The following post marketing reports are from the Quinolone Adverse Drug Reaction Forum hosted by Yahoo, which is independently owned and operated and has no association with the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation.
 

December 2004 Post Marketing Reports

20847 From: jjmceb <jjmceb@y...>
Date: Wed Dec 1, 2004 0:30pm
Subject: New Victim seeking help
Is there a doctor that specializes in treating my "new illness" I am experiencing tendon pain, anxiety, temperature control issues, lack of appetite, Insomnia. What should I do? I went to my GP, he
thinks it is stress, but I don't think so. I was on Cipro for 9 days and have been off for 4 days. Any suggestions I will take.Thanks.



20868 From: lableslea <leslea@h...>
Date: Thu Dec 2, 2004 2:40pm
Subject: Close minded rheumatologist
Hi Everyone, Very frustrated with my visit to the rheumatologist, he wouldn't believe my pain is from a long term adr to Avelox. He wrote a research paper on how quinolone reactions are self limiting and
don't last more than 2 months and I guess he doesn't want to recognize any evidence to disprove his theory. If I had his e-mail address I would have everyone e-mail him their testimony to the contrary. I appreciate whoever left the message on Dr. Jay Cohen, his articles have been a great resource and I believe I am going to fax them to my rheumatologist with a note on how I feel about my non-treatment. I believe he needs to be informed so when someone else in our predicament comes along he might listen. I am going to see a orthopedist that a couple friends of mine highly recommend. I am interested in knowing to what extent my knee and hip joints are damaged and what exercise is good and what isn't. If I get any answers I'll let veryon know. I have gone from a very young 47 year old that worked two jobs, harvested sandstone up to 50 and 60 pounds for my landscaping projects on the weekends and kept up with my four active children to
an old woman that can barely make it through a day of work without wanting to sit in the corner and cry from the pain. I spend most of my evenings sitting because the pain only seems to be helped with rest.
My once immaculate well-organized house is now a disaster area and I can handle pain very well having had all four of my children naturally, but the frustration is what is getting me down. I am not any better after a year, in fact I'm worse because I tend to push when I probably shouldn't because I try not to let this affect my children's lives. Thanks to everyone for listening. Leslea


20869 From: windsorjunction2004 <windsorjunction2004@y...>
Date: Thu Dec 2, 2004 3:29pm
Subject: New Victim
I believe I may be a new victim of Levaquin. I was prescribed 500 Levaquin for 10 days, last day being Nov. 6. While on Levaquin I did experience some heat sensation through the body, sore shoulder, dull pain around kidney and the most disturbing were terrible dreams at night, insomnia. I mentioned to the pharmacist but he didn't think anything of it. I kept taking the full dose. On Nov. 8 I had a flu shot and saw my chiro on Nov.11. After that started with chills,like my body temperature was out of wack.Then had severe burning sensation in head neck area across back of shoulders down arms, mostly on left
side. Of course I thought the chiro may have inflamed something but the pain got worse. Saw my doctor, had blood tests, thyroid ultrasound, barium swallow (I lost 12 lbs by then), CT scan - everything reading normal. Then I thought about the sensations I had while on Levaquin and found this forum, so I think there is a connect. I brought info to my doctor (she agreed that the antibiotic could be the problem and also would never prescribe it to anyone because of the side effects) unfortunately she was away when I was
prescribed Levaquin! (my luck) She is sending me to light massage and prescribed elavil (10 lowest dose to help with pain and sleep, I've been cutting it in half recently) but doesn't have much to offer. I am taking Calmag, VitB, Acidopholus but have arranged to see a naturopath who may be able to help with supplements as it doesn't seem much else I can do. The extreme burning has subsided somewhat
at night, I have had a few good sleeps but not in a row. I feel like I have a permanent sunburn on my back and forehead, my head is a bit foggy at times and muscles a little weak. Even my tailbone feels a
bit sore. I will be seeing my chiro just for an assessment. So it has only been a month for me and I am hoping it doesn't get worse. Maybe some can answer that - do most of the worst reactions happen while on
the drug, a week after the drug or months after the drug? I guess everyone is different. At least this week I have been feeling hungry, (trying to eat only organic, I don't drink coffee, I am allergic to all ASA products so never take them and also allergic to Sulfa drugs, so I am usually very careful). My days have slowed down a lot but I believe things will get better with time. /A



20875 From: jjmceb <jjmceb@y...>
Date: Thu Dec 2, 2004 5:15pm
Subject: Is there any chance that this will go away in time
I have been feeling bad now for many days, but now I am not getting worse. Is there a chance that this "illness" will go away. My joints aren't hurting as bad as they were yesterday...The pharmacists say that I should be better in a week or two? I am hopeful, but I can tell that that is not the case with
everyone. I will keep praying for all of you.jjmceb. ps. All of my lab results came back ok?


20881 From: jmastersherm <jmastersherm@y...>
Date: Thu Dec 2, 2004 10:19pm
Subject: Re: How long do anxiety attacks last?
I've been off levaquin(5x750mg) and had an array of bizarre symptoms:SEVERE panic, weird dreams, insomnia,disassociation, hot/cold spells,variety of stomcah problems. Now I have pain in my legs and achilles tendon, though not severe. I've been on Xanax 1mg which helps a bit. I'm also going to begin
taking lexapro. My question is: How long do most people have CNS problems like anxiety after taking levaquin?


