| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken
and Dosage | | Date Added |
  | | | | F M | | | | |
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| 1 | Strep/Tonsilitis | Horrific nightmares, sleeplessness, lethargy, trouble concentrating. Stomach upset, gas, bloating, nausea. | I started to take this on a thursday because I had a very sore throat from tonsilitis or a strep infection (still waiting for the culture). I took my first pill on Thursday and felt better in a matter of hours. Friday night I was restless and had trouble falling asleep. I awoke at about 1am from a horrific, detailed, intense nightmare. I had a lot of trouble going back to sleep. The next day I tried to nap, but I had yet another nightmare. I woke up and could not shake the depressing, sad, stomach turning emotions that had struck in the nightmare. This medicine made me feel like I am going crazy. I took 3 500mg pills and I wish I had stopped sooner. I was prescribed this because I am allergic to penicillen and get terrible stomach upset from zythromax. But this also bothered my stomach horribly as well, causing pain and discomfort from the beginning/ | F | 35 | 3 days
500mg 1X D | | 7/26/2010
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1 | strep throat | During treatment my side effects were mild, but getting stronger slowly. My GI got messed up, as expected from taking antibiotics, but my tendons and ligaments in my ankles, legs, hips, etc were sore. I didn't know after I stopped taking it these symptoms would only get worse and lead to a ligament rupture 10 MONTHS after taking levaquin. | This was a short term treatment for a disease that was clearing up on its own anyway. I was 18 and was robust. I used to love biking and running. Now I feel like my ligaments never recover from any tiny amount of daily damage they sustaian. My LCL ruptured one day without any warning while I was sleeping. No snapping, no swelling, no motion, CLASSIC levaquin rupture. This is not the end either. I can tell it's not done doing harm to me. Who knows, by the time I'm 30 I could have 5 more tendon or ligament ruptures. 61% of tendon ruptures in the US are caused by levaquin, so if you have a tendon rupture, it was probably because of levaquin, whether you're taking it or not!My mom perscribed this to me. I'm still really angry at her. | F | 19 | 7 days
250 mg 1X D | | 7/25/2010
| 1 | Sinusitis (possibly) | MANY!!! Hallucinations, depression, chronic tendonitis, plantar faciaitis, swelling in legs/arms/feet/hands, CHRONIC pain in feet/legs/hands/arms/shoulders. Burning/tingling/peripheral neuropathy, eye floaters, upper and lower back pain (heard it popping/pulling several times), etc. | Please do NOT take a chance with this medicine/POISON!!! DO NOT TAKE IT!!!! | F | 37 | 8 days
750 mg 1X D | | 7/19/2010
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| 1 | pneumonia | After one dose I was extremely ill and vomited for hours. I had to be taken to the ER to stop the vomiting. | | F | 57 | 1 days
750 mg 1X D | | 7/19/2010
| 1 | high WBC from food poisoning | Given through IV at emergency clinic. Immediately began feeling worse..severe joint/muscle pain, chills, severe headache,entire body hurt, felt like I had been hit by a car..next day still had these same symptoms..difficulty walking. Had taken this same med 1 year prior with these same symptoms, but not as harsh then. Was not aware this drug was being administered to me in the clinic until too late. Also had nausea, and insomnia | 2 days later: Rash, severe joint pain, especially in shoulders and knees. Legs feel like I am walking in concrete. Very emotional. Hate this drug!!!! | F | 43 |
500 1X D | | 7/19/2010
History | 1 | Prostate infection | Severe pain in hands and feet mainly. Calves and wrists also.
Very Tired. | | M | 49 | 21 days
500 MG 1X D | | 7/16/2010
| 1 | Throat infection | Psychiatric effects (anxiety, a bit of insomnia), joint/muscle pain (mostly in the knees), general feeling of being sick. | Did not complete my course of 10 days. Threw the final 1-2 pills away, can't remember. I took this medication nearly 10 years ago. The joint/muscle pain was limited to my knees but was painful, I had a general feeling of 'sickness' that did not resolve until I quit. Aggravated/amplified my anxiety and stress considerably. Won't take this medication again. | M | 23 | 10 days
? 1X D | | 7/12/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | I ripped a tendon in my left leg years ago and it still bothers me when I lift something heavy. When I mentioned to the pharmisist that this was a weak spot for me he said no problem. Within half an hour of taking it my leg began to hurt and burn. It hurt to walk a few steps. | I spoke to the doctor as soon as the pain started and he said NOT TO TAKE ANYMORE which I wouldn't have done and not to walk on and keep it iced until burning stops. Call him in am. Very scary! So much for the tendon issue being rare occurance. Maybe not so rare. I'm in excellent health otherwise. | F | 56 | 1 days
500mg 1X D | | 7/8/2010
| 1 | Sinus Infection | Was prescribed 500 MG/day for 10 days but only took 1 dose: experienced insomnia, followed by pain in left shin/ankle. Stopped after that dose due to warnings on Rx. No other issues until 1 week later when pain started in left foot/leg/knee/arm/wrist and right arm/knee/leg. Also experienced extreme fatigue. Got to point I could not even stand upright. 1-1/2 months later, the pain is there everyday, just varies in magnitude. Still experiencing some fatigue and depression. For the last week, I have been in significant pain. Also experience joint popping and "looseness". | | M | 33 | 1 days
500 MG 1X D | | 7/8/2010
| 1 | Pneumonia | I am an operating room nurse. I started taking Levaquin and in within day 2 or 3 started with horrible joint pain. My hands were so swollen I could not bend my fingers. My wrists felt like extreme carpal tunnel pain. I had bilateral hip and knee pain, unable to get out of a chair, uncomfortable to even lie in bed. My feet also has swelling and extreme pain. I had Percocets from a back sprain a few weeks back, and took 2 tabs, without any relief, ibuprofen didn't help either. My doctor thought maybe I had a "viral arthritis", so I finished my Levaquin. I still have joint pain weeks later. I am very active and run a surgery center with 12 hour days 5 days a week, and am on my feet, scrubbing surgery, circulating, working pre-op and PACU. I am sorry everyone else is in pain too, but am glad it is not just in my head, I was starting to wonder if it was Rhematoid Arthritis, or another AutoImmune disorder! I will never take it again. I am allergic to Penicillins, Sulfas, and Cephla | | F | 44 | 10 days
750mg 1X D | | 7/2/2010
| 1 | Pneumonia | Lost ability to walk, leges buckled, burning pain in muscles, joints, sleepless, stomach cramping, could not lift my water glass, bruising, hands don't work. | It's been weeks and I am no better. I was appalled to find out it clearly states these symptoms have been identified and doctors are still using it. It did not help my pnuemonia symptoms either and there several other drugs that could be used. This product should be taken off the market - doctors ar not paying attention. | F | 64 | 6 days
750 mg 1X D | | 6/27/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | | | F | 60 |
500 mg 1X D | | 6/22/2010
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History | 1 | Urinary Tract Infection | At first, none. My urinary tract infection symptoms began to clear quite quickly and I was a happy person. Knowing how important it is to continue and finish any antibiotic, I did. Within one day of finishing the course I began to feel cramps in my legs. That evening the cramps were severe. By the morning I could not walk. I called my doctor who instructed me to get to the hospital. I could not even stand up, at that point we called the ambulance. Once in the hospital the doctors took x-rays and sonograms to find that many of the my tendons in my legs had either become detacted or were in the process of being dissolved at the attachment points. I went through two days of massive fluids in the hospital to flush my system. Reconstructive surgery was scheduled and performed on my ankles. Rehab took an additional 2 months. The final result as documented by the doctors: Tendon destruction as a result of an adverse effect from a Quinolone-derivative antibiotic. Come to find out this warning | I have since learned there are several class action law suits for Levaquin, Cipro and other quinolone-based antibiotics. I would warn anyone considering these types of antibiotics to read EVERY DETAIL of the warning sheets and decide if you really want to accept the risks. | M | 32 | 2 weeks
250 2X D | | 6/18/2010
