| Key to ratings for levaquin: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |
| Rating | Reason | Side Effects | Comments | Sex | Age | Time Taken | Date Added | |
| | F M | | | | ||||
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| 1 | Suspected sinus infection | Heavy head; panic attack; insomnia; wierd dreams about death; jittery, uneven heart beats; nausea | I was prescribed this drug by my ENT for suspected sinus infection. To add to my voes, the drug cost me a fortune. My initial reaction was to walk away from the pharmacy, but unfortunately I paid little attention to my 6th sense. The ENT was referred by my nuerologist whose judgement I value, so I decided to go ahead. I was fine for the first couple of days. Then I started experiencing insomnia, jerked woken up from sleep(on 2/5). I knew that to be 'panic/anxiety attack' and wondered why. I couldn't go back to sleep. On 2/6, I developed heavy headedness. I was blabbering something meaningless, had wierd dreams, scary (related to death). I started getting paranoidical thoughts (in the middle of the night). I generally read before going to sleep and related my dreams etc to watching too much TV. But Sunday 2/7 was extremely bad. I felt my head like having BPPV, jittery heart & nausea. I went to bed around 8:00pm with headache. I had difficulty falling asleep as each time my eye would shut, I would be jerked awake. Then, I was jolted wide awake by about 11:00pm. As I lay in bed wondering what was wrong with me, I suddenly thought "LEVAQUIN"!!! I jumped out of the bed and Googled. By that time I was 90% positive that all that I was going through was somehow related to LEVAQUIN. But I wanted proof. The 'official' site listed only a few symptoms. Then I hit upon this site. I am resolved not to take another dose of this drug. | F | 48 | 5 days | 2/8/2010 | 1 | Respiratory infection | Achilles tendon pain in both legs | Having a hip replacement I need to go on an antibiotic with any infection in my body. After amoxicillin not making me any better the doctor switched me to Levoquin. It makes one wonder how much the doctors know about the drugs they are prescribing! After the third day I could hardly walk when I got out of bed in the morning, the next day was worse which made me wonder if it was a side effect. I am angry that my doctor knowing my problems with many drug side effects and the fact that I have permanent nerve damage from the hip replacement and difficulty walking due to the pain would put me on this horrible drug. The FDA should take this one off the market! | F | 72 | 4 days | 2/7/2010 | 1 | Severe sinusitis | On day nine of this antibiotic, I developed severe tendonitis in both shoulder joints. I could hardly move them. I immediately stopped taking it, and it was 10days before the symptoms stopped. | F | 53 | 9 days | 2/7/2010 | 1 | walking pneumonia | I was prescribed Levaquin for walking pneumonia. It helped and by the the third day I felt human again. The morning of the sixth day I getting up out of bed and thought I had slept wrong with very stiff shoulders and a crick in my neck. The pain became severe in my neck, shoulders (extreme and could not put weight on either wriste), lower back, extreme pain in my hips (felt like I had gone from being 46 to 90), jaw joints (mouth does not want to open in the morning, teeth feel out of alignment), some pain in my fingers. | Take a liver detox, a good pro-biotic, Magnesium Glycinate 400mg, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, I am taking Move Free Advanced, SAM-e for additional Joint Fluid supplements, Advil 3 at 3x a day. Hand massager on my hips to increase the blood flow to the joints and the pain was less. Heating pad for 20 mins. per area. Of course the doctor said that it was not the Levaquin and I needed to have blood tests completed. The blood tests were normal with just slight inflammation and slightly low vitamin D. I was sent to a Rheumatologist like everyone else. He said, that it could have been the Levaquin or like my MD said the cause could have been the immune system fighting the infection in over drive. So, no rheumatoid arthritis but I was presribed a muscle relaxer for the back spasms etc....I waited another week and decided to go ahead and try the chiropractic treatment. The doctor I use has seen similar cases due to Levaquin and I have had two adjustments along with a massage. It has caused a different kind of pain like from working out. I am drinking more water and the adjustments along with the massages are helping to alleviate the pain. I have only been able to sleep on my back due to pain in my shoulders. The chiropractor asked me to sleep on a pillow that was higher so that my shoulders would not roll in or over. She said it would also help to use a body pillow or additional pillow while lying on my side to keep my shoulder from rolling forward. Both have helped! | F | 46 | 10 days | 2/6/2010 | 1 | Bacterial Infection in lungs | After 9 days, I woke up and the room was spinning. I almost blacked out. I was sweating bad. After 1 hr the symptoms didn't stop so I called my doctor. She instructed me to drink a lot of clear liquids, no juice. I drank 24 ozs of Gatorade and a lot of water. I also ate a banana. 2 hrs later the room stopped spinning. I am just gaining my strength back 2 days later. Now I'm having joint pain in my knee. | DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG. IT SHOULD BE PULLED OFF THE MARKET! | F | 45 | 10 days | 2/5/2010 | 1 | antibiotic after tooth implant surg | I did not know that one of the side effects could be a torn tendon. I exercise daily but did not know that you are not suppose to exercise while taking this. I went to do my normal exercise and ended up with a torn meniscus. This happened in November and I am still having problems with my knee. I have been taking cortisone shots but the pain come back. I may have to have surgery. PLEASE DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG!! I called my pharmacist and asked why I was not warned. He said that it happens to one in a million but I think it happens more frequently people are just not relating their injuries to the drug. | PLEASE TAKE THIS DRUG OFF THE MARKET!!! | F | 60 | 5 days | 2/4/2010 | 1 | bronchitis | dizzyness and hives | I have no allergies to any medications or anything in general.So my doctor gave me 8 individual packets 500mg each. I only took one on 1/26 and began to feel really dizzy shortly after i took it so i just laid down and relaxed. 6 hours later i took a warm shower and thats when the hives started. So I decided not take any more of them. It's been seven days now i'm still getting hives. I would not recommend this drug to anyone nor will i ever take it again. | F | 21 | 1 days | 2/3/2010 | 1 | Severe Sinus Infection | I have very bad pain in my joints since taking this medication that started on Day 7, with only 3 days left of the medication. The joint pain is mostly in my shoulder. I've tried everything I know to help the joint pain, nothing is working. My doctor is aware of this problem (which I knew nothing of side effects before taking it). The sinus infection hasn't completely cleared up. I definitely WILL NOT ever take this med again. I would rather have the sinus infection, which I still have.I'm currently taking Tylenol 8hr pain relief tabs, it is the equivalent of tylenol arthritis. | F | 54 | 10 days | 2/2/2010 | 1 | had kidney infection | I had a kidney infection that I could not get rid of..Dr. ordered me s small dose of Levaquin but, since all have RED DYE had to take the next size..750....The Pharm. said to drink lots of water which I did...After it attacked my stomach//then my L shoulder..down my arm, under my arm, around my arm then felt like the tendons wanted to just hurt for ever...I had been on pain meds. for my back surgery of 11/19/09. Loratab 10...My ortho Dr. said to take the pain meds every 4 hrs. instead of the 6-8 from the back surgery..and that did not help the pain.so went back on the