Post Marketing Reports for January 2002

From: "forwards61362" <4wards5@h...>
Date: Wed Jan 9, 2002 10:09 am
Subject: eye trouble

Thank you all for your response so far to my earlier posting. I
forgot to ask one important question. When all these symptoms hit me
my eyes were also affected. I could not watch t.v. without being
sent into a dizzy headspin, even though I was sitting still. Any
movement of my eyes, especially up or down, even without movement of
my head, results in more dizziness. It is "uncomfortable" to use my
eyes, especially when focusing. I did go to an ophthamalogist and
had a complete exam and he found nothing. As anyone out there ever
had these symptoms following levaquin and what did you do to
counteract them? This whole "illness" is in its third month and I
feel like I am barely hanging on. I have started the calcium,
magnesium, vitamin b6 and D, along with Ginger for the dizzyness and
nausea but it's too soon to notice a difference (a couple days)
Once again, thank you all in advance for your help. PJ


From: zap2" <tzap2@w...>
Date: Thu Jan 10, 2002 12:43 pm
Subject: 3 years & counting


Hi all!

Well I just past my 3rd year anniversary of being floxed with such a
celebration (NOT!). I am still exactly the way I was when this whole thing
started. The stomach cycle and my pain in my hands, fingers, wrists, toes,
ankles and knees decided they along with my stomach wanted to give me the joy
of remembering that I have been floxed. Still searching for new doctors. My
sister moved me down to be closer to her in the beginning of September - she is
extremely frustrated now because she had not been around me for the first 2
years of the floxing and only heard me complain via email (Because of my
hearing impairment). My sister's husband was transferred back here in May of
last year so she decided that I needed to be near her so she can help take care
of me. So now, she is freaking out cause she sees it on a daily basis (even
though I am not living with her) but I just keep reassuring her that this is
all normal stuff that I have been going through.

Also wanted to mention that I am in the middle of a ridiculous battle with the
private disabiility company that my former company uses. These people are
probably the biggest idiots in the Universe. Their new thing now is I have to
meet this new standard which is to be totally disabled from any job with my
experience, past employment and training (past or future). They even had the
nerve to email me to tell me that yes they have received all the doctors forms
and all of them say I can't work. But that is not good enough for them - now
it's they didn't send documentation to back it up. It's so frustrating. But,
my doctors are all aware and are writing new reports and slamming them with all
the tests over the last 3 years. I also decided to send them a copy of
Dr.Flockhart's findings and a copy of Dr.Cohen's study. Hopefully they will
get off my back and then I can continue to look for new doctors down here who
maybe with "fresh eyes" can do something to help manage the pain and all the
other wonderful things wrong with me.

Any way, just wanted to touch base because most of you that do know me also
know I read everything in digest form everyday but I am more of the silent
typee with regard to the forum. Only really speak up when I have something to
share.

Sharon - if you read this please e me . I am getting worried about you!

G-d Bless!
Tina


From: "mgdrockin" <mgdrockin@y...>
Date: Fri Jan 11, 2002 10:35 am
Subject: CIPRO Adverse Side Effects? Please HELP!
I hope somebody can please help me or provide and insight to what
I have been experiencing. About 2-3 months ago I developed aching
in my left testicle and was diagnosed with epididimytis. My urologist
prescribe 500mg of Cipro twice a day for 3-4 weeks and explained that
it may take even longer to clear up and in most cases once you
contract this condition it can resurface. Well ,I am happy to say that
after about 4 weeks of taking the antibiotic the pain went away.
However, to my surprise within a week to two weeks I began to notice
some muscular pain as well as joint pain. In addition I began to get
mild to intense headaches at least every other day on the right side
of my head that sometimes over the counter medicine (Anacin,Bayer,
Tylenol etc.) did get rid of and sometimes it wouldn't. I have also
developed some other weird symptoms in the past few weeks that I have
never experienced before. In both my legs, top of my feet, and now
my back, shoulders and upper chest area I have been experiencing icy
hot to stinging sensations. Sometimes very mild and other times very
intense. The seem very sensitive to touch and if touched intensifies
the whole feeling. I would also describe the sensation as a mild
sunburn. I have been to a neurologist who has informed me there is no
nerve damage but I have to wonder. This is not normal. Has anybody
else exerienced these symptoms? I read somewhere that this drug
penetrates the nervous system and could take up to 14 weeks before it
is gone. Am I looking at permanent damage here? If so, can you
recommend a knowledgable neurologist? I am a healthy 34 year old male
that works out regularly and eats right. This can be very
debilitating in additon to painful. Any information would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks for your help and time.