| 1 | Tonsilitis | 2nd day in, sore tendon feeling in left knee couldn't put weight on it, later in the 2nd day same feeling started kicking in for the right knee, remember thinking it odd and what did I do to cause such discomfort. 3rd day right ankle tendons felt so sore like I rolled my ankle it slightly abated and by the 3rd evening left elbow muscle/tendon soreness (and I am not talking tender soreness, this was sprained soreness feeling) I didn't take the evening dose because by now I figured something freaky going on with the meds and spooked. It was like I had developed a rheumatoid arthritis type problem and traveling sprain feeling in different parts of my body. Over the next few days some got better some didn't. It has been a year since I took it and my right ankle, although better still has a tendon that feels sprained. I guess I am stuck with this forever. Glad I did not take the full 10 days, I'd be crippled by now. Read accounts of healthy people never being able to walk again after | Looked up all info over levaquin, I am allergic to ciprofloxacin and couldn't believe the doc had prescribed me a drug in the same family floxacins. I also after reading so much over the "mild" side effects realized tendon rupture and muscle/tendon pain as the biggest and scariest (and sometimes permanent) side effect that was only mentioned as a minor risk on the box. BS! This is creepy stuff DO NOT TAKE! I warned all my friends and loved ones to stay away from this. | F | 34 | 10 days
500mg 2X D | | 6/16/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | anxiety, crying, sadness, a feeling that something was inside of me that needed to get out, muscle twitching, hyperactivity/unable to sit still for any length of time. | After a few days on this drug, I had a low level of anxiety. Within a few days, I was a crying mess. I have never experienced anxiety at that level. I could not stop moving. I paced around my house. If I did sit down, I experienced what seemed like RLS. I was so tired, but I couldn't sleep. I'd wake up at 3 in the morning and start pacing around my house. One night, I walked for 3 hours straight. I got blisters on my feet. I have been unable to get off anti depressants. I told my doctor when I took it that I thought Levaquin was causing these feelings. They didn't seem to understand why. My thoughts were coming at a mile a minute, I could not stop thinking. Every moment of the day was spent in a hypersensitive state. There was no relief to the agony. How I didn't end up committing suicide is a wonder. | F | 46 | 10 days
forgot 1X D | | 6/16/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | severe joint and tendon pain throughout entire body, nausea, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, fatigue, weakness, difficulty breathing, insomnia, anxiety, mental confusion, short-term memory loss | DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | F | 41 | 10 days
500MG 1X D | | 6/15/2010
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| 1 | Spider bite inside my ear canal | Swelling and extreme pain in all of my joints including each and every knuckle. Difficulty walking without limping. Insomnia. Worsening of pre-existing periphreal neuropathy. Brain Fog. Depression. Weight gain due to immobility. | ER PA prescribed Levaquin stating he was giving me "something amazing and quick acting". He was right about both. I was amazed that a formally active and happy "young" 65 year old who hikes and rides her horses was relegated to trying to get comfortable, somehow, on the couch! Quick acting? You betcha....the second of seven pills created pain first in my knees that I brushed off as Springtime Gardener's Pain. I was a FOOL to wait until my sixth dose to stop this poison. Two MD's, a PA and a Senior Pharmacist have ALL told me it is a reaction to the spider bite. I might agree if there had been fifty or so spiders all taking a bite out of me on different parts of my body (joints) at the same moment in time. It is a Big Pharma Whitewash. WHAT ELSE WILL THEY DO WITH ALL OF THIS CLASS OF RX THAT IS STOCKPILED FOR THE MILLIONS SUPPOSEDLY AFFECTED BY ANTHRAX, BIRD FLU AND H1N1? Oh, yeah, that's why they keep pushing/selling it to us. Can't let a "good crisis go to waste" can we? Why has the FDA FINALLY BLACK BOXED THIS DRUG on the inserts??? Could it be so many of us are getting our voices heard? Too bad there is NO CURE for us who have taken this Miracle Drug on faith. | F | 65 | 6 days
500mg 1X D | | 6/14/2010
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| 3 | Chronic sinus infection | I have felt more tired, not quite up to par. Developed flu-like symptoms and arthritis pain. I want to say I have been hungry all the time too. | I got Levaquin for a chronic sinus infection, the doctor says I have had it for at least 10 years. Who knew? I just finished a 10-day round and I can't say I feel different in my sinuses - didn't feel them to begin with. During the 10 days I have felt really tired and my head has been pounding. No headaches, though. The worst side effect is terrible arthritis (?) pain in my feet, my upper arms, my hands and fingers, and my hips/upper thigh area. It's pretty bad. I seem to be retaining water as well, even though I take a "water pill" every morning. I'm glad this is over. I don't think I want to take this medication again, but I say that with every antibiotic they give me. :o/ | F | 56 | 10 days
750 MG 1X D | | 6/13/2010
| 3 | Sinus infection | Hip joint aches when sleeping, lower back pain, mental fog. | Seems to be helping the symptoms of the sinus infection - facial pain deep in the upper and lower jaw is mostly gone. Phantom deep root "toothaches" are mostly gone. Interfering with my ability to concentrate on computer work but walking outside in the day is actually pleasant again. Can't wait to have the nasal polyps removed, sinuses drained and get back to normal. | M | 49 | 8 days
500MG 1X D | | 6/13/2010
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| 1 | sinus infection | loose stools x 3 days, then fatigue, achy shoulders and neck-didn't connect pain with drug until hip and bilateral knee pain started on day 5. I should have stopped then, but I thought it would subside like the loose stools did. By the end of the 14 day course the pain was severe and my whole body felt like I worked out too much the day before.3 days have passed since my last dose and it still hurts my knees to walk down the stairs and I feel achy. |
I hope these symptoms resolve soon. I will never take this drug again.
| F | 45 | 14 days
500 1X D | | 6/12/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | metallic taste in mouth, extreme anxiety, fever, chills, extreme headache, nausea, vomiting, flushing, burning pain on the back of my neck, ringing in the ears, seizure-like episodes (blacking out), tachycardia and elevated blood pressure for one month, anorexia for one month, depression, joints in ankles hurt, tendons hurt in elbows, armpits, knees, achilles, neuropathy, chronic fatigue, dislike of bright light, weakness all over, startling at any sound, muscles in face twitching, severe insomnia for three months, brain fog, very sensitive to any medication I take now. | I took 9 pills from Dec. 21-31 (skipping one day). I also took one prednisone and I am glad I didn't take more of that. The insomnia was the worst. At one point, I could not sleep at all without medication. I am thankful to God that it only lasted three months. After 5 months I was completely recovered except for joint and tendon problems. I still have sinus problems, and am scared to take any medication at all. | F | 35 | 9 days
500 1X D | | 6/11/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. After the second day, I developed severe tinnitus, which lasted for 5 days. When the tinnitus finally lessened, I found I was extremely hypersensitive to sound. These physical symptoms were also accompanied by the mental symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. It has been about 6 months since taking Levaquin, and all the symptoms are still there.
Everyday is a fight to stay alive. Levaquin has ruined my life. I was a healthy, happy, 40 year old male. | Levaquin is poison and should not be taken unless you have exhausted ALL other options. I would choose keep the sinus infection for the rest of my life over the side effects which I believe I will have for the rest of my life. | M | 40 | 2 days
750 MG 1X D | | 6/8/2010
| 5 | intestinal inflammation | Tiredness (but also taking other anitbiotic so not sure which one or inflammation causing-this is true for all side effects), odd taste in mouth for couple of days, slight nausea for first day or two. | Whenever you take a drug it is YOUR responsibility to know how to take it and to ask questions. Feeling nauseated after taking? Eat some food. Recommend drinking lots of water? Do it. If instructions say your risk is greater for MAJOR side effects if over a certain age (60 in this case), or are a transplant patient, or taking coricosteroids (like prednisone), either don't take this drug or accept the risks.