20889 From: Carlene <carly_smith@s...>
Date: Fri Dec 3, 2004 3:37am
Subject: Another new victim..possibly?
Hello all, I just found this group after doing some research on quinolones. I was prescribed Cipro a couple of times in 2001 following gall bladder surgery. Last January I had a kidney stone and a kidney infection and was given Levaquin ..twice, and more recently to treat a staph infection. For the last few years I have developed arthritis symptoms in my lower back and chronic bursitis in my hip and outer thigh.
After this last batch of Levaquin I noticed it got really bad to the point I am having to ice down my hip a lot, take hot baths for the back, and take a lot of Motrin. Also headaches. I was diagnosed with
these problems by an orthopedist about a year and a half ago and had 8 weeks of PT..which did nothing. I went from relatively active to barely being able to stand or walk for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Someone told me about the Levaquin problems so that spurred my suspicions. Does this sound like it could be related? Has anyone tried a liver cleanse or herbal remedies to help? Should I see a rheumatologist? Thanks in advance. I am almost to the end of my rope here.



20899 From: charlene goetz <adair1@c...>
Date: Fri Dec 3, 2004 2:34pm
Subject: RE: I started taking Avelox yesterday
Hi there, I also had a similar reaction from taking one Avelox and unfortunately when
I told the pharmacist about my experience, he said it was all in my head and to continue taking them. Well, that was probably the biggest health mistake of my life. After the second pill, I had an anaphylactic shock reaction, and the rest is history. It's been almost four years and many, many, different health issues later. I urge you not to take another Avelox or ANY quinolone antibiotic. Trust me, you do not want the problems that many of us experienced and continue to do so. Good luck and continue to ask questions when you have them. Charlene


20904 From: Carlene <carly_smith@s...>
Date: Sat Dec 4, 2004 0:13am
Subject: Re: Another new victim..possibly?
I can imagine. Since reading through this forum I now recognize some other problems I have had as being a possible side effect. I have had a very slight head tremor since the 80s when I had a really high fever from meningitis. I have noticed this year it has gotten worse, but had no clue as to why. I have had extreme "hot" episodes that I chalked up to hot flashes but now I wonder. I have had tingling in my hands
and fingers and in the last two weeks since this last dose of Levaquin, I have had arthritic type pain in the side of my hand..I thought I sprained it and couldnt figure out why suddenly I couldn’t open a jar. The week I took the Levaquin, I also had a sudden deep chest pain and saw floaters one day. It didnt happen again so I didn’t think much of it...thought the chest pain meant I needed to watch the cholesterol and the floaters I had no clue as to why that happened. I took a multiple vitamin, some flaxseed oil, and some CoEnzyme10 before bed last night and my pain was better today, with no Motrin. Not great, but better than it has been the last 2 weeks, or heck, maybe it's my imagination. I got up today and was able to walk about
1/8 mile for the first time in a while.


20912 From: brenruth12 <brenruth12@y...>
Date: Mon Dec 6, 2004 2:02pm
Subject: incapacitated/new member
Hi. I took Cipro in late Septemeber but started developing symptoms (back pain and tingling buzzing in my hands and scalo in October November. The pain got so bad my Dr. started working me up and gave me Levaquin in that process (5 days). I got do sick we realized the connection and stopped in Friday. I am a lawyer, 48 normally high energy and happy with two small kids.Now, I literally cannot function. I have, among other things,Intense pain in my hip, shoulders and knees so much so in the
shoulder that it is hard to raise my arms.My nercouse system feels revved up and unconfortable. I am having chest pain ( no abnormalities), and my hands are clammy. Cannot concentrate on anything.
No appetite, none.Per above, my brain does not feel normal, foggy and not able to focus. Finally both my eyes and mouth are bone dry. I feel like I cannot work, I can barely leave the house.My Dr. is telling me I am just anxious which is extremely worrisome since until they get this they cannot help me. Can anyone take my hand here and give me a sense of a) what might help b) what Dr. in Boston may be familiar with this and c)if it could possible resolve itself without premanent damage).Thank so much,Brenda Cotter


20932 From: howardla100 <howardla100@y...>
Date: Tue Dec 7, 2004 11:03pm
Subject: New Victim of Levaquin
Wow, amazing how many of us have been adversely affected by this drug. I already had Fibromyalgia so I didn't really recognize the symptoms until the 34th day when I was getting worse and read the insert again and saw the warning about muscular and joint pain (something I always had but not this bad). How the pain in my neck, arms and hands is very severe (had arthritic thumbs and thought this
was just more of the same). I stopped the drug yesterday. Hopefully I won't continue to get worse. As of now I am lucky that I don't have the chest pain or mouth problems so many have. I am going to see my internist next week but have the feeling from this forum that there will be nothing he can do. I'll start getting massages again which I had been doing for the Fibro. And no more poultry. I have stuff for the joints that I already take and a magnesium supplement that I had been taking and will again. I had been able to function through the Fibro and this really is trying to set me back but I won't let it. Some said not to take
Vicodin but Tylenol is ok. Why no Vicodin? And what about Ibuprofen? Some have said to stay away from NSAIDs. I really don't want to take Oxy.I look forward to exchanging ideas and progress reports.


