Levaquin side effects

It`s very important to educate yourself when it comes to medications.

When I saw people close to me suffer I had to find out why and I am quite sure that it had to to with side effects.

I started to do my own "research" in 2003 and it continues to this day.

One of the groups of medications that I have looked at is quinolone antbiotics to which group Levaquin belongs.

Most medications in this group have similar side effects. For more information go to:

Please visit www.fqresearch.org and www.fqvictims.org (?).

Also search on Google for "floxed" or "floxies". That´s what people call themselves when they suffer from side effects.

I would also recommend Stephen Frieds interesting book "Bitter Pills".

Medications are needed sometimes, but not to the extent that they are prescribed today!

Two and a half hours ago I took Levaquin 750mg for the first time. After about 45 minutes for some reason I started coughing, like i had something caught in my throat. Didn't think much of it because we were eating but then on the way home I started itching, and my mouth started feeling numb. It actually started feeling like I had been to the dentist and had novacane shot in my lower lip. When I got home I went and looked in the mirror and my face was actually swollen like I was feeling it. I don't think I will take the other two pills doc gave me for a bladder infection.

Question for you all. I have been on levaquin for 6 days 750 mg. For the last 3 to 4 days my hands have been killing me and it is getting worse, my knees, and shoulders hurt now. After reading your remarks I am calling doc first thing in the morning. Please let me know if you have any advice for me.

My mom took Levaquin for a sinus infection and within three days of starting the medicine her kidneys began to fail. Her heart rate and blood pressure were elevated. After 6 months of going to doctor after doctor, she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure. Now she is on dialysis three times a week. The kicker...she had just had a complete physical with a blood work up three weeks prior to taking Levaquin and she was absolutely fine. Now, she's dying of chronic kidney disease.

Everyone make sure you report your ADR's to the FDA. Here is the link. It only takes a few minutes and maybe we can stop this. I have filled one out before but since I have ruptured another tendon I am filling another one out.
http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/

In July 2007, I was put on Levaquin for pneumonia. I was 53 years old, working full-time, active. The pneumonia was caused by aspiration when vomiting. I had never had these problems - pneumonia or aspiration - before. I had gradually worsening generalized joint and muscle pain and stiffness, which I reported to my doctor after about 5 days on the Levaquin. The pain I was experiencing was worse than the pneumonia symptoms (mostly high fever). The course of levaquin was supposed to be 14 days. After 9 days, I could not tolerate it any longer. My doctor put me on a Z-pack (azithromycin) for the remainder of my treatment. It is a year later, and I am still plagued with muscle pain in my back, shoulders, arm, abdomen - and, at its worst, my legs. The only way I'm able to function is on prescription painkillers, which I detest having to take - but they're a lifesaver. I've been seeing a rheumatologist since December '07. He dosen't seem to believe the levaquin - pain connection. He thinks I may have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. I have consistently elevated blood levels of creatine phosphokinase, a muscle enzyme which indicates muscle damage. I was on prednisone 10 mg. from early March '08 which I have just weaned off of after suffering a depressive episode with a suicide attempt at the begining of this month. I can't work now. I'm terrified of becoming permanently disabled. Finding answers has been very difficult but I firmly believe that the Levaquin started all this.

My husband was prescribed Levaquin on June 4 for a spider bite. He took 750mg for 10 days. The bite healed well and we are thankful. Last night he began having terrible joint pain in his hips, legs and elbows. After reading all the posts I"m convinced it is caused from this medication. Other than Tylenol I don't know what to do for him.

Most of the "side effects" are die off responses (sometimes referred to as a herxheimer response similar to that which occurs when treating syphillis) from bartonella or borrelia. Levaquin is a potent intracellular antibiotic...where these and other organisms can hide. These can be subclinical infections where (at this time) you are not even aware you are infected. If your "side effects" start around the 3rd day into your prescription...rejoice...and suffer for a while, you are killing something really bad.

