Drug Ratings for LEVAQUINAverage Rating: 1.7 (1873 Ratings)
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Results are sorted by Date Rating Was Added Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LEVAQUIN | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
  | F M | | | | |||
| 1 | throat/ear | Nausa,Foggy brain,forgetting what i am doing or have to do,pain in the bottom of my feet-like burning,finger tingaling arms also heavy feeling-I AM SCARED...will this go away-Doctor says IT IS ALL IN MY HEAD>>>>??????? | BAD POISON | F | 53 | 8 days 500 1X D | 8/19/2010 | 3 | sinus infection | 2 days after taking this medicine, my neck on the left side started to hurt and then the muscles in my shoulder,everything was inflamed and killing me. I thought at first it was because i had slept on it the wrong way and after 3 days of heat,ben gay and 800 mg of Ibuprofen I am still hurting. has anyone else experienced this type of reaction. | F | 53 | 10 days 750 1X D | 8/16/2010 | 1 | ear infection | I was prescribed Levaquin for 10 days but only took 1 pill because I started itching and having tightness in my throat. It has been two days and now I am very sleepy and achy in my body. I feel like I am in a daze or something. Hopefully, this goes away really soon. | F | 28 | 1 days 500 mg 1X D | 8/15/2010 | 1 | sinus infection | I now have very bad soreness in both legs and under my feet. It hurts when I walk or even when I'm sitting. I work in the ER 3 12 hour shifts. It's really been bad the last few days. | F | 40 | 5 days 750mg 1X H | 8/15/2010 | 1 | hoarse throat | Horrible. Took 5 of 7, if you read this, TAKE NONE. Has been 4 months, entire body almost paralyzed. cramping in both lower extemeties, very stiff with cramps in center of both feet. Tired beyond belief, have been very active all my life. Achelees tendons very stiff, spasms throughout entire body in random fashion | I am not a doctor, have been to 6. My recommendation is to find the best Rheumatologist and discuss Methotrexate, now used for inflammation. Has helped me tremendously, sad that not one Dr. will admit the real cause. They all say "I don't know". Prednisone is helping and am working off of that to Metho, not a Streriod and much safer. Keep an eye on sugar levels. If every other drug fails, and you are in a life or death mode, take to prevent death. If not, do not take this. Email me if you wish | M | 62 | 5 days 750MG 1X D | 8/13/2010 | 1 | Post Operation | You are a fool if you take this medicine. I suffered skin rash over entire body trunk arms and legs after TWO PILLS and was taken to ER and treated with prednisone which had no effect. After 5 years I still have flare ups. Since I am having another today I thought I would try to warn others. No treatment stops the rash it has to go away on its own. You are a fool if you take this medicine. | The people saying how great this is on this board either work for the Drug Company or are getting paid to bogus post. Two pills and now the same symptoms off and on for the last 5 years. | M | 58 | 1 days 500mg 4X D | 8/9/2010 | 1 | uti | have foot pain in both feet podiatrist doesnt know whats causing problem had to wrap both feet but they still hurt. | will not use this drug again,the cure is worse than the infection | F | 76 | 10 days 500 1X D | 8/5/2010 | 1 | Possible groin infection | Foot pain, achellis tendon discomfort. | Pain started towards the end of the prescription. Now chronic after 2 months after stopping medication. | M | 52 | 30 days 500 mg 1X D | 8/5/2010 | 4 | acute recurrent sinus infection | I basically had no significant side effects other than a bit of sleeplessness. This is a strong drug which can cure difficult sinus infections not responsive to other antiobiotics. Doctors often prescribe it (with caution) along with prednisone, which reduces inflammation in the sinus tissues and thus allows drainage of the bacteria the Levaquin kills. | Yes, this is a powerful drug, and yes, some people are allergic to it or have bad side effects. However, the same can be said for nearly every drug on the market today! How many people out there are allergic to aspirin? How many people's stomachs kill them if they take one aspirin? That doesn't mean that aspirin should be removed from the market, simply because NOT EVERYONE is allergic or experiences negative side effects. When you are prescribed ANY DRUG, it is your responsibility to read completely the patient information in the package. It is also your responsibility to tell your doctor if you have any misgivings about taking a drug BEFORE YOU TAKE IT. So many of the people who have written comments note that they didn't KNOW before they took this drug that it could have serious side effects. Are you kidding? Why would you ever put a pill into your body before you know what it could do if you are allergic to it? That's why pharmaceutical companies are required to put out the patient information - so you can read it and make an informed decision about whether or not you wish to take the drug. A lot of people are allergic to peanut butter. Should the FDA ban it? Many people are allergic to shellfish and nuts. Should the FDA ban them? More people benefit from these drugs than are harmed by them, but only you can inform yourself and act on your information or fears. Also, for God's sake, if you feel 'weird' after taking any drug, call your doctor. Don't do w | F | 52 | 14 days 500 mg. 1X D | 7/30/2010 | 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 | 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 | 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 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 |