Date: Thu Dec 9, 2004 4:52am
Subject: Confronting the doctor tomorrow
This last round of Levaquin, the one that brought me to this forum, was prescribed to me by my dermatologist for a recurring staph infection I have had. (Was treated for one about 6 mos ago...also with
LQ). I havent spoken to her since my last appointment almost 3 weeks ago so she has no idea of the reaction that I have had. She wants to put me on long term antibiotic therapy and I am going to tell her no
and tell her about my LQ reactions. I know I will get the standard brush off. I have been 5 days with no Motrin, since I found out how bad they are with this syndrome, so I am living with the pain. Somedays are worse than others. I have decided I am not going to go back to any doctors if they are not going to take this seriously and I am not going in for anymore Xrays or MRIs. Over the last 4 years I have had numerous ones for one thing or another. The orthopedist says I have degenerative disc disease, spinal arthritis, and bursitis in the hip. If these are indeed a result of the Cipro and Levaquan (in the last 4 years - 2 rounds of
Cipro and 4 rounds of LQ), then why bother to put my body through more radiation? I am also not going to get on any prescription pain pills or mood altering pills. I am going to get some Glucosamine and some detox herbs. I will try the magnesium. I was told not to take calcium due to a kidney stone I
had last year. (accompanied by a round of LQ of course.) I have been in pain for 4 years. I am so tired.


20976 From: judeesews <jaebees@b...>
Date: Thu Dec 9, 2004 9:58pm
Subject: Levaquin Shock
HI ~ I just found this group and have been reading the posts. I had taken 7 days of Levaquin 750 mg and 4 days of 500mg, before I stopped it.. as the pain was SO intense in my knees, elbows, hips,
shoulders even my fingers and thumbs hurt :( I called the pharmacist to see if the things that were happening were a side effect of the levaquin and yes they are. I stopped taking it this past Sun (5 days ago) - and feel no better. I jumped onto the internet and did some searching and found your list. Reading it has
been an education both scary and informative. I have found that waking up choking unable to get my breath is also part of the levaquin nightmare... along with depression and on and on. I have been debating whether to go to the orthapedist to check out my R knee that is SO painful (hurts to sit down, go up or down stairs or even just walk around trying to Christmas shop) From what I have read on the lists about the tendon problems... perhaps it is time to have it checked out. Anyway, I will close this post for now before
I end up writing a novel here *G*... I look forward to reading more... BTW - I am in FL... where are some of the other members on this list from? What has been the latest (or any) response from the
FDA regarding this major problem? Is there a class suit? I have tons of questions... and I am sure they will be answered here.... thanks...Judy


20977 From: howardla100 <howardla100@y...>
Date: Thu Dec 9, 2004 11:51pm
Subject: Re: Levaquin Shock
I empathize with you. I already suffered from Fibromaylgia and thus had muscle pain and discomfort daily so it took 5 weeks before I realized what was happening. I now have aches and pains in my neck, arms and hands, some that weren't there before and others much worse than before. I never had constant pain like this. I find Vicodin does relieve the pain somewhat. I stopped the drug 2 days ago and have actually been worse the past 2 days. I plan to drink a lot of fluids and take hot showers to try and
cleanse the drug asap. I hope these pains will abate soon. Keep your chin up (it hurts to keep mine up). The worst thing is to be angry and depressed.


20981 From: quinedout <quinedout@a...>
Date: Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:50am
Subject: mayo clinic - total waste of money
mayo clinic is NOT what it used to me .... a total waste of time.... spent a week there and they could not help and they could not believe the fq's could do the damage they do......


20982 From: brenruth12 <b-cotter@c...>
Date: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:47pm
Subject: lung nodules
Hi all, I am about seven days out from a very severe Levaquin reaction and among many other symptoms (profuse joint pain, tingling and numbness, generally feeling very unwell) I have experienced severe shortness of breath that comes and goes in intensity (in tandem with the other symptoms). In working me up, a CT scan found diffuse nodules on my lungs. Has anyone here ever had symptoms like this or been diagnosed with interstitial pneumonitis as a result of your quinolone use. I would very much appreciate some feedback on this. Thanks very much, Brenda


20992 From: britefish1 <britefish1@a...>
Date: Sat Dec 11, 2004 4:29pm
Subject: Another Victim !
I have been off Levaquin (500mg /14 days) and am having problems with headache, stomach shakiness/gurgling, dizzyness, sweating, fatigue and choking feeling for seven weeks after the last dose ! I am not as bad as I was at first but still it's been seven weeks since the last dose and im still a mess. Morning is the worst with sweating , headache , stomach gurgling and dizzyness. I havent had tendon trouble but have been very careful not to exercise after reading posts. Please anyone with any info (How long will this last ? Is there and remedy ? things that will help ? etc. )Please let me know. My urologist says it just has to wear off and my GP says the same but seven weeks ? HELP !


