Post Marketing Reports for February 2000

Doc 39
1368From: Jeff Kuntze <jkuntze@b...
Date: Wed Feb 2, 2000 11:00am
Subject: Improvement

I have had burning and soreness in my chest, left side, and left back
areas for over 2 1/2 years since I stopped taking Floxin and Cipro. I
am currently taking Dilantin and Neurontin, as well as Ultram (for the
pain). the Ultram has helped somewhat, and I would say the pain has
stayed pretty constant over the last 1 1/2 years. I really believe I
will get better, but I don't know when.

I just found this site today and was shocked to learn my problems could
be from these antibiodic drugs. Good Luck.




Doc 38
1501From: Marcia Patterson <marcia.patterson@j...
Date: Mon Feb 14, 2000 10:33pm
Subject: Levaquin adverse reactions

My mother (69 years old) was placed on Levaquin.
She has multiple challenges including renal dialysis, arthritis, and
diabetes.

After a few days on Levaquin, we noticed strange behavior, but thought
it was as a result of the pain medication she was on. She continued the
Levaquin, and developed severe PARANOIA, SLEEPLESSNESS, depression, and
confusion.

These behaviors were totally out of character and shocking.
How did I deduce that it was the Levaquin and not one of the almost
dozen drugs she is also taking? I demanded a list of the medications she
had been
given while in the hospital, (she continues in the hospital, after a
second
leg amputation).

I researched the possible side effects of all of them, and came to
Levaquin. This drug should not be used with any patients who are in
renal failure,
have diabetes, or of course have a sensitivity to quinolones! Please
feel free to email
me with your side effect stories, as I am convinced this is a far more
dangerous drug
to many than we have been led to believe. My mother is better at this
time, but
continues to have some effects. BE WARY! Read the complete side effects
for any drug you
are given!







Doc 37
1491From: Elizabeth J. Wark <ewark@u...
Date: Tue Feb 15, 2000 4:54pm
Subject: levaquin

Hi ---Stumbled upon this site (literally since I'm more dizzy than I've
ever been from the supposed sinus infection I have). I had the weirest,
halluncinatory dreams last night plus sleeplessness that seems so unusual
since I've been fighting a high fever for almost a week and have been
exhausted. I have had bad past medical advice in the past that lead to
treatment of asthma with antibiotics, and consequently I have a very
difficult time fighting infection with standard drugs...amoxicilin,
augmentin, arethromicyn, etc. So, what's with this particular
drug? Should I contact my doctor asap and put this drug on my do not use
list? I'm running out of options as my infections are becoming virtually
untreatable, but in this case with the levaquin, perhaps the cure is worse
than the disease. Any advice is greatly appreiciated.

Lisa


Doc 35
1400From: Rick Tyler <rick@r...
Date: Mon Feb 7, 2000 9:51pm
Subject: New Symptom?

As I've written before, I've had periodic numbness and tingling in my
fingers since I was FQ'd. One strange symptom was a period where my
ulnar nerves (the "funny bone" nerve in your elbow, it runs down from
there into the side of the hand and the little finger) in both arms
became very sensitive to pressure. A few seconds of leaning on my
elbows lead to numbness in the area served by the ulnar nerve. This
lasted for a while (off and on for about four months) and then went
away completely in early December.

Starting a couple of weeks ago, I've had strange nerve problems in both
arms (I understand this is a good thing, since bilateral reactions are
unusual in both MS and ALS). If I bend my elbow up, such as holding a
magazine or lounging on the sofa, and keep it there, my lower arm will
"fall asleep." I've never had this happen before in normal use. It
also happens while I am sleeping, and for the past two weeks I wake up
several times a night with tingling arms.

I've also developed strange new pains in both shoulders. When I was
first FQ'd, I had severe shoulder pains that were diagnosed as rotator
cuff tendonitis -- a classic FQ side effect symptom. These new pains
now are kind of a numb ache -- if you can imagine that -- rather than
the intense "I wish I was dead" pain I had before. I'm also having
another bout of the neck and throat pain I had in my earlier FQ days of
last summer.

Does my current arm/shoulder pain sound familiar to anyone else? Like
a lot of us I kind of wait for the FQ symptoms to develop into
something more sinister, and I hate new symptoms. If anyone has words
of encouragement, I'd love to hear them.

(One good sidebar note is that since I've been FQ'd I've actually been
exercising more [my achilles tendons were unaffected], eating a more
rounded diet, and taking nutritional supplements. I've been surrounded
by people with colds and the flu for months and I've remained healthy.
That's something, anyway.)

-- Rick


Doc 33
1382From: Randy Hupp <totoboy@w...
Date: Thu Feb 3, 2000 2:28pm
Subject: Re: New use for Levaquin approved

Hi A friend' s mom took levaquin for pneumonia and sure the
pneumonia is better but now she is falling down, forgetful, spastic
and a whole slew of other problems. I would rather die form the
pneumonia then suffer the effects of levaquin again!


Doc 32
1368From: Jeff Kuntze <jkuntze@b...
Date: Wed Feb 2, 2000 11:00am
Subject: Improvement

I have had burning and soreness in my chest, left side, and left back
areas for over 2 1/2 years since I stopped taking Floxin and Cipro. I
am currently taking Dilantin and Neurontin, as well as Ultram (for the
pain). the Ultram has helped somewhat, and I would say the pain has
stayed pretty constant over the last 1 1/2 years. I really believe I
will get better, but I don't know when.

I just found this site today and was shocked to learn my problems could
be from these antibiodic drugs. Good Luck.


Doc 31
1366From: Jeff Kuntze <jkuntze@b...
Date: Wed Feb 2, 2000 9:35pm
Subject: Cipro & burning pains

I was surfing the web today looking for a cause of this debilitating
condition that has haunted me for 2 1/2 years. I can't believe what I
am reading. I am literally in shock.

I took multiple courses of Cipro and Floxin for a very bad ear
infection which I had. During that time I suddenly developed a chest
pain that I can only describe as at first a stabbing pain, then
gradually a burning pain, and now a somewhat chest soreness. I also
have developed a nerve disorder that is affecting my T-5 nerve and up
and down my spine (hot, tingling, etc. pain). I actually have to take
3 - 5 pain pills a day for this thing (on top of Neurontin and
Dilantin).

I new this thing didn't come out of the blue (I am only 32), but I
never would have made a conection to the antibiotics I had taken.

Can someone let me know if there has been any therapy that has helped
this condition? Also, I am really pissed right now and if there is a
lawsuit which is going to occur, I want to sue the you know what out of
the people who allowed people to use this drugs knowing that this could
occur.

Please respond as I will be anxiously waiting to hear from anyone.

Thank You.