Post Marketing Reports for February 1999

Post Marketing Reports
From: jamvideo@e...
Date: Mon Feb 15, 1999 9:32pm
Subject: sinusitis turned panic

I recently took Levoquin for 11 days (I could not make it 14 as prescribed) for a sinus infection. Day 2 I was dizzy and could not get to sleep. About 5 days into it I noticed that I was very anxious to the point of panic attacks. I thought I was going crazy! I began to dread nightime because I knew I would toss, turn, and then have nightmares. By day 9 I was a mess...dizzy...panic attacks...several times I thought I would have a heart attack...not to mention I was tired! I have been off the drug for 1 week now and I still have trouble getting a good night sleep. I have had mild anxiety now and then and I hope it continues to get better. My Dr. did not seem too concered about my side effects but I was/am scared that it did some damage! I had never had a panic attack before and I have never experienced anything so frightening!

***** wrote:
I too had been given Cipro first to treat bronchitis. Several days
into it I went to the ER because I felt hyper, weird and like I couldn’t
breathe right. The ER told me to continue on the Cipro. My symptoms were
dismissed and I was given a chest x ray to rule out pneumonia and sent to
follow up with a Specialist. The specialist knew about the Cipro and gave me
a two week course of Levaquin to address the breathing problems. After the
Levaquin I was destroyed. I have had insomnia problems too but had attributed them to not being able to sleep from the acute burning pain, muscle pulsations, and joint pain. Has anyone noticed that when they are just about to doze off that they experience tremor like sensations.

From: keith h baldwin <ljb40@j...
Date: Tue Mar 2, 1999 3:03am
Subject: Re: levaquin
I took floxin/cipro and didnt sleep for a month.but I took one quinolone
and if you are allergic to one you are not supposed to take another. I
got a double whammy, that was why I couldn't sleep. That was in April of
96. I sleep a little better now, not as well as I used to, but some what
better, some nights are sheer hell. Do you have any other symptoms.

From: Janet & Bill Scaglione <jknbill@p...
Date: Mon Mar 1, 1999 11:13pm
Subject: levaquin
I took Levaquin for two days for an ear inflection. I did not sleep
those two nights (I stopped after those 2 days),and I'm going on my 4th
night with little (45 mins) or no sleep. Is this a short-term thing or
am I looking at a long term thing....... Scared and sleepless. Bill
JKNBILL@P...

From: MRS DONNA M KIRK <XTKW54B@p...
Date: Mon Mar 1, 1999 2:31am
Subject: adverse reaction to levaquin
i had 10 days of levaquin ending 12-31-98 and am now on medical leave.
i have a constant buzzing in head and when i lay down to sleep
spreads to rest of body. have lost desire to do anything. am weak.
sounds hurt. muscle spasms and intense pressure and neck seem to be
lessening. did have periods ins early morning of feeling almost
normal for a bit but not now. need to see if this will send.

From: keith h baldwin <ljb40@j...
Date: Sun Feb 28, 1999 2:17pm
Subject: floxin/cipro reaction
Hi All
I was wondering if any of you had experienced depersonalization after
taking cipro. I went back to rxlist.com to look again at the adverse
effects and when I saw depersonalization I realized that was what I was
feeling when I told the Dr's I felt removed. That was really a bad choice
of a word they thought "a ha" depressed. It is so hard to explain how it
effects the CNS. The bone and joint pain, the muscle aches they can
understand, but when you mention being dizzy and having anxiety and
feeling removed(depersonalization) they think you have an emotional
problem. Just wondering
Linda