From: "kari95135" <kari@m...>
Date: Sun Jan 13, 2002 2:19 pm
Subject: Cipro-Anxiety Issues-HELP

Reading through these nightmare stories, I realize I am not alone.
My story is similar, about a month ago 5 days after taking cipro, I
began experiencing literally out of this world sensations of fear,
anxiety, and despair. Everything and for absolutely no reason upset
me so much I thought I would be sick and it actually made my skin
crawl. I could not function, and had visions of not being able to
work, losing my house, etc, my life overnight seemed to be spinning
out of control. This is/was 100% out of character, and I never would
have thought it was coming from an antibiotic until I happen to
mention cipro to my husband who thank God was more up on current
affairs than I am and figured it out. I stopped taking it
immediately and for the next 4 days felt much better, almost like I
was on a high. But then I crashed again. Never quite as low as I
was while on the cipro, but still enough to completely rock my
world. Reluctantly I tried a small dose of zanex, and for the first
time actually broke down in tears-because it worked, and I was having
to come to terms that something was seriously wrong with my brain
that I now needed meds to function. I tried taking the zanex for a
few days and then pulling the plug as if it would go away, but it
didn't. I finally saw a psychiatrist last week, who put me on paxil
and in the interim klonopin as needed. Like someone else mentioned,
he really didn't care where it came from but only wanted to treat
where I am. I am taking paxil and a 1/2 of a kIonopin and feel much
better, but am not the same knowing I'm med dependant, only 4 days
into the paxil though and will have to wait to see if it works after
I stop the klonopin or if paxil side effects come up. People talk of
having a hard time going off paxil? Now here's the twist, I had my
second baby 4 months ago and although I have never had postpartum
depression/anxiety issues, did the cipro trigger postpartum or am I
experiencing what everyone else here is going through here? I had one
frightening similar experience 3 months ago when I took 2 doses of a
drug called reglan, and it made me nuts too. Luckily one vicadine
later the crazies only lasted 4 hours and never came back, the common
thread here is that reglan also goes to the CNS. Hind sight, that
was my clue that for some reason I have a sensitivity to drugs that
go to the CNS, and never should have taken cipro. Can anyone out
there compare this to postpartum, or in the long run are we all being
dumped into the same category; anxiety/depression messed up brain
disorders? My issues seem to be more categorized as GAD, general
anxiety disorder as opposed to the panic attacks or phobia's. I'm
also trying to determine if because of my hormonal state is that what
makes me sensitivity to these drugs? I guess I'll never really
know. I too also have the ringing in my head, and as I try to go
without the zanax or klonopin, begin to feel a tightening in my
neck. I totally didn't want to consider medication, but for me is
helping me be able to function. I'm not sure if I'm just beginning
or ending the road from hell? There is so much info on this site,
over 6000 responses, it's almost impossible to get through all of
this info. I'm thinking of trying to do the chat room to learn more
from some of you that unfortunately are experts, but have never
participated before. Any tips?


From: "winniehuguley" <winnie@u...>
Date: Sun Jan 13, 2002 5:07 pm
Subject: My experience
I took Levafloxacin in May of 2001 and after the first pill,
experienced such pain in my hips that I could not get up from a
sitting position without help. If I had known what was causing the
pain, I would have stopped immediately but I rationalized that I had
exercised too much, or something, and kept on taking it. When I
finally figured out what the problem was and began researching it on
the Internet, it became very clear what had happened but by then my
hips nad thighs were in bad shape.

I reported all of this to the doctor and you know what he said!
Totally ignored my complaints like I was a hypo. After several weeks,
the pain would diminish and then come back. in September, I started
taking MSM, 4000mg per day and I am much better although standing up
still is a challenge. I don't know if the MSM has helped or just time
has made a difference but I thought I would share this with the list.