Honestly I was scared to take this drug based on reviews. I didn't fall under any of the risk categories and have allergies that prevent me from taking other meds though. I had very mild side effects but I followed the instuctions and "how to use" guide to a T. And yes I am lucky I was not allergic. Being allergic to penicillin I would never come on a site like this and ask for penicillin be pulled from the market. Or tell people to stop using. Everyone reacts differently. But for goodness sake if you took this drug having high risk factors or because a doctor made a mistake, don't blame the drug! For the first time in months, I am pain free b/c of this drug. If no risk factors and have allergies that prevent you from taking other strong antibotics, I highly recommend this drug. | F | 48 | 10 days
500 MG 1X D | | 6/7/2010
| 1 | pneumonia | ER doc gave me a 750mg Levaquin and 600mg ibuprofen with water and sent me home with a prescription. A few hours later I felt like i had ingested toxic waste and I was breathing a gas that coated my tongue and teeth, odors seemed 10x more powerful to me and i felt naseous, dizzy and unsteady on my feet. fell alseep, awoke with a nightmare and panic attack, rapid heartbeat and breathing that lasted all night. my boyfriend filled the prescription for me the next day while i slept, i took the next pill and decided to read the walgreens packaging since the sheet given me to the ER didn't warn of these side effects and i thought they were strong, for an antibiotic. Also feeling burning pain and tingling in ankles, knees and forearms especially, elbows, and bicep. Each step I take my knees, ankles and shoulders go click, click, pop. I read the black box warning, horrified. I looked online, googled 'levaquin' and google suggests 'levaquin lawsuit'. Needless to say I only ingested 2 750m | I am 37, exercise 6x/week, high intensity cardio, plyometrics, weight training, and flow yoga. I have never in my life felt what I am feeling in my joints. I feel like my 93 year old grandmother looks. Afraid of exercising, that my body is made of glass. It is bewildering, and scary, and I am sad and angry. Scouring the internet to find glutathione, collagen, chelated magnesium, ALA, anything that will help me.
I cannot imagine what would have happened if I finished the course. The stories here and elsewhere about disability from flouroquinolones is heartbreaking. | F | 37 | 5 days
750mg 1X D | | 6/7/2010
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| 1 | ear infection | Day 1:Dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, headache.
Day 2:High blood pressure, chest discomfort. | I just took 2 pills and I experienced all the side effects described. I made a new appointment and went back to the Doctor Day 3 and requested to change the medication for another "safer" medication. | F | 42 | 10 days
500 1X D | | 6/5/2010
| 3 | pneumonia and pluresy | still exhausted- I do not know if this is a drug side-effect or ineffectiveness- since I am also on large doses of pregnisone (40-40-30-30-20-20-10)I would have expected to feel better by now- still hoping this will do it | | F | 59 | 7 days
500 mg 1X D | | 6/4/2010
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| 2 | upper respiratory infection | I have been on this drug previously for lung infections and got very nauseated but continued because I was very sick. This time from the first day I felt tired, anxious, shaky and depressed. I am already on depression meds and didn't know this would exacerbate it. | I haven't felt this depressed in a very long time. I did not hear back from my Dr. but I'm afraid he would say it's not caused by the drug which makes me more immobile. I can't think clearly and I'm so tired. I was supposed to be on this for 10 days but I can't finish. Can someone tell me I'm not crazy? | F | 61 | 4 days
500mg 1X D | | 6/4/2010
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| 1 | SINUS INFECTION | HAD severe knee and calf pain. this was back in Dec.of 2009. Now, in May, 2010, same pain started again. At first I thought it was an injury but its now both knees, both calves. Trouble walking, much pain when lying down to sleep. very debillatating. | | F | 62 | 10 days
1X D | | 6/4/2010
| 1 | bronchitis | paranoia,yellowing of the eyes, it was awful will never take again! | | F | 61 | 7 days
750 1X D | | 6/3/2010
| 5 | Pneumonia | Mild nausea for first couple of days, dizzy spells, mild mood swings?? | I was afraid to take this medication after reading about so many bad experiences here but I had great success with it and after fighting pneumonia for weeks, I was noticeably better only 24 hours after starting Levaquin. I do feel that this drug is over-prescribed and should only be used when absolutely necessary. | F | 31 | 7 days
750 1X D | | 6/2/2010
| 4 | bacterial infection | Drowsiness during the first couple of days after taking the medication. | I experienced no side effects what so ever other than drowsiness for the first few days. The drug worked perfectly. | M | 50 | 10 days
500 mg 1X D | | 6/2/2010
| 1 | pneumonia | moderately severe and worsening joint pain in knees, left achilles tendon, difficulty walking or bending. | | F | 39 | 7 days
500 1X D | | 5/29/2010
| 1 | bronchitis | Insomnia from day one. Day two, hallucinations and insomnia. Day three joint pain. (knees and ankles) day four anxiety, pain and insomnia, day five i stopped taking this pill. 1 week later severe anxiety, stomach pain, muscle pain so bad it feels like i have just worked out to the extreme, pain in my knees I(tendon) so bad I couldn't walk today. Today I came home fromwork and changed into shorts. My calves were so swollen I didn't even recognize them. They were swolllen, and hard, and had very little feeling. I have very thin calves and these things were monsterous. Swelling went down in right leg within a couple hours (after massaging and soaking in cold water). Had a very sharp pain in right side of abdomen several times today that took my breath away. Not sure if all of this is related to the drug, but sure seems odd that it started when I started taking it. Still, my muscles in my neck, back, stomach legs well everywhere are so sore. Chest pains and insomnia and anxiety | UNLESS YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO KILL YOU IMMEDIATLEY DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. READ ALL THE INFORMATION FIRST AND MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION! WHEN YOU LOOK INTO THE MIRROR ON DAY TWO AND SEE YOURSELF AS MEDUSA WITH SNAKES COMING OUT OF YOUR HEAD, THAT SHOULD BE A SIGN TO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!! | F | 37 | 7 days
500mg 1X D | | 5/27/2010
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| 1 | uti | terrible insomnia, short term memory loss, confusion, extreme depression, anxiety, achieles tendon pain but no rupture. | People i know how terrible these side effects are, and im sorry but there is no quick fix. Levaquin stays in your system for much longer than doctors and reseachers are aware of. This is because it dosen't metabolize in the digestive track, and actually deplenishes over time with cellular reproduction. It has been nearly three months for me and i just recently have seen dramatic improvement. I am sleeping without meds, i can walk/run (with slight pain), I'm happy again, and just about normal again... My only advise is to find god, go to church, surround yourself with happiness and hope. This helped the most actually. I also took two table spoons of milk of magnesia for two weeks since it can bond with the levaquin and help in the removing process. There is hope people, time and god are the only cures known of at this time. So god be with you and good luck. | M | 21 | 3 days
500 1X D | | 5/26/2010
| 1 | Sinus infection | Hospital emergency room put me immediately on this drug & did NOT warn me about possible racing heart/irregular heartbeats. Just treated this as if routine antibiotic. I HATED this drug & have never felt this bad on ANY other medication. Racing heart (thought I was having a heart attack!), jittery, muscle twitching similar to RLS & could NOT sleep. My local pharmacist eventually told me what the emergency doctor SHOULD have! I believe routine prescriptions of SUPER-strength drugs are why we are experiencing drug resistant infections. | In my humble opinion, drugs in the quinolone family should NOT be given routinely before prescribing other safer options. If I had realized this was a floxacin, I would have questioned the doctor prescribing it. I have never had a bad reaction to a drug in my 50+ years of life until Levaquin! | M | 56 | 4 days
1X D | | 5/24/2010
| 1 | Bladder Infection | Excrutiating pain in legs, can't walk without a walker, extreme tiredness | My son is a kidney transplant patient and on steroids. He was the LAST person this should ever have been subscribed to. He took one pill, just one dose!! Two weeks later he is still having severe cramps, pain in his joints, fogginess, woke up one morning and could not see. This drug looks like it is going to ruin his life. His progress is a little better over the past 13 days. At first he could not even stand up. He is using a walker. He's only 35. I pray we find a solution to this poison and the havoc it has wrecked on him. This is very sad. This drug should only be used as a last resort when all else fails and it should never, ever be subscribed to anyone who is elderly, has a compromised immune system, is on steroids or is a transplant patient. I just wished we had not trusted his doctor of eight years and had done more research. The man had always been very conservative when prescribing medication. This is devastating. If he's able to return to work it will be a miracle. Our whole family is beside themselves. Years of medical problems and now I have to watch my son go through this pain and hopefully a recovery process. It does not look promising. One fricken pill. As for the post that said the people complaining seemed like they were wacked. Shame on you. You consider yourself lucky you did not have a reaction to this. | M | 35 | 1 days
500 1X D | | 5/23/2010
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| 1 | Sinus infection | Pain in calves of both legs started on the 2nd day of 10 day prescription. Had difficulty walking. Left salty taste in my mouth. Copius amounts of phlegm. Very drowsy. Sleeping 10 hours a day for several days and felt very weak. Had to use cane. | Do not take this medicine. It's dangerous. | F | 85 | 3 days
500 1X D | | 5/23/2010
| 4 | Complications from UTI infection | Headache, severe mental fog, vomiting and the top of my head (scalp) feels like the pixies have been pounding little spikes into it.My scalp is so sensitive I can't wear a ponytail. BUT IT KNOCKED MY FEVER OUT THE BALLPARK and I was running 103.8-104.5 for 2 days.We are now watching to see how I do over the weekend, off both drugs ( SeptraDS and Levaquin) | This is a scary drug! I could tell right away I was experiencing side effects- Doc said IV levaquin is what they probably would use if he admitted me to the hospital so he wanted to try the pills first, he felt we would know within 48 hours if it was helping. And we did.