morphine also that I had left from the back surgery. and still no relief.. Will never take that Levaquin again..Can.t stand to lift my arm or lay on it. | F | 61 | 7 days | 1/31/2010 | 1 | Sinus Infection | Insomnia, fearfulness, bizarre dreams and irrational thoughts. | I was prescribed this antibiotic for a sinus infection. I took the first 500 mg tablet in the evening. Within 2-3 hours I was unable to sleep, experiencing paranoid fears regarding the safety of myself and family. At one point I started to fall asleep only to be jolted awake with the crazy thought I was going to die or that I needed to pray to banish Satan! In the time I did manage to sleep (2 1/2 hours)I had odd dreams. It was a long frightening evening and only the first pill of a seven day/pill dosage. The next day I called my doctor & was told to discontinue it with another familiar antibiotic prescribed in its place. This was my first and last experience with this drug! | F | 56 | 1/29/2010 | 1 | UTI | Light headed, chest pains, stomach ache, heart papations, sweating, backache, tight chest, hard to breath, can not sleep. | I felt sick before now I feel worse,this drug should be off the market. Took myself off of this drug and DR. perscriped a new one. | M | 54 | 2 days | 1/29/2010 | 1 | Bronchitis | I am HIV+ and have been given Levaquin at several points through the past without any real warning of side effects ebing discussed. At the same time I had been on Advair. So, when the both ankles cracked and popped and swelled up almost instantly heppened, I sttirbuted it to the Advair. Today I can not unfasten my own pants, because my right wrist is unsuable without inflicted large amounts of pain. Three months ago I had pain centered between my shoulder blades. During the time since then, the pain has spread to cover the entire upper portion of my back and extended down the back of each arm and endind at the finger tips. It is also at several spots in the pain's path the skin is hyper-sensitive to the touch to the point covering up with a blanket hurts it. Lately, I have had a constant slight headace, for about two months now, accompanied by a low-volume high pitch tone, like that of a hearing test, but only steady and always there. I hardly even want to move anymore and I ca | This has ruined my life for a long time now. I am in constant pain and the area it encompasses is getting larger over time and the symptoms worse. | M | 43 | 5 years | 1/28/2010 | 1 | sinus infection, atypical pneumonia | Nervousness, Anxiety, Depression, Unexplained crying, Feeling of dread, Shoulder pain, Sweating then shrivering, Headaches, loss of appetite, nausea, Fear | Was awakened in the middle of the night w/severe chest pains, feeling like I couldn't breathe. Then when I got up, I almost fainted, laid on the bathroom floor and sweated so much my nightgown was soaked. Then was shrivering with chills. DO NOT take this medicine! I am stopping 1 day short (750 mg) because I now realize this pill is what is causing my problems. Not worth it!!!! | F | 35 | 4 days | 1/28/2010 | 1 | Cellulitis in upper right arm | I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg for 5 days for cellulitis in my right upper arm, night one took it with a benedryl for swelling at the site, no problem. Night #2,didn't take the Benedryl, just the Levaquin, had anxiety, thinking that someone was breaking into my house. Insomnia, took 2 hours to fall asleep,(usually 5 mins). One week after taking the last pill, started having pain in my right elbow,right hand, and right thumb, and generalized joint pain.Tonight feels like someone has punched me in the upper right arm. I am an RN and don't take meds unless very necessary. I will never take this again!!!! EVER!!!! | DO NOT TAKE LEVAQUIN, IF I HAD KNOWN ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS, I WOULD HAVE NEVER TAKEN IT. My brother was on it for 1 year at 1000mg a day for prostatis and now has possible right shoulder tendonitis or rupture, not sure yet. Refered him to get MRI of shoulder at ortho Dr. Stay AWAY FROM THIS STUFF! | F | 41 | 5 days | 1/28/2010 | 1 | sinus infection | sick stomach, weak, joint pain | will never take Levaquin again, side effects worse than the sinus infection. 750mg for 7 days, stopped after 4 | M | 55 | 4 days | 1/28/2010 | 4 | pneumonia | fluttery heartbeat that woke me up, but that only happened when I took cough medicine with codeine along with Levaquin. | Better than pneumonia! Feeling much better. I had bronchitis & was prescribed azythromycin that didn't kill it, & ended up with pneumonia...great times! Levaquin is doing the trick so far. I'm a microbiologist too so I'm a fan of mass Streptococcus pneumoneae death! Eating lots of yogurt to help out the tummy bacteria. The tendon problems sound scary, so I'm trying to be careful, but have yet to have any problems. Keeping my fingers crossed. | F | 23 | 5 days | 1/26/2010 | 1 | Sinus Infection | Insomnia for 5 days, anxiety, depression, and eventually suicidal thoughts. AND... the sinus infection didn't go away. Thirty-six hours after the last dose, the suicidal thoughts began to subside, thankfully. | I'll never take this drug again. Better warnings should be issued. | F | 43 | 5 days | 1/26/2010 | 1 | Bronchial infection | I took Levaquin 8 weeks ago for a bronchial infection (still have it). Also immediately, started having pain in my achilles tendons (both heels). It's been quiet for about 3 weeks. Last night I was walking and it felt like a knife was being drawn across my heels. I've already told my doctor DO NOT EVER put me on Levaquin again for any reason. I would rather suffer the injury than the "cure." | F | 56 | 5 days | 1/23/2010 | 1 | serious sinus infection | I couldn't sleep only slept one and a half to two hours a night for 5 days. I couldn't breath. I had a racing heart rate. I also had stomach ache and was very dizy. After I had taken 3 days worth of Levaquin my shoulder starting aching real bad. My breathing difficulties got so bad that I had to go to the emergency room. After my 5th dose I woke up to my knee hurting and lower back . | I would never take this drug. It is horrible. It makes you feel like your going crazy. Sure it worked in taking away the sinus infection. Then leaves you with all kinds of other things wrong. It is surely not worth it. | F | 53 | 5 days | 1/23/2010 | 1 | Phuemonia | Tendons hardly able to walk | Took 1 750 pill and in 12 hours right calf and ankle was so sore could verly walk. 12 hours later left leg did same. been 4 days still have problem. | M | 70 | 1 days | 1/23/2010 | 1 | Heavy chest congestion | Coughing up bloody phlem after 7 days and blows your numbers (if you are on any coummadin) through the roof. The dumb doc never thought to mention these possible side effects. | It should be taken off the market but then the drug rep pimps wouldn't buy the office free lunches. | M | 72 | 8 days | 1/22/2010 | 1 | sinus infection | Insomnia initially, some nausea and after about 4 days extreme stiffness/pain in knees, particularly back of knees. Also pain/stiffness in one shoulder and now, after 10 days, lower back pain. Overall my body feels like it aged about 30 years in the course of a week. It did get rid of the sinus infection, but I will not use again, especially if the body aches do not go away quickly. | The black box warning is not enough; it should not be on the market. | F | 52 | 10 days | 1/21/2010 | 1 | Severe Bronchitis | Wihin 1 hr, legs became weak and shaky. Feet became cold as ice and clammy. Lated 5-6 hrs. Scalp would feel cold like ice. Unable to sleep. | Expensive and scary $120.00 for 7 pills only took 3...24 hrs after taking last pill, my body went into withdrawal for about 3 hrs. shakes tremors, it was awful......would never take or reccomend to anyone. | F | 37 | 3 days | 1/20/2010 | 3 | Severe sinus infection | INSOMNIA!!! Can't sleep for more than an hour or two at a time and there is usually 20 or more hours between. Also, tingling in my hands. Both of them. I