Muscle weakness, pain, tingling

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

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

On June 17, 2008 I had an emergency appendectomy. They put me on Levaquin in the recovery room. By the time I got to my room I was covered in a horrible red itchy rash--I layed there scratching like a squirrel for hours. When I told the nurse, she said everyone has that reaction and she put Benadryl into the IV. They CONTINUED to give me the Levaquin with a Benadryl chaser until I couldn't take the itching any longer. Finally changed the IV to Cipro---no more itching! I am home now, very very sore and extremely tired. I could have done without that rash-----it is still all over my arms, neck , chest and back--very RAW because I scratched like crazy! Hopefully in a few days it will disappear. Will NEVER take Levaquin again, that's for sure!!

Took levaquin,500mg,for 10 days to combat infection in my left toe. Infection stopped,however pain in both calves is severe. Started on left leg then also rt. leg. Been off the med for 3 days. Seems to be better in am but gets awful as the day wears on. When will it stop? Is there long trm damage?

I took Levaquin for a kidney infection 500 mg. I was inchy all over. stomach pain. sever neck pain, and pain all over I feel like I was hit by a truck. no energy. my eyes get all heavy like I haven't slept in weeks. Alls I do is sleep and when I do I wake up very confused. I've been taking naps in the day time which I've never been able to do even if I was sick. I don't feel normal like I'm drunk and I don't even drink my sister says I even sound drunk. I get headaches. I have bruises all over in the places that I had itched. I still have kidney pain it feels like it's flopping around in there. Sweat a lot at night time. My heart sometimes beats really fast then thunks hard and then slows down. anxiety attacks. I cry for no reason. I called my doctor and he said he don't think it's from the levaquin that people only get a couple side effects not this many and put me back on antibiotics.

I had headache and all of my joints...especially my fingers, were swollen and very painful...like I was thinking ..what do I have arthritis now??!!! I also was very tired.

I took levaquin 750mg as prescribed yesterday, after leaving my doctors office at 330pm ( june 18th). along with calrinex d (1tab) and a tsp of tussionex suppension syrup and 4 nose shots of astelin in increments of two over a 4 hr period of time. I was awake a majority of the night unable to sleep. But had some bouts of sleep. This morning (june 19th) I awoke at 930 am forced awake due to an appointment, and took 550 mgm of levaqin and the array of other drugs, around 12pm I noticed a headache and believed it was due to the exertion of coughing so much, my appetite is non-existent and around 6pm I felt flushed and sweaty, however this feeling subsided. I am now in hyper drive, I want to fall asleep but when I do my throat has the sensation of being choaked and then I have this odd gush or air emmited nasally which awakens me from the doze. My left corotid arrtey was tender and my heart is palpitating. While my sinus infection is almost gone I do not think I will be continuing this medication. There will be a call made to my physician at first reasonable light, I am sure I will be awake.

I have been taking Levaquin since 12th of June 2008, last Thursday. When I got up on the 16th of June, the Monday morning, I had so much pain in my leg calf that I can hardly walk. I thought it would go away but it has not. I just looked up on the internet and found this and other websites and realized it might be the Levaquin side effect. I just called the doctor who prescribed the medicine and they said they will call me back.

I was taking it for two days. I was trying to change the channel, but I couldn't. I looked down and screamed because my hands were literally coming at me. They were crippling inward and so were my feet. My abdomen became severely painful. I couldn't stop vomiting and started vomiting bile. I was rushed to the hospital, they placed me in the 'security' emergency private room and strapped me down because they said I was out of my head. My whole body was yellow (jaundice). The doctor told me while the nurses tried to stick ivs in me that my digestive system has failed and your liver is failing. He told the nurse to stand by my bed period to keep me awake. I remember him shaking my face telling me 'johanna you have to stay awake, if you don't, you are not waking up. you have to stay away.' I was released later on. I had to eat liquid foods for two weeks, then baby foods for two more, then I slowly had to eat mushy to solid foods. The doctor said I had to reintroduce my body just like a baby due to the failure. That was my experience and if that nurse didn't keep me awake I would not be here right now.