He also said this drug kills all the bacteria in your body ( gram negative and positive) and I would have to build that back up.I am not too concerned as we eat WAPF- lots of raw milk, cream, cultured raw butter and homemade ferments and bone broths. | F | 57 | 2 days
750 1X D | | 5/22/2010
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| 5 | chronic sinus infections | gag reflex caused by sinus drainage after levaquin started to work | I have had chronic sinus infections for over 15 years, have had two polyp removal surgeries and have used Levaquin on at least 5 occasions [twice for 30 days prior to surgeries]. I cannot recall any major side effects worth mentioning except maybe loose bowel movements[to be expected with all the damage to the good digestive bacteria] I just finished a 14 days regimen of Avalox and it didnt cure my current infection. I'm about to start a 10-14 day 750mg/day Levaquin treatment and looking forward to it. It has always been successful for me in curing my sinus infections. The real problem is polyps blocking my airways. Bacteria get trapped and cannot drain properly. I have found Levaquin most effective used in conjuction with prednisone. The prednisone targets the inflammation while the levaquin targets the infection. The one-two punch clears me up wonderfully. I dont ever recall any acute tendon or muscle pain, but I am not a very athlethic individual so I dont find my self exerting myself as much as some some may [I'm 6'3" 235 lbs and average build]. I recommend it if nothing else has worked but I too like many peopele an concerned about the long term effect it may have on my bones & tendons. Currently though, Ihave no complaint and am satisfied with the medication. Iwill post an update after my current treatment is done to note any new side effect i may have experienced.
| M | 37 | 10 days
750 1X D | | 5/19/2010
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| 1 | Respiratory infection & asthma | Unable to sleep for 5 days. Racing heart, jittery, muscle twitching similar to RLS & hip pain. | I was prescribed this drug for 7 days because I have been on two other antibiotics that didn't work. I was given 16 days of Prednisone along with the Levaquin. I've taken Prednisone many times & never had a problem with it. I stopped this drug today - last dose was yesterday but I feel like I've been injected with caffeine. It's a horrible feeling. Sleep deprivation is torture. | F | 73 | 5 days
750 1X D | | 5/19/2010
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| 1 | sinus infection | Muscle or tendon knot in upper left back, evolved to ACUTE pain in left shoulder and neck. Pain is disrupting sleep. | A new doctor prescribed this med, giving me a light warning about "rare" side effect regarding tendon rupture. She said I was OK to carry on with usual exercise, just shouldn't start anything new. My infection was gone in 3 days, and my skin looked radiant right away. Now looking back, i realize the fatigue I developed around day 4 was more than stress at work. Extreme fatigue and even some nighttime anxiety and sleeplessness. Thought work stress was just getting to me. On day 10 I did a light work out..I say light as I was unusually tired, but thought exercise was just what I needed. I pushed through my fatigue, but kept the workout light (less weight , etc). Within about three hours a painful knot began in my back, and by end of day I was in extreme pain. Now reading about this drug, I am SHOCKED it would be prescribed for anything less than a life threatening illness. I am hoping i recover, as these complaints do not make it clear if symptoms ever go away...and that has me scared, in all candor. I stopped taking the medication, 4 days short of recommended course.
How are others doing with muscle pain? Any improvements? | F | 46 | 10 days
500 1X D | | 5/17/2010
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| 1 | Recurring Sinus Infection | I had been on 4 z-paks so they switched to this. It took longer to fight the infection and I now have severe pain in both my knees. Can't go up and down stairs without excruciating pain. No prior problems with knees. | | M | 66 | 10 days
500 mg 1X D | | 5/15/2010
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| 4 | Pneumonia | I havent had any side effects as of yet after day 3. I am 38yrs old and cycle 4 to 5 days a week and was very reluctant to take this due to the horror stories I've heard with tendons rupturing, but so far, have not experienced any pain and it seems to be clearing up my pneumonia and sinus infection. I have a bike race This Sat. and will add another comment after the race! | | M | 38 | 10 days
500 1X D | | 5/14/2010
| 1 | pneumonia | pain in calves, hip and shoulder | | M | 51 | 4 days
1X D | | 5/13/2010
| 1 | Sinus Infection | I took my first dose at 4 pm. By 7, I had pretty noticeable pain in one knee and then by 10pm in my shoulder. i had read the label which listed side effects as mostly gastro. The pain was so sudden and without cause I decided to check to see if there could be any link to the new medication. I think the doctor should have mentioned this! | | F | 44 | 1 days
500 mg/day 1X D | | 5/12/2010
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| 1 | Diverticulitis | Severe pain and discomfort in my lower thighs and especially my knees. Knees "pop" when I attempt to walk, which I assume is caused by tendon problems. I can hardly stand up without assistance. I look like an OLD woman -- okay 55 is not young, but it's not that old! I also have pain in my finger joints and one wrist is affected. I'm very concerned. | I have four more days of this medicine. I started it with IV's during a hospital emergency room visit and subsequent admission. I was in such pain I didn't care what they gave me as long as it STOPPED! But after I was able to get up and came home from hospital, I'm miserable with the joint pain in my knees. CRAZY STUFF!!! | M | 55 | 7 days
500 mg 1X D | | 5/12/2010
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| 1 | UTI | Immediately after taking this antibiotic, my whole body felt like jello. I was very lightheaded and dizzy, constantly had bad waves of nausea. An hour into it, my lips and the right side of my face began going numb. I felt as if I had drank 5 shots of tequila and my whole body was starting to go numb. I attempted to sleep it off, because the first day I had taken it the symptoms weren't as bad. But I kept having muscle spasms that would wake me up and feeling very restless. The whole time I had the feeling that I was going to die, I was very anxious, and started feeling depressed. I was scared to fall asleep thinking something might happen. My whole body felt very weighted, the tendons in my legs felt sore, my knees and neck ache,d and I lost taste in my mouth. | I had been prescribed this medication after being admitted to the hospital for food poisoning, because they found I had a UTI after a urine test. I strongly feel that the symptoms of this antibiotic are not worth it to continue taking it. I will be speaking to my doctor about having an alternative medication that is much safer. All my other medications have not given me problems, but this one has. | F | 19 | 2 days
500 1X D | | 5/10/2010
| 1 | Pneumonia and Sinus Infection | Very stiff and painful achilles tendons in both feet within 4 days of taking medication- hurts to walk! Itchy palms within 3 days of taking medication; slight vertigo; slight jaundice in the eyes; insomnia | I will NEVER take this drug again; having pneumonia was preferential. | F | 50 | 10 days