20995 From: kjmema <kjmema@y...>
Date: Sat Dec 11, 2004 8:43pm
Subject: Levaquin questions, HELP
I'm 62, healthy and got Broncitis. I was given Levaquin 500mg for 10 days...After day 5 I felt terrible. Fatigue, dizzy, insomnia but I figured these would pass and I did have a terrible cough so I continued the drug. On day 8 I woke with the worst pain I've ever felt...Arms and legs could hardly move and pain across my back. I barely got out of bed to the rest room. Just terrible. I was light
headed and not thinking too streight. Managed to fight it until morning when I took a HOT shower, a Celebrex and two Tylanol. I did get better and by afternoon the pain was gone. I thought I was out
of the woods until today. Now I'm feeling STRANGE! My face feels tingly, and I'm exhausted again and my back across my shoulder blades is starting to ache. I've read a lot about this drug and now I'm
wondering what to do. Do I tell the doctor? Who do you report this too and what, if anything can they do about it. Can this cause permanent damage? Any advice would be appreciated....KJ.


21042 From: ddmdoro <ddmdoro@y...>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:31am
Subject: Re: At Mayo - any advice ?
I had the same situation with my hands (and I'm an artist too). It was very, very frightening and I remember being so upset that my hands wouldn't do what I wanted them to do. It's not that they were
paralyzed, but that they were very clumsy and they trembled so that I thought I would go nuts. My arms were like logs from the elbows down.I was also afraid about my legs because they ached and felt so weak.
Then I would obsess, wondering what I would do if I couldn't use my arms (hands) or my legs. Which could I get along without? Then I would think of the best way/spot to commit suicide...so that it
wouldn't be traumatic for my family. (I'm not much of a trooper.) Of course I didn't tell anyone about all of this. So, I understand, I think, why your wife worries about seizures. I think we all tend to obsess after being floxed, due to the drugs, and also because we're wondering how bad things can get. I'll bet
it's just the anxiety from the Cipro. I was afraid that I was going crazy. If you've ever had way too much coffee, you know the feeling...and magnify this by 50 times and you'll know the anxiety level felt from the Cipro. I was prescribed Inderal to control the tremors, and it also reduces the anxiety. I believe that it works by slowing down the heart rate. I took as small a dose as possible, because I don't like to take
drugs, and it got me through the first couple of months. As symptoms slowly diminished, I took less and less. You shouldn't take it before sleeping because it might lower your heart rate too much and
do damage to your eyes. It calmed me down, party because that's what it's supposed to do and also because I wasn't obsessing over my tremors. I was able to work and get through this. I'm really very well sixteen months later. I'd say that I was feeling much better at approx. 9 months. (I followed advice of those
in this group and drank lots of spring water, took magnesium and calcium.)Hope this helps your wife.



21051 From: Randy & Mary Roethler <fish@i...>
Date: Thu Dec 16, 2004 10:51pm
Subject: reaction to chicken caffeine and cold medicine
Here are the symptoms I suffered after taking levaquin (one pill) and ended up in an ambulance on my way to the emergency room withing two hours of taking that pill. The words in italic and bold face are the things I experience quite often after consuming chicken, caffeine, and cold medicine. My reaction to cold medicine is actually worse than when I eat chicken or drink caffeine. rapid and irregular heart beats
very hard/strong hear beats, like my heart was going to explode difficulty swallowing when I was having a "spell", throat felt stuck shut dizziness/light headedness nausea diarrhea jittery feeling headaches pain in my left shoulder numbness tingling fatigue anxiety skin feels raw under the left upper arm floaters and flashes in my vision unable to think of words when I am talking, (I could be looking at house and not be able to find the word "house" in my mind. For a while the thought went through my mind, did I have a small stroke? This has improved some, but it is still a problem. fear of driving (many of the spells happened in our van) loss of appetite abdominal pain upset stomach/heart burn ringing in my ears
Chills, body tremmors My legs would jerk so hard while laying down they would actually rise off the
bed. I have never been so sick in my life and that includes kidney failure, dialysis, and a kidney transplant.
Sometimes when I mention the chicken theory people become quiet and want to change the subject, I do not press the issue, I know my body, and I know what foods I put into it. Thanksgiving was awfull. We had our first Thanksgiving gathering a week before the actual day. I was dumb enough to think I could eat turkey, turkey gravy, and the chicken in the homemade dressing I make. I suffered with anxiety attacks, rapid heart beats, chills, body tremmors etc. I cannot come up with any reason other than the poultry as to why all of a sudden the spells were back again with a vengence. I have not had a (spell, as the doctors call them) for a whole week and it feels great to get back to my self again.


