Levaquin and exhaustion

I am 52 and took levaquin (the doctor described as a very high dose needed for what he felt was a generalized infection he couldn't pinpoint). Within 2 days I began feeling very weak. I also had moved to a new town and couldn't return to the prescribing doctor. I felt so very weak and felt actual pain in my heart I became very scared and went to a friends because I was afraid to be alone. I called the local pharmacist and was instructed to stop taking the levaquin. The following day I went to a new doctor in my new town and my nightmare began.
The new doctor stated "you have a very large heart murmur". I told him no doctor ever told me this before and he insisted they must have, I just don't remember. He decided to do an echo and diagnosed aortic stenosis. He stated it didn't require surgery, yet but would in a few years.
Fast forward to now, 2 moves for my work and changing doctors. Also, to be frank I think a firm denial on my part that I could not have heart trouble diagnosed under the age of 50.
I have received a variety of "borderline" diagnosis'. From COPD, Hepatitis and an inability for my heart to pump proper blood flow to my lungs. While I have had "many" diagnosis there isn't anything concrete and no caused determined or resulting changes to be made to improve my general health.
The one symptom I have, that seems to have worsen as time passes is that what I do seems to build up over time. Energy used and strength used (to carry something while walking) seems to build up to the point of exhaustion and inability to even get out of bed. I have been hospitalized for chest pain 4 times in the last year. The last one being after a business trip, where I took a train and needed to roll and/or carry a very large suitcase. the first night I began to feel weak. The second night my face swelled to a cartoonish state overnight and I began to feel very congested, coughing continually. I didn't go to the hospital because I didn't want to be in the hospital away from home. I Stayed at the conference and returned at the end of the week. A friend took me to the hospital and I was in Congestive Heart Failure. Once released from the hospital, I began to arrange to move back to my home state, to be closer to my family. Now I am here and if I do much of anything (even heavy housework) within days I am too weak to do anything. I am barely managing because I am not working, but I must return to work because I am fast becoming broke. But, how can I take a new job if I know that I can't work long-term. I haven't found a new doctor yet, because most here are not taking new patients and I am just not sure the type of doctor to go to. I am also afraid that they are just stabbing in the dark. Diagnosing borderline "everything" and the treatments for not knowing what is going on could make things worse.
If you have read this far..thank you. If you could reply with suggestions, please do. I feel like my health has been ruined and I don't know what to do to get it back. I only took levaquin for 3 days and all this time later, I still feel pain in my heart. Which is the strangest thing because "before" levaquin I "never" actually felt my heart at all.
Any suggestions , I would be the most grateful.

I've been on Levaquin for three days to clear up severe congestion, possible bronchitis. The doctor at the walk-in clinic didn't like what he heard in my lungs, so prescribed this drug (It was a Friday and I needed something before the weekend due to my asthma). My fever has continued to spike, I have cried at the drop of the hat--exhaustion, fatigue, mood swings, and a cough that persists even after three days. Pain in shoulder joint, raw throat (certain foods seem to burn it), and a REALLY bad headache, and stiffness in my neck. I go to my general doctor tomorrow (Monday), and he will hear about this medicine, trust me. It has been a weekend from hell!

I not sure that what I am experiencing is related to my 9 month course of 750 mg Levaquin, or my simultaneous 9 month course of 300 mg Rifampin, or my 6 week course of IV Vancomyocin twice a day........You all are talking about days and weeks....I have been on these hardcore meds for substantially longer. I became infected with Staph Epidermidis in the disc space of L 4-5 during surgery to correct degeneration in my spine. I am now left with joint pain from head to toe, Uveitis, a scaly rash all over my trunk and arms, stomach pain, further degeneration in my spine, insomnia, severe fatigue, depression, and what I call "brain fog." I have been told by the team of Doctors caring for me that the only symptom that relates to my medication is possibly the Uveitis. I would like to know how you all are attributing the medications to your ailments? (insomnia, depression, fatigue, joint pain... for example) Are you sure that they are not symptomatic of another disease process? After stopping the medications has your health become normal? I have to remain on this medication for the remainder of the year. I do not have the option of just flushing it down the toilet, as someone previously posted. There are only a few medication that can combat my illness, but I would like to know that they are not harming me in the long run.