The levaquin completely cured my throat, no pain, i can swallow again. But my glands are still swollen. My biggest complaint is the mouth thrush, i have sores all over my mouth, my teeth and gums ache and sometimes i wake up with blood in my mouth because my gums are so sensitive. I finished the 5 day 750 mg yesterday for horrific case of strep throat. I also experienced fatigue, sensitivity to light. Now that im off the pills im interested in eating but i cant because my mouth hurts so bad. If my mouth didn't hurt i would be happy, but im wondering if it will go away now that i am done with the dose.

severe pain.. first in my knee's, ankles and then in my elbows. swelling in my ankles. walking was unbearable!!

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

Night terrors

If Levaquin is such a wonderful drug why are there numerous product liability suits pending against the manufacturer for the damage it has done?

well im all done with my levaquin.. and i think this was a great antibiotic, other than the price,., i paid 100$ for 5 pills.. but i feel much better.. i didn't get any pains, or really any of the side effects seen on this site for levaquin.. im pretty much all better now.. only thing was the 1st night i couldn't really sleep. but i started taking it in the morning and i was fine.. all in all.. this medicine worked great for me.. JUST TAKE A LOT OF WATER THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND TAKE THE PILL IN THE MORNING AND ITS A PERFECT !

this is my second day on levaquin. the first night the sleep was pretty bad, but i took the pill late at night, so today i took it early morning , ill see if that helps. no other issues so far. still coughing up a storm though, hopefully i don't have pneamounia.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that I had also taken LEVAQUIN for what was thought to be strep throat a year ago this past April. I was put on LEVAQUIN for 5 days and I was still horribly ill. They decided that I had Influenza and gave me Tamiflu. The Tamiflu seemed to work and clear up the congestion and other flu like symptoms. The bad part was that I was so weak and fatigued that I couldn't even do the simplest things for months later. I also suffered from frequent PVC's and chest tightness. I still get frequent PVC's now and then. I look back on all of the things that happened a year ago and what is going on with me now and I realize that it can't just be a coincidence!

I saw my family doctor on May 16th for a new onset UTI. I hadn't had one of these in about 8 years but I knew how bad they could get if you didn't get them treated right away. I did the over the counter URISTAT for 2 days until I got an appointment. After doing the UA dipstick, they confirmed my UTI because of the high leukocytes and gave me sample packets of LEVAQUIN 500 mg. b.i.d. for 5 days. I went home thinking, "Hey, this will be easy and I will feel great in a few days." I WAS NEVER SO WRONG ABOUT SOMETHING IN MY WHOLE LIFE!!!! I took my first dose that evening and went to bed. I woke up the next morning with a headache so bad that I almost passed out when I lifted my head off the pillow. The UTI went away after a few days, but the migraine stayed for over 2 weeks. The left side of my neck felt like I had been hit from behind with a baseball bat and my scalp became so sore from the pain that I couldn't even use a blow dryer on my hair. I made 2 more trips back to the doctor complaining of the horrible migraine headaches, light sensitivity, neck pain and joint pain. He put me on IMITREX, PROPANOLOL, APAP, and FLEXERIL to control the migraines. I MAXED OUT THE DAILY DOSAGE ON THESE MEDS EVERY DAY WITH NO RELIEF! I went back to the doctor again and he decided to run some lab tests. The next day, my headache had started to get better but I noticed a lump under my left armpit (large pea size) and that I had significant joint pain in my right middle and index finger. My middle finger would hardly bend in the mornings when I got up and the stiffness in my neck was still there. Later that day on my way out for a mini vacation with my family, my doctor called to tell me that my ANA had come back positive and he wanted to send me to a Rheumatologist to rule out things like LUPUS, RA, etc. Needless to say, I was totally freaked out for the remainder of my trip until I went back to the doctor to review my ANA Titer. My titer was high at 1:160, but he keeps telling me not to worry because this happens all of the time and an ANA and high titer is not definitive. I want to also note that one of my friends and my husband have also had very similar experiences. She was convinced by the physicians that she had Lymphoma because of her ANA and titer and my husband was certain that he had RA. Both are negative!
I am still concerned about all of this even though I am feeling better and it may be that I have permanent side effects from this. I was a totally healthy person and there was nothing going on besides a UTI until the LEVAQUIN was introduced. It has been almost a month since I took this drug and the things I have been reading online are horrible. I am sure that I will never take one of these antibiotics again. My advice to anyone else is to READ< READ> READ! There are some excellent websites out there and of coures the blogs are great for information from other patients. A good site for information about positive ANA's is:
http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/fana.asp
Also, read up on LEVAQUIN and the other FLUOROQUINOLONES. I did not know that these are the drugs that will be used to treat people in the event of a biological war. It's pretty scary....

i just now started my first dose of levaquin 750 mg , 5 pills / 1 per day.. ill let u know how it goes.. i see all these posting on insomnia which sounds horrible because i got work Wednesday, (today is Monday).. keep ya posted...