rfromlorain@w... (Randall Hupp)
Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 03:20:00 -0500 (EST)
To: rfromlorain@w...
Subject: levoquin adverse reaction
My name is Patty. I"m 43 and I took
levaquin for 10 days for sinus infection from jan 7th to 16th, on day
4 I had tendon foot pain and seen a foot dr. I told him I was an R.N.
and looked this up in the drug book to find out this caused tendon
problems, however he told me after diagnosing me with tendonitis to
continue taking it. I complied he was the doctor, why should I doubt
him, I didn't have 10 YRS of med school. I should have llstened to
myself, because I"m too living the qiunolone nightmare!!! Several
days later I had chest pains, and I called the cardiologist. I did not
think to mention the Levaquin because I had a cardiac ablation done on
Dec 18th,and I thought maybe I was having problems from that procedure
even though up until that point it was a success and no problems, little
did I iknow Levaquin was screwing up my repaired heart. I was finshed
with my Levaquin the next day and the chest pains went away, but I went
to the cardiologist for a check up, and he had no idea whatt happened to
my heart, I was now in a screwed up rhythm, I neglected to tell him
about the drug but I have an appt. 3-2 and we will discuss this. The
heart is a little problem that was solved. The BIG problem is my muscles
and nerves, my legs started to twitch and pop, my knee joints became
sore, and I had severe muscle spasms, my knees feel like they are
locked, I had extreme weakness and burning pains{parethesias} all in
my legs. numbness in my toes. I had to cancel a cruise vacation I was
taking. me and my hubby had planned it 2 yrs ago. I was wondering if I
was going to be walking, I seen 2 neurologists, a rhematoldolgist at
cleveland clinic, who said after mri of spine and EMG to rule out
multiple sclerosis, that this was strange AND SOME KIND OF NERVE DAMAGE
SHOWED ON EMG. NO MS , My family doctor right away said this was
Levaquin, I told the other doctors this and they said it was far fetched
and looked at me like I"m crazy. They said wait a month until I get
better, and if it was the Levaquin it was too late, just have to wait
and see. I am so grateful for this group, I was advised by a pharmacist
friend to go on the net to see if other people had this problem, I even
got a computer when I seen all your responses, so I could write because
I sure could use some support. IT HAS BEEN 3 weeks of sheer hell!! I am
an active person, or was, I exercised 4x a week at Bally,s until now. I
too can hardly sleep at night.< because of twitching burning, spasms,
they put me on senaquin, it slows the nerve conduction down, the neuro
said she could put me on Neurotin but that might screw up my heart.
I have a treadmill that I have pushed myself to do on the advice of the
docs, and I seem to have less spasms, and the weakness has greatly
improved. I cry a lot because of the pain. I want my life baCK!!!! I
WAS SUPPOSE TO be on a cruise ship in the carribbean, but thanks to
Levaquin I"m typing this and going to doctors and medical liraries
trying to figure out
what happened and how I can fix it. I would like to share some
nutritional things I found that h elp, which I asked the doctor about.
GLA {in Primrose oil and in Borage seed, is good to heal the nerves,
and amino acids such as Omega 3 and 6, can be found at health food
store. co enzyme 10 is good for the muscles, grape seed extract is a
powerful antioxidant, and 3000mg of vitamin C a day, along with a good
multiple vitamin and multi B. also protein drink such as whey
protein or soy protein has all the essential amino acids for nerves and
muscles. I was never into all these health things but I feel better
after these,I"ve got a long way to go and I pray a lot. I will pray for
all of you too. rfrom lorain@w...


donna banks dbmusic@m
fri 2-26-1999
ortho says
When I first mentioned my adverse reaction from Levaquin, to
Otho McNeil , they told me that my symptoms had only been
reported in test animals. They said that in those test
animals there was erosion of cartilage. They also told me
that they had given Levaquin to Cystic Fibrosis children who
ended up having fluid on there joints that went away after a
couple of months. They suggested that since I seemed to be
having asevere reaction that I get an MRI done. Incase I
didn’t mention it, my main symptom is that I haven’t been able
to walk as my reaction went straight into my knee joints.
This has been going on 1 month.
Today I called to update Ortho on my new findings. I told
them that my MRI showed that I had bone that was dying in
multiple places in my knee. This is called, bone infarction
or avascular necrosis. I told then I was in a holding for
awhile as my doc doesn’t know how much bone is going to die
and how much cartilage it will take with it. Basically, Ortho
said they had seen lesions form in cartilage but not any bone
infarcts. They have not seen my situaion at all, not even in
the test animals. They did say that people call saying that
they have joint pain, their MRI’s and xrays show up normal.
He said that their symptoms usually go away in a couple of
months. That was the extent of my phone call and I just
wanted to update everybody!
I may be the only one to get this particular wacky adverse
reaction, atleast I hope so!!
Keep well!!
Donna
db

Doc 12
51From: jydruss@c...
Date: Thu Feb 25, 1999 6:39am
Subject: Floxed
Hello to All,
Mary aka Bizzykidz, had to kick me in the butt so I would get
with it and post my story. I feel like the "Old Maid" here as
I was Floxed six years ago. That reality didnt even sink in
until last night after I had spoken to Mary and I realized
that it had taken me at least six months to try and contact
Dr. Flockhart and then many more months before I was contacted
by Mary who had miraculously been handed my original message of
months earlier. Wow.
So bear with me as I may get sidetracked along the way.
My data is now all stored in a box on a shelf in my garage.
So I dont have all the dates right in front of me. Funny
place to store six years of your life, isnt it?
I am also barely computer literate so it may take me a few
posts to fit all my recolections.
Anyway, In 93 I had recently moved to this small town in Idaho
and didnt have a regular Dr. so I visited one of those walk-in
Clinics for what felt like a possible bladder inf., the test
didnt show anything and the Doc said he would give me some Floxin
"just in case". Being a little sensitive to some drugs and foods
I asked if there were any side effects. "Absolutely not" was the
answer. (!) So I went home and since it was early evening,
waited 'til after dinner and took one 500 mg. pill and then
got ready for bed. I went to sleep and @ midnight I awoke with
what seemed like explosions going of in my brain. I could'nt
walk or talk, I was shaking uncontrolably, I felt like I was
falling out of my body, etc. etc. etc.
So to the ER we go, they give me a shot of benadryl and tell
me if its the Floxin it will be out of my system soon and all
will be fine. (yeah, ok) ....cont.

