Avelox and doctor who

My husband was hospitalized with pneumonia on July 14, 2008. He was given Avelox via IV in the hospital and a 7 day pill prescription when he came home. Even in the hospital, he complained of muscle aches, but no one keyed on the antibiotic as an issue. When his breathing was better, he assumed he should try to do physical activity...but when he tried to play some golf one day, and do a little deck staining another, he payed for it with severe joint pains...even then, no doctor said anything about the antibiotic. He has lost over 25 lbs since this began, and has lost absolutely all muscle tone in his body..

He's stopped trying to do anything, but the last month has been terrible for him...every joint in his body hurts--he can hardly walk, there were days he couldn't lift a fork to his mouth with one hand... I brought him back into urgent care on Aug. 9th...that doctor was the first to mention that it could be a side effect of the Avelox he had taken 3 weeks before...

Since then, we have been to his primary care doctor, who doesn't think "the Avelox has anything to do with it. Now that I've googled it and seen the new FDA warning, I can't understand any way it wouldn't be at least part of the problem!

He's been give Vicodin for the pain, and they're running more tests, but I intend to go into the doctor with every thing I've seen on this..I don't have a problem with them using this medication for his pneumonia, but am so frustrated that they didn't tell warn us of this side effect--especially when he's tried to tell them what he's feeling.... I just think he would have been so much better by now if they would have switched him off of the drug as soon as he noticed the pain..

First let me say, i have taken Avelox twice before and had NO side effects whatsoever! It worked great on my pneumonia the last two times (a yr apart) and i recovered very quickly. However, this time was different. I usually only have pneumonia once a yr Jan or Feb time frame, this time i have gotten it thanks to an unthinking oaf (who knew we have 7 little ones at home) and came to visit with a rip roaring sinus infection. I get pneumonia when everyone else gets sinus infections, who knows why? This time my dr. prescribed the usual Avelox for 10 days and the very first dose i was ok for the first hour and after that, wham i was in the bathroom with diarrhea and almost immediately began to vomit to the point where i could not control it, and then my hands and feet turned red and itchy was gone the next morning. I feel lucky compared to some of these people, and i have many drug allergies so i do understand it can be quite aggravating, but any time you have any type of reaction to any meds you should IMMEDIATELY discontinue and then call the doctor. any doctor who tells you anything else should be FIRED!! My husband and i are both EMTs and let me tell you, if your doctor doesn't discontinue use of a medication that causes reaction of any kind--let alone a severe one needs to go back to school. Anxiety attacks, etc. that some of these people have had are NOT minor, they are not side effects, it is an allergic reaction, to a medication. If it were me, i would be firing that doctor immediately or getting a second opinion. Common Sense is so rare these days, if it doesn't sound right, it probably isn't. Do not be afraid to shop around for a new doctor, YOU are their bread and butter, You are still a customer and there are so many out there these days you can find one that IS what he or she should be, concerned about You and YOUR health,
not one who speaks over you or disregards your concerns or symptoms! If your doctor keeps you on a medication that you are allergic to--FIRE him or her and find a new one!

Was prescribed Avelox for bronchitis. Third day of taking it I was feeling paranoid, terrified, having terrible nightmares, not sleeping, dizzy, nauseated and crushing chest pain. Called my doctor who refused to believe it was the Avelox which was the only drug I was on. He prescribed Biaxin to replace it which only made things worse. I would NEVER take either of these drugs again and I have changed doctors. My mother had to be hospitalized with hallucinations about 15 years ago after taking Biaxin. She has never really completely recovered her life because of that. She was out of work for months and lost her job. She now has anxiety attacks which she never had before. Drugs like this should be illegal.

I was given Avelox after sinus surgery in August. I called the doctor told them I felt awful sick and nauseated. He switched me to another antibiotic. Here I am in December still not better been on at least two other antibiotics since the bought in August. I started Augmentin 3 weeks ago and had horrible itching after about a week being on it. Went back to my Doctor who out put me back on Avelox. Took the first dose at about 9 am within 30 minutes my throat was itchy and I was breaking out in hives and went into a panic attack. Took Benadryl as well as was prescribed Xanax for anxiety attacks still going on. I don't know if it is the fear of my throat closing but my pharmacy now has warnings for me for Penicillins as well as Avelox related drugs. Never had drug reactions before ever now . Went back to ENT put me on Medro pak which after seeing an allergist recommended. He also wanted me on Biaxin but I am not taking it at this point. There are allergy tests for drugs I would recommend and anyone experiencing any side effects to be checked after reactions to Avelox after reading this board I realize I was having an allergic reaction the first time in August and never should have been on it again.

I first took avelox last december for cellulitis. I also took levoquin for the same condition. I had a recurrence and took Avelox again this week. On the 3rd day I noticed brief "sticking" pains that would come and go. It felt like someone was poking me, first on the leg, then my back, then an arm. They lasted briefly, and then came back a few hours later. About the same time I noticed my shoulder was hurting, and my forearm and some of my fingers. I thought the infection was spreading and I went back to the doctor, who offered to Xray my shoulder. That seemed pointless, so I said forget it and refered to the package insert, where i found tendon rupture as a side effect. I searched more and found that Avelox, and other quinolones are TOXIC to the TENDONS and may cause muscle and tendon pain. I discontinued the medicine and now am using ceflex to treat the infection. I will wait a while for the pains to resolve, and pray I do not blow a tendon, esp. in my shoulder. I am pretty pissed that the doctor was unaware of this side effect, and when I informed him of my experience he said he would not use Avelox for cellulitis in the future.
KB