have carpal tunnel in the right, but the tingling is not the same as I'm accustomed to with CTS. I feel a little foggy, but it's most likely from lack of sleep. I am experiencing a feeling of euphoria which I also attribute to the lack of sleep. No depression or panic attacks as others have reported. Definitely, more joint pain in hands and lower back. Gastric distress, most notably, gas which is quite uncomfortable. Possible yeast infection getting started. I also seem to be clenching my jaw a LOT. | I don't think I will take this drug again. I have heart issues and it worries me that my heart rate is faster. I should have had my blood pressure checked to see if it is up. It feels like it. I'm taking acidophilus and eating a yogurt everyday to help with the gas and yeast infection. | F | 51 | 4 days | 1/18/2010 | 1 | Sarcoidosis | The medicine works on Pulmonary Sarcoidosis, but the side affects are horrible. I can barely walk due to knee pain in both knees. I have been to the hospital on 2 occasions thinking I had a blood clot in my lower legs due to serious pain. Now my knees hurt so bad, I am unable to get up without assistance. | F | 52 | 1/18/2010 | 1 | sinus infection | After 5-6 hours I started having tendon pain in my calves..first right, then left. They were swollen and had SHARP pain running through them...dizzy and dreamy...insomnia, night sweats. I already had low potassium and intense hyperthyroid due to suppression of thyroid cancer last year. My muscles were in BAD shape before this and I had intense dizziness BEFORE taking this. I argued with my dr. about this, but he was not my primary, but another in the office with an open appt. time. I WILL NOT EVER TAKE THIS DRUG AGAIN. I stopped after 2 doses. I AM VERY DISGRUNTLED ABOUT this prescription from my dr. | F | 36 | 2 days | 1/16/2010 | 4 | chronic ear infection | heel pain (yeow!)...shoulder pain...insomnia...flat-lined mood...cotton mouth...lack of appetite | just finished last dose yesterday, and if these symptoms are temporary as I expect them to be I have no complaints ...the pain and discomfort from the chronic ear infection (which did not respond to prior medications) was far worse than these side effects. | F | 58 | 10 days | 1/15/2010 | 2 | bronchitis | anxiety and crazy thoughts | I was having, insonmnia, crazy thoughts, and major anxiety that i knew was from the Levaquin I was taking for bronchitis. My sister mentioned her doctor told her to eat bananas for potasium during painic-attacks. Then I remembered the website said Levaquin drains your potasium. I ate one banana and it cured my anxiety | M | 48 | 7 days | 1/14/2010 | 1 | uri | dizzy,foot pain, knee pain | I will never take again i believe it should be taken off the market | F | 66 | 1/12/2010 | 1 | bladder/urinary - not diagnosed | 500 mg perscribed for 10 days, stopped after day 8. On day 4 felt pain in lower back that still has not gone away after a week of beeing off medication. By day 7 extreme popping in knees, wrists, elbows, ankles, shoulders which also felt like they were going to pop out of socket. Still going on but the docotor said they "should go away". I have taken before without this problem and will NEVER take again. Have never had pain/joint problems in my life. | With all the problems I am seeing I wonder why it is on the market. I should have been extremely alarmed when the pharmacists assistant INSISTED I consult with the pharmacist although he only gave me a 3 page insert of side effects but I felt I am so active I would have no problems. Will never think that again.....I move much slower now as I am afraid of rupturing with all the popping. | F | 56 | 8 days | 1/11/2010 | 1 | Staph Infection | Insomnia, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath,panic attacks, paranoia, burning in right eye, muscle aches. Woke up in middle of night with bone pain in foot. | Haven't had panic attack in a long time. Life is good, no worries so it made me question what brought this on. I noticed shortness of breath, pulse racing and then panic attack started about 2 hours after taking Levaquin. Same pattern each day. Was taking Clindamycin and Rifampin but had doctor switch the meds cause of similar problem. Going to check if the others are same type of drug. Going to doctor in morning to see what can be done. Xanax help calm symptoms. Levaquin seems to put me in a dreamy type state thus making fighting the panic attack rough. | M | 52 | 3 days | 1/10/2010 | 1 | Bronchial | I will NEVER take this poison again. Half an hour after my first pill I experienced extreme diarhea through out the night, along with chills and then extreme heat, couldn't sleep. 2nd night I took another pill, within 15 minutes felt racing heart, shaking and dizzy then did my research. Followed up dosage with a benadryl, spent the night dizzy and restless. Still dizzy and light-headed today. Will e-mail all contacts and facebook warning on this so-called 'medicine'. Should be banned! | F | 60 | 2 days | 1/10/2010 | 1 | bronchitis | A few months ago I took levaquin for 3 days for bronchitis but had to stop taking it when I broke out in hives on arms, abdomen and back of neck. Ever since taking it, I develop hives several times a week and also have arthritis symptoms in various large and small joints. I had never had an allergic reaction to medicine before and had never experienced hives. | My doctor says he doesn't think levaquin is to blame for my symptoms but I honestly can't think of anything else to attribute these symptoms to. I called the manufacturer and left a message on the FDA site as well. | F | 51 | 3 days | 1/9/2010 | 1 | sinus infection | SEVERE RESTLESSNESS, COULDN"T SLEEP FOR 2 days, AGITATED, SHAKING ETC. GUESS WHY? DRANK ICE TEA ALL DAY WHILE TAKING THE FIRST TWO DOSES. IT DOESN'T SAY ON THE DRUG SHEET BUT IT HAS A TERRIBLE INTERACTION WITH CAFFEINE. AVOID IT!!!!! | M | 32 | 2 days | 1/7/2010 | 4 | PNEUMONIA | Body aches in the torso area. Severe night sweats. Nausea, tiredness, and appetite suppression, though that may have been due to the high fever. And the fatigue may be due to the lack of food intake. | I am not sure it completed the job, I still feel something heavy in my lung. I do feel a lot a lot better that is for sure. I took it for 11 days and as time passes by, this is the second day after I stopped taking it, I feel a lot better...stronger...as in "not as weak" It definitely changed my eating habits, I dont feel the need to eat heavy meals. Fruit and small portions have made my life easier...and a couple of yougurts a day. | M | 33 | 11 days | 1/6/2010 | 5 | Sinus infection | Acid indigestion and diarrhea. weight loss. | It certainly worked for me; the sinus infection was cleared in about 2 days. I was prescribed 750mg daily for 5 days. My only complaint is the digestive woes it caused, however OTC meds for those cleared that right up. I was worried about joint pain, as I already have tendonitis, but never experienced any. | M | 35 | 5 days | 1/4/2010 | 1 | uti | The day after I took one pill I had a torn miniscus. Coincidence? I never had this problem before. | This is for life or death situations, not a UTI. Which by the way, I didn't have. some mixup at the lab. | M | 55 | 1 days | 1/4/2010 | 4 | Bronchitis and Sinus Infection | Somewhat queezy, but basically all antibiotics do that to me. A little difficulty sleeping, but I can deal with that. | I started taking Levaquin on January 1st. I have taken 3 doses. I feel much better. | F | 25 | 3 days | 1/3/2010 | 1 | Sinus infection and uti | severe anxiety and depression. joint stiffness. | I am not sure if this drug affects everyone similarly. It did seem to get rid of the uti immediately and the sinus infection is better, but the side effects were not worth the cure. | F | 37 | 4 days | 1/3/2010 | 1 | bronchial infection | Insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks | Beginning 1/5/09 I took 1 - 500 mg tablet of Levaquin once/day for 5 days and stopped because of the symptoms which lasted