem, and have my medical charts marked boldly so that doctors to not prescribe, and pharmacists do not provide any antibiotic in the same family. |
| Could This Have Been From Leviquin? |
| posted by anon on 07 Jan 2007 at 9:05 am |
|
In December 2006, I had a cold with congestion, sneezing, cough and runny nose. I have a history of bronchitis so my doctor prescribed Leviquin. I started a 5 day course on Wednesday. On Sunday, I remember going to the kitchen to take the final dose of Leviquin and when I woke I was in the hospital and it was Tuesday.
I never took the last dose. I started acting strangely and my husband took me to the hospital on Monday morning. I did not know who he was, where I was, how to dress myself, or how to follow simply instructions. The nurses said I was extremely agitated and sore all over on Monday and early Tuesday. They did CT scans, MRIs, Doppler, EEGs and all were negative. I was hospitalized for 4 days. When I came home I was still haveing headaches, backaches, and lack of concentration. This has been nearly a month ago and yesterday I felt the best I have since the first of December. The symptoms are affecting my job and I am missing a lot of time from work. Could this have been the Leviquin? My doctors have no idea what happened. |
| Life After Levaquin |
| posted by Tammy Burns on 09 Jan 2007 at 8:54 pm |
|
Hi,
I have to say I have never been so glad that I found this web site. I did discontinue Leviquin after reading this site. It took about a week for all my aches to totally go away, but I noticed a dramatic change w/in 48 hours of being off the meds. I went back to my GYN (not the Dr. that prescribed the meds) and he said I was having a sensitvity to that drug and should not be taking it. Life so far has returned to normal. I have been off Leviquin since Nov. 8th. I will NEVER take that medicine again. I hope they take it off the market. It should have been better researched, in my opinion. I hope people will find this web site and spare themselves the pain that most of us here have indured while taking this medicine. I know I wish I had researched this medicine BEFORE I took it. Sincerely, Tammy |
| Achy All Over |
| posted by Kathleen Lange on 10 Jan 2007 at 12:38 pm |
| I will never take this again. I had a bad chest cold and fever. The doctor gave me Levaguin 500mg/day. The drug did away with my fever but not the achy/tired body. I called my doctor who told me to take the last 2 pills left. The aches can be the drugs. I was on this a total of 11 days. My body feels like I have to flu. Be careful if you are taking this. |
| 750 Levaquin |
| posted by Patrick Hill on 12 Jan 2007 at 5:05 am |
| I have been taking levaquin for 2 days, and to be honest, some of the symptom like the cold sweats and uncontrollable shakes I was having before I begin taking the drug. My head was also throbbing pretty badly before I beging taking the medicine. I contribute part of my headache problem to my blood pressure 140/92 and my weight is 240. Age 37. After I begin taking the medicine I begin to receive sharp pains shooting through my arms and legs and down through my feet. I lost my appetite and eyes are constantly red. The pain in my head is much more intense after taking medicine. Fever before I begin taking levaquin. It spikes throughout the day and I take motrin for this. Reading the posts has convinced me not to continue with the drug and seek alternative antibiotic. |
| Levaquin - Scared For My Mother |
| posted by Mia Flores on 12 Jan 2007 at 10:21 am |
| My 75 year old mother is taking Levaquin. Today was her last dose. She has had incredibly painful abdominal cramps, she has been disoriented, depressed, and weak. What's worse is that the infection in her leg is no better. This medicine seems to be very unsafe. |
| Levaquin Nightmare |
| posted by Tammy on 15 Jan 2007 at 6:12 pm |
| I was put on 750mg of levaquin because nothing else was getting rid of my sinus infection. If I would have known that I was going to feel like this I would have opted to keep my sinus infection. After only a few hours of taking my 1st dose I was having pain in my knees so bad I had to pull myself up my stairs to go to bed that night. I just told myself it was because I had been sick so long it was just getting to me. Day 2 got even better... my ankles, elbows and shoulders and back all ached like someone had just beaten me. Stupid me continued to take all 5 doses and now a week after my last dose feel like I am 100 years old and want to kick myself for taking that poison. Does anyone know, am I going to have permanent damage and when will I feel myself??? I have no question it was the levaquin after reading all these posts and talking to different people who have taken this stuff!! |
| No Side Effects |
| posted by anna on 19 Jan 2007 at 8:23 pm |
| I took the drug and had zero side effects. I think people are just looking for money. Some sad and desperate people. If the drug made you sick, then why would you continue taking it? |
| Infections Deserve A Better Medicine! |
| posted by Zaila on 21 Jan 2007 at 8:18 pm |
|
I've taken Levaquin on several two week courses, and didn't realize that those symptoms described here: burning pain, tendonitis, swelling, soreness, etc. could all be linked back to Levaquin. I thought I was going crazy and developing a serious case of Reumatiod Arthritis.
I am only 32 years old, but feel like I'm 99! I had to take a temporary disability from work last year for back pain treatments. Now I take over 10 different kinds of medicines a day for all those symptoms described here on the board. What can we do to get this medicine off the market and prevent others from such suffering? Where are the lawyers and clinical trials? I just don't get it. Here we are being poisoned, robbed of our lives, while misinformed doctors keep on prescribing this awful stuff. Yes, infections do need treatment. But Levaquin should be avoided, and experts should find "SAFE" remedies. |
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