Post Marketing Reports for December 1999

mryan470 <mryan470@e...
Date: Sat Dec 25, 1999 4:39am
Subject: Re: Merry Christmas
Hello and Happy Holidays to everyone!
I just wanted to mention that I had an adverse reaction to Levaquin
(neurological) and my doctor refused to return my calls after the initial
complaint I made about my adverse reaction. I always wondered why he stopped
all contact with me, we seemed to get along fine, he had just done a whole
bunch of blood tests and I wanted my results (not to mention a prescription
for a different drug than Levaquin, since my speech was so slurred I
couldn't talk and I couldn't walk properly) He never returned my calls,
never told me what my blood tests said, nothing.....his secretary couldn't
understand why he stopped all contact with me, she was SO apologetic. Now
maybe I have an idea.
If that is why he discontinued treating me as a patient, he must be very
afraid of something.

Doc 231
965From: Paul <pandsv@a...
Date: Sat Dec 18, 1999 11:10pm
Subject: Levaquin and Depression?

I'm not sure whether this was the levaquin, my genetics, or a
combination of both. I was prescribed levaquin for a sinus
infection. After taking it for several days I was in misery. I was
severely anxious, nauseous, weaker than when I started, sleepless,
and had a tingling in my right finger tips and toes. I thought I was
dying. I went to the emergency room where the doctor said I was
having a panic attack. I was subsequently diagnosed with depression.
Something I'd never experienced in my 32 years. I've been on
antidepressants for 6 weeks and have just started feeling normal. I
still can't sleep for any stretch longer than 4 hours. Did the
levaquin trigger something in my genetic makeup (family history of
depression)? I don't know. It cured the sinusitis but the side
effects made me feel like I was coming apart

Doc 230
1009From: Arlene Shovald <arlene@c...
Date: Thu Dec 23, 1999 2:07am
Subject: Re: Doctor's app't and lists

To Luffagus -
I have been told by several doctors to "stay off the computer" as
well. They totally devalue opinions and advise from people who are
suffering from the FQ problems.
Interestingly enough, about 30 years ago I can remember going to a
doctor about some problem - I forget what it was - and he told me I
was "reading too many women's magazines!"
Arlene

Doc 229
1003From: cbrigante@m...
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 9:04am
Subject: Vision Problems

I posted early on in my Levaquin saga that my vision has been affected.
I suddenly needed a new prescription shorty after I was FQ'd, then
needed another change, this time a weaker prescription, 2 months later.
Previously, I needed eye exams every 2 years. I need another exam
again, but it'll have to wait. Also, my metabolism has changed. I
lost about 15 lbs. after being FQ'd, then 8 more when I developed the
ulcer & was afraid to eat. (Never had stomach problems before FQ).
Now I eat anything I want & don't gain weight. The way I'm eating, I
should have put that 20lbs back on. I look better, but the thought that
things are changing in my body is disquieting, to say the least. I
think somebody else wrote about that too. Also, the pain in my legs
moves around. I think someone, perhaps Melvin, gave an explanation for
that. Could you repeat it for me please? Judy

Doc 228
1001From: Luffagus@a...
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 4:14am
Subject: Blood Tests

I had a very bad resp. inf.when prescribed Leviquin. the blood results were
ok except for MCH and the MCHC. Does anyone know what these are as I was not
even told a diagnoisis except to take the Leviquin and of course the rest is
history.
Thanks
Lorayne

Doc 227

999From: Arlene Shovald <arlene@c...
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 5:25am
Subject: Re: Showing up again

Just to let everyone know, I called Ortho McNeil yesterday (Dec. 21) to ask
about the effects of the FQs on magnesium levels because of my extremely low
mg. level and my inability to absorb calcium. An expert was supposed to get
back to me. Surprise! No one did.
Arlene



Doc 226
947From: claude brigante <cbrigante@m...
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 10:45pm
Subject: Women of a certain age

