Post Marketing Reports for November 2002

From: "Tori" <tori@m...>
Date: Fri Nov 1, 2002 12:49 pm
Subject: Are these side effects? I'm CURRENTLY taking Levaquin.
Hi-
I stumbled upon this group because I was checking to see if this
horrible metallic taste in my mouth was a side effect of Levaquin.
I'm a 23 yr old female who was prescribed this drug, 500 mg for 10
days, because I have bronchitis, sinus infection and UTI concurrently.
The metallic taste started two days into the treatment, and yesterday
I became nauseous and threw up, then suffered from a migraine that is
still not completely gone. I am not sure if the burning muscle pain
in my lower arms is from this, or my fibromyalgia, but it seems way
worse today. I am on my 4th day of treatment, and I'm scared to go
off because my infections are severe, but I don't know if the side
effects are worse? Any help would be appreciated.

Tori

From: "qyit19313" <qyit19313@y...>
Date: Fri Nov 1, 2002 1:08 pm
Subject: Reaction from Levaquin

I stumbled across this website today and decided to become a member
and to tell a little bit about my reaction from levaquin. I
unfortunately am one of the few people who have acquired Stevens-
Johnson Syndrome due to levaquin. I am also suffering from joint and
muscle pains. I didn't know that these pains were associated with
this drug until I came across this website. I also did not know that
peripheral neuropathy was also a side effect. I was already suffering
from nerve damage and it was one of the reasons i was hospitalized
when they administered this medication. I had no signs of infection
when this medication was given to me. No one told me the side effects
of this medication while i was hospitalized. However they knew my
previous medications and conditions when i was admitted. They
obviously did not do any cross references when they decided to
administer this medication. Their reasoning for starting this
medicine was just in case i needed surgery of which i did not need.
I requested that they stop administering this medicine and they did
not. I don't know what the dosage amounts of the medicine was by
miligrams or grams but i do know that they gave me at least 3 or more
bags a day for four or five days. My fever skyrocketed and they
could not figure out why it woould not break. I ended up with almost
no white blood cells to fight for me, my liver enzymes elevated
outrageously and my gluclose counts were extremely high. I had to
have insulin injections when before this occured I only had to take a
mild pill dosage. I am experiencing so many symptoms described by
other persons on this website. I am outraged at the treatment that I
received and lack of information given by this health care facility.
The Stevens-Johnson Syndrome alone was a true nightmare and I feel
forever greatful I unlike alot of others have survived this
condition.I will continue to check this website for more information
on this drug and welcome any questions concerning my condition.


From: Sharon Jones <qyit19313@y...>
Date: Fri Nov 1, 2002 6:09 pm
Subject: Re: [quinolones] Re: Reaction from Levaquin

Hi, thanks for responding to me. I had Stevens-Johnson Syndrome this past
July. I still get mouth sores. My skin still burns and itches. I have a
serious discoloration to my skin. I think I have scar tissue in my intestinal
track which i will soon have checked. When it first occured I had scar tissue
come out of my eyes, nose, ears, mouth (gums) and rectum. I bled for a month
and a half (rectal) and have had problems passing my bowels ever since. My
vision gets blurry alot. I have serious pains in my joints and muscles. The
tingling burning sensation is unbearable so i have to use narcotics for pain.
I am hoping to find some type of relief in the future but I am also leary about
anything I have to put in my system. I never knew that medication could damage
a person so severly. Oh yea all my fingernails fell off. My taste buds are
horrible and I can't sleep anymore. If I think of anything else I will email
you again (we always forget something **smiles** ) I hope your condition
never gets as extreme as mine...........peace



From: "flwrlady2002" <flwrlady2002@y...>
Date: Sat Nov 2, 2002 2:04 pm
Subject: Tequin Adverse Reaction

I've been reading these posts since I found this site sometime this
summer and have, for some reason, been scared or something to not
actually right about my own experiences.