I was diagnosed with pneumonia 12 days ago and put on Levaquin because of it. I have felt like a totally different person and not in a good way. I have not slept more than 2-3 hours per night since beginning this antibiotic, I have been depressed, crying and fatigued. I am normally very emotionally stable but the insomnia has been a nightmare. I will never take this medication again. I appreciate all the postings on this site that helped me know that I wasn't going crazy - Levaquin was doing that to me.

I have been taking Levaquin for 6 days. The doctor prescribed it for a sinus infection for 21 days. Day 1, I could hardly get out of bed, all I wanted to do was sleep. I am still very tired and my muscles are weak not sore. The other thing is my infection is not gone if anything (sorry about this) the mucus has become an even darker yellow - I would call it gold. How long does it take for this stuff to knock out an infection? I haven't experienced any other side effects (yet). I just want it to knock out the infection so I'm not on different antibiotics in 15 days.

I was prescribed 10 of these and I have 3 left. Today, I am having trouble lifting my arms and legs and I hurt all over. Also, in the left side of the roof of my mouth, I have a round, hard, protrusion. I was given this for a chronic sinus infection.

I'm a 31 female. I was diagnosed with bronchitis/sinusitis on 5/28 and was given Biaxin which did not help. I was instructed to return to the doctor if I did not feel better within 2 to 3 days. On Monday 6/2 I returned to the doctors per instructions because I was not feeling better. He switched me to Levaquin 500mg 1 a day. I took Levaquin at 8pm Monday evening. I was unable to sleep that evening so I researched the medication the following morning and saw that Insomnia was a side effect. Starting at 10am today 6/6 I begun severe hip pain in my right hip. I called the doctor and they instructed me to stop taking the medicine for 24 hours and begin treatment again if the pain reduces. After reading this information I'm now reluctant to start "if" the pain subsides.

i was taking levaquin for steph throat in jan 2008 on day 5 i woke up with numbness in my right hands. looked on line and saw it was a side affect so i stop taking it ever since then i have numbness , and really bad pain i saw my doctor and i have carpal tunnel now in my right hand its so bad it wakes me up with such bad pain i cant sleep my hand hurts all day and with 3 kids one being 17 months its tough too do normal everyday things i cant believe levaquin did this too me

I am 61. I was recently prescribed levaquin for an intestinal infection. Began having rapid heart beat, trembling, shortness of breath, floaters in my eyes, itching, thick tongue, lips tingling, irritability, sweating, feeling of brain fog. Felt like I was having a panic attack. Stopped taking medicine after 6th day. Now I can hardly move my head. My left shoulder and neck are hurting very badly -- feels like muscle spasms. After reading these posts about levaquin, I'm sure that is the levaquin has caused these problems.

We apologize for any offense we may have caused anyone regarding our previous posting, in specifying certain side effects we were looking for to feature in a documentary about Levaquin. In better words, here is our new posting:

We are looking for people who can participate in a documentary film to be shot in Los Angeles which focuses on the apparent adverse effects of the antibiotic Levaquin. We are looking for people who are irreversibly, physically damaged as a result of using this drug.

If you or someone you know would be interested in taking part in this film which will shoot in mid-June 2008 please email us at ****** Thank you.