100 1X D | | 5/9/2010
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| 1 | | I'm an RN so I'm aware that many drugs have side effects. I was prescribed this drug for a sinus infection. It hit the target and within five days and my sinuses were fine - HOWEVER, I discontinued the drug only after 5 days because of severe muscle tenderness and leg spasms. It's been over three weeks now, and I'm still walking like a zombie and unable to bend my knees without a lot of pain. Don't know when these side effects will end but the pain is terrible and I've got a fairly high threshold for pain. I'm a very active senior. I swim three days a week at the Y and attend yoga classes faithfully. I'm unable to do either because of this pain. I know for certain, I'll NEVER take this medication again. | Would advise anyone to weigh the benefits against the possibility of more pain than they can handle and still continue to lead an active life. | F | 76 | 5 days
1X D | | 5/9/2010
| 4 | Sinusitis and Bronchitis | Mild calf pain, dreams more vivid | I read these posts to see what this drug might do to me. So many posts seem to be from total "wing nuts" ... all medications have some side effects and obviously people are sick to begin with or they wouldn't be taking this drug in the first place. A person can't attribute all their bad health habits, unhealthy mental status, and life's stress problems to a single drug. How about being grateful that we live in an era when we have an antibiotic option to save us from certain death of serious bacterial infections? | F | 59 | 7 days
500mg 1X D | | 5/8/2010
| 1 | Pneumonia | severe tendonitis | developed severe tendonitis all over my body. i hurt every day all day and night. it has been almost 3 mos since i stopped taking levaquin. on pain meds because anti-inflammatory med(NSAIDS) cause me to bleed. praying that this in not irreverseable. | F | 39 | 9 days
750 mg 1X D | | 5/8/2010
| 1 | Prophylactic treatment | SEVERE itching and rash all over body, Tendon pain behind knees, barely could walk. Burning hands and feet. Stopped treatment after 1 dose. | THIS DRUG NEEDS TO REMOVED FROM MARKET. ENOUGH VICTIMS HAVE SUFFERED. | M | 55 | 7 days
500 1X D | | 5/7/2010
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| 1 | skull base erosion from cancer | At first shoulder and upper arm pain,then thighs.Numbness left hand Severe upper abdominal pain | I only took it for so long because the dr. is very worried about me getting menninghitis due to the opening at the base of my skull I beat phase 4 cancer but I can"t handle levaquin Have stopped taking it 3 days ago and the stomach pains have eased Hoping other damage isn"t permanent Please DO NOT TAKE THIS STUFF | M | 58 | 110 days
250 mg 1X D | | 5/2/2010
| 1 | bronchitis | My 80 year old father was hospitalized with bronchitis. He was put on Levaquin and Prednisone. By day 5, he had severe pain in his legs. On day 6, his right arm became very swollen and painful. He has now been diagnosed with TWO RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDONS AND A BICEP TEAR. He is basically crippled and was told by the Orthopedic Surgeon that he will be in pain and be disabled until he dies because he is not a good candidate for surgical repair. | This drug should be removed from the market. There are other antibiotics that can fight infections. Everytime someone takes this medication, they are rolling the dice for possible PERMANENT injuries. | M | 80 | 6 days
500 1X D | | 5/1/2010
| 1 | Epedidmytis | I took this drug between 10 & 11pm fell asleep after 1am and woke up around 2am miserably hot and had to turn the AC up. Had to get up to urinate which I never have to do in the middle of the night ended up going number two as well. Turned the AC up even more. Went back to bed. Couldn't sleep. Still hot and became restless. Everytime I started to doze off, I would immediately shake into being awake. A couple times I would hear a quick buzzing in my ears with nothing there to cause it. Around 5ish I might have dozed for a brief period but awoke again nonetheless, miserably hot still and have to pee again and once again having to defecate. Turned down the thermostat once more and went back to bed. Still can't sleep and notice an increased heartbeat and anxiety soon to follow accompanied with a tight feeling in the chest. Ended up having to take a clonazepam just to make the anxiety subside. I refuse to take Levaquin again, even after 1 dose. | I feel that any drug that has side effects that by far outweigh any good they do, should be removed from the market. Especially with all of the other adverse effects others have experienced. | M | 30 | 1 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/30/2010
| 1 | kidney infection | Irregular Palpatations,nausea,headache,muscle pain & tingling,lightheadedness,aggitation/aggrevation,lethargy, should I go on. | I feel we are all experimental rats sometimes...health care needs to stop "sleeping" with the pharmacutical companies. How do these drugs pass GOVERNMENT standards any? Gosh...stop it already...Is it all about the money? | F | 58 | 4 days
500 1X D | | 4/30/2010
| 1 | Sinus Infection - Recurring | No side effects during taking drug, but then 3 weeks later, torn tendon in my shoulder while screwing in deck screws with a power drill, not hard work, then 2 after that months later, ruptured tendon in elbow. I still can not play guitar a year after taking it.
This drug has very adverse side effects that I do not believe the manufacturer even fully understands. It did clear my sinus infection up, but with the way it has adversely effected my life, I would never take this antibiotic until every other kind has proven ineffective.
This is the only pill I have taken in the last 2 years period. I am a relatively smart and halthy person, IQ around 155. Since taking Levaquin, I have had periods of insomnia, a general feeling of dull mind, not able to concentrate fully on tasks at hand, general tiredness, shortness of breath... and I think that it is all related to Levaquin.
If you value your quality of life, and this isn't the last resort antibiotic for your survival, then I would | Never take it again.... ever. | M | 40 | 21 days
750mg 1X D | | 4/29/2010
| 3 | Flu/Sinus | ON DAY 1, I TOOK THE DRUG ABOUT 2PM IN THE AFTERNOON. BY 5:30PM I NOTICED MY LEGS SEEMED TO BE SWOLLEN. I REACHED FOR A BOOK ACROSS MY BED AND AS I DID I FELT LIKE MY LT LEG HAD POPPED OUT OF PLACE. THIS WAS REALLY STRANGE BECAUSE I HAVE A BAD RIGHT HIP. BY NIGHT FALL I WAS BLOWING AND COUGHING UP MESS AND COULD NOT STOP FOR HOURS ON INTO THE NIGHT. MY COLD WAS ALREADY IN IT'S THIRD WEEK. SO I THOUGHT, GOOD THE DRUG IS GETTING THE REST OF THE MESS OUT FAST. I NOTICED DURING THE NIGHT MY STOMACH HURT,BY THE WAY THIS STUFF DRYS YOU OUT FAST, SO I BEGAN TO WONDER IF THIS DRUG WAS CAUSEING ME TO DEVELOP A FEMALE INFECTION? I TEND TO GET THEM WHEN TAKING ANTIBIOTICS. WHEN I WENT TO THE BATHROOM DURING THE NIGHT YOU COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS IN MY SYSTEM, MY URINE WAS VERY YELLOW IN COLOR, AND I DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. SO I JUST SAID GOOD, THE DRUG IS WORKING. TODAY, I TOOK THE PILL AT 11:30AM, I FEEL ASLEEP AND WHILE SLEEPING I HAD THOSE CRAMPS AGAIN. AND I KEPT FEELING LIKE I WAS FALLING BAC | I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG BECAUSE I WORKOUT AND WITH ALL THE WORKOUTS I DO I AM NEVER THIS SORE. IT IS A DEEP MUSCLE SORENESS. PROBABLLY THE SWELLING IS CAUSING SOME OF THE SORENESS ALSO. IF I CONTINUE I WILL UP DATE MY THOUGHTS.