jydruss@c...
Date: Thu Feb 25, 1999 7:23am
Subject: cont.
.... So we go home and of course I dont sleep and nothing goes away, in fact all symptoms escelate, so -- back to the ER.
I told them I felt worse and that my heart was really racing, so they put me
on a heart monitor, which unbelievably showed 263 bpm.! My husband asked them if this could even be true so they reset the monitor and then began running around and then injecting me with who knows what. (As a note to this, I just now realise that this was not even in the records!) So anyway Im there for a few hours and then sent home again once my heart seems to be back to normal.
Of course it wasnt long until I was once again there and this time the BS started." Are you having problems at home?" " Maybe you should see a Proffesional", The whole shebang.
So I go home in misery, terrified that I will die in front on my son and nobody cares why.
So I suffer terribly for weeks and weeks and then a friend tells me that she is pretty sure she saw something about Floxin doing the same thing to some people she had seen on Oprah. Oh Joy! There must be help.
Well it took me awhile to get the transcripts and then to try and contact anyone from the show. It was all I could do every day to just survive, much less have the stregnth to try to explain my story to one more person. Not that that mattered because I could find not one single to person to return my calls or letters.
Finally I was able to get a number for Georgetown thinking that Dr. Flockhart would have the miracle cure. Sadly I never heard from him either.
I was ready to actually lay down and die if I was going to have to live like this the rest of my life. I knew if I didnt get help I would just wither, (or shake) my life away to nothingness. As a last resort my MOther talked me into going to Portland and staying with her and seeing a Dr. there. I agreed thinking it would just be for a week or so and she could help me care for my son.
In the meantime my Uncle just happened to be diagnosed with diabetes and was telling me that a lot of my symptoms sounded like his and maybe I should be tests for that. Sure, whatever. I'll go for anything at this point. So I see a very nice female Internest and explain my Floxin story, after being told that was NOT a possibility, I then went for the maybe diabetes thing. So I go through test after test, bloodwork, thyroid checks, six hour fasting blood sugar thing. I end up being in Portland for three weeks just waiting all the results. (I miss my husband). So I go in for "THE VERDICT", and you guessed it. Absolutely fine so we suggest that you are a classic case of Anxiety Disorder. By this time I dont care what they want to call it, just make it go away. So here goes the try a drug routine. I have to stay for a few more MONTHS to find a theraputic dose of anything that halfway helps. By the time I get home I am tired of it all and just want to take my drugs and sleep and sleep and sleep.
I do find a family Dr. here that actually admitted that he believed it could have been the Floxin because he had takin it and had fitful sleep and nightmares. Wow! This was something new, a Dr. actually believed me. Of course he still could offer no real help except maybe this new drug just out called Paxil. Well thankfully the Paxil did help tremendously. I was at least half the person I used to be.
Then out of the blue came a phone call from this lady named Mary who said she got my name and number from Dr. Flockhart. (!) Almost a year after I left the message! Well that got me to try and do the lawsuit thing, which of course never went anywhere. But at least we had each other and WE knew we weren't crazy. Little by little we found out info and got more and more angry. Eventually we got online and really wanted to be able to find others who were going through the same thing. But as I say we were just two messed up Moms who didnt quite have the computer savy to know how to go about it.
Also realising that I was only just "maintaing" and that with all we had learned there was really no cure , no attorneys to stop them, and no way to find all the "victims" to rise up, I was just tired. I wanted to pretend that if I just ignore it it might all go away and I would just be content to take my drugs and be just a little weird. And that is where I have been for a long time.
So thanks to Bev, who had the computer literacy to finally get this forum up and running, and to Mary for keeping us all informed and concerned, and to All of you new and so tragically Victimised by quinolones that are just now beginning your search for answers. I hope that my story does not depress or repress you, but will make you angry and willing do stand up and do the things by shear numbers that we were unable to do. Eventually we will be heard. I think the computer age will be a big part of that.
Geez, Sorry this was so long. Its only a breif summary of my experience.
I will be around to listen and support anyone who needs it.
Good Luck to all, Lea Brown


Donna banks
2-23-1999
I haven’t been able to walk because my adverse reaction to
the Levaquin went straight into my knee joints. I thought I
was getting better untill the results of my MRI. Orthopedic
said it is the most bizarre thing. He said you have bone
infarction in multiple areas in you’re knee. He said your
bone is dieing in you’re knee and there is nothing we can do
about it. We have to see how much damage this could do, but
if enough bone dies, it usually makes the cartilage die around
it. Depending upon how this progresses, he said I might be
looking at 2 knee replacements. Basically I’m trying to get
range of motion through therapy but put no weight on my legs
at all! Talk about nightmare!!! Everyone who has stiff and
painful joints might want to get an MRI on that spot. I could
have never imagined this! I had the nerve conduction test and
all of that turned out fine, thanfully. I still have the
wondrous rash and haven’t even seen anyone about that yet.
Beth, I’m glad you finally had a biopsy on those nasty things.
I’m sorry it was so miserable for you!!!!! By the way, don’t
know if you have had the needle test,EMG, but that was a trip
in pain. Maybe because the tissue in my knees are so screwed
up. I know one thing, I’ never have that test done again!!
I’m basically in a waiting game to see what this bone thing is
going to do!! I’m going to hang in there like everyone else
and wish you all good health!!
Donna

keith h baldwin <ljb40@j...
Date: Tue Feb 23, 1999 3:38am
Subject: panic attack/extreme anxiety
My anxiety / panic attacks came on after taking floxin and cipro. While i
was being treated for a elavated blood pressure and disorientation and
was given cipro all my symptoms seem to escalate
I know the anxiety is very frightening. I am on ativan, and have been for
three years. I tried to cut down once because it is supposed to be used
for short term, this I haven't been able to do. I do know how you feel.
Do you take any meds for your panic attacks. I have taken a amocillian
with out any adverse effects.
Linda