until 12/21/09 during which time I tried different herbal remedies and teas the best of which were GABA Calm tablets and Tension Tamer Tea but nothing allevitated the symptoms totally. I slept for 1-2 hrs. at most at one time and was always anxious; the feeling was indescribable; I thought I was losing my mind. I began taking 25 mg. of Sertraline, the generic of Zoloft, on 10/21/09 and began to notice reduction of symptoms within a month and by 12/21/09 the symptoms were gone. I only wish I hadn't waited so long to seek medical help, but I was very leary of taking any type of medication after the Levaquin. I had mentioned it to the doctor who had prescribed the Levaquin and he told me there was no way the Levaquin could have caused the symptoms. I then found a new doctor and when I explained the reason I was there he said his brother had the same reaction to Levaquin only much worse. I thank God every day for directing me to this doctor and for making me well again because life was not worth living. The only good thing from this whole experience is that I realize how wonderful my life is now and what a wonderful husband I have who was so supportive during all of this. | F | 59 | 5 days | 1/3/2010 | 5 | pneumonia | NO side effects | IMPORTANT! ! ! I believe I didn’t experience any side effects because I took pro-biotics immediately after completing the antibiotic prescription. I was very sick with pneumonia, 104 temp, extreme body aches, couldn’t sleep. Within 18 hours of my first dose I felt so much better, normal temp, no aches and that night I did not get night sweats. I took it for the full course, and after I was done I took high quality Kefir and cultured raw vegetables from the health food store, these replenish the good bacteria that are required in your digestive tract, antibiotics can kill everything and I find it very beneficial to reintroduce the pro-biotics to restore balance especially after a course of anti-biotics. I also did light exercise after I got better which I think helped minimize any side effects that others talked about. | M | 42 | 7 days | 1/2/2010 | 1 | chronic sinus infection | The first dose made it difficult to sleep, my heart felt like it was racing. I felt anxious all day also, this did not subside until I stopped taking it. Stomach upset was very bothersome. Headache was also extreme. The worse part is that now, 3 months later I have extreme pain in my right achilles that hits especially in the middle of the night. Painful to touch and appears swollen. Not so bad during the day...Makes me wonder if it is okay to run during the day, since I am an athlete and never had any pain in my achilles EVER! I am afraid I might tear it or something. I work with an MD that said you can get the side effects months after taking it. I really wish I had checked with him before I took it. Also, I have talked to others who experienced the same tendon pain and swelling. Don't ever take it if you have a choice. I had to due to allergies to other meds. This medication definitely needs to be taken off the market!!!!! Why is is being used??? | F | 40 | 5 days | 1/2/2010 | 1 | Ear Infection | Anxiety, obsessive thoughts, trouble focusing, sleeplessness, dizziness, tremors and a general jittery feeling. | Got the perscription from a urgent-care type walk-in clinic. Gave up on the daily dose of 750 mg after 4 days. Went to see my regular doctor and she put it on my "do not use" list. When she checked her drug manual, the second most reported side-effect was listed as CNS (central nervous system) stimulation. I think this is one of those medications that is fine for certain people but bad news for others. My wife took it a couple of years ago with no problems. I think it is probably not for anyone who has a history of anxiety or depression, and there should be more warnings about this. Overall I would NOT recommend this medication. | M | 55 | 4 days | 12/31/2009 | 5 | Sinus Infection | Stomach discomfort | LOVE Levaquin. Never had an issue with it and it clears up my symptioms in about 2-3 days. I was taking 750mg once a day for 10 days. It is very stong medication and should be taken with food and lots of water. If you follow the directions and aren't so focused on the side effects, you will be fine. | F | 26 | 10 days | 12/30/2009 | 1 | pneumonia | I was given Levaquin in the ER for pneumonia. About 1 1/2 hours after taking it I experienced what seemed like a panic attack. I had shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, nervousness, diarrhea, etc. I did not sleep for over 2 days-even though I tried. I felt like I had adrenaline pumping through me. | Do not take! | F | 31 | 1 days | 12/29/2009 | 1 | bronchitis | Felt like my head would pop off from my blood pressure. Couldn't sleep at all. Confusion, EXTREMELY emotional about 3 hours into each dose, distraught, suicidal. Moderate to severe joint pain in hips and legs. Exhaustion, not much relief. This stuff should not be on the market. It's harder on a boy than just having bronchitis. I am back to work, but feel like I have been through the wringer with this medication. | I already have joint pain on a semi-regular basis, but this stuff made it 10X worse. I can't believe my doctor would give this to me knowing that I already have trouble that way. For all the unpleasant side effects, I had the sense that my illness was not improving, but staying as it was when I started taking the medication. | F | 40 | 5 days | 12/28/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | I took Levaquin b/c other antibiotics did not work or made my stomach upset. Within 12 hours of taking Levaquin, I got a debilitating migraine and my knees felt sore. I thought the pain was from working out b/c I am very active and athletic. I have never had knee pain before. After 12 days, I can hardly walk. I am stopping today, despite a chronic sinus infection. | My doctor didn't mention this possible side effect. It scares me that this pain may last up to a year or more. I would never take this again or recommend to anyone. | F | 34 | 12 days | 12/28/2009 | 1 | sinus infrection | pins and needles and numbness in hands and feet for four hours. Agitation, Light-headed, dizziness, nausea, tremors in legs for four hours. Started one hour after ingestion. | 750 mg. pill. SCARY | F | 55 | 1 days | 12/28/2009 | 5 | bladder infection | none | I am 73 years old and am allergic to penicillin. As far as I'm concerned this drug was a miracle. I had been treated for UTI's for about 7 years on an almost monthly basis and this drug not only cured my UTI, it cured a skin bacteria I had been fighting, and cleared my sinuses. All should be in tune to your body and if something doesn't feel right at the beginning, then do not continue with the drug. I took the levaquin for 5 days at 500 mg. | F | 73 | 5 days | 12/27/2009 | 1 | bronchitis | severe joint and muscle pain, especially in my knees . Couldn't walk for 3 days . It felt like my muscles were trying to get out of my skin . | This medication should not be given to anyone . It is poison . I will never ever take it again. | F | 55 | 10 days | 12/27/2009 | 1 | bronchitis | all of my muscles and every joint in my body hurt so bad that I couldn't even walk . Confused and forgot a lot.Hopefully I make a full recovery , if not I will contact an attorney . | I don't recommend this drug to anyone . | F | 54 | 10 days | 12/27/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | I experienced extreme pain in both my achilles tendons after a day of taking Levaquin. I could hardly walk. The the pain spread to my arm, which could barely hold a thing. My hips also began to hurt so badly, I could barely walk. I also had bad knee pain. This was not what I had expected to have happen from an antibiotic, however, the sinus infection went away. | I will never take this drug again. It has been over a week since stopping this drug. I do not feel much better pain wise and do not know if I will ever be able to work as freely again. I sure hope I get