I took this medication for 8 days for a sinus infection. It cleared up my sinus infection but the side effects are frightening and painful. I wish I had read this site prior to agreeing to this drug. Initial onset of side effects were the bad taste, tiredness and muscle aches. The morning after the last dose was when the side effects became the worst. Dizziness upon waking, exhaustion, muscle and joint aches, headache an desire to sleep. I am able to exercise a bit and am going to work but with great diificulty and I am normally an energetc, active and healthy 42 year old female. Please discuss another drug with your doctor before considering taking this one for sinus infection or any other condition.

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

Admitted to the hospital for diverticulitis. Was put on an IV of Levaquin. When I reminded the dr and nurse that I'm sensitive to meds I asked what side effects might come along with it. I was told that "it's just an antibiotic" and the most I could expect was nausea. That night I couldn't sleep and by morning the elbow tendons in my right arm were in severe pain but was told that it was most likely due to the IV entry point.

Was sent home with 7 days oral dosage. I began to experience spaciness, confusion, short term memory problems, burning and tingling in my feet and hands, pain in my wrist, my right arm was no longer usable having no grip strength and weakened muscles. A general feeling of exhaustion came along with it all. I stopped the meds on the 3rd day after reading the stories of others who experienced similar madness.

My GP was reluctant to agree that it could be Levaquin but I feel fortunate that she did indeed refer me to a neurologist. Tomorrow will be the full workup and blood tests for liver functions.

I would very much like to be involved in any project, legal action or otherwise, that is focused on bringing to light the dangers of this family of medicines. You can contact me at VFrancis@southbuffalo.net Good luck to everyone!

Update to January 2, 2006:

I stopped Levaquin after Sunday (five days on it). Today is Wednesday and still am feeling week, fatigue, muscle ache, no appetite, feelings of high-fever exhaustion. However, this evening I have 101.5 fever which could explain some of my symptoms this evening. Until this evening I have not had a fever to trigger such syptoms...72 hours after beginning to flush my system with water/juice. We'll see what happens after my fever breaks...if I am still having persisting symptoms. I've visiting my chiropractor tomorrow for an adjustment and consultation on how best to continue to purge anything from my tissue. More to come...for anyone monitoring my reaction to Levaquin. Note: The substituting physician I saw yesterday for surgery follow-up said he QUIT prescribing Levaquin after several people complained of knew pain when they ran/jogged and other complaining folks.

Don't give up. For me, it is getting better. I was given Levaquin 5 day dosepack for a recurrent URI and also after extreme fatigue following major surgery that just kicked my butt. In 24 hrs of taking the drug, I went from pure exhaustion to no sleep for 48 hrs straight. The severity of pain in my wrists, calves, feet and various other extra muscle pains (that were not there before taking Levaquin) was unbearable. It was over the weekend and I did continue taking the drug until Monday - finishing the dosepack that day. I was in the doc's office that very day and all they could say was "I've never known this drug to do that...." and of course my reply was to 'read the side effects in the PDR'. That was about 5 months ago and they have noted my file to no longer give me this class of antibiotic - even though this was the first time I was on Levaquin, I'm told there are other meds in it's family that I've taken for years with no problem (Bactrim?). Today, I still suffer from hand weakness & pain and bilateral feet pain. It is nowhere near the severity as the initial onset. Hang in there, take it ODAT & drink plenty of water & juices to flush your system.

I just started taking Levaquin yesterday, one 500 mg dose at about 5:00 pm according to Doctors Instructions, and another at bedtime, also according to Doctors Instructions. I took the first dose with food,(two slices of pizza) as was instructed. I dont know whether or not it was due to the fact i had not been eating hardly for about a week with a urinary/kidney infection, and suddenly food was re-introduced or due to the pills themselves, but i had terrible pains in what felt like the beginning of the intestines for about 4 hours until about 2:30 am when i decided to get up and drink a small glass of milk and a couple of lady finger cookies (no filling) hoping the mass would help me get to sleep. After about a half an hour at approximately 3 or so, is when i think i finally gave in to exhaustion and finally fell asleep. I woke this morning with a slight pain still there in what seems to be my intestines, on the left front side, and some pain in my left kydney area. What's up with this drug? Dare i continue taking it or should i call my doctor to get something else much less apparently dangerous.