21056 From: inthicket <inthicket@y...>
Date: Fri Dec 17, 2004 2:42pm
Subject: Burning pain from Levaquin, new member
Hi everyone, I am having terrible burning in arms, legs, back, and head. I'm two weeks out from stopping 4 doses of 500 Levaquin. Has anyone had this burning go away? And if so, when? Or if you
are still burning, how long has it persisted? Just typing this is causing serious burning pain. I also have aching joints, and until a few nights ago, throbbing ankles that kept me up all night long. y doctor suggested Neurontin but I haven't taken it yet. I'm in Boston, and my doctor acknowledges this is a response to the Levaquin. I was on no other meds beforehand and had no existing medical problems (just a POSSIBLE uti). My symptoms began with wrist pain after the first pill, but I didn't make the connection
until a few days later. The burning began after I stopped the meds. Any feedback on my specific symptoms would be appreciated. I was a healthy, very active young woman before taking the Levaquin, and I'm
devastated this may not go away. thanks, Mary


21084 From: Kathleen Connolly <kathleen_cnnlly@y...>
Date: Sun Dec 19, 2004 9:20pm
Subject: steroids???
Hi I am new to the site today and am wondering if any of you have been put on prednisone for this condition. I had my reaction to wuinolones in mid-november and the doctor put me on prednisone. I am still on it and am now reading in the FDA announcement from last September that steroids can make the situation worse. Anybody else on steroids?



21101 From: rscott_68 <rscott_68@y...>
Date: Mon Dec 20, 2004 5:55pm
Subject: new and terrified after 2mo ADR
After 9 levaquin and 2 cipro i began to have a horrible ADR starting in Oct. It was not until I started the Cipro that everything came on. Although it started in my legs things have spread out over my entire body. My current symptoms include:

1. stabbing pains from head to toe that come and go throughout the day
2. elbow pain
3. some tendon pain and stiffness
4. terrible insommnia
5. horrible tingling/burning, ants crawing sensations, muscle
twitches throughout my entire body
6. light and sound sensitivity
7. foot and calf burning and pain
8. hands and feet fall asleep at night, finger pain
9. depression
10. popping/cracking joints
11. stabbing stomach pain
12. vision disturbances - night vision decline, shimmering, increase
in floaters and flashers
13. ringing in ears

This is so horrible. I must admit that I do think of putting an end to it all at some point everyday. However, I have a family and have to think of them first. Things have progressively gotten worse since the ADR started and I am having a very hard time coping as a previously active 36 year old. Is my ADR typical?
Will this get better with time?



21116 From: Carlene <carly_smith@s...>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:14am
Subject: Re: Burning pain from Levaquin, new member
Looking back, I think I have had this for 3 years. It started after my first dose of Cipro and I had 4 other dosages of Levaquin over the 3 years since then. I am going to try to get all my medical records
and copies of my MRIs somehow. I am having trouble this week staying positive as now I am worried this may be permanent damage. Some mornings I am so stiff I have to take a hot bath so I can move easily.
Any walking, standing, lifting, sets the burning in my thigh off. My fingers go numb. I get a lot of headaches. I hate this. I am depressed.

1125 From: <hiramtom@y...>
Date: Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:03pm
Subject: I need help
Ok...i took 10 levaquins..stopped two days ago...I notice the burning in my forehead, dizziness.
I had an allergic reaction to Lariam (anti-malarial) and should never have taken levaquin.
Question....what do I do right now, to get the drug out my system...I'm drinking water like a fish and green tea. I've taken clonazepam (klonipin) before, after the Lariam episode. Should I got on right away?
I actually founded the Lariam sufferers group! I can't believe I took a Quinolone! Please Help!
Tom


21152 From: ssyerra <ssyerra@y...>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:59pm
Subject: Update & questions on Eye Pain
I got my blood tests back... everything seems normal so far... Still have numbness in arms and around the right knee that comes and goes throught the day. Also eyes hurt at times mostly around the
periphery and sometimes feel dry, sometimes watery. Not sure if these are conditions that any of you experienced. Muscle and Joint pains have reduced but have not completely disappeared...
I have just hit the 2 month mark after completing a week of Cipro (500 mg/day) for a suspected UTI (culture was -ve)... Doctor now agrees I may be allergic to FQs and says it make be another month
before I start feeling better.thanks, Suhas


21153 From: Randy & Mary Roethler <fish@i...>
Date: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:35pm
Subject: Fw: Re: Soreness in the ribs
I have had these same pains almost as long as it has been since I took Levaquin. There are times the chest pains are so strong it makes me wonder if it is my heart. These pains will come and go. The stabbing pains last for as little as a minute and as long as just a couple minutes. The majority of the pains are on the left side of my chest. Sometimes I can press my fingers against my ribs and the pain is excruciating and then can still hurt fifteen minutes later. Just pressing against your ribs shouldn't cause pain that long. What is chest wall pain. Is this pain that feels deep inside. Sometimes the pains feels like it is coming straight through from my back. I also have sharp pains that show up at anytime anywhere on my body and can actually take my breath away and cause me to completely stop in my tracks. It wasn't until just recently that I have read posts about this, and that there are others who have the same thing going on. For a while I even thought I might have fibromyalgia, but my doctor went over the pressure points and told me I didn't. I would like to hear from others who have experienced these same kinds of pains.
Mary


21165 From: ssyerra <ssyerra@y...>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:19am
Subject: Eye Pain
Has anyone experienced eye pain. I do not have vision problems but
eye pain that comes and goes... Alternating dry and watery eyes...Thanks,
Suhas


21180 From: gdamintx <ginam2@c...>
Date: Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:56pm
Subject: new victim of levaquin
I have been on levaquin for 6 days now. I had/have a collitis infection and the dr. put me on levaquin. I am in so much pain. My joints hurt so bad; I feel like I'm 100 yrs old (I'm only 34). I
also have insomnia, severe pain below my rib cage. I've got 3 kids to take care of (9, 6, and 1 yrs. old). I'm not capable. Dr. is going to prescribe something else for me. (?) Could be cipro. Is cipro better? If not, what is? Help me, please.