ONE LADY SAID SHE PRAYED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST...HE IS WHO I DEPEND ON TO GET ME THROUGH IN THE FIRST PLACE. | F | 50 | 7 days
500 1X D | | 4/28/2010
| 1 | bladder infection | 6th day pain in shoulders could not raise arms, headache, went to tendons by both heels, then to knees. Pain severe feel like i have aged at least 20 years, i am 66 yrs old.want to know how long this will last it is scaring me. its been 2 weeks with no relief in sight. doctor put me on anti inflamatory and muscle relaxers, also talwin pain pills nothing helps | please do not take this medicine the side effects are too bad. | F | 66 | 7 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/28/2010
| 2 | epididymitis | muscle pain in arms, depression, no sex drive, fatigue, dizziness | First took Levaquin a year ago for accute epididymitis and I noticed pains in my arms while at the gym. These pains worsened and took months to go away. Had to take it again and got depressed and lost almost all desire to have sex. Lost a lot of desires actually, didn't care about much. Didn't even clear up my infection until the last couple of days or so. I wouldn't recommend this drug because I think it does more harm than good. My friend's daughter just began taking this drug and she experienced pain almost immediately. | M | 39 | 21 days
500 MG 1X D | | 4/26/2010
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| 5 | sinus & bronchitus | hungry feeling, It is a powerful drug | Awesome! I began to blow my nose and couldn't stop. My sinuses have been horrid for years and then, I could breathe through my nose. Really breathe! I never realized what it was like to be able to breathe and smell because I had this for so many years. My chest, that had been so tight began to get rid of it's own junk. I feel hope for a new life. (I have auto immmune problems) | F | 53 | 5 days
750 1X D | | 4/25/2010
| 1 | | Thoughts of suicide, Depression, shooting pains in feet, crying like a baby, could not eat, itching dry skin, painful bones, irregular heart beat, dizzy. | OMG. I was toxic. I am a very happy, healthy 45 year old man who takes great care of myself. I am very active and eat right. I have never had an issue with depression or a thought of hurting myself until recently. How is this possible that this drug can cause depression. From day one I was crying and did not know why. I told a friend that I felt like I had cancer and my Bones hurt and I wanted to die. I could not care for myself. I just kept taking my Levaquin so I would get better. I lost 12 of my 175 lbs in a week. I had to think about where to place my feet as I walked. I had headaches and I normally never get headaches. I had shooting pains in my feet, legs and back. I was tired and could not sleep. Dreams of car accidents and death when i did sleep. Repeating songs all night long. I am the type of person that has dreams that make me wake up laughing so hard my stomach hurts. What is this stuff? I am mad about what happened to me and will tell everyone about it even though it makes me sound like i am mental. I do not want one more person in this world to take this crap. Hopefully you are someone that will listen to all these people telling you to stop taking Levaquin NOW. How is it on the market? What is the FDA thinking and how do we get this off the market? I personally will not take another drug in my life. We are what we eat and I am good whole foods, diet and exercise, fresh air and no more pills. | M | 45 | 9 days
500 Mg 1X D | | 4/20/2010
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| 1 | kidney infection | side effect was vertigo, you have to have it to understand. Words do not convey the experience. I will never, never, take this drug again. | | F | 51 | 3 days
500 MG 1X D | | 4/20/2010
| 1 | sinus infection leftover | Did not take after reading about it. Had also been prescribed Prednizone at the same time - very dangerous. | I'm a good news story. Thankfully, I did not take Levaquin, but I did spend the $50 copay. My doctor will have that deducted from my bill. I had taken a 4-day Z-Pac which usually works. Didn't help. Did 14 days of Augmenten which should have killed everything within 3 blocks. It didn't clear me up. Highly unusual since either of these drugs has always worked before.
After a (clear) chest xray, a CT sinus scan which showed a mild sinus infection (means I was on the mend by this time) and blood work, the Dr. prescribed Levaquin AND prednizone. Together. 1st- I'm allergic to Prednizone and it's in my chart. 2nd- if you read the warning label on the Levaquin, these 2 should NEVER be taken together. Truly amazing. I think some doctors simply don't know what to do with a patient, so they 'throw something against the wall' to see if it sticks. I also had tried to talk more with the pharmacist when I was buying the Levaquin at Walgreens, but he didn't have time for 'more questions'. | F | 58 | 14 days
500MG 1X D | | 4/19/2010
| 1 | accute sinintius | i am on day 3 of the pill. just hours after taking the pill, i experienced joint and tendon issues in my wrists and knees, slight ankle swelling. 2nd day. increased tenderness in my muscles specially my feet. my lungs are heavy..and am very tired.also dizzy ad sweating profusely. i havent decided whether i want to continue taking this drug or not. im going to call my Dr. | i hope this doesnt last thast long..the side affects. | F | 33 | 10 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/19/2010
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| 1 | respitory infection | Started out with loss of appetite after 1 day, by the 3rd dose I was having chest discomfort and muscle pain like I have never experienced before along with increased muscle pain. | Always do your homework before taking any new drug! If I had read the side effects prior to popping out a $50 copay, they would have never gotten my money, but when you have felt like death warmed over, you will do most anything to feel better asap. In all honesty, the reason for me taking it to start with did get better quickly, but the side effects were not worth it. Loss of appetite was a mixed blessing since I could stand to drop a few pounds anyway, but I dropped 10 pounds in 3 days..still not too bad. The bad part came in with an irregular EKG and chest pain that sent me via EMS from the doctor's office to the ER...this was on day 4. Prior to that I was starting to have muscle pain in the lower thigh/knee area...still didn't associate it with the Levaquin until day 5 when the pain increased in intensity and over a larger part of my body. It now includes the both knees and thighs, both wrist, hands, elbows and shoulders. I've been flat on my back for the past 7 hrs with a heating pad, totally exhausted, heavy duty pain killers and muscle relaxers haven't touched it. My dr. will be hearing about this on Monday! | F | 47 | 4 days
500 mg 1X D | | 4/18/2010
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| 1 | | I am disabled today with neurological and tendon injuries | | F | 41 | 10 days
750 1X D | | 4/18/2010
| 1 | Cellulitis of left shin | Severe pain (at least 8 out of 10 on a pain scale)in my upper arms and shoulders. Difficulty raising my arms. Constipation and gas. Weight gain. | I will NEVER take Levaquin again!!!!! I took my last dose last night and saw my hairdresser this morning. When I asked her how she was she said "I'm on Levaquin for a respiratory infection." After I told her I was on it too, I asked how she was on the Levaquin and she said the side effects were worse than the infection. When she said she had such bad muscle pain in her legs, it made me realize that the pain I've been suffering with all week was from the medication! Had I made the connection earlier I would have called my doctor to change it. I have a follow up appointment tomorrow and will tell her that I will never take it again! After reading the other posts I now know that I will prone to more problems down the road; just WONDERFUL!!!! | F | 61 | 10 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/18/2010
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| 1 | Sinus infection | Muscle pain all over, achiness & skin sore. Also fatigue, weak, shakiness & rapid breathing... Have hard time catching my breath. | I am sure there is an appropriate use for this drug but it should be prescribed in only extreme cases. I am allergic to xithromax & to doxycycline so I think my dr wanted to try something different. With every drug you take risks, but honestly I didn't know much about this one & didn't read the side effects. After taking 1 dose, within a few hours I felt completely drained & my body was aching. I was hungry but don't want to eat. I kept thinking the aches & pains could be attributed to my sinus infection & jet lag from a business trip; however I usually bounce back quickly. Now it is the evening of the second dose & I am still aching & sore. I kept telling my husband somethings not right, I had to take frequent rests while housecleaning which is not like me. I usually am a whirlwind of activity & never take breaks! I am only 39 & in good health. I thought a hot shower would make me feel better but it didn't & my skin was feeling sore. Because I've had hives before it dawned on me that sore skin is usually my first symptom of allergic reaction. So I read the medicine pamphlet & the mention of tendon &/ormuscle aches the alarms went off in my head. I got on google & started researching levaquin. I stumbled on this website & I realized that people were describing the exact same side effects I was experiencing. I am discontinuing the drug & calling my dr first thing Monday to tell him what's going on. I hope it gets out | F | 39 | 2 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/17/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | pain in feet, can't sleep even tho I am exhausted, feeling of restless leg syndrome, very weird vivid dreams when I do sleep, anxiety, can't focus, depression, lethargic, tinnitus, bad headache, horrible bitter taste in my mouth all the time. | Remember that I took this same drug last year for a sinus infection & never finished the last few doses because I couldn't stand it any longer. I am shocked by the cost of this drug. I paid $31.90 for 10 pills with insurance picking up $164.09? Are they kidding? After 3 days on this drug I feel worse with all the additional side effects. | F | 57 | 3 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/16/2010