Donna Banks <dbmusic@m...
Date: Mon Feb 15, 1999 9:20pm
Subject: Levaquin-Adverse
I took a 10 day dose of Levaquin while in the hospital for asmatic
bronchitus. On the 9th day, I had severe pain in my knees. The doctors
agreed that it was a reaction to the Levaquin. They thought this would
basically go away once it got out of my system, about 4 days. I'm 20
days into this and can't walk. I had burning in the palms of my
hands,hand and wrist weakness, tremors, profuse sweating and rash. I'm
now in a wheelchair and have extremely stiff and painful knees and the
hand and wrist weakness. I have had all the auto immune test from the
rheumatologist, and await further test from a neurologist for nerve
damage and an MRI to rule out tendon damage with an orthopedic. Oh yes,
I still have the rash! I hope to be one of the people where this thing
works its way out of my system! I'll keep you posted.

Donna

diverse@s...
Date: Mon Feb 22, 1999 4:49pm
Subject: Sinusitis, Panic Attacks and Antibotics
Hello,
Since March 1998 until Dec. 1998.I have taken the following med for a sinus infection.
Amoxcillin
Ceftin (3 -4 times)
Biaxim
Floxin
Zythoromax
Augmentin
Lorabid
I have developed panic disorder and total frustration that I have been a test subject for treatment.
I haven't taken an antibotic for about a month and to tell you the truth, I don't ever want one again.
My sinus problems have not got any better, but I think I can live with that. What I don't like is the panic attacks. Will I have these forever and I do believe they are from all of the meds. Can someone offer some advice or relate to me.
Thank You!
Michele
diverse@s...


bizzykidz@a...
Date: Mon Feb 22, 1999 6:55am
Subject: A Repost of original from January
February 20, 1994 I was prescribed Floxin for symptoms which were actually
a result of an allergic reaction to an antibiotic I was taking for a
possible infection. That was almost 5 years ago. My immediate symptoms
while taking Floxin were many that I would not and did not attribute to
taking an antibiotic. The first few days I was very anxious, had aches up
and down both arms, but was mainly confused half the time.ie., couldn't
remember what I would be in the middle of doing, why had I gone upstairs,
(or downstairs), kept thinking that I needed to do things which turned out I
had already done. I would be in mid conversation with someone and
completely lose train of thought or words. Some groceries that should be
put in fridge, I put in the pantry and visa-versa. So.....what's the word
for that? I always forget it - maybe by the end of this post....On the
4th day of Floxin treatment I woke with extreme left-sided pelvic pain,
which escalated to extreme proportions by the 9th day. I called the doctor's
office, only to be given an appt 2 days later, although I was in tears and
in great fear at the time. I also was caring for children at the time and
just kept praying that I was not dying and would last until the day of the
appt....But that night I ended up in ER via ambulance.....I felt like I was
being strangled - my throat was slammed shut. X-rays were taken but my
throat was not swollen so I was not in anaphalactic shock - good news to me
at the time. I was given steroids and told to avoid Floxin in the
future..Things didn't change - symptoms remained the next days and days
after. When I asked the prescribing physician what family of drugs was
Floxin in, "sulphas, penicillins, myacins?" she gruffly stated that it was
not in any family, that it was new and out there all by itself. In the next
horrible days of total pain and confusion and tight throat, I wasn't eating,
knew I was dying, ultrasound showed nothing for pelvic pain - I was frantic
and grateful when I was able to get in to see a well referred physician who
told me that I did not have a hernia and thought I might possibly have an
infection in my colon, although I had no symptoms of such. I was given
Cipro and thought my life back, I felt consoled and happy to know that I was
not in immediate danger of dying. After 2 doses of Cipro I ended up in an
emergency medical facility, choking ever more than previously ( which had
not subsided ) I was unable to sit, barely able to speak to the doctor
there who asked me if I was being abused at home - All I wanted to know was
why was I feeling strangled in the throat and how long do you have to live
when you are unable to swallow?! He then looked at the meds I was on and
was astonished that I was taking Cipro after I had told him that this weird
stuff had all began weeks before on Floxin and that I had been to an ER 9
days prior (to this day) He said why were you given Cipro! It's the same as
Floxin! It's ciprofloxin! He told me that I was probably having an
esophageal spasm, gave me Zantac for reflux (didn't have) and told me to see
a gastroenterologist as soon as possible. Which I did. The symptoms did
not alleviate and I knew I was dying, tried to hang on minute to minute.
Each time I looked at my children I thought it might be the last. Usually a
strict and consistent , (and loving) mom, I now was giving my children (ages
3 and 7) anything they wanted, and they could do no wrong....I was living
with such intense fear, pain, confusion, etc....couldn't be the Floxin or
the Cipro I thought......I had stopped taking them......the symptoms would
have gone away if I had suffered an allergic reaction to them.....a prayer
was on my lips at every moment I could manage to say one.....Please don't
let me die without knowing from what....Then on Easter Sunday April 3, 1994,
Stephen Fried's article appearred in the Washington Post. My prayers were
answered!!!. I was not dying!!!!! I sought help through that article and
found out that my symptoms were due to an adverse drug reaction to these
quinolones. My new doctor thought that within 12 months the symptoms would
subside. 12 months!!!! No, no, no ....now that I knew what had happened I
would surely be better soon and I was not going to put up with tight throat
for 12 months!!!