I visited the doctor after not being able to kick a chest cold and was prescribed a Z-pack. 10 days later I had to return when I was more sick than before, I now had pneumonia and was given Levaquin. The exact day I was given the first dose in the morning by the doctor I experienced confusion, faintness and exhaustion that afternoon--in fact I was worried I wouldn't be capable of driving myself home from work that afternoon. I initially attributed this to the illness and severe head cold, however as two weeks wore on I was continually losing my place in conversations, my body hurt worse all over than being sick, I had several severe headaches, and typically had about 1 hours worth of stand-up time energy per day, the rest of the day I would have to spend lying or sitting. This is very odd for me since I am an avid runner and have maintained good fitness for many years, I'm 33. Additionally I was in the middle of two important projects related to work which had to be sidelined because of depression. I tell people I have been more "sick" with the flu for far shorter periods of time but I have never been this sick for this long. After reading the many responses on here I believe I too was a victim of the effects of Levaquin. What frustrates me is I spoke to my doctor again on day 4 into the medication and told him that I felt WORSE, all they said was continue taking the medacation, never once telling me it was all common for this medication. Now like several other posting I am experiencing pretty painful digestion problems, I have taken myself off of it for about 36 hours now, and need to start eating yogurt--I will NEVER take that drug again.

I was bit by 4 fire ants. Of course I cannot be sure, I was sitting at a picnic table. It could have been a spider, but I'm sure I would have killed it before the second or third bite. One of the bites, evidently was successful with its poison. I was bit on the upper inner thigh. The infection spread on my leg to an area of 7 inches by about 9 inches. There was also a lump forming in my leg. It was at this point when the infected area would turn purple for 20 minutes at a time that I was prescribed levaquin. I am currently at day 11 of 14. I cannot take the itching. There is itching everywhere, my face, my arms, but particularly painful is the orafice for BMs. I put up with the nausea, the sleeping troubles, the acid reflux, the getting dizzy once in a while, the exhaustion in tyring to exercise, my neck and shoulder joint hurting. I just can't handle the anus itching, because you just cannot scratch there. And yet I'm not sure what the trade off is because there is still the lump from the insect poison in my leg. I'd like to finish with this nasty medicine (we'll see if I can suffer the last 3 days) but I will never willingly take levaquin again.

Severe exhaustion - had to lie down many times during the day and stop driving when it occured. Severe pains in back of head that will not go away. Have not been able to go out, or do anything because of this pain. Can't sleep. Dr just says to stop medication and take Ibuprofen. Supposed to start a job with school in a few days but do not know if this will be possible with the severe pain in back of head. Also pain in the heel of my right foot.

Diagnosed with bronchitis. After being on Zithromax for a couple of days, my doctor switched me to this on Friday. By Saturday morning, I was extremely dizzy and light headed. Other problems include: nausea, exhaustion, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, headache, and some kind of deadening of my taste buds...I can't taste anything. Needless to say, I haven't taken another one of these pills. I can't afford to be flat on my back for another day and a half.
Going back to the doctor for another solution.

I was prescribed Levaquin 500 mg. once a day for 14 days to treat sinusitus, etc. My joint pain and swelling is so severe I cannot function in a normal manner. I am an extremely active woman very much into physical activity and exercise. After the slightest exertion, I am crippled with pain in my joints and stiffness for days. The exhaustion is debilitating. I have been off the medication for a week. I WAS NOT TOLD TO THESE POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS. I WOULD CAUTION ANYONE BEFORE TAKING THIS DRUG.

I took Levaquin for bronchitis and an acute upper respiratory infection and have had body aches, headaches (I never get), exhaustion, dizziness and my balance being way off, neck, back and rib pain that comes and goes all together. I went to the doctor and only got to see a PA (Physicans assistant) who said it must be a virus. I later read the side effects of Levaquin. I can't believe an antibiotic could have such side effects and be on the market. But that is our good old FDA - run by the pharmceutical companies lining the board member's pockets with stocks. How else could they keep women on HRT for decades despite the breast cancer research.

Anyway, I took Levaquin from Feb. 8th to Feb. 17th, 2003. Can a Naturopath offer any solutions?