I was 61 when I was FQ'd & am also small - 5'1", 125lbs. I've also
always been super sensitive to drugs, environment etc., & seem to
have idiocyncratic reactions to stimuli. I wear a TENS for a
bladder condition - Interstitial Cysititis. TENS units are only
supposed to be effective for 6 months to a year, I have been wearingj
it for 13 years & am still getting relief with it. If I turn it off
the pain starts again. I refer to myself as "the 1% of the
population" listed in the adverse reactions sections of drug info.
I'm even sensitive to odors, some perfumes, glues, paints will flare
up my I.C. unbearably. Demerol does nothing for me re pain relief
but Darvon, which is much milder, does bring relief. I learned this
in '95 when I had a complete hysterectomy. My doctor was amazed that
the Demerol he ordered for me was worthless, as is morphine. In my
hippie days, cocaine made me hungry & tired which was probably a
good thing as it saved me alot of money. "Downs" make me energetic,
"uppers" make me tired & hungry. Go figure. Judy


Doc 225
941From: mryan470 <mryan470@e...
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 2:27am
Subject: Re: "Women of A Certain Age"

Strange. My physician told me that "usually only the elderly have
neurological reactions similar to yours" when taking Levaquin.
I'm 34 years old.
Maria

Doc 224
940From: Judith Walther <passport@m...
Date: Wed Dec 15, 1999 1:39am
Subject: Re: "Women of A Certain Age"

I was almost 57 when I took Cipro for 3 days and woke up reeling with
vertigo & balance gone. Stayed that way for 2 weeks before my brain started
to adjust. Then Urologist gave me 2 Floxin and that made my head quiver
inside like jello, vision was like a runaway camcorder and both shoulders
had tendinitis. No natural hormones, but taking Prempro. No rash that I
noticed.

Take care,
Judith

Doc 223
922From: Rick Tyler <rick@r...
Date: Wed Dec 8, 1999 7:46pm
Subject: Eye Problems

I've posted a couple of times that I suffer from "blurred vision" in my
left eye. This was terrible around early July -- when I was also
suffering from bad depression -- and has been getting better. Some
days it hardly bothers me, and even my periodic relapses of joint and
muscle pain, and "brain fog" don't usually involve relapses of the
vision problem. Generally, by the way, I've been getting better, with
each relapse not being as severe as the one before it. I was FQ'd
about June 1, 1999.

I'm writing this to ask what kinds of vision problems the rest of you
have been having. I call it "blurry vision" but that is really not a
good description. My eye problem has three components. First, I
become sensitive to light. I have trouble driving at night because
headlights hurt my eyes. As you would expect, this is most noticeable
at night. Second, there is a kind of shimmering brightness in the
vision of my left eye. This has only happened twice, once around July
4 when my light sensitivity was the worst, and again this week. It's
pretty scary. Third, I can feel my left eye. It isn't really pain,
it's more like mild irritation. This gets worse and better, but it
hasn't really gone away since I was FQ'd. This week it's very distinct.

Despite these problems, the vision in my left eye is only slightly
worse than it was. In the summer of 1998 my correction in my left eye
was about -3.75 and now it's about -4.00. My opthalmologist says that
a quarter diopter is not a big change in a year, and is well within
normal changes. Someone else who has posted here mentioned that she
had been forced to get new optical prescriptions frequently (every
month? every three months?) because her vision was deteriorating.
This does not seem to be the case with me.

So, does this sound familiar? Does anyone else have light
senstitivity, bright spots, and/or irritation? The opthalmologist
doesn't seem to be worried, and, of course, has never heard of FQs
affecting vision. I would feel better, strangely, if this was another
FQ reaction and not some other sinister medical problem.

-- Rick



Doc 222
919From: Leo GLANGETAS <glangeta@c...
Date: Wed Dec 8, 1999 5:05pm
Subject: Tendinopathy with FQ: more than 2 years

In January of 1997, I was prescribed Enoxacine for 10 days.
A month later I have had a severe Achilles tendinitis.
Last summer the left patellar tendon was also injured
and now my two hands are affected with tendinitis.
Finally I have a quite generalized tendinitis.

I would like to receive news and advices from anyone having suffered
identical problems during a so long time.

Thanks for answers.

Leo glangeta@c...