well soon. It is funny that the sinus infection went away rather quickly, but this joint pain, etc. keeps on keeping on. | F | 57 | 7 days | 12/25/2009 | 1 | sinusitis | sudden, debilatating pain in all the little joints of my hands, on day seven. feels like what i imagine rheumatoid arthritis might feel. i had no previous joint pain. i stopped treatment immediately...now it is day 10 and my feet and knees are hurting as well. hoping it will fade soon. | F | 45 | 7 days | 12/25/2009 | 1 | Urinary Tract Infection | -migraine (ocular and then headache) -extreme stomach pain -heart burn that doesn't go away with antacids -nausea and vomiting -insomnia -rapid pounding heart rate -sweating | I had all of these side effects after my second dose - after just a few hours of taking it. I had the absolute worst night of my life, starting with an ocular migraine where I thought I was going blind, to an extreme headache and finally throwing up all night. Do not take this drug. | F | 21 | 2 days | 12/24/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis, followed by sinusitis | I was initially prescribed this drug for bronchitis after another antibiotic didn't work. I started to experience extreme fatigue, insomnia (even after taking Ambian CR) and severe pain in my back. The pain felt like extreme bruising and a sever burning session but I thought it was from a cupping treatment I received in Asia. About 3 weeks later I contracted sinusitis and was prescribed Levaquin again. Just like the last time, I am feeling extreme fatigue and back pain! I am also feeling pain in my knees and I have never had that. I am an athlete and can't seem to find the energy to even climb the stairs. I stopped taking this after reading similar reports. This drug is bad! | F | 45 | 7 days | 12/23/2009 | 1 | Contaminated with Serratia | Both knees, left ankle and left shoulder are very painful. Prior to this drug, these areas never had any problems...in 47 yrs. My hips are starting to be painful, laying on either side at night has become dreadful. Nausea, constant fatigue. I never used to take naps, now my eyes close often during the day, waking up to find an hour sometimes 2 has gone by. My taste-buds and sense of smell are completely off. Foods/drinks I used to like I can't stand the sight of right now. I am easily agitated. Nervousness. I sometimes feel like I am in a haze of some sort but I can't really describe it. | I was taking 750mg from Nov. 12th, to yesterday, December 22nd. Once a day, everyday. Yes, a very long period of ingesting this medicine. But I had a very serious bacteria. Started with being contaminated with Serratia, then found in a 2nd culture that I also had pseudomonas aeruginosa, then a 3rd culture found Staph. All from surgeries. While it may have killed the bacteria in my body, it also killed my spirit, what used to be a very high-energy life that I lead. I am still recouperating but this is ridiculous. I can only pray that something will change, because this is not right. | F | 47 | 41 days | 12/23/2009 | 2 | Bronchitis | nausea, dizziness and on the 7th day I developed vaginal bleeding. Had to undergo an internal sonogram and am waiting for the results from my ob-gyn. I am 70 yrs old and do not have periods. | I still have a cough. This medication should be taken off the market. | F | 70 | 7 days | 12/22/2009 | 1 | SINUS INFECTION / BRONCHITIS | dizziness, headache, constipation, extreme fatique, loss of ability to think clearly and make quick decisions. Loss of appetite, deep extreme cough | Didn't seem to do much to help with the infection. As an asthema patient I found the need to use my rescue inhaler actually increased. On my way to the doctor now for follow-up. WILL NEVER USE THIS AGAIN! | F | 50 | 6 days | 12/22/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | severe pain ankles, feet, shoulders, wrists - ridiculous. | never had problems with any of these joint areas before taking Levaquin. I can't walk or type or really do anything for any length of time. It has been 2 weeks since I stopped taking the medication. I have stopped getting worse but am not getting better. great that fda issued a warning, but would be nice if someone cared enough to figure out why this happens to healthy people and what to do about it! I feel like i am dying, but have been assured by blood tests that I am not. guess I need to wait it out and hope to get better. | F | 29 | 7 days | 12/22/2009 | 1 | Sinus | Severe body pain - muscle & joint Noticed the pain about 7-10 days into treatment. Can barely move. | I had no idea this drug was causing these effects, but I am drinking alot of water to flush it out of my system. | F | 54 | 20 days | 12/21/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | dizziness, nausea, severe muscle cramps in the thigh at night, insomnia, fatigue,vaginitis, headaches, dreaming a lot | I have taken Levaquin twice for sinusitis five days the first time and three days the second time. When I took it last month, I had severe nausea, dizzziness and fainted. I had no idea what caused this problem. I was rushed to the Emergency Room and I told the doctors that i had began taken Levaquin prescribed by my doctor. They ran several test but they never associated it to Levaquin. I took the five day dosage, however I was still having issues with my sinuses. The doctor stated that she would give me another round of Levaquin for two weeks this time. I started taking the Levaquin on Dec. 18, 2009 and I experienced headaches and severe pain in my thighs when I go to bed at night and trouble sleeping. I mentioned it to the doctor and she told me to prop my legs on a pillow and she would like to run bloodwork on Dec. 21, 2009 to check my potassium level. I decided to look on the internet before going to the doctor tomorrow to see if anyone else experienced similar side effects. After reading some of the side effects from others, i definitely believe the medication is causing these issues so I deciced not to take any more. I have never experienced this type of pain before in my legs or thighs. I believe this drug needs to be taken off the market. | F | 41 | 3 days | 12/20/2009 | 1 | Epididymitis | Severe tendon, muscle, and joint pain. Eye damage. Skin sensitivities. Swollen internal organs. Permanent peripheral neuropapthy and severe CNS issues. Too many other ADR's to list in detail here. | Had an athlete's metabolism with no health concerns prior to taking this medicine. I was given 750mgs for 21 days and was told by the doctors that it is safe and well tolerated. I discuss my experiences with Levaquin at www.myquinstory.info | M | 46 | 21 days | 12/19/2009 | 1 | Torn rectum from colonscopy | TWO 500mg does - Immediate shakes in voice and extremities, fogginess that felt like I was on the outside looking in. Almost hallucinate feeling. Pressure in ears that made it seem like sound was traveling at very slow rate... Major panic attacks that clonazopam did not help. Overall inner agitation. Did I mention severe shakes... Totally drugged feeling and not in touch with reality. Head not clear enough to write all syptoms. Bad nightmare during waking hours. | I would never take this again! | F | 47 | 2 days | 12/18/2009 | 1 | sinusitus-5 surgeries | Body pain, spinning, blurred vision | My vision declined rapidly!!! It's so extreme and rapid that I'm sure it's not the usual aging process. PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU'VE EXPERIENCED THIS, THE DOCTOR'S ARE TELLING ME IT CAN'T BE. I think the timing is too significant. | F | 47 | 15 times | 12/17/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | I took one pill (500mg) and started feeling odd within about 15 minutes. Over the course of the next 4 hours, my tendons started to feel stiff to the point that I no longer felt comfortable moving around. I am an athlete, so I am very concerned about doing any type of damage to any of my tendons or ligaments. I got in bed and slept flat on my back, trying not to move much. 2 hours later I