My story since then is so long, my journey to end these symptoms has been
tough on my wonderful family and my children are now 8 and 12!!! How can
this be? I want those five years back! I have learned much about
quinolones and drug reactions and politics and other medications and the
medical profession. I have met some wonderful people along the way..I have
learned alot and have been given so much compassion by others who have
suffered from the effects of quinolones and have felt their pain, their
grief, their struggles.

I am weary now, but will write again soon to try to add to the forum, by
writing about what I actually do know about some of the symptoms this class
of drugs can cause and the devastation, as well.

As has been said by someone previously on the forum, Stephen Fried's book,
Bitter Pills is a must read for all who come to this site, as well as those
who have no idea what has happened to them, if they develop strange symptoms
while on quinolones. Dateline did a spot on this April 13, 1998.
Transcripts I'm sure are available. Oprah did a show, as well, in 1993.
Too bad I wasn't watching that day. I appearred on the Phil Donahue show
early January,1995 with Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizens Health Group.
He has written several books, as well, Best Pills, Worst Pills I and II.

My symptoms are due to an adverse CNS reaction. They remain to this
day,even with medication. I had no prior history of seizure disorders. Not
everyone experiences such symptoms. Many are tendon and/or joint pain
complaints. Many have nervousness, insomnia, confusion, and oh yes I just
remembered the word I was searching for earlier --DISORIENTATION!!!

Many thanks to those who formed this group. I would like to help anyone I
can. Beth has done much digging for sources of info. I am grateful for the
sites she has found and for finding me and for leaving messages at other
sites about the forum. Good Night for now....Mary

Donna Banks <dbmusic@m...
Date: Sun Feb 21, 1999 10:29pm
Subject: My adverse reaction!
Hello to all,
I was given a 10 day dose of Levaquin for bronchitus. On the
10th day,I had massive pains in my knee joints while I was
still in the hospital. Doctors agreed I was having a reaction
to Levaquin and said I would be stiff for a few days, but then
would be ok! I did develope a type of burning in my hands,
weakness in my hands and wrist. I also had tremors for the
first week, sweating and finally developed a rash. I have
basically been in a wheelchair for 26 days. All symptoms have
abated except for my knee joints. I have finally started to
walk and can stay up for about 20 ft. or so, which is huge
progress! I have had many test and most doctors have been
puzzled. The reumatologist has ruled out all the uglies in
his field, the nuerologist says no nerve damage, and I await
to hear the results of my MRI.
I still have the rash and haven't seen anyone about it yet. I
will let evryone know if the MRI bears any news as to why
knees are so stiff and painful.

Donna

Donna Banks <dbmusic@m...
Date: Sun Feb 21, 1999 9:41pm
Subject: Re: adverse reaction to levaquin
Dear Laura,
I also was adminstered Levaquin for 10 days for bronchitus and
had a severe reaction that went straight into my knee joints.
I haven't been able to walk for 23 days. It seems to finally
be subsiding . I have had every test done on me and am
waiting for my MRI results. I'm hoping that this will tell
why I'm so stiff and painful in the knees. I just had some
test from a neurologist to rule out nerve damage. Thankfully,
It looks like I don't have any nerve damage. I let you know
if my MRI show anything of interest.
Hope you feel better soon!
Donna

Doc 26
keith h baldwin <ljb40@j...
Date: Sun Feb 21, 1999 5:00pm
Subject: No Subject
Hi Maverick,
I also have dizziness. I have seen 2 ents and they find nothing wrong
with my inner ear. My dizziness is located in the back of my head on the
left side. I have been this way since 1996. I am sorry this so called
wonder drug has hit you. Which drug did you take?
Linda

MAVERICKDD@a...
Date: Sun Feb 21, 1999 11:26am
Subject: Levaquin reaction
Hello people,
Just found you on the web. Here's my story:
On Veterans Day in 1998, I almost died from a severe allergic reaction to
Levaquin. Within minutes of taking the drug, my face blew up, my sinus and
nasal cavities congested, and my air way was closing! I spent a night in
I.C.U. Today, over three months later, I'm going in for additional tests at
the hospital to see what other damage it caused. I've had bouts with
dizziness, disorientation, and feeling ill since taking the drug. Doctors
think the reaction may have done some permanent damage to my inner ears. I
hear it's a wonder drug for some... a dream come true! For me, the dream has
been a nightmare.