Doc 229
1003From: cbrigante@m...
Date: Wed Dec 22, 1999 9:04am
Subject: Vision Problems

I posted early on in my Levaquin saga that my vision has been affected.
I suddenly needed a new prescription shorty after I was FQ'd, then
needed another change, this time a weaker prescription, 2 months later.
Previously, I needed eye exams every 2 years. I need another exam
again, but it'll have to wait. Also, my metabolism has changed. I
lost about 15 lbs. after being FQ'd, then 8 more when I developed the
ulcer & was afraid to eat. (Never had stomach problems before FQ).
Now I eat anything I want & don't gain weight. The way I'm eating, I
should have put that 20lbs back on. I look better, but the thought that
things are changing in my body is disquieting, to say the least. I
think somebody else wrote about that too. Also, the pain in my legs
moves around. I think someone, perhaps Melvin, gave an explanation for
that. Could you repeat it for me please? Judy

Doc 33
231From: gme@c...
Date: Fri Apr 30, 1999 9:28pm
Subject: Levaquin and pre-existing seizure disorder

I had a reaction after taking only 2 Levaquin. I got numbness in my hands, legs and feet, stabbing pain in my bones in my legs, muscle cramps in hands and feet, twitches ( faciculations), spasms, vision problems, and carpal tunnel syndrome.I have been exercising daily, taking many vitamins, no caffeine, asparteme,or colas. While I was taking Levaquin I was drinking colas and taking steroids for asthma related problems.I also got these bumpy knotty muscles that itched-but I never had the raised bumps that are described in the PDR. Since I had a prior history of a seizure disorder, my EEG was all screwed up and I had to take an additional seizure medication-dilantin-although they were only subclinical seizures the physician thought another medication was prudent.I took the Levaquin almost 5 months ago. I was doing pretty well until I changed what I was doing. My asthma flared up and I had to take Zithromax. Because I didn't swim for a couple of weeks,( for some reason I thought it was only a few days until I looked at the calendar!) I began to ache like I did before. I also changed my diet during this time and increased caffeine and cola intake to maybe once a day. Now I really am in pain. The other seizure drug I am on is neurontin and I think it may be helping to take the edge off the pain. I am starting back to exercising and no caffeine and I hope this is effective. Any suggestions??? Anyone out there with a prior history of a seizure disorder take Levaquin. I'd like to hear from people who have a prior history of CNS involvement. Mia





Doc 24
125From: ctraylor@a...
Date: Wed Mar 17, 1999 0:01am
Subject: Answer to Arlene

Sorry you have been sick so long too. No I never had nausea but just feel sick for loss of a better way to describe it. For two weeks after I took it I was just down. It was the strangest thing I had ever encountered. I now wake up some days with my face swollen somewhat. It has just done something to me. The pain for two months was bad but just not feeling right is almost as bad. When I see messages from the others, I hate to hear about their doctor's telling them levaquin isn't the cause of their symptoms. The Doctor I saw after 5 pills told me to stop taking it immediately. He said they were hearing some real horror stories about some drugs. He gave me a prescription for another antibiotic that cleared up the infection with no side effects. I never did tell the walk-in-clinic where I got the levaquin about getting sick. I guess I should have told them but I was pretty unhappy with them for giving it to me in the first place. Sorry, didn't mean to write so much. Got started and couldn't find a stopping place. Best wishes to you. ctraylor

Doc 232
970From: Rolf von der Emden, M.D. <drvde@0...
Date: Mon Dec 20, 1999 5:13pm
Subject: Showing up again

Hi everybody!

I am also a quinolone victim after ahving taken cipro in dec 1998.
It changed a lot since the last time I took a look into the forum. Let
me say especially hello to beth and linda and some others I exchanged a
lot of emails.
I had more or less to undergo the same hell as almost everybody on this
forum.
I guess that it might be interesting for the others to give a short
update how my condition is now after 1 year.
Muscle pain: vanished
tremor: vanished
Hypersensitivity: Has got a great deal better but still is active esp.
without medication
vision problems: vanished
tendon problemes: almost unchanged, may be little improvements
sleeping problems: without constant medication sleeping still is
impossible. I have tried it countless times but it end up with
nightmares, being soaked with sweat and racing heart. At least I have
found a mixture of herbs wtih seem to have almost no side effects and
can avoid to take benzodiazepines or neuroleptics.
Physical condition: still have arrythmias esp. when I try to exercise
and sleeping problems increase.

I tried to interest a major newsmagazine for our problems in the
meantime, but they showed no interest.

Rolf



Doc 17
Inviato: giovedì 23 dicembre 1999 2.19
A: quinolones@egroups.com
Oggetto: [quinolones] Doctor's app't and lists


Good Luck with the Doctor. When I told my Doctor that I am in a group of
people who have had ADR's to Med's she told me to stay off the computer. The
next week I rec'd a certified letter in the mail that she was no-longer
going
to be my physician and no reason stated.
So Good Luck! I hope it works for you.