was coughing up mucus and could not sleep. I took some Benedryl, two tablespoons of activated charcoal (helps get toxins out - I felt like i had been poisoned) and went back to sleep. Today I feel much better. | I called my doctor and he told me to stop taking it. I think it knocked out the sickness to some extent - but it made me feel so terrible. I am still a little bit stiff today. I am still coughing, but not as much, and the coughs are more productive. | F | 29 | 1 days | 12/17/2009 | 3 | sinus | extreme insomnia . i am 34 never ever had so much trouble going to bed. its 4 am and i can't fall sleep | i had taken levaquin in the past and i ahve been experiencing pain in my knees and joints specially ankle. I am horrified reading the reviews and feel so depressed for allowing to put this medication in me | M | 34 | 1 days | 12/16/2009 | 2 | Sinusitis | I took Levofloxacin, in Asia, it is traded under the brand CRAVIT. I took 500 mg tablet once a day and the doctor prescribed me for 20 days. The morning after I took it, the rash had run over my body for 5 days. Also, I feel pain on my left wrist tendon on the day 5-7 after I took it. The good thing was that my nose infection was dramatically decreased. | This is a very strong medicine which must be used with YOUR CAUTION !! Most of the time, it is prescribed after Amoxicilin and Clarithromycin fail to get rid of the bacteria in your body. High risk, high return. You must make sure that you are willing to take risk for using Levofloxacin. The reward of using it is the outcome that Amoxicilin or Clarithromycin cannot offer. | M | 29 | 1 days | 12/7/2009 | 1 | prostatitis | insomnia, rapid heartbeat, intracranial pressure, extreme agitation, depression, panic attacks, paranoia, eye floaters, light sensitivity in both eyes, suicidal ideation, cognitive impairment | Symptoms were rapid in onset, extreme, multi-organ, too numerous & puzzling to list in their entirety, baffling, "other worldly." First symptom was strange & unsettling dream several hours after first dose @500mg, which was followed next day by mild pain in leg calves. Symptoms have improved over 19 months, but sleep impairment and intracranial pressure behind eyes is the worst. Very debilitating. Comparable to driving on an icy highway at 150mph in an open air convertible with no brakes, no advance tutoring by convertible mfg, and with the unmistakable sense that big pharma's marketing rep who supplied you with the keys to the convertible knew in advance that you might be taking the ride of your life, but took no steps to warn you! Unconscionable. You can be sure the levaquin mfg has received nasty feedback from tens upon thousands of disaffected consumers' that not all is well with their Frankenstein creation. Caveat emptor. We'll never know how many consumers flat-out died or became so incapacitated following levaquin ingestion that they cannot register a complaint. If you follow the internet threads, you will become astounded by the frequently-cited damage caused by fluouroquinolone antibiotics including levaquin and cipro. See http://www.fqresearch.org which estimates that ADRs can show up weeks or even months after initial dosage. The time lapse between dosing and adverse reactions may be so long that many sufferers do not attribute their ADR | M | 63 | 3 days | 12/7/2009 | 1 | Pneumonia | I have been experiencing body aches, I noticed today the 5th day that when I got up from my desk at work I could barely walk. My knees are swollen and my left achilles is extremely painful. I remember reading about tendon swelling but I've NEVER experienced a reaction like this. I also have a rash on both of my lower calve area. I'm going to call my Dr tomorrow and find out what my next step is. | F | 39 | 5 days | 12/7/2009 | 3 | Suspected uti before surgery | Was scheduled for a ovarian cyst removal, arrived at hospital for surgery, had a fever of 101.5... blood count to high for surgery so doc sends me home with possible UTI and to take levaquin.. Urine clears up but now i have rectal bleeding! UGH! that whole area 'down there' is itching and slight bleeding, cant sleep,cant sit to long everything is annoying! Also i constantly have to urinate. Not sure if this is what caused it but only drug i have taken and diet hasnt changed. | My urine was cloudy and had a strange "not so urine" smell to it but the meds cleared it up but now constantly in the bathroom and it hurts to dispose anything. Hope this helps and wish i knew. Also for six pills once a day $40 bucks???? really and thats with my insurance. | F | 22 | 6 days | 12/5/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | My first symptoms were tightness and pain behind my knees. I did not read the drug side effect insert (how many of us do that?) until I had taken Levaquin for 7 days. I have been off the drug for 3 weeks and the symptoms have worsened. I now have pain and swelling in my left calf. What should I do? I am terrified after reading all of the comments. | Do NOT take this drug! I can't imagine why it is still on the market. | F | 59 | 7 days | 12/5/2009 | 1 | sinus infectionf | horrible exhaustion, and pain in neck, back,lower back down legs! | I'm sorry I gave this one a chance!If you are an athlete especially...which I"m a runner.. I was afraid to run when I heard about the tendons. thing.. but I thought I was getting the flu or something with all the pains. then read more into the side effects..and WOW.. I'm glad I stopped taking it and really hope things get back to normal this is awful.. I can barely sit! This drug should NOT be on the market! | F | 42 | 11 days | 12/4/2009 | 1 | H1N1/Pneumonia | Extreme vomiting, increased anxiety/panic attacks, nervousness, extreme pain in right knee | I would never take this drug again! Was hospitalized for H1N1/pneumonia and was given this drug intervenously. Couldn't sleep, was restless all the time, had weird thoughts, wanted to hurt myself to make the anxiety go away. | F | 44 | 5 days | 12/4/2009 | 1 | pneumonia | soreness on lower back calf | Took two doses, and on the morning after the second one had pain in achilles tendon area. Thought maybe it was psychological bc I read the side effects, but now believe that it is really there. Called Dr. and got Rx changed to Zpack. | F | 43 | 2 days | 12/3/2009 | 1 | sinusitis | shoulder pain, knee pain, calf pain, extreme insomnia, nervousness this started after about 5 days on pill | after reading all the comments, I'm scared! | F | 61 | 8 days | 12/1/2009 | 1 | Colon Virus | 750 mg. Now I walk like I am 80 years old. I had taken this for 7 days and noticed I was limping around the 4th day, but attributed it to sleeping "crooked". Continued to take it and woke up this morning and can't walk. I was in tears. This is not a medication that I EVER would take again. I think the FDA needs to know about how crippling this is. I am going to my regular Board Certified Internal Medicine specialist and asking him some questions. I wonder if I will ever get better | F | 48 | 7 days | 11/28/2009 | 1 | Colon Infection | Severe joint and muscle pain. Started a few days after I finished taking the meds. I had IV in hospital for 3 days and 500 milligrams for 10 days. Felt like I had run a marathon. | My neck is very stiff. My shoulders ache all the time. My joints in fingers are very painful. I wake every night with one or both hands asleep. I feel like I am 100 years old. Do not feel like doing things. Just want my life back. | F | 51 | 11/24/2009 | 1 | Pnuemonia | Took 20 days of levaquin for a very resistant pnuemonia, 5 years ago. Horrible pain throughout my body, especially my back, hips and hands. Fatigue; loss of sensation throughout, most severe in hands and feet; muscle pain and weakness; numbness, burning and neuropathic pain from my right elbow to my fingertip and both feet. I returned to my Dr. several times and was diagnosed with: depression, fibromyalgia, lupus, lupus- like syndrome, post infective arthritis, and, my all time favorite, pychosomatic