Regards,
Maverick

faron wells <faron_w@y...
Date: Sat Feb 20, 1999 5:38pm
Subject: Levaquin reaction
My wife's Dr. prescribed Levaquin for an infection
even though he was aware of her allergy to Cipro.
After taking the first dose, She reported that she
did not "feel right", that her "eyes felt as if they
were jittering". Shortly after, I noticed that her
hands were shaking. As time progressed, her head and legs were
becoming shaky also. She had all of her
wits about her, but physically, she was a mess.
She appeared to have severe Parkinson's disease or
to be suffering the affects of a stroke. A trip to
the emergency room confirmed an allergic reaction
to Levaquin. The attending physician described it
as a dystonic reaction. He administered a dose
of Benydril and observed her for an hour or so.
The reaction subsided and he released her. It was a couple of days
before she was completely over it.
Fortunately, she suffered no apparent permanent effects that we can
tell.
I hope this information will help.



Laura1146@a...
Date: Sat Feb 20, 1999 1:11am
Subject: adverse reaction to levaquin
I have had a kidney infection since December and have been prescribed numerous
antiobotics for it. (Cipro, floxin, trovan) /recently, my physician had
prescribed me levaquin, 1 500mg tablet for 3 days, then i took it for another
2 days and started getting terrible pain in my joints, especially my fingers
and my wrists, it seems to have probably worked for the kidny infection but
now my joints are killing me.
Has there been anyone that have had such a reaction like that, and if so, what
is the reason for it???????


bizzykidz@a...
Date: Sat Feb 20, 1999 4:14am
Subject: More from Dr. Wolfe's Newsletter
As I mentioned earlier, in the April 1998 edition of the newsletter, Dr. Wolfe seems very concerned about the use of grepafloxin, in that this quinolone has the potential to dangerously interact with other medications, making it possibly more risky than perhaps other quinolones which may not have this same known profile (these are my words, my interpretations of what he is saying). He says that the FDA made a grave error in not requiring a bold black box warning re these potentially fatal interactions which would warn doctors.
Would they read it or anything else on a package insert - did anyone bother w/ me?? or any of you??
At the very least all quinolones should have more than one black box warning.
(again, my opinion)
To quote part of a paragraph in the article by Dr. Wolfe; " This fluoroquinolone family of antibiotics can cause convulsions, increased intracranial pressure, and psychosis. Fluoroquinolones may also cause central nervous stimulation which may lead to tremors, restlessness, lightheadedness, confusion, or hallucinations. The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) such as ibuprofin (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil and generics) or naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve and generics) with a fluoroquinolone may increase the risks of central nervous system stimulation and convulsions when used with grepafloxacin"
(grepafloxacin = Raxar)
.Oh yes and the title of this article is Grepafloxacin (Raxar) The Eight Fluoroquinolone Antibiotic" DO NOT USE (WHO NEEDS IT?)
Well, I know that I never needed both Floxin and Cipro, which have altered my life irreparably for the last five years. Today is the fifth anniversary to the day when I took my first dose of Floxin. The only warning given to me by the doctor was that it was very expensive. Boy was she ever right on the $ ! Wish I could buy back the last five years. I was in such agony on the eighth day of treatment,(my 35th birthday). Ambulance to ER next day. So I will be 40 next week and what do they say about being 40?? Life begins....well, I guess I have a week to sort that one out. I thought I might have another child five years ago , but Floxin and then Cipro stopped all prospects of that. Thank God my 2 children are healthy and my husband is, as well, but they deserve me back the way I used to be, unless a miracle happens, which I have never lost hope for or faith in...went down this road less traveled for some reason and if it's to save others from a nightmare, then so be it. Thanks for listening......Mary