21200 From: gdamintx <ginam2@c...>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 2004 4:22pm
Subject: Re: new victim of levaquin
Thank you, friends, for your responses and priceless advice.I emailed some of you last night. I am still trying to figure out how to do this "board/forum/communication" thing. Ashamedly, most
of it is too high tech for me still. However, I'm learning lots of interestng things lately. Some good, and some not so good (quinolones). Currently, my feet, ankles, knees, wrists, fingers are swollen so
much I can't flex the joints in any direction. Still excruciatingly painful. Miserable. I'm so upset about what this might mean as far as my ability to be the kind of mother I want to be to my precious
kids. They deserve better than this from me. I am rendered completely useless right now. Tomorrow is Christmas and I haven't been able to wrap anything. I'm feeling so depressed about all of this. I am already a consumer of Serzone (anti-depressant). May have to up that dose to help me cope. I sure can understand why suicide would be an option for some. I'm not there, but I do empathise and understand with those who choose that.I followed Bob's suggestion and I went on fqvictims website last night.
Read many stories from victims, watched a few videos and audios of victims stories. Horrifying.
I'm feeling devasted. What kind of life sentence have I been dealt? I prayed for God to intervene, because He can, and I expect Him to.I'll be glad when this is over.

21203 From: Gina Martin <ginam2@c...>
Date: Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:51pm
Subject: Re: new victim of levaquin
Thanks for your response, Jess. Sounds like my symptoms exactly. (plus a few more)
My feet , ankles, knees, wrists, fingers are swollen so much I can't flex the joints in any direction.
Miserable. I went on fqvictims website last night. Read many stories from victims, watched a few videos and audios of victims stories. Horrifying. I'm feeling devasted. What kind of life sentence have I been dealt? I prayed for God to intervene, because He can, and I expect Him to. I'll be glad when this is over.


21224 From: rmrippy <rmrippy@h...>
Date: Mon Dec 27, 2004 7:38pm
Subject: No reflexes
I just recently noticed that I seem to have no reflexes. When I strike just below my knees, nothing happens. Same with my ankles and elbows. I believe Cipro may have damaged the cartilage in these areas – or maybe the nerves. Has anyone else noticed this? Ron

21235 From: bead_junkie <bead_junkie@y...>
Date: Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:18am
Subject: Someone please help me
I feel like I am dying. I took Cipro 4 months ago for a UTI and the reactions began with muscle twitching, heart racing, insomnia, floaters in one eye, brain fog etc. After a month or so I began to feel better. Now at 4 months, I feel numbness, tingling, and a stinging nerve pain throughout my body along with joint pain. I also believe the cartiladge on my 10th rib has loosened causing pain and popping. I am scared I will never recover and that these relapses will continue until I am dead. Please help me. What can I do to make it better? The pain makes it hard for me to care for my little girl. Am I crazy? I was healthy before this. Will I ever recover? My heart goes out to all suffering from the flox.



21239 From: Linda <wakko1689@y...>
Date: Wed Dec 29, 2004 7:01pm
Subject: Re: Someone please help me
I had a similar situation.. you do have to hang in there. I had a reaction to Levaquin that I took in May of 2003 for a bad lung infection. My worst symptoms were delayed (I was in such pain with the lung infection, I may have had reactions during and attributed them to the pain of being sick). I was diagnosed with a partially torn rotator cuff and bad tendonitis 2 months after taking the drug, even though I never had an injury to cause it. I also went through months of aches and pains all over my body.. it hurt to even walk
around. I went through lots of physical therapy and tried all sorts of meds. I had a relapse that next Spring when I took Cipro (since I had no idea that the Levaquin even caused my rotator cuff problems.. especially with the delay). The relapse put me back in physical therapy.One of the best things that helped me was starting on the Magnesium. I tried glucosimine, but that only helped for awhile. I am now almost completely healed. I have relapses with my shoulder.. especially when I slack on doing my exercises.. but I feel pretty good even though I felt like I would never heal. I now know not to ever take quinolones again unless I'm on my death bead and it's a last resort. Most doctors will work with you to find another
antibiotic.. like I had to do recently for a sinus infection. But hang in there.. we all know what it's like..