I was given Zithromax for a sinus infection in Feb/March 2002 and
except for the sinus infection had nothing else wrong with me. I
told the dr that it seemed better after the 5 day course, but didn't
seem completely gone. That's when I was given Tequin - no side
effects or anything was told to me (and I, like some of us, didn't
ask). I started to get a coated tongue, my hands were starting to
get real dry, cracking, and purpley/blue looking with some shooting
pains, almost passed out three times, but didn't because I went to
the floor right away, don't remember how many times my heart felt
like it flip-flopped and thought I would have a heart attack. I
went back to dr who said her hands were dry and cracking to because
it was winter and the air is cold and dry. No kidding - but I never
had what was happening to my hands happen before in my life. She
looked at my tongue and hands and didn't seem too concerned and
almost seemed to be giggling at me with disbelief to what I was
saying. I also had vaginitis of some sort - took a test and came
back as yeast. I had previously looked up Tequin and got a report
telling me of all of these reactions that I was having and showed it
to her - didn't really look at it much and I said I wanted it put in
my file.

Then she decides she doesn't want to give me any other antibiotic
because of all the reactions I was having so she kept me on Tequin
and gave me something else called ? Pearls or Pearls something or
other.

Got much worse after this and stopped 3 days short of finishing the
Tequin. Found another dr and he looked at me like I was an idiot or
crazy. Still having reactions - did urine/blood/yeast test. Gave
me diflucan for yeast infection - seemed to help, but I still to
this day have some kind of problem. I originally got red and
irritated in my privates and some days it feels better, but other
days its worse. I was to 1st dr 2x and 2nd dr at least 7-8 xs now.
I also got severe anxiety at first really bad for 1 1/2 months and
it still is with me today. I take Ativan once/day or twice/day if
bad. I had/ve what feels like depersonalization. I ended up in the
hospital a month ago for what seemed like gallstones or kidney
stones or something - did chest xray and ultrasound of stomach said
there was nothing wrong. ER dr came back and told me I had
pneumonia even though it didn't show up on xray, but he heard some
clicking - what a joke! I had pneumonia once and believe me I know
what it feels like - I never had pneumonia. Gave me more Zithromax
to take home.

I know I've probably missed alot and forgot chronilogical sequence,
but this is the jist of it. Oh yeah, I wear glasses, but I know my
vision went wacko since then - can't focus right. That's all for
now. I will continue to write now and keep you updated on me too.



From: "Tori" <tori@m...>
Date: Tue Nov 5, 2002 12:33 pm
Subject: Needing some help...
I feel like I'm going mad. I am so forgetful feeling, and I thought
the side effects would go away by now. I only took 4 doses. Why do my
arms still burn and feel so heavy? I feel the tendons in my heels
click every time I walk. My eyes hurt. Are these all side effects or
is this all in my head 'cause I know I had a bad reaction?
The metallic taste has left me, however. One good thing.

Tori


From: "vlurken" <vlurken@y...>
Date: Wed Nov 6, 2002 6:46 pm
Subject: side effects of levaquin???

i have been taking levaquin for bronchitis and sinus infection. i
suddenly starting experiencing sharp pains in the muscles of my
calves and upper arms. after the pain subsides, the area is still
tender and sore. i reported this to my pharmacist today and was told
to discontinue the levaquin which i did. has anyone experienced
similar side effects???

thanks for any insight anyone can offer.
From: "sunluvrsus" <sunluvrsus@y...>
Date: Tue Nov 12, 2002 5:09 pm
Subject: Has anybody ever had a reaction to Avelox?

I had a sinus infection last week, and my doctor put me on Avelox
400mg. for 10 days, after i took the first dose I was very very
dizzy. My doctor told me to cut the pill in half and take one in the
morning and one at night. I did this for about four more days and
had intermittent dizziness and then I stopped taking the pill last
Wed. I am still dizzy, how long does the drug stay in your system?
Then I started reading all these things about quinolones, called my
doctor about it and am waiting for him to call me back. I had a very
foggy head the whole time too.