bizzykidz@a...
Date: Sat Feb 20, 1999 3:13am
Subject: Revised continuation
Hey! I wasn't finished and my last message got posted all by itself! (and all the appliances are floxed in my house, as well!) Anyway Public Citizen Health Research Group publishes a monthly newletter. Dr. Sidney M. Wolfe is the editor. In the April 1998 issue he had a 2 page article denouncing the addition of another fluoroquinolone antibiotic, called grepafloxacin. At the moment I can not find it because of all the kid's clutter brought home yesterday, but I will find it and post a few quotations regarding this one as well as what he has to say about the quinolone family and some of their problems. For anyone to be given a quinolone after having a reaction to another is criminal,especially when the patient informs the doctor of such, and even more so, when the patient insists-- as a member posted the other day--- prescribed levoquin for pneumonia because the physician was comparing amoxicillin to what a quinolone could do!!! That is appalling to me. The quinolones have not to my knowledge been on the U.S. market for even a decade yet. How in the world did they treat bad cases of pneumonia successfully prior to quinolones??!!! The complete list of quinolones currently on the market as I know them to be are as follows:
FLOXIN (ofloxacin)
CIPRO (ciprofloxacin)
NOROXIN (norfloxacin)
MAXAQUIN (lomefloxacin)
PENETREX (enoxacin)
LEVOQUIN (levofloxacin)
ZAGAM (sparfloxacin)
RAXAR (grepafloxacin)
Also many eye doctors have been prescribing a quinolone eye antibiotic called OCUFLOX, for something as simple to treat as pink eye (conjunctivitis), this being as a first course of treatment and yet there are reports of same kind of CNS reactions with these drops, as well. WHY?? , when there are so many alternatives? This summer I had a friend call me whose 8 year old daughter was prescribed floxin drops for swimmer's ear. When she went to pick up the prescription she of course did not want it because she knew of my own story, so she asked the pharmacist for an alternative and he told her that he could substitute cipro drops instead - (she had already told him that she did not want a quinolone) So, of course she yelled at him the cipro was a quinolone too! He was not aware of this, but did mention to her that he had seen the Dateline spot on Floxin and he could certainly understand her concern. This is also a child who takes Ritalin for ADHD!!! That same week a friend of my friend had her 18 month old daughter taking Floxin drops for swimmer's ear. Now how can an 18 month old tell you if her throat is tightening, or if she is feeling confused, anxious, whatever. The public is so very uninformed. The FDA does not require drug manufacturers to warn about possible neuro-psychiatric reactions to their drugs, but they should. This past summer I called a pharmacist with Public Citizen's Group named Larry Sasich and told him my friend's story. He did not think that quinolones were indicated for pediatric use, let alone for swimmer's ear. I do believe, however, that a pediatric quinolone solution has been approved by the FDA and is in use, but I'm not sure what it is called. Mary


gwenndoline@y...
Date: Thu Mar 4, 1999 10:31pm
Subject: Re: Levoquin and Cipro
I have spoken to my doctor and the pharmasist. They pass if off as a minor problem and my doctor suscribed levoquin after Cipro. Only learning from this website did I discontinue the use of the drug. I stopped taking Levoquin only after 1 pill and am feeling very confused right now. I sit here, trying to spell everthing correctly( never had a problem before)and walk outside to my parking garage and can't remember where I parked.
The work is that I have an hour commute to work and find myself not concentrating on driving and am parronoid that I will get into an accident. My initial reations included memory loss, not knowing what day it was,night sweats, bed spins, afraid to go to sleep because I thought that I wouldn't wake up and dizziness. It feels like that I have been painting in a small room for a long time. I have no concept of time, more or less days. I can't remember what I have already done during the day. Most of you ask what is your doctor doing about it. My doctor said that the soonest he can see me is Monday. I don't want to feel stupid by going the the emergency room. I have never had any reaction to antibiotics before and thought it was somthing that I had eaten or just a bad flu.
I am really scared and don't know how long this will last. It is like a nightmare and I cannot believe that only 3500 people tested this drug before the FDA released it!!!



keith h baldwin <ljb40@j...
Date: Sat Feb 20, 1999 1:56pm
Subject: weight loss
I forgot to mention I lost 30 lbs in a matter of 3 weeks. Has anyone else
have that same effect
Linda

ljb40@j...
Date: Sat Feb 20, 1999 1:05pm
Subject: floxin/cipro
Hi all
This is my 2nd post like many of you. I am glad to be able to repost since I had left out many of my symptoms. I was given floxin at an urgent care on March 24 of 96 for a suspected blader infection. I don't recall how many pills I had taken before I noticed a reaction, seems as tho everything became a bblur from the begining. I started with a bad headache and took some advil, which is a no no, but I didn't know. I didn't associate the headache with being a floxin reaction.On the 28th of March I had severe abdominal pain, went to the Doctor at work, he wanted to know what I had eaten or taken, I told him floxin, he gave me mylanta and zantac and sent me home. He also took my blood pressure which read 140/90 and I had always carried a low bp of 118/78. I went back to work and really begin feeling the effects of floxin. I had dizzines, insommina and nightmares.MY jaw began to ache and I had excess salivia coming from the left side of my mouth and my left arm would jerk.On the 11th of April I could not work any longer.My mind was so fuzzy and my vision began to blur and I was dizzy. I go back to the urgent care and there my bp had risen to 160/120.They were able to get my bp down after spending 8 hrs there, then they gave me cipro. Why I don't know unless the Dr thought that maybe my bp could be contributed to an uti.Well that is really when my hell started. The insommina grew worse, the anxiety was running next to fear,I had a burst in the back of my head on the left side, it felt just like an explosion. My vision was getting worse everything was distorted and blurry, even now if I look at the moon the bottom falls out and it becomes oval shaped.walls would slant suddenly. I had muscle and joint pain plus my body would jerk not noticebly but I could feel it. I had never taken any kind of meds for anxiety, but I do now that is still with me.my head feels like I have medicine head all of the time.The bottom of my feet burn at times now, early I would have burning sensations all over.I too have had a mutiple of test sed rate autoimmune, mri's. After taking the floxin/cipro I did develope carpel tunnel and had surgery for that. I also had a cervical fusion for pinched nerve in my neck, didn't have that before floxin/cipro either. Had not been in a wreck or had a whiplash.At todays date I still feel like hell.I have so much pressure in my head and am so dizzy there are days that I am hardley functionally.
LAt the begining I could hardley sign my name. I still have trouble concentrating. Sometimes I have to really grope for the word I want to say and sometimes they won't come.
LLinda


