Post Marketing Reports for March 2003

From: "dabbledo7 <dbean7@h...>" <dbean7@h...>
Date: Sat Mar 1, 2003 7:35 pm
Subject: It sounds like I've been floxed!
Just when I thought I was either nuts or having a heart attack, one
or the other, I had the thought to check on the med Levaquin. I had
gotten sick on the third dose 3 weeks ago and finally just put it all
together. When I read the symptoms so many of you have, arm pain,
chest, back, neck, headache, foggy head, I knew I could have written
them myself. I'm lucky, I don't have it as severely as some I
think. I am glad to know what I have. I hope to keep reading your
stories, they help! Good luck to all of you and thanks for telling
your stories.


From: "wolmeister1313 <engelpj13@a...>" <engelpj13@a...>
Date: Sat Mar 1, 2003 11:39 pm
Subject: new and worried
hello group i'm a newbie...anyway...i was prescribed 500mg a day of
levaquin and quit taking it after 5 days do to tingling in my hands
and feet and sore joints and muscles....i gotta be honest...this is
bad....my doctor told me it would all go away in a short time...what
can i do to help it go away faster?....will it go away?
please help, pete
engelpj13@a...


From: "wolmeister1313 <engelpj13@a...>" <engelpj13@a...>
Date: Sun Mar 2, 2003 9:42 pm
Subject: does anyone get better?
i have read alot of your stories and my heart go out to all of you
who suffer like myself. Being that i only took levaquin for 5 days
and that was just last week i guess you could consider me a new cast
member of this nightmare that just seems to get worse. I started out
with the tingling in my hands and feet and now i have all kinds of
joint and back pain with a nice heaping helpful of anxiety. I don't
like to brag but i'm a big guy...a mans man and former Marine combat
veteran ....i always fancied myself "tough as nails" but i'll tell
you this...i cry like a 2 year old at least three times a day...i
think mostly due to the fact that i'm depressed and from the stories
i read the future doesn't look bright for me. I know i have a long
journey ahead of me and i promise i will send in a positive post and
keep in touch with the group if i ever do get better....which leads
me to the reason for this post....i would love to hear some positive
stories to motivate me ...please....anyone...tell me i will awake
from this nightmare one day!


From: "glennrutherford14 <Mollymgr@a...>" <Mollymgr@a...>
Date: Mon Mar 3, 2003 11:09 am
Subject: cipro/levaquin
An earlier post said the doc had prescribed 250 mg of cipro and then
500 mg of levaquin. If I'm not mistaken, you are never to take
different fluroquinolones back to back. My doc did this to me, with
disastrous results. Glenn Rutherford in Louisvi


From: "Daisy Shostrand <daidee_may@y...>" <daidee_may@y...>
Date: Mon Mar 3, 2003 3:17 pm
Subject: Help, Please!!!
First I will tell you a little about myself. My name is Daisy I am
26 years old and I live in Indiana. I am a mother of three, two are
step.

I have been really sick for the last year with getting pnemonia four
times and broncitius three. My last on set of pnemonia was a week
ago last Friday. I was put on Levaquin, which I have taken once
before, and one of the only antibotics that have worked for me. Last
Wednesday I started having some pain in my knees. Saturday my legs
started swelling especially my right one. I have read on several
sites about this possibly being linked to the Levaquin, so I called
the pharmacy that I got my rx at and the pharmacist laughed at me.

So, now I am in pain, my legs are still swelled and I don't know what
to do. I was planning on maybe calling my doctor's office in the
morning, but really can't handle someone else laughing at me. Am I
going crazy or has this happened to others? Any info would be
greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,
Daisy


From: "rainbow_33434 <rainbow_33434@y...>" <rainbow_33434@y...>
Date: Tue Mar 4, 2003 3:58 am
Subject: Swelling

Hi,

I joined about a week ago after getting suspicious about the timing
of when I started experiencing so much joint and muscle pain. I
checked the internet and was horrified to read all the side effects
that the quinolones can cause and how many people have had the same
kind of side effects as I after taking Levaquin. Unfortunately,
this was after a whole 2 weeks. Normally, I never take medication
but was at my wits' end after coughing for a month. It is so unlike
me to take something without checking it out first, but I guess I
was just desperate (and yes, I still have the cough).

I do not seem to have quite as much pain in my arms and shoulders
now, but oh, my legs! For years I have always had problems with my
left knee and just haven't done anything about it. But my right
knee in particular has swelled unbelievably. Is swelling common? In
a "sense" it is better because though it is horribly painful to get
up, I have found ways to do it now, whereas before I just had to sit
there for ages just thinking about how I was going to accomplish it.

"Perhaps" it is unrelated, but this definitely started soon after
starting taking the Levaquin. I have to think it is because of it.
I am wondering about going to a bone guy...can anyone tell me if
they have had this kind of experience themselves?