pain. I am just now hearing about the side effects of levaquin. I am a healthy, very active person. For about a year and a half after taking this medication, I was barely able to move. To this day, the right side of my body feels like I had a stroke because of the weekness and I have approximately 40% of the feeling in my hands and feet (when they aren't burning, that is). The majority of the pain is gone but my hands still hurt terribly. I drop things and stumble all the time but | Think carefully before taking this medication. I will never take another medication without researching all side effects. | F | 38 | 20 days | 11/24/2009 | 1 | Sinusitis | Dizziness, nausea, panic attacks, insomnia, brain fog. | Just three days this medicine nearly sent me to the hospital. I got 3-4 panic attacks in 30 minutes, had a rapid heart beat, was very incoherent and fatigued beyond belief. DO NOT take this drug. Too many people have been killed or crippled by it. There are cheaper safer alternatives. Don't let your doc convince you to take it again as mine tried. It's your life and health. | F | 22 | 3 days | 11/23/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | After taking Levaquin for 7 days I started feeling Muscle pain and fatigue. At first I thought I was getting worse but then I started thinking it was the drug. I went back to the Dr. he drew some blood and prescribed me another week of the drug. At this point I was in a lot of pain. I had run out of the first rx and not filled the second. Just one day off the drug I felt a difference so I called my Dr. and told him I wasn't going to take it anymore and to give me something else. He had gotten my bloodwork back and my liver enzymes were off the charts. He asked me to come back in. My labs had been drawn the month before for routine yearly labs and they were normal. After 2 weeks off the drug my enzymes went back to normal but I can't get rid of the muscle aches! He put me on an anti-inflammatory for 30 days and it helped a little. It has now been 4 months and by the end of the day my muscles in my legs and the joints in my hips hurt so bad I can hardly climb the stairs to go t | Don't take the drug! | F | 50 | 7 days | 11/22/2009 | 1 | e. coli infection in kidneys | hallucinations (while taking it), long-term chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, cognitive impairment and dozens of other randomly-occurring symptoms | This medication has cost me what could have been the most productive years of my life. I took it for two days over 8 years ago, and went from a basically healthy person to an exhausted person in chronic pain, which has gotten a little better over time, but not much. The serious, permanent side effects of Levaquin have been established for years. Why is it still on the market? Perhaps having the drug companies fund the FDA isn't such a good idea. I've spent some part of every day for 8 years trying to find out what happened to me, and today I finally found the answer. This type of information should be a little easier to find, wouldn't you think? Man, am I upset! | M | 48 | 2 days | 11/20/2009 | 1 | Cyst on Back | Quick onset headache/migraine, dizziness, light-headed, diahrea, weakness. | I would definitely recommend taking a weaker antibiotic first, and only take these in severe conditions. | M | 28 | 1 days | 11/19/2009 | 1 | pneumonia | severe stomach cramps and nausea; fatigue; trouble sleeping | F | 50 | 5 days | 11/16/2009 | 1 | Skin infection | Extreme pain in both shoulders and both biceps. Pain in finger joints. Indigestion, explosive diarrhea, dizziness and fogginess. | I will never take this antibiotic again! I have been off the drug for 4 days and still no relief from the pain and indigestion. | F | 55 | 7 days | 11/13/2009 | 1 | Pneumonia | My mother was the patient taking the medication. She is bedridden as I type. I received a call at work today that my mother had fallen out of bed and was in severe pain. Her legs were shaking, she was near tears. She told me she thought it was these pills. She only took 4 of the 500 milligrams. I looked them up and her symptoms all matched. I feel terribly guilty that I did not look this stuff up earlier and I let her take this poison. | You just assume there is a level of protection from the government, you know? Why in GOD's name does the FDA allow levaquin to be sold, or in this case given away as samples? Johnson and Johnson, the FDA and some quack have destroyed my mother's quality of life. My they all burn in hell. | M | 40 | 4 days | 11/13/2009 | 1 | UTI | Severe tendon pain , nightmares , insomnia ,ear-ringing and sound sensitivity , HELP !!! I took a month ago and just now feeling the effects ..... | Pure poison , take at your own risk !! Read these stories , they are all true !! Go to FQvictims.Org. to see the destruction they cause , wished I had earlier !! | M | 22 | 5 days | 11/12/2009 | 4 | pneumonia | my dosage is 500 mg daily; no adverse side affects; at this point I feel better but still have a bad cough; also taking generic mucinex (20mg dextromethorphan, 400 mg guaifenesin) 3 times a day; no other drugs at this time but prior to diagnosis was taking tylenol for fever and delsym for cough | I read the documentation from the pharmacy before taking this and was on the lookout for the slightest adverse reaction. Looks like it can have some very serious side affects. I'm supposed to take it for 14 days. | F | 50 | 3 days | 11/11/2009 | 1 | Bronchitis | After the day 5,I could not open and close my hands without it hurting and it was swollen. I could not walk without limping because my legs and entire body hurt. I am still itching after two months and my my hands still hurt. This medicine should be taken off the shelf. Definitely poison.!!!!Do Not Take this Levaquin!!!!Warning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 | F | 42 | 5 days | 11/11/2009 | 1 | Abscess | Taking 750mg Levaquin x7 days given as samples by my doctor so no label or side effects explanation attached. Severe insomnia, left knee swelling and pain, difficulty walking, feeling of detatchment and nervousness. I just found this site today after taking my last dose. I want to go and throw up the last poison pill in my stomach! | I'm really unhappy and scared as I was basically a healthy individual, physically active but now I can't even climb stairs without holding on to the rail for dear life. I want my life back! I'm praying these side effects will diminish, not sure where to turn. I don't want to get my MD in trouble, but he did give me a handful of sample blister packs so I had no idea what the side effects were. | F | 44 | 7 days | 11/10/2009 | 5 | Chronic bronchitis | Lethargy, aching arms, stiff neck, insomnia | I was given a 5 day course of the 750 mg. This after zithromax didn't help me for a big bad sinus infection and bronchitis. After a few days was feeling so much better. | F | 43 | 5 days | 11/9/2009 | 1 | Prostatitis | Disabling tendon, muscle, and joint pain and weakness all over my body, lasting 6 weeks so far. Major difficulty walking or standing, or doing any normal activities. Sudden, obvious increase in joints popping and cracking. Brief auditory hallucination. Generalized itching. | One 500mg dose of this dangerous drug attacked every tendon, from my jaw to my toes. Please, don't risk taking this or any other fluoroquinolone if there is ANY other, safer alternative. Fluoroquinolones have been shown in several studies to be TOXIC to tendon cells. If you do take it, STOP and tell your doctor immediately if you notice ANY joint, tendon, or muscle pain, or nervous system effects. Many people take this without problems, but be aware that it absolutely can CRIPPLE you with one dose, as it did me. I could not walk or stand for more than a couple minutes for several weeks. Six weeks later I am still extremely limited and in pain. A well-respected doctor who is knowlegeable of these reactions said my recovery could take 8-10 MONTHS. Also, realize that even Rx nasal sprays