21240 From: bead_junkie <bead_junkie@y...>
Date: Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:14pm
Subject: Re: Someone please help me
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I take comfort knowing that there may be hope. I have tried to talk to the doctor who prescribed this horrible drug and she refuses (along with partners) to acknowledge the possibility that Cipro has caused these ailments. I also looked back at the drug fact sheet from the pharmacy and no where in there did it mention the possibility of nerve damage. I was given this drug in August 04, and I believe the drug information sheets were changed in July 04. No one bothered to
tell me that I could develop neuropathy. I am so upset and feel that a big part of my life has been taken by the doctors and pharmacutical companies. I appreciate everyone's compassion and suggestions. I have started taken magnesium and calcium supplements and have altered the way I eat. I can only hope that these stinging pains will abate in time. Thank you everyone! Sandi


21253 From: sjsteve1234 <sjsteve@m...>
Date: Fri Dec 31, 2004 1:18am
Subject: Re: No reflexes
RON....I have lost all reflex action due to Cipro reaction....Also Polyneuropithy in both legs

Date: Fri Dec 31, 2004 4:29am
Subject: Cipro Floxed now for 3 years
About three years ago I had a clamydia infection from my ex girlfriend. My doctor told me not to worry and gave us both some Zitromax. On returning to DOC he noted she was still postive I was
not. He gave us another round of treatment. Everything was fine. Around a week later I had a bad testicle pain in the right side. I went back to the doctor who suggested it was epiditimitis/orchitis
possible because of a lonf infection of clymydia, and that sometimes it can get into the testicle. I thought it sounded weird but agreed with him.He said well take this perscrition for 2 weeks of CIPROFLAXIN and
come back you should be fine. Well it never helped. It got worse.He then suggested I see a Urologist. Uro gave my anti inflamatories and did a cystoscopy and said he saw inflamation in that region.
I then stated to notice some weird pain running down my leg. A burning sensation that freaked me out. Like I teared the muscle.SO I thought nothing of it in relation. By this time my testicle felt like it was dying so i rused to the hospital. NO man needs that pain. They said nothing is wrong take advil go see your Gp.
However they treated me for a negative clymydia infection with Zithromax again. Fine.
Problem continued except now over the weeks I noticed pelvic pain ronic like rectal pain. Leg pain was bad. I also noticed a weird vibration pain like i cant even begin to explain. A weird electric
pain also was there.GOing back to UROLOGIST I suggested they were related. He said nothing to do with it i think your problem is auto immune.Sent me to a infectious desease doc. SHe did HIV/ ANA/ ANCA and some other blood work/ syphillis etc.. and gave me a few other pills in case i had STDS. ALl test were negative.... she said nothing I can think of. I can put you on prednisone but lets see what happens over the next few months.SHe refered me to a rheumotologist. BY this time i experinced weird scarey stuff... Like electric impulses throught my arms legs chest head fingers toes. I could no longer sleep at night. I would wake up every hour. Developed restless leg syndrome. I was in pain all over. My heart started to flutter and have weird beats. My whole CNS became insane like it was overly sensitive.nother problem was when i would see something like a a construction worked say hitting the pavement with a sledge hammer i felt that
through my legs . Loud noises would tweak these weird vibration pain symptoms. By this time I thought I was dying.Went back to my DOc and he said I think your just to stressed about things. NO help.
When i went to the rheumotologist I explained my symptoms the best Icould in detail with all my meds and everything.Heres what he said withought even touching my body or doing any sort of examination.
Well son I see your having some pretty unbearable symptoms but there is no organic cause for them. I want you to go see a Psychiatrist and talk to him about your problems.SO I said well what will that do and he said well maybe your having a post traumatic stress problem to the clymydia infection. SO i agreed
but I knew he thought I was of my rocker.I saw the referral paper on the secretary desk and when she was not looking I read it. In it it said, examine for suspected SOMATITIZATION DISORDER. Well i was in shock he never touched me or examined me and thought i had a psychiatric illness.NOne the less I decided to follow through, hoping that the shrink knowledgable in neurological conditions which i seemd to have may provide me with some more insight. Seeing him was alright, because in some ways i got to talk about personal issues. I expressed all my pain dificulties and suggested i wanted an MRI.Well he was angry at this point and said do not waste your time on these exspensive procedures you have a conversion disorder.
Ok so burning throughout my body, pain everywhere, also pelvic pain beyond belief. Now a new one of gastronial pain and abdominal pain.He said you need paxil to take care of this. SO i took paxil for 2
months and i felt worse... MOre pain etc etc..Went to a walk in clinic, and they did pelvic scan CT spine CT scan, rays.. ALL NOrmal.. Blodd tests all normal.I asked for an MRI.... response not needed you have no problems.Went to another doctor... He suggested and said withought a doublt this a Fybromyalgia!! wantd me to go to a biomedical clinic. costs a few thousand dollars for treatment. I said no to that.
Went back to my doctor. and said maybe its FIBRO he said possibly, but that is a depresion illness so take Paxil. What the hell is Paxil going to do.???Went to another doctor and suggested I read everything i can on
nutrition and pain and candida and eventually i would find the answer. NO doctor he said can help you. You need to help yourelf.I was at a loss.. all this in 2 years time... Pain steadily getting worse. So i decided to follow his advice..... I started reading everything about everything with pain.Went back to shrink who said well maybe its not conversion disorder. maybe you should see a Osteopath and do some alternative treatment.I did and that didnt help. He then said I dont think you need to see me anymore good luck, and stop taking paxil.I went back to my Gp who said see a specialist which i did and he said well i think it is Fibromyagia... and suggested i repeat all the test i have done for 2 years..I walked out and have not seen a doctor since..In my research i found this place.... and realized everything i read here from people i have, it is so common.. i cant begin to express how unbelievable it is to read some peoples posts.. I have the same
cronic things.. My Problem is how do I know if it is A Ciproflaxin Adverse reaction.It is now almost 3 years into this and i still find no relief.However I continue to drink heavily because it takes the pain away
and i smoke. I eat chicken meat everything. I even smoke marajuana for pain relief..As soon is i wake up i am in agony all over again.I am at the point now where i need to make a decision... Dye like
this or try and get better.. I just hope it is a cipro reaction, because then i can deal with it. I feel afraind it is some sort of terminal illness they have not found. My brother just died 3 months ago of Hodgkins desease. He had for around 10 years but they never caught it until the last couple of years. And since i have lymp node swelling they say not to worry and di an x ray on the chest and said no you dont have it.
SO I dont know what to do.... Is it common for CIpro reaction to last this long????
Do i still have some residuals of it in me, or am I still infected with STD and now turned into a form of arhritis, do I have MS, ALS, Reiters Sydrome, a Mitochondrial Desease, Pain DIsroder, FIBRO,
Cronic Fatigue, Periphreal Neuropathy, Lupus, Lymes.. 100 more thing I mean i just have no clue what to do next.NO one believes me.Thanks for listening...Steve