I also found that I seemed to age very fast during this period. Hair
started falling out, tired all the time, skin very dry, etc. These
things are returning to normal, even hair is regrowing.

This is a horrible experience for anyone to go through and my heart
goes out to all.

Winnie





From: "peeroe2002" <kkoop45@w...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2002 1:18 pm
Subject: new to forum

I'm new to this forum and have been reading some of the posts. Most are quite
confusing I might add.
I think that what I have is a mild to at times a severe disorder called
Essential Tremor and have had it since birth or at least early in life. About
the time I reached 40 years of age I began to have tremors in my arms, neck and
voice. Over time, worrying about someone seeing them in social situations only
made them worse. Of course I never saw a doctor about this problem because they
would think me a nut case. At this same time in my life I developed a prostate
infection and was put on ofloxacin for a month. Immediate relief for the
prostate and wonderful feelings in the brain. It did keep me with a slight
headache and gave me insomnia but the constant euphoria was great. On the other
hand at a later date I was prescribed Cipro and just 1 tablet made me deathly
ill. 1 tablet of Levaquin was almost as bad.
I finally sought help with my tremor problem with my family doctor and guess
what, he sent me to a shrink (tremors, what he called panic attacks, high blood
pressure, high pulse rate etc.). I really enjoyed my visits with this weirdo
but the anti-dipressants that they prescribe are real killers. I only tried 1
tablet of each of 3 types and I found them to be much worse than quinolones.
And they stayed in the system as long as well.
Anyway, I self-diagnosed myself with essential tremor and take Inderal to slow
the tremors down and it is not a fun drug either. As I get older (I'm 48 and
left handed) it is becoming harder to write. I realize that part of my problem
is that I am always worried about someone watching me write but I now feel that
I have a physical problem in my writing arm. I've had tests done for carpal
tunnel syndrome years ago but I knew that wasn't a problem. My problem to me
has always been that since I took the quinolones that my left ulna nerve is
compressed by tendons or something. I'm unable to place my arm on a table
without it going numb. Is this from quinolone use are what?
It's been several years since I took any quinolones and I must state that my
condition has improved in ways and gotten worse in others.
As a child I was rendered unconscious twice. Once by a baseball and once by
falling off a swing onto concrete. I've never had convulsions or anything like
that but what I'm thinking is that either through brain trauma or especially
genetics there are many of us who should not take Quinolones?
Not to be mean but fill me in with all of these Herbal remedies? I'm a very
big skeptic!! of all that stuff!!!

From: "hawleysh" <hawleysh@y...>
Date: Wed Jan 16, 2002 3:49 pm
Subject: Levoquin Adverse Reaction