can be STERIODS, which will increase your chances of tendon side effects. Neither I nor my family will take this again unless it is do-or-die. Even then, I am not sure I would choose enduring months or more of disability and pain from taking this drug. | M | 35 | 1 days | 11/6/2009 | 1 | suspected pneumonia | nausea, stomach cramps, diarrhea, hand and arm tingling, muscle fatigue, confusion, headache, shoulder pain, popping noises in my feet, unsteady feeling when I walk. NONE of these symptoms were present BEFORE taking this medication. | My doctor doesn't think my symptoms are caused by this drug but I refuse to take any more of it. I react swiftly to drugs and I am very in tune with my body. The types of pains I am experiencing, I have never felt with any other infection. I was feeling 95% better when I was prescribed this medicine. He wanted me to take it as a just in case measure after having so much trouble with my asthma after probable swine flu two and a half weeks ago. I was still coughing up phlegm, but the cough was getting better and the amount of discharge from my lungs was becoming less and less. This medicine made me feel very ill... like I was coming down with the flu all over again. I took this medicine just 24 hours ago. I am not taking any more. I still feel nauseous and weak. I will never take Levaquin again. (I was only on the 500 mg dose.) | F | 33 | 1 days | 11/6/2009 | 1 | pneumonia | It has been nearly 11 months now since I took Levaquin. A week into it I developed severe knee pain, as if I had a bad muscle strain. It developed rapidly into such severe pain that I couldn't walk for days. Now, 11 months later, I still have the severe pain whenever I walk and I can't handle steps or hills. The orthopedic doc xrayed again today. Have avascular necrosis of the femoral head, along with osteoarthritis in the knee. Happened, literally, overnight while on the Levaquin. Now I will be facing surgery and hope that saves the knee. | F | 62 | 10 days | 11/5/2009 | 1 | Prostatitis | complete physical exhaustion, body aches, sore tendons, numb lips, pain behind eyeballs, general loss of focus. | BTW I am a real person that doubted taking this drug after warnings from my parents and reading so much on internet. I opted to try sulfates for my prostatitis after initially being prescribed 500 mg levaquin for 21 days. It did not work so I figured I would give this drug a chance and play Russian Roullete in hopes I would not be affected like all these other people I read about. I was wrong, I tried to weather the storm as a point of pride but after 16 days I quit. Yesterday on my day off I could barely get out of bed and it felt like my eyeballs were going to pop out of socket. Dealing with this drug is far worse than dealing with the pain I took it for. I am going to choose another doctor. I feel like the Hippocratic Oath in this day and age has become a joke and doctors are becoming no better than ambulance chasing lawyers out for a cheap buck. | M | 37 | 16 days | 11/4/2009 | 1 | infected toe | I had terrible knee pain which eventually went away. The more significant problems that are still with me are tennis elbow in the left elbow and a torn right shoulder rotator cuff. I felt the elbow pull when lifting a half full bag of trash and the right shoulder tore when I was startled and turned around quickly. Neither of these injuries should have happened. I had never has any problem with these two joints. The orthopedic surgeon wanted to do surgery on the shoulder right away but I stalled for a month and then he said that I might not need surgery. However, I think it is getting worse now. | LEVAQUIN IS POSION. Do not use it for other than a life threatening situation where there is no alternative. Also, CVS in June 2009 did not give me the FDA mandated medication guide. This drug was prescribed for me by a podiatrist (not a M.D.) who I went to because my doctor was away. When I called him he did not seem to know about all the recent controversy surrounding this drug. Even though the information is out there, I fell through the cracks. I didn't notice the new warning section at the top of the regular CVS paper and CVS never gave me the medication guide that is mostly about tendon problems. One CVS pharmacist I talked to at another CVS didn't think there was a FDA mandated medication guide for Levaquin. They appear to be relying on their computer system to spit these things out as needed and hopefully someone will put it in your bag. Knowing what I know now, if I was a pharmacist I would personally put it in the bag and personally point it out to the patient. I would have noticed the guide and stopped taking the drug at the first sign of pain. | M | 59 | 7 days | 11/2/2009 | 2 | urinary tract infection | I was on 750 mg dose for 8 days. NASTY metallic taste in mouth is still there a week after stopping. Also, the infection went away, but I've been lethargic and still have some lightheadedness | M | 52 | 8 days | 10/31/2009 | 1 | sinus infection | insomnia, numbness,vaginitis, severe back and neck pain, extreme fatigue, tendonitis was exacerbated, no appetite, fogginess, forgetfulness....and then some. | I would never take Levaquin again. It has debilitated me and I can only hope that it is temporary. | M | 58 | 2 days | 10/31/2009 | 3 | Bronchitis | Muscle pain, dizzyness, trouble sleeping. | Muscle pain has continued now for 5 days past stopping the drug. | M | 49 | 10 days | 10/30/2009 | 1 | UTI | Severe incessant itching all over my body, tingling of hands and feet, very bad itching on my palms and soles of my feet. Large hives all over my body. Edema and tingling of hands and feet. | This drug should be banned! I took the first round of this drug about 1 year ago for a typical UTI. I had no noticeable side effects. I recently had another UTI (get them rarely - about 1 a year or every other year), so my doctor prescribed the same treatment. Luckily I only had 2 doses of 500 mg each time. The reaction I had started approx. 1 week after finishing the 2nd round. For no apparent reason, I started itching everyehere on my body - my back, my front, my rear, my legs, and most noticeably my palms and soles of my feet. I itched for hours every night! The itching was very bad at night. I developed a rash, very bad hives, and most recently the latest side affect is edema of my hands and ankles and feet. The swelling causes my hands to go numb or tingle/burn. The itching is unbelievable and embarrassing and I already had to miss work. To be sure this was a true allergic reaction I visited a dermotologist because at the time I did not equate these sypmtoms with Levaquin. He immediately recognized this as such and prescribed a heavy dose of anti-histamine to quell the itch, and an oral steroid. I should know better than to just take a drug without reading all about it first. I normally do my homework but trusted my doctor's judgement. | F | 44 | 2 days | 10/23/2009 | 1 | Sinus Infection | Seriously fast pulse, high blood pressure, dizzy, hallucinations, panic, strange and frightening drugged feeling. These came on about ten minutes after taking Levaquin. Also had difficulty concentrating and insomnia. I was on 500 MG and only took two doses and threw them out. It took three days to get back to normal. In the three days after taking Levaquin I still felt extremly drugged and drowsy and two days after taking it I experienced an upset in my intestines. | I would suggest that no one take this drug. I felt as if I'd consumed some type of poison. After seeing the side effects and the black box warning from the FDA I'd only take this medicine again if it were a life and death situation. | M | 26 | 2 days | 10/23/2009 |
| Key to
ratings: 5-Very Satisfied: this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal. 4-Satisfied: this medicine helped. 3-Somewhat Satisfied: this medicine helped somewhat. 2-Not Satisfied: this medicine did not work to my satisfaction. 1-Dissatisfied: I would not recommend taking this medicine. |