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

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

We are looking for people who can participate in a documentary film to be shot in Los Angeles which focuses on the apparent adverse effects of Levaquin. Specifically, we are looking for people who have experienced cartilage damage or burst and ruptured tendons as a result of using Levaquin. It is especially useful if you have a doctor's opinion that the damage was caused by Levaquin. If you or someone you know would be interested in taking part in this film which will shoot in Los Angeles in mid-June 2008 please email us at ******

I took Levaquin for 2 days and woke up with both arms from the elbow down having the worst spasm ever, felt like contractions at times. I also had eye twitches and headaches and thoughts of feeling like I was poisoning myself. I did something very similar 6 months ago on Cipro, I took 2 rounds of it and by halfway through the second round I took myself off, I felt like my spine was swelling and I had vice grip headaches with that. My Dr. said they ae cousin meds of each other and I should NEVER take them again. I cannot believe they don't watch you more closely when giving something that has some serious side effects.

Well, I took Levaquin 500 once a day for 14 days for an inflamed lower bowel. It cured that. But, I got a blood test back today saying I am positive in my ANA pattern? Also states it is "A nucleolar pattern is associated with systemic sclerosis." Probably Drug induced Lupus.

My symptoms have been painful joints, muscle weakness to the nth degree pain and weakness in shoulders, panic attacks, fainting spells, headaches, finger pain! Depression, happy, depression, happy. Strong, weak.

My next step is to go to a specialist (Rheumatoid)

I'm leaving for Costa Rica for 6 days. I am going to be positive and get over this! I hope nothing happens over there. I will not let it get me!

LEVAQUIN SIDE EFFECTS - As I posted yesterday, after taking one Levaquin - 750 mg, I had hallucinations, sleeplessness, extremely severe headache, and now today I woke up with "thrush mouth/yeast infection" in my mouth - plus aching gums and teeth.

Please, FDA or drug company that makes this, read these boards. This is the TIP of the ICEBERG. Think of the thousands or millions who don't take time to report the side effects of this drug. It would not surprise me if suicides and death are not brought on from LEVAQUIN.

I am thankful I had the good sense to stop this drug after one dose or I might be dead. The hallucinations and headache were the most horrific of my life. I can't imagine what I would be like if I had taken all 7 pills.

MARCH 17TH MY MOTHER WAS A VERY HEALTHY ACTIVE FUN LOVING PERSON AS OF TODAY SHE IS TOTALLY CONFINED TO THE BED. SHE TOOK 4 PILLS OF LEVAQUIN FOR A MINOR CHEST COLD AND GOT A VERY BURNING RASH AND BLISTERS ON HER ARMS NECK AND CHEST AFTER THAT THE SORE THROAT AND EXTREME MUSCLE FATIGUE KICKED IN .HER DR. PUT HER OFF SHE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO QUIT TAKING THE DRUG ON HER OWN ON APRIL 8 SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED WITH THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS WHICH HAVE ULTIMATELY MADE HER UNABLE TO USE HER MUSCLE SHE CAN NOT SWALLOW HAD TO HAVE A PEG TUBE PUT IN SHE HAS NOW BEEN WEENED OFF OF THE 120 MG OF PREDNISONE SHE HAS BEEN ON AND NO END IN SIGHT ON RECOVERY. I HAVE NO MEANS TO TACKLE A DRUG COMPANY BUT I WILL TELL MY STORY AS OFTEN AND AS I CAN. 50 DAYS LATER WE ARE STILL TRYING TO GRASP ALL OF THIS

I was given this antibiotic - 750 milligram. Here I am at almost 4:30 am. I've had severe hallucinations and can't sleep. Plus, I have one of the worst headaches of my life and it is just above my nose between my eyes. This is the worst medication I have ever taken. This medication should be banned. I can't believe Bextra is off the market and this horrific medication is still approved. If I take another dose, I think I would be committing suicide. Lord help me not to go insane.

I hope the FDA reads these boards. I wonder how many suicides are connected to Levaquin? I hope that this will be researched.

This is the worst I have ever felt. I feel like I might need to wake up my husband. Is there a remedy for this mess? I feel as though I have poisoned myself by prescription.