| 1 | yes | actually i never ever post stuff like this but this stuff is weird stuff, after the first day i was so ache i thought it was just the flu, but after the second day i knew something wasn't right, both my shoulders ached so much I couldn't get comfortable, then into my knees, and then all of my joints, extreamly dizzy, lightheaded, "in a cloud felling" beyond the normal sickness, I have had tons of sinus infections and tons on antibiotics, but nothing like this!!!! run from this shit!! | I really had know idea it was the meds, until I found this site and read all this stuff, I ended up having a swollen or pulled tendon in my thumb and wrist area, I have been off this crap for only 1 day but if doesn't go away not sure what i'm going to do, unbelievable that an antibiotic can create these kind of problems?? to bad you only research stuff like this after the problem accures, if you haven't started on this crap I wouldn't start, do more research or get a second opinion?? | M | 50 | 3 days
500 mg 1X D | | 4/16/2010
| 1 | Bronchitis | insomnia, slept 2 hours a night, racing heart, anxiety | Probably will stop taking this drug. I need to sleep at night and I can't lie there with my eyes wide open all night! Never experienced this with antibiotics before. | F | 54 | 2 days
500 1X D | | 4/14/2010
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| 5 | Upper respiratory infection | Slighttly dulled sensation, slightly slower response and slight lack of energy. | Eliminated the persistent and annoying infection in both my chest and ear, nose and throat areas. | M | 62 | 10 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/13/2010
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| 2 | Continuous Fungal Sinusitis | Where do I begin, both feet(top and bottom)hurt and it hurts to walk. Burning sensation in left foot. Ankles swollen,tender and hurting. Pain and muscle spasms in both calves and legs, left leg the worst. Knees swollen and painful,hurts to touch,hurts to sit and stand.I have to regroup my body before I start to walk. Pain extending up both thighs to buttock. Both hands, starting at the fingers, are EXTREMELY PAINFUL,PAINFUL!!A constant hurt that won't stop. The pain extends up both arms to my shoulders. A lot of fatigue,depression and I can't sleep. Feels like I'm 90 years old and been thrown in a dryer. I feel bruised all over but don't see the bruises. I'm tired, extremely tired. | I've been on and off Levaquin since 1997 for repeated sinus infections. Its the only antibiotic that works for the type of infections I keep getting. I've been having these symptoms for a long time and didn't realize it was the cause. Just started a 30 day treatment again, its been 21 days. I'm stopping! This pain is not worth it. | F | 46 | 12 years
750mgs 1X D | | 4/13/2010
| 1 | chronic sinus infection | almost immediate aching in shoulders/back.Sweating, tingling, throat felt odd, stuffed up nose,fuzzy head feeling. | If i could manage to get past the thought that i may die at any minute and that this may not be a bad idea because i,m feeling so bad then i,m sure this drug would knock out my 4 month long sinus infection.But the thought of taking one more(ive only taken one) makes me believe that i may not be so lucky next time.Its a very harsh drug.I did take this 3 years ago and managed to get through 3 out of a 5 day prescription before realizing that the reason i could'nt get out of bed because of extreme pain and aching was this Antibiotic.I dont know why i let the Doc talk me into it again.I obviously had forgotten just how bad it makes you feel and having this infection for 4 months has made me lose my mind..its the only reason i can give.If you can take something else then do so or make sure you have an ER close...you may just need it.I,m allergic to Penicillin and Biaxin and Avalox was another disaster..what is it with these drugs.I know i cant be the only person that has extreme side effects to them | F | 51 | 1 days
1X D | | 4/13/2010
| 1 | Blood infection | I was severely ill with a blood infection which is why I had (2) ten day dosages of Levaquin. My dr. told me not to exercise, which I was too sick to do anyway, so I didn't think too much of this. I literally was in bed the entire time on this drug. However, that was in Dec. of 2009 and 6 months later I am still feeling the effects of this drug. I can no longer bend down due to the severe pain in my knees, can't run, and working in my garden is too painful. This drug has ruined my life. Will the pain ever go away? | Why is this being prescribed for sinus infections? My dr. said this is a powerful drug and due to the severity of my blood infection that was why he prescribed it. After the pain I am continuing to experience I will never again take this drug---no matter what the diagnosis is. I feel like my quality of life has changed for the worse and it is very maddening. | F | 52 | 20 days
500 mg 1X D | | 4/13/2010
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| 1 | | Within ten minutes of taking levaquin and 20 mg of prednisone i COULDN'T breathe. My throat felt like it was swollen shut; I barely got to the phone to call 911. I was almost hyperventalating for air. In the ambulance I had repeated seizures with my back arching and my head going backwards. At the hospital my blood pressure had risen to 148/98 and i have had mini-stokes(TIA's) with the blood pressure in the low 90's, slight headache, pulse rate at about 200 which is normally 88 and oxygen level that dropped from 95 to 86. Given IV of ativan and three hours later my vitals QUITE SUDDENLY returned to normal with a BLOOD PRESSURE of 110/60. Felt fine, wanted to go home immediately. Was told to stop taking Levaquin immediately by ER doctor. I did. No problems now but I feel that I almost lost my life. | | F | 59 | 7 days
500MG 1X D | | 4/10/2010
| 1 | POSSIBLE Sinus Infection | Devestating. Took 6 0f 7 pills, on 4 day I was sore, 5 day could barely move, 6 day immoble. Had to take hydrocodone to move my body. Shoulder ached first, then left ankle cramped, then right ankle on outside. Left knee first had light cramping then right knee as well. Inside of right elbow had spasms, both thigh muscles ached. | Same doctor then gave me Prednisone, worked well by next day and cleared issue in seven days. OK, three days later the entire process started over and the incredible pain came back this time in every joint in my body. Now back on Prednisone and am fearful my body may never been the same. I am a triathelete and have played competitive racquetball,very active and cannot expect my life to ever be the same. Now working with my GP taking all types of blood work to try and say that levaquin is not the cause. DO NOT TAKE THIS PRODUCT AND DAMN JOHNSON AND JOHNSON for making millions on this procuct. | M | 61 | 6 days
750 MG 1X D | | 4/9/2010
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| 5 | PERSITANT SINUS, BRONCHITIS & PNEU | No Side effects. I have persistant sinus infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia. Several times a year. Tried Augmentin, Biaxin too. They work often but it gets worse Levaquin is the only thing that will cure it. Avelox I can not tolerate. | Great and only drug often for me - though it is prescribed as a last resort. | M | 51 | 10 days
750 /500 1X D | | 4/8/2010
| 3 | Pneumonia | Nausea,Dizzyness,feeling of panic | Doctor prescrbed this to treat pneumonia,so far not working. Side effects are starting to bother me. | M | 33 | 3 days
500 1X D | | 4/8/2010
| 1 | UTI | INSOMNIA, tingle in hands and feet when laying down, loss of concentration, tendon pain in heels, paranoia, depression. | This is actually my success story of getting through the aweful side effects of this drug. First and formost i prayed!!! I prayed at the top of my lungs to Jesus the son of God to help me through the pain mentally and physically(which honestly helped keep my spirits up) thank u god! Secondly i took two table spoons of milk of magnesia every day for 10 days in order to allow the mags bonding properties with the poison to rid it from the deep mussle tissues. The stools weren't very pleasant but it helped. thirdly dont let the paranoia and depression get u down too much! Get out do things! And try to sleep as much as possible (even if that means taking benadryl at bed time) total its been two weeks since i ate that poison, I'm walking i feel happy again, the muscle spasms at night have stopped and my mind feels much clearer... I wish i was with any of u reading this right now to hold ur hand and tell u that there is hope and ur body is much stronger than any poison. Look to god for guidance. God bless u all, and my sympathy and my heart is with u. | M | 21 | 10 days
500 mg 1X D | | 4/8/2010
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| 2 | Sinus Infection | Headache, dizziness, irritability, inability to concentrate | Taking Levaquin made me feel worse and did not seem to alleviate the severe sinus congestion I have been experiencing. Shortly after taking it the last couple of days with a full lunch, I experienced extreme head pain right above my eyes. I then had a very hard time focusing and concentrating at work and had to go home. My sensitivity to sound also got worse, making any noise almost unbearable (although some of this can be attributed to my sinus infection). I am also a marathon runner who is running the Boston Marathon in two weeks, and the risk of tendon damage from taking this drug added to my fear of continuing. I called my doctor and he switched me over to Augmentin, which is in a different class of penicillin based antibiotics. The jury is still out on Augmentin's effectiveness since I have yet to take it. | M | 42 | 3 days
500 1X D | | 4/7/2010
| 1 | Possible UTI/Prostatis | Muscle spasms/twitches and cramps especially in calves but also thighs, heels and elbows as well as sharp pains in tendon areas. Numbness in hand and soles of feet. Severe headaches. Dizziness. Feeling of detachmnet/unease. Came on towards the end of 2nd day taking. Took about 1 week for side effects to stop being serious, 2 weeks later they are steadily decreasing although not totally gone. Very unpleasant experience and only time I have ever suffered side effects of an antibiotic. | | M | 33 | 3 days
500 1X D | | 4/7/2010
| 3 | Walking Pneumonia | I am allergic to several antibiotics and was prescribed Levoquin to treat walking pneumonia. I had difficulty sleeping but attributed this to the cough and congestion. On the 5th night, however, I had a major panic attack over being congested and not being able to breath out of my nose. I was incredibly fearful of not getting enough oxegyn and suffocating. With the help of my husband and some yoga breathing, I was finally able to calm myself down enough to fall asleep around 2 am. But the following day, I felt like I was on the verge of another panic attack and was incredibly weepy. These are not conditions I have ever experienced. This is not like me at all and after reading some of the comments from this sight, I am going to discontinue use of my last few pills. I think my illness is on the mend and this medication seems to be hurting more than helping at this point. | | F | 34 | 10 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/5/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | | surgery apparently went well, we'll see thurs when the cast comes off. the pain has been something to contend with and they have me on vicodin.