A few days ago my husband came across this forum and sent me a
posting written by an RN who sounds like is in the middle of what I
went thru last April.
I hear you loud and clear when you said that you cry and spend a lot
of time praying.
The ER triage people thought I was a drug addict as I was having a
lot of trouble walking up to the desk to register. I KNEW that's what
they would think so made sure to take the Levoquin bottle with me. No
help.
Two hours later I finally saw a doctor.
In the meantime I had what felt like shooting needles working their
way from my toes up my calves. Then they started in my fingertips and
worked up my forearms. I was burning up, but the thermometer only
showed 99.9.
Finally hours later another RN about came unglued when he found my
blood pressure was 60/30. They pumped 4 liters of IV fluids in to try
to bring my BP up. It just filtered out into my tissues instead of
staying in the veins. I put out only 250 cc of urine. I was about to
tell them they had to stop because it felt like my fingers and toes
were going to launch like missels. They had to cut my wedding ring
off.
After 6 1/2 hrs in ER I was transferred to ICU where a Swan Gantz was
put in my right jugular vein. Talk about feeling like you're a dog on
a very short leash! I found out a few days later they thought they
were going to have to put me on a ventilator.
I also found out months later that the chaplain was going over papers
with my husband about whether I should be kept alive on tube feedings
or just let nature take it's course. Thank God my husband told him he
didn't think it would be very good for my moral to have me sign the
papers just yet. I KNOW what that means!
After 3 days in ICU and then 2 days on a medical floor I was sent
home where I spent the next several weeks on the livingroom couch.
My grip was gone. I didn't have the strength to prepare anything to
eat. Hardly had the strength to eat.
Friends came by and prepared food and ate with me. Helped make sure I
ate. Many people were praying for me.
I too cried and wondered if I'd ever be able to work as a nurse
again. Wondered if I'd have to learn a whole new career that took no
energy. I spent hours pacing around the dining room and living room
and kitchen as I couldn't sleep. I couldn't sit thru a meal.
Sometimes I'd carry my food around with me while I paced. I'd
hyperventilate as I paced.
When one friend called me during one of the pacing/hyperventilating
episodes, she became alarmed! She came and fixed supper that night
and brought me Usana vitamins with Proflavanol. I hadn't been given
anything to build me up. Perhaps they didn't realize how totally
physically drained I was.
My feet hurt so bad. I could hardly stand to have them touched. I
couldn't stand regular lotion on them. Over and over and over I'd get
warm water in a basin, pour a little olive oil on top, and then put
my feet in and soak them.
Eventually all the outer skin peeled off the bottoms of my feet in
large pieces. I'd been told by my docs that the same would happen to
my hands. "God" I prayed,"if there's any way, please don't let me
lose the skin off my hands. I can hardly bear the pain as it is.".
I'm a firm believer in God. No, I'm not a religous person, just
believe in a very personal relationship with God. I've read in my
Bible where it says to give thanks in all things. As I paced at
night, I'd put 'praise to God' music on our CD player. As I learned
the songs I'd sing and sing and pace and pace and cry and thank God
that I'm alive. And eventually I'd be able to drift off to sleep. I'm
NOT PREACHING I'm sharing how I survived. I wasn't angry at God but
figured there was something for me to learn.
I'd never been on the other side of the sheets in an ICU bed. What an
experience. By the 3rd day I told my nurse that the clock on the wall
was crawling across the wall. He laughed and left the room. I hadn't
eaten in over 3 days. When I insisted that maybe I needed something
to eat because it was still crawling across the wall he checked and
brought me jello.
It's been a llllooooooonnnnnnnngggggg haul for me. It's been about 10
months. I've been off the Prednisone for about 2 months now. And am
just about 1 1/2 weeks off the Elavil for the chronic pain control.
Every drop in the Prednisone taper hurt. And I'm feeling it again now
that I'm leaving off the Elavil.
I learned how totally exhausting having visitors can be. I knew they
meant well. I didn't know how much energy it takes to visit.
Well, this is my first post. Perhaps I should be quiet for a bit.
My heart and prayers go out to those of you who are still is the
thick of the adverse reactions. GOD HELP YOU. HE WILL. That's how I
made it through. And YOU WILL MAKE IT THROUGH TOO. With God's help
this will not control you or me!
Blessings to each of you,
Sherrill


From: "cca0414" <cca0414@b...>
Date: Tue Jan 22, 2002 10:56 am
Subject: Levaquin, ear ringing, tendons; supplements

I'm a 55 year old female who was prescribed Levaquin for an upper
respiratory infection. Prior to taking the Levaquin, I was healthy
and active, taking aerobics classes three times per week for the past
seven+ years.

I took my first 500 mg. pill on January 4 and went to bed. Woke up
approx. eight hours later feeling as though my head was going to
explode. This was accompanied by loud head noises and ear ringing. I
foolishly attributed it to my sinuses, took an Ibuprofen, (probably a
mistake), and went back to sleep.

The next morning, I again checked the adverse warning insert the
pharmacist had given me and saw no mention of ear ringing, so I took
a second pill that evening. The next morning, I awoke with a solid,
purplish-red rash that covered hips to groin, underarms, and under
breasts. I recognized this as an allergic reaction and took no more
pills.

On the third day, my Achilles tendons felt tight and fatigued. It was
a Sunday and I couldn't get in touch with the doctor who had
prescribed the antibiotic. I stayed off my feet and the next day
dropped off a letter at the doctor's office describing my reaction
and asking why he had prescribed such a powerful antibiotic for a
simple upper respiratory infection. I requested that he look into how
long my problems might persist and if there was anything I could do
to reverse or minimize the adverse reactions. I included my
telephone number.