Phyllis


From: "qyit19313" <qyit19313@y...>
Date: Sat Nov 16, 2002 12:39 am
Subject: I work for the post office
Reading these post in reference to anthrax brings back some really
bad memories. Although I wasn't at one of the main post offices
affected with the anthrax problem (Thank You Lord!!) Our offices were
subjected to the ignorance of management. The mail from one of the
sites was sent to us to sort in the beginning until they realized how
serious this condition was. (what they really realized was they were
not omitted from the possibility of being contaminated) During the
process of figuring out just where the contaminants were, we were
treated horribly. My office was closed because of a scare which
turned out to be a false alarm. Nevertheless, they treated us like we
were at fault for the problem and not victims of circumstance. What
a nightmare. These days I am feeling really depressed. I am having
a hard time finding a lawyer to help me with my case. I am not
receiving any pay from my job. (it will be a year next month that I
haven't had an income. Then the post office has a nerve to fight me
for my disability retirement. I am still recovering from the sjs and
The pain is a nightmare. I am on narcotics which is depressing by
itself. Now I am having problems with my foot. I have a podiatry
appt. next week to have my foot checked. I understand that you can
get ruptured tendons from fq's. I am hoping this is not added to my
list. The pain well I can't describe the pain. I am just so down
(trying to keep my chin up but it is really hard.) A friend of mine
called me today and said one of our tv news personalities is out on
sick leave. She said when they described her symptoms she thought
they were talking about me. She said they also said something about
the antibiotics she was on. Hmmmmmmmmmmm.......and get this, her
husband is a doctor. You know i am about to investigate this story.
I will keep you all posted on what I find out. In the meantime I
will continue to work on my depressed state. This mess is horrible. I
wouldn't wish how I feel and what I went through on my worse enemy.
.........I went to the dermatologist this week as she was checking
my chart she asked me about my sjs and what caused it. I told her
levaquin. She says yes it will definately give you sjs. She told me
when patients are hospitialized for sjs that is the only time derms
have to do patient care in the hosp. She said fq's are drugs that
should be used very carefully. I was amazed by what was coming out
of her mouth. It felt good to know someone believed me when I said I
had and still are having reactions from levaquin. Just wanted to
share this bit of information with you guys...........peace


From: "kuredjianl" <lkuredjian@m...>
Date: Sun Nov 24, 2002 8:59 pm
Subject: I knew there was a reason to feel so terrible
I have been on levaquin since September 25 due to in injury from a
sting ray . I developed cellullittis and have been off and on
medication since last week I went into a mini revolt all the crap
was making me feel worse. Now this week I hurt everywhere and the
back of my good foot, not the one that was injured is hurting like
crazy. I thought it was my imagination until I saw tendons a
reaction to levaquin. I am also feeling tremendous pain in my arms
is this normal?. All I can think now is does lightning strike
twice, three years ago I developed ototoxcity from Gentamycin. It
has taken me three years to learn to walk again and now I'm walking
like an eighty year old. Please someone let me know how long this
effect from levaquin lasts. thank you laura


From: "littlemissnae" <elayne1@h...>
Date: Mon Nov 25, 2002 10:02 pm
Subject: Newbie here... Hi, my story, and... thanks?
My God, what a revelation. Here I was, thinking I was going insane,
thinking I was being a wuss... and then I got the idea to research
this drug I'd been taking... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

I took Levaquin about a year and a half ago, and had HORRIBLE
effects- pain, insomnia, adverse mental reactions. Called my doctor
after the second dose, saying I felt like I was going crazy, and
that I refused to take anymore. He gave me something else. Felt like
crud after, but it passed, and I forgot...

A little over a year ago I took Cipro... anti-terrorism and
an "anthrax" scare. I felt like crud, but I figure antibiotics
always make me feel bad. It passed, and I forgot...

6 months ago, I took Floxin. I hurt- horribly. Joint pain, muscle
aches, lethargy, insomnia... I looked at the side effects and
said, "Oh no, this is just like that other one... but it's not
making me feel AS bad, and I can't afford something else." I felt
like crud, but it passed, and I forgot...

2 weeks ago, I took Floxin again. I'm now in more pain than I've
been in ... well, in ages. Burning in my hips and back; feels like
muscle spasming in my back, joint pain in my neck, back, hips;
serious pain in my ankles and heels. I don't sleep well. I feel ...
foggy, mentally. It isn't passing, and I'm NOT forgetting.

I got online tonight, miserable, looking for SOMETHING... why I'm
hurting the way I am, what I could possibly have.

I found this group.

I found numerous articles ... I'm not the only one having this. I'm
not the only one suffering... I'm not ALONE.

I can't lie. I'm horrified. I'm also terrified, I can't imagine
spending the rest of my life with pain like this. I'm also confident
I won't HAVE pain like this forever...

But the main thing is... I feel validated. Thank you guys, for
creating this, for letting me know I'm not alone.

Renee