now I'm afraid of the tendons across my shoulders are turning to rock and won't seem to loosen up | M | 79 |
500 mg 1X D | | 4/5/2010
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History | 1 | UTI | Right after I took my second pill I completely lost all memory of what happened to me that day. Spent the whole day in the emergency room, heart rate of 182 beats per minute, no control of my muscles. Thank God I was not alone when this happened and my fiancee had the common sense to take me to the hospital!! Now for two days I have had burning in the muscles in my back, uncontrollable shaking, and constant cotton mouth. WHY IS THIS DRUG STILL ON THE MARKET?????!!!!! | I think we should all write a letter to the FDA and slam their email boxes full of complaints until we get results!!! | M | 34 | 2 days
500mg 1X D | | 4/2/2010
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| 2 | bronchitis | diahrrea,bloating,dizziness | anxiety suspected,but I really dont know if this thing is causing it,because I am also taking ,Rabeprazole,Metroclopramide,Ketoprofen.and Riopan
I had a fundoplication surgery. | M | 32 | 5 days
500 1X D | | 4/1/2010
| 1 | UTI | Changed my life for the worse before Levaquin perfect health, After Levaquin Fibromyalgia, IBS, Anxiety Attacks, Depression, Tinnitus, Wish I could go back in time feel like I'm 80 but I'm only 28 | | F | 28 | 5 days
75 MG 1X D | | 3/31/2010
| 1 | Pneumonia and Ear Infection | Severe nausea first two days, first day anxiety and lots of crying and hysterics, fourth day extreme swollen joints like arthritis in fingers and feet. Orange colored mucus and swollen sinus glands. | I am not taking my last dose. This medicine has made me feel much worse. I will never take it again. My husband is also on it for pneumonia and has many of the same symptoms and does not want to continue taking it either. | F | 32 | 5 days
750 1X D | | 3/30/2010
| 1 | Brother in Law | Died a few hours after taking this drug. | | M | 59 | 1 days
750 1X D | | 3/28/2010
| 1 | bronchial infection | Nightmares, foggy brain, severe abdominal pain, aevere acid reflux, inability to digest food, loose stools, lethargy, feeling of body shutting down. | | F | 55 | 10 days
500mg 1X D | | 3/28/2010
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| 1 | Sinus Infection | This was my second time on Levaquin, first time last year, no side effects. This time within a day of taking it I have burning pain in both knees, swelling in knees and ankle area, back of ankles halfway up the back of the calf have burning pain. 5 days off it now, knees are no better, ankles are only a bit better. I will not take this drug again, I work and the knee pain was so bad I had to take a couple of days off as I could not even walk without a ton of pain. | | F | 39 | 5 days
500mg 1X D | | 3/27/2010
| 1 | Lung Infection | Can only tell you my good friend took this drug and he is now legally BLIND! This was 7 years ago but this drug is still on the market. | Never EVER take this drug! | M | 57 |
1X D | | 3/26/2010
| 1 | Sinus infection | I received a prescription for 7 days. Day 1 - no problem. Day 2 - slight nausea. Day 3 - full-blown nausea, vomiting, crushing headache, dizziness, slight diarrhea, metallic taste, tingling tongue. During this time I was very tired but could not sleep. I was told the medicine will stay in my body for 10 days after the last dose. Over 24 hours after the last dose, I get very dizzy just moving around and feel horrible. I don't always remember what I just did (ex - I took a laundry basket downstairs, got a drink of water, then went back upstairs to get the laundry. I was surprised to find it wasn't there and had no recollection of taking it downstairs). I have also had strange dreams and feel plain lousy. | This $4/pill (after ins) "cure" was worse than the illness. Except for penicillin, I have never had a reaction to medication. I WILL NEVER TAKE THIS MEDICATION AGAIN. | F | 61 | 3 days
500 1X D | | 3/26/2010
| 1 | Bronchitis | can't sleep, depressed, difficulties breathing, stomach pains. | I have never experience negative side effects like these before with any other medication. | F | 35 | 10 days
500 1X D | | 3/25/2010
| 1 | Ear and Sinus Infection | I became dizzy within 1 hour of taking medicine. I also experienced hives on neck and ear area. On the 4th day of taking I began experiencing joint pain and inflamation in my joints. I stopped taking this medicine after the 5th dose. My joints now 3 days later or still and swollen. I just spoke to the makers of this drug and they took a report. DO NOT USE side effects aren't worth it. | | F | 55 | 5 days
500mg 1X D | | 3/25/2010
| 1 | UTI | Dizziness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, cramping, tingling in extremities, mental confusion, panic | Worst medication ever. I thought I was going to die. | F | 30 | 10 days
2X D | | 3/24/2010
| 1 | sinus infection | headache, nausea w/vomitting, prickly feeling skin, blurred vision, muscle tremors, clouded thought process. Most concerning is the loss of memory during first night use. I have taken two doses and will not continue the course of five. I do feel the pressure in my sinuses has abated. the drug appears effective for that, but the side effects are not worth it. | | F | 41 | 5 days
750 mg 1X D | | 3/24/2010
| 5 | stubborn bacterial resp infection | All positive...extra energy, feeling great, better mood. | Had a little trouble with waking alert in the middle of the night. Took it later at night and that fixed it. No negative effects. I usually get the bad effects of things, not one with this!!! | F | 31 | 7 days
500mg 1X D | | 3/23/2010
| 1 | strep throat | Couldn't sleep, felt like an elephant on my chest, felt cold from the inside out, calf felt strange the second day. I only took 1 pill and stopped. My mouth (taste) felt very toxic. | I think I could have been given some other medication. The Augmentin did not get rid of the strep the first 7 days, but this pill is way over the top of safety. It did seem to kill the bacteria, but I only took 1 pill and it was prescribed for 5 days. | F | 67 | 5 days
500 mg 1X D | | 3/23/2010
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