No word from him, so I went to his office the next day to speak to
him in person. He said maybe I should see an ENT doctor about the
tinnitus, noted the rash, and had no comment about the tendinitis.
He had no advice and said he had prescribed this drug many times
before and had never heard about a problem with it.

I had included information on the Levaquin adverse reaction website
with the letter I had dropped off at his office. I told him that if
he wanted to know what was happening to the many, many unfortunate
people who had been prescribed one of the fluoroquinolone drugs and
who had experienced serious reactions, then all he had to do was go
investigate the site. I won't hold my breath.

One week after the original rash, I broke out in more rash, covering
the torso, front and back. Lots of itching, with a concentration of
rash along the spine. On the eighth day, my Achilles tendon pain,
which had pretty much abated, was back with a vengeance. It seems to
move around, sometimes in the calves, sometimes in the heels,
sometimes in the knees, with an occasional crawling sensation in my
right heel and several episodes of numbness in the right leg. There
has also been tenderness in both forearms.

I went to the quinolone website and started to search for solutions.
I also contacted several people from the site who were using
vitamin/mineral supplementation, as well as other natural healing
approaches, took their advice, and began the regimen.

Today, it is the 22nd of January. My ear ringing and crackling is
still there, but it is considerably less. It had been so loud the
first ten days or so that I had to sleep with a ticking clock next to
my left ear (the one more affected) in order to try to distract
myself from the hissing and ringing. I can see only the faint signs
of the rash around my hips, and the itching has gone. The tendon
tightness and pain is still there. Sometimes it is minimal, but if I
walk around too much, it gets worse, so I am taking things slowly.

I found some interesting sites on fluoride poisoning and some of its
effects, such as hypomagnesemia and hypocalcemia. I also read that
the body attempts to rid itself of toxins through the skin and the
kidneys, so I drink lots of fluids and soak in a hot bathtub with
epsom salts.

I am pretty much following the advice of Sally Dietz. I take one-
quarter teaspoon of dolomite per day, with an additional one-quarter
teaspoon of a magnesium supplement that you mix with water. I use the
extra magnesium to guard against kidney stones from the increased
calcium intake. I take a good B-complex that includes the fat
soluble vitamins, two fish oil capsules, one tablespoon of olive oil
combined with liquid lecithin, choline/inositol (good for the liver)
acidophilus, flaxseed, and the glucosamine chondroitin supplements. I
have decided not to take any supplements on the weekends, except for
the glucosamine. I have also begun to drink distilled water, as we
are in a rural area and get our water from a deep well. I don't know
what kind of fluoride levels we might have.

I am thankful for this forum and all the people who have contributed.
Colleen Adam




From: "nancyski2002" <Nancytrash@s...>
Date: Fri Jan 25, 2002 8:31 am
Subject: Lower Back Pain


Hi,
I'm new to this group and have some questions about lower back pain
that I've experienced for about 4 wks. I took Levaquin about 2
months ago. 1 full prescribtion and a few pill from a second. I
was having some weird things going on (couldn't sleep, anxiety,
feeling out of sorts...) I did some internet searches about Levaquin
and discovered that they were all side effects from the drug.
Lately I've had lower back pain that nothing seems to help. Bengay,
Advil... still there is pain. It seems to be in the nerves of the
lower back like they are tight or being pinched. I'm just curious
if anyone else has experienced this kind of trouble as a result of
taking quinolones. Could the drug have settled their instead of in
a tendon? let me know what you think. I'm just looking into this
possibility before I go to the doctor.

Nancy


From: hortonsbks@a...
Date: Sat Jan 26, 2002 3:20 am
Subject: Cipro Effects


I, too, have been trying to get over this mess. I was given Cipro in the
beginning of November and promptly spent one week in the hospital with
C-Diff, including bleeding from the bowels. I have been on Vancomycin ever
since. Each time I completed the Vanco medicine, it returned. I am now off
since I developed one of the few adverse reactions of Vanco (i.e. "redman
syndrome"). In three days I provide yet another stool sample. I have had a
colonoscopy and while benign polyps were removed, no damage from C-Diff was
noted. I have been a vegan since I was diagnosed and I drink tons of pure
cherry extract for the tendonitis (which helps me tremendously). My doctors
have been great and no longer prescribe the quinolones to patients. In this
regard, I am most fortunate. I work fulltime as a corporate trainer and the
one nightmare I have is that I'm teaching and suddenly I have an attack with
no bathroom in sight.