Symptoms: joint pain, blisters on tongue, low blood pressure, dizziness, loss of vision. I started Levaquin 750 mg orally 11 days ago for diverticulitis, along with Flagyl. I had taken Levaquin in the past for this same condition without any side effects. I am also on Benicar 25 mg for high blood pressure. This time after spending $106 dollars AFTER insurance, I started having problems with dizziness where I would lose my vision for a few seconds every time I stood up from a sitting position, or sat up from laying down. My arms and legs felt very heavy and I was exhausted and felt like I could hardly walk. Since I had taken this drug before without complications, it didn't occur to me that this might be a side effect of the Levaquin. My doctor recommended I stop taking the Flagyl, which I did. Nothing improved. After several days of this I finally went to an after hours clinic and found that my blood pressure was 90/50. The nurse told me to stop taking my blood pressure med for a few days, that maybe there was a reaction. (She stated she had never heard of blood pressure being affected by an antibiotic). I stopped taking my blood pressure medication and it came up to normal within about 36 hours. Approximately 4 days ago my tongue broke out with little blisters all over, top and bottom and my lips are cracking. Yesterday my joints started aching and I feel like I'm 75 every time I take a step. (I'm 46) I took my last Levaquin yesterday and I still have the blisters and the joint pain is worse. This morning my blood pressure was back to my normal "mild high" range of about 130/83. I took my blood pressure med and it came back down to what is normal for me, 122/77. I haven't done anything different (meds, food, products, etc.) that should be causing these blisters, and I don't feel sick other than the joint pain, so I'm assuming these are side effects related to the Levaquin. I'm hoping they will clear up now that I'm done with the medication. I find it interesting that I spoke with two different pharmacists and two different physicians and none of them indicated there might be contra-indications with Levaquin and my blood pressure med. The good news is that the diverticulitis seems to be gone!

I took this antibiotic for 2 days. I have no history of mental illness whatsoever and I thought I was losing my mind for 2 days. I had a panic attack 2 nights in a row and stayed up all night starring at front door afraid that someone was going to break into my home and hurt my children. I can not believe that this "antibiotic" is even on the market. This is an extremely dangerous drug. I called the doctor and he sounded like he didn't believe me- maybe I should share some of this stuff with him so he can experience the crazy too!

I have been taking Levaquin for sinus infection after Augmentin didn't keep it from coming back. All I can say is that I am completely exhausted. I wonder if it is the drug or something else. No muscle pain. I don't know if I should stop taking it or continue. Tonight I was walking for exercise and couldn't finish because I thought I might faint. My heart was beating and I was shaking. Do you think it is the drug? HELP!

I am 67 years old and I had a PSA level of 5.7 as of April 16th 2008. In the year 2000 my PSA level was 11 and Dr did biopsy and found no issues. On May 8th my present Dr prescribed Levaquin 500 Mg to treat my PSA. As of today I have taken 18 tablets of Levaquin 500 mg. On May 24th evening I started getting fever tiredness and diarrhea. Took Paracetamol 500 mg to reduce fever. Temperature reduced to 97. If I didn't take any fever reducing medicine my body temperature started increasing. on May 26th temperature started increasing and it reached 102.6 and got admitted into emergency. At emergency they did run several tests and later discharged asking me to continue with fever reducing medicine. Also I was told to continue with Levaquin 500mg. Though I am taking fever reducing medicine with Levaquin, today my body temperature reached 105. On May 19th,2008 I had a blood test and came to know that my PSA had reached 6.2. I don't want to take Levaquin any more.

I have been taking Levaquin 500 for bronchitis for 6 days. The first 3 days were fine. On the 4th day when I woke up the room was spinning. I went back to sleep for a while , thinking that if I did when I woke up, the spinning would have stopped but it didn't. From there came the nauseousness followed by headache and eye pain. I had no energy but could not lay down because of the spinning. For the rest of the day, I just felt bad, physically and mentally. I started crying for no reason. The next day was much of the same and I started thinking that this must be the medicine so I checked the internet for the side effects of this drug. My symptoms sound like I might have gotten off easier than some but guess what I am not taking that last pill.