emina@p...
Date: Fri Feb 19, 1999 6:44am
Subject: Levaquin Reaction/Nerve Pain
Almost immediately after being started on 2 days of IV antibiotics (Levaquin) for bacterial pneumonia, I had funny reactions. First I developed an itchy skin rash on my upper back, but when I showed the nurse she said it was probably prickly heat. Then my jaw started clamping shut without any voluntary motion. On the second day my legs got really sore, like Achilles tendonitis, and I could hardly walk. While continuing on oral Levaquin for 8 more days, I
developed a sharp pain in my right calf and both legs went into painful cramps and spasms. My doctor ruled out a blood clot with an ultrasound and says I have something wrong with the sciatica nerve all the way into the heel and foot (since there is pain and numbness all the way down). He put me on a course of cortisone, which did nothing. Then he put me on 200 mg. Celebrex, an anti-inflammatory, twice a day, which helps a bit to relieve the pain. A spinal surgery did an MRI which showed no spinal/disk involvement that could be causing the sciatica, and he told me to start exercising to bring back my muscle leg tone that atrophied from all of the bedrest while I was sick with pneumonia. Meanwhile, 5 weeks after I had the 10-day course of Levaquin, I still have bad sciatica pain, particularly in my right leg, worsened by sitting and lying on my back. Tremors and quivering and muscle "jumping" have persisted down both legs. Ironically, everything has seemed to set off a personality change, making me hyperactive, garrulous, and almost manic rather than my typical depressive state. Yesterday I finally saw an osteopathic rehabilitation medical specialist and he diagnosed neuropathy and prescribed the anti-seizure medication Neurotonin. Has anybody had luck with this? By the way, I have had smaller reactions taking Ciprofloxin in the past for a sinus infection and have tried since to avoid the quinolones, but the doctor who treated me for the pneumonia (very bad case) seemed to think only a strong quinolone and not something like amoxicillin would kill the bacterial strain I had. Is this true?

dbmusic@m...
Date: Wed Feb 17, 1999 10:54pm
Subject: Tremors
I'm only 23 days into this nightmareand I have not been able to walk but I did have tremors in my hands all while I was taking my 10 day dose of levaquin and about 2 weeks after I stopped taking levaquin. My tremors abated but unfortunately I still can't walk. I have heard of others with tremors as well although I don't have any of those printed out. Wish I could be of more help to you!
DB

Cdolkas@a...
Date: Wed Feb 17, 1999 3:47pm
Subject: Re: Has anyone else experienced tremors from Levaquin?
Floxin, the pre cursor to Levaquin, has left me with sometimes full body
tremors, although they have subsided some with some medications, the same
medications have limited but not eliminated the hand tremors. I have had them
for 4 years and 3 months along with a myriad of other fine symptoms.Have your
doc check with Dr David Flockhart at Georgetowne University, Wash D.C. for
some possible Rx suggestions.

mikerader@y...
Date: Tue Feb 16, 1999 6:04pm
Subject: Has anyone else experienced tremors from Levaquin?
I am trying to gather information on Levaquin for my Neurologist. I am still having hand tremors two months after taking Levaquin. Nobody seems to believe it was the Levaquin. If anyone else has had similar problems please Email me or post a follow message. My tremors are slowly getting better, I think, but I am nowhere close to how I was before taking Levaquin.

jamvideo@e...
Date: Mon Feb 15, 1999 9:32pm
Subject: sinusitis turned panic
I recently took Levoquin for 11 days (I could not make it 14 as prescribed) for a sinus infection. Day 2 I was dizzy and could not get to sleep. About 5 days into it I noticed that I was very anxious to the point of panic attacks. I thought I was going crazy! I began to dread nightime because I knew I would toss, turn, and then have nightmares. By day 9 I was a mess...dizzy...panic attacks...several times I thought I would have a heart attack...not to mention I was tired! I have been off the drug for 1 week now and I still have trouble getting a good night sleep. I have had mild anxiety now and then and I hope it continues to get better. My Dr. did not seem too concered about my side effects but I was/am scared that it did some damage! I had never had a panic attack before and I have never experienced anything so frightening!

Donna Banks <dbmusic@m...
Date: Mon Feb 15, 1999 9:20pm
Subject: Levaquin-Adverse
I took a 10 day dose of Levaquin while in the hospital for asmatic
bronchitus. On the 9th day, I had severe pain in my knees. The doctors
agreed that it was a reaction to the Levaquin. They thought this would
basically go away once it got out of my system, about 4 days. I'm 20
days into this and can't walk. I had burning in the palms of my
hands,hand and wrist weakness, tremors, profuse sweating and rash. I'm
now in a wheelchair and have extremely stiff and painful knees and the
hand and wrist weakness. I have had all the auto immune test from the
rheumatologist, and await further test from a neurologist for nerve
damage and an MRI to rule out tendon damage with an orthopedic. Oh yes,
I still have the rash! I hope to be one of the people where this thing
works its way out of my system! I'll keep you posted.

Donna