I wish everyone the best as we continue with this mess.


From: Zeropen@a...
Date: Sat Jan 26, 2002 6:07 am
Subject: Re: [quinolones] Neurological effects of Cipro?


I also have had severe neurological problems from Cipro. Doctors always want
to prescribe it, or the Levaquin or Tequin. I developed severe dizziness,
imbalance, confusion, memory loss, and the shakes. I went into the hospital
when it started, about 3 weeks after taking the Cipro (not close enough for
me to associate it). I stayed 2 days and they could find nothing wrong. I
had an arrythmia that my heart doctor didn't feel was causing the dizziness
(now I know it too was from the quinolones). I felt okay as long as I was
lying down, so I thought I could go home. The next day, I got the imbalance
and dizziness back, so I laid down. I remember thinking to myself that I had
to go back to the hospital and remembered being in the hospital 2 days prior
but I couldn't remember WHY I had been to the hospital 2 days prior. I
couldn't figure anything out. Anyway, I went to the doctor right away and
she prescribed Meclizine (a motion sickness drug) because my CAT scan, etc.,
all were negative. The symptoms went away in 3 weeks but when I went back
for recheck, I had a urinary tract infection and she prescribed - tada! -
Cipro. Well, after the first pill the whole thing came back, all the
dizziness, imbalance, shakes. I had have it for over 6 weeks now but am
gradually seeing improvement where I am going to attempt to go off the
Meclizine by the end of the week if everything's ok. It comes and goes
though. Good luck. Hope this answers your questions. Penny



From: dja8977@a...
Date: Mon Jan 28, 2002 1:05 pm
Subject: Help!!


hi my name is Doug and i have benn going crazy!!!
I am 24 years old and as of three months ago i was in incredible shape.Thats
when i got some strange fatigue oriented illness ie low grade fever and swollen
glands too. I have been checked for everything under the sun but nothing came
up. During this time i was bieing treated for a prostate infection with
levaquin for 2 -3 weeks. As of late i have bbeen experiencing strange
neurological symptoms like burning sensations in my fingers, hands and feet,
weakness on and off in those same areas especially in the upper legs wheree it
feels like they wiegh a ton, muscle twitching, cramping and dizziness and loss
of balance too. I am going to see a neurologist this week and i am worried that
i have ms or like a brain tumor or something. I have heard of some adverse
reactions to this med and was wondering if anyone could help me..
living alone and a little nervous,
Doug
Thank You!!!!


From: "peniheni" <jeni25@h...>
Date: Tue Jan 29, 2002 7:00 am
Subject: Dr. Appt. today for Floxin-Help!

I just found you all last night & have been reading and I'm floored!

I took Floxin about 5-8 years ago. It was the only medication that
would get rid of a chronic UT infection. Before discovering the
Floxin I'd been treated for the UT for over a year. They kept
changing my meds with no luck. Finally they did a drug sensitivity
test & said Floxin would take care of the infection. It did & with
just one round taken for about 10 days. I was so relived & told
myself to remember that medication & ask for it first if I ever had
another UTI.

Now for the 1st time since the Floxin treatment way back when, I
think I have another UT. I WAS planning to ask for this medication
today (appointment this afternoon) because it had worked so well
riding the infection. Now I don't know what medicine to take or not
take. Seems they tried everything so I'm afraid I will have to go
through all the meds/UTI/med/uTI & on & on again.

Anybody have an alternative that is safe? Microbid/Microdantin is
one I cannot take because of an allergic reaction (itching, hives,
whelps followed by cortizone shots to get rid of the symptoms caused
by the Microdentin/Microbid!

I have a bunch of questions I'd like to ask a bit later, but for
right now I need advice about today's appointment. Help please!!!

BTW Thanks for sharing all you information on this board, I would
have never known why I've had some of the same symptoms as many of
you.

I have a bunch of questions I'd like to ask a bit later, but for
right now I need advice about today's appointment. Help please!!!