Wow.....after reading so many of the stories here, I am immediately stopping my prescription. While visiting another state I was hospitalized with fever, extreme tremors, and after having a burning pain in my upper abdomen. Was immediately put on IV Levaquin while tests were being run. After 3 days of numerous blood tests, urine tests and 2 CT scans the doctors determined I had a blood infection and the bacteria was E-coli (but not the kind that comes from eating something???). No determination was made as to where the infection came from. During this time I experienced extreme diareah, headaches, insomnia, pain in my right shoulder, extreme heartburn, acid reflux and loss of appetite. All these symptoms were reported to the doctor and nursing staff, but no relief (except a dose of Malox and 2 Tylenol every 4 hours if I asked for it, which offered no relief). They wanted to do more tests but I finally checked myself out with the promise I would see a doctor when I returned home and get more testing. Could barely walk without assistance of my husband for the first hour but improved drastically a couple hours later. Had the first best night's sleep that night. Boarded the plane the next morning with a prescription for Levaquin 500 (11 pills) and took the first one on the plane and within 10 minutes felt a warm rush spread through the back of my throat and into my head. Felt extremely exhausted immediately. After arriving home I felt normal again and the best I had in 4 days. I took my 2nd pill the next afternoon at the same time of day and again felt the same symptoms and went from fully functioning to barely making it to the bed. After a 2 hour nap I arose and within another hour was feeling well and "normal" again. Went shopping for some necessities but found it extremely hard to make a decision on anything and came home with unnecessary items and not the things I needed. Slept well that night and woke up to feeling "normal" and energetic. Shampooed my carpet and cleaned house until time to take the pill. Again, severe fatigue, warm rush in the back of throat and chest pain within 10 minutes. I found this site while researching side effects and am scared to take any more of this stuff. Am still feeling the side effects 4 hours later and not bouncing back like last night. I will immediately stop these pills!!!!!! If the infection comes back I will deal with that in some other way. Good luck everyone and hang in there. I will tell everyone I know about this drug.

Started a 5 day 750mg Leva-pak on Sunday after amoxicillin didn't touch my bacterial throat infection of unknown origin. My husband mentioned these boards full of complaints, but I was so miserable that I said I would be fine--never had a problem with a drug before.

Sunday brought swollen, painful knuckles. Monday had palpitations and painful sensitivity to light. Tuesday night I was wired and couldn't sleep at all, my heart was racing, and I had asthmatic wheezing and serious shortness of breath and borrowed my husband's inhaler. The pharmacy said insomnia wasn't a side-effect (which was misinformation) and I'd be fine as long as I didn't have a rash (more misinformation). I was finally feeling on the mend as the fever had broken Tue night and I attributed the symptoms to the infection. Then I took my next dose of levaquin.

Within 10 minutes of taking it, I was considering a trip to the ER. My head was splitting, I was extremely sensitive to the slightest motion, sound, or light, my heart was racing again, and I felt violently ill to my stomach all within 30 minutes. My throat swelled to the point I could hardly breathe or swallow my spit. My temp that had been normal since the early morning hours also shot up to 101. It was so drastic and sudden that there is no possibility the symptoms came from anything but the medicine. Short of contracting anthrax, I won't ever take this again.

AND my throat is worse! They put me on augmenting now. Wish I'd gone on it in the first place.

i was prescribed LEVAQUIN 500MG for an infection from kidney stones and ever since i have taken it which is 3 days now i have absolutely no energy and no appetite and forcing myself to even drink something to keep from dehydrating..i've never taken this medication before and I'm not gonna finish it..i have 6 days of it left but i can't go on feeling like this..i can barely get out of bed..i talked to my daughter about it and she thinks its just cause the kidney stones took me down this time moreso than before and if i would eat and drink i'd feel better..i don't think so..i'm done,i wanna feel good not miserable for the next 6 days..i just hope the symptoms go away soon...

took Levaquin 500mg x 5 days end of March ,2008- no problems except still with bronchitis sx.Saw Allergist who said not enough,long enough-put on 750mg x 21 days, again no side effects and got better. after 5 days off, started productive cough so placed on another 16 days of 750mg. On day 13, awoke with terrible pain in knuckles, knee. Completed med as drug book only listed tendon pain not joint pain. Now 4 days after completing, pain in elbows as well as knees, less in knuckles. None of joint pain sx listed on Pharmacy info either.