21261 From: Rex Wockner <rex@c...>
Date: Fri Dec 31, 2004 8:49am
Subject: Re: Re: Cipro Floxed now for 3 years
Friends, Often if you go to three doctors, you get three different diagnoses. Let's
face it, they guess half the time. Not only that, often they'll let you diagnose yourself. If you tell them you think you have A, they're happy to agree it's probably A. I'm afraid this is just one of things we learn as
we grow up. I was very fortunate. When my Cipro reaction happened, my doc checked me for everything and of course everything was negative. Then, a while later, I figured out/learned myself that Cipro was the problem. I went back to her and I said, "If you go get your PDR drug manual and look up the side effects of ciprofloxacin that allegedly affect 1 or 2 percent of the people who take cipro, you'll find every damned symptom you and I have been trying to diagnose." She walked to her office, got her book, came back and sat down beside me and read the chapter on cipro and said, "My God, you're right." She took my chart and wrote in large letters "No fluoroquinolone antibiotics ever!" and told me to get a MedAlert that said
the same thing and wear it always, and she said she'd consider filing an Adverse Drug Reaction report for me with the FDA. The next time I went to the pharmacy to get a prescription, the pharmacist said to me, "I see here in the computer you can never take fluorquinolone antibiotics. What happened?" I told him my story and he said, "Yes, I've heard of that before." So, there is hope sometimes. None of this helped with my symptoms, which have slowly improved over 1.5 years. But it was nice to know I taught my doctors something, taught the pharmacists something, and contributed to hopefully getting these awful drugs banned someday. And it was nice they didn't think I was a nut case. Two suggestions: Get a woman
doctor. They are willing to listen. And: Stop eating chicken, for sure.Rex

From: inthicket
To: quinolones@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, December 31, 2004 4:56 PM
Subject: [quinolones] Has anyone had improvement with tendon pain?
I am in the depths of despair over my ADRs--today marks a month that I've been bedridden with terrible tendon pain. My burning neuropathy has vastly improved but the tendon pain seems to have
increased. I am getting MRIs next week and the rheumatologists at Beth Israel in Boston are such despicable know-nothings. Is it possible these people spent 10+ years in medical school? They want
to just ply me with more drugs. What should I look for in the results of the MRIs? Can a person
have tears without swelling? I don't want to be told there's nothing wrong because some jerk misread my results!My tendons don't seem to be swollen, but they are so painful to move I can barely type.Has anyone who took Levaquin seen improvement, and if so, when?I am young and really healthy & trim--I just can't believe I'm not getting any better. I would especially like to hear from people in my age group who have seen improvement in joint and tendon pain. Thanks so much,


21282 From: Brenda <b-cotter@c...>
Date: Sat Jan 1, 2005 2:34am
Subject: head pressure
Hi all. I am about five weeks out from a quinolone reaction. One of the most persistent symptoms is head pressure/a feeling of abnormal sensations in my head (together with eye pain and ear pressure). I have realized from this list and other research that an increase in intracranial pressure is an ADR from quinolones.
The questions are:
Has anyone had this improve? Resolve?
How dangerous is it?
Can it be treated?
The joint pain etc. I can deal with but the constant feeling that something is going on in my brain is deeply troubling.
Anyone up on this? Been through it?
Thanks,
Brenda

21296 From: Suhas Yerra <ssyerra@y...>
Date: Sat Jan 1, 2005 6:50pm
Subject: Re: head pressure
I was floxed about 2.5 months ago and about a month after getting floxed I started having headaches and eye pain... they come and go... only remedy seems to be rest and sleep... they subside after a good nights rest... Doctor's did all kinds of blood tests and could not find anything so far... I am planning to see a Neurologist in Mass General soon. Gregs note below seems to indicate TIME is our only
solace... Hang in there... Suhas