Thanks,
Valerie


From: wick1860@a...
Date: Tue Mar 4, 2003 4:24 pm
Subject: Re: [quinolones] cipro and levaquin

Dear Mary,
I am sorry you are in so much pain. Unfortunately, it's a pain I
understand all too well. Earlier this winter, I took Levaquin for 20 days to
combat a stubborn sinus infection, and I had the worst depression of my life.
(Depression runs in my family, and I seem to have inherited a strong
tendency in that regard.) In addition, I was exhausted and "flu-ey" for
much of those 20 days. ( I felt the way I'd felt 20 years ago with a long
bout of mono. ) The world looked hopelessly bleak (these days, it's bleak
enough without an adverse drug reaction) during the day. At night I hardly
slept; I was beset with unbearable anxiety. A monster was clawing at my
chest.
The good news is that you WILL get better. I still have my moments, but
getting the drug out of my system has helped enormously. I have a fairly
strict daily exercise regimen, so that daily boost to my metabolism helped.
I don't know where you are with cycles, hormones, or so forth, but using 1/8
tsp of natural progeserone cream twice a day for 18 days (25 if you're in
perimenopause) might help, as might a very low (5 mg) dose of DHEA. If
you're on oral contraceptives, get off them. They'll only worsen your
anxiety.
I can understand why you'd want to be online, but sometimes backing off
is helpful. We all want knowledge, and we all want help, but over-obsessing
about something tends to make us get stuck sometimes.
But good luck, and lots of courage. You can put it behind you.

C Jones

(My own belief is that quinolones should NEVER be prescribed to anyone with a
history of annxiety or depression--or , for that matter, musculoskeletal
problems.)


From: "Asmodeus Azarak" <forgottengod@c...>
Date: Wed Mar 5, 2003 10:58 am
Subject: New leviquin victim?
Greetings all,
I'm new to the list. I was put on Leviquin for a diagnosis
of "prostatitis" back in November. An irresposible doctor kept me on
Leviquin for over a month without making it clear how severe the side
effects could be and even though I never showed any signs of having a
bacterial infection or any improvement with antibiotics. Now not
only do I have severe pain and inflamation of the prostate and
epiditimis (my original problem), but I have developed pains in the
tendons and muscles mostly of my arms but also my shoulders and
legs. Even simple activities like using a computer or playing a
video game rapidly cause pain as if I'd been lifting weights all day,
and lifting anything heavy is a big no-no. I already can't sit
because of the prostate problem and now I am having trouble with
standing because of my legs.
In addition I have tested highly positive for a rhumatoid factor
and begun having serious joint problems. I've never had this or any
of the other symptoms before, and both joint and tendon pain started
around the same time, seperated from the initial problem by about a
month.
Any advise for me? Anyone else connect Leviquin to arthritis
before? Does this all go away eventually. It's been over two months
since i went off leviquin and there's not even been a sligh
improvement. Painkillers and such are of no use because I just
unknowingly hurt my arms (feels like lifted too much weight, hurt
tendons or muscles if I overdo it). I also have a mosttled light
red/white rash on my arms and some of the other places where I get
tendon pain.




From: "Michelle" <mcrowder@p...>
Date: Wed Mar 5, 2003 1:22 pm
Subject: I'm back


ADVERTISEMENT



Not sure to begin but venting always makes me feel better when it is
at least people that understand what I'm talking about!

Last time I checked in were were off to the Rheumatologist, haven't
checked back in since because to be perfectly honest, he is blaming
all of my husband's problems on lack of sleep! He is a police
officer and works midnights and has worked them for 15 years. He
does not believe that Levaquin did this to him. He has ordered blood
tests and put him on a daily regimin of predisone and also gave him
sleeping aids but nothing has helped. We go back to the doctor on
March 14 but not sure what good it will do.

Right now the pain is in his left shoulder, we just got over an
episode with his ankle where he could hardly walk therefore not able
to work for about 5 days. He is missing work way too much and is
very careful about what he tells anyone at work because if anyone
found out just how bad he is at times, it could jeopardize his job.
We are once again at our wits end and the depression is really
getting to him this time, it will be a year March 13 since he took
Levaquin. He was a perfectly healthy 49 year old working everyday
until he had to have by-pass surgery and given LEvaquin, now he is
almost 50 and walks and acts like he is 80. This is so unfair and
not knowing what to do for him and when this nightmare might end is
the hardest part. All I can do is cry when he is not looking.

I know there is no miracle but once again I reach out to anyone that
might shed some light on maybe something we could try.

Thanks for listening,
Michelle


From: "hsspedsec" <hsspedsec@y...>
Date: Wed Mar 5, 2003 6:38 pm
Subject: Newbie (former lurker)
Hello all, I am new to join the group but not new to the problems we
share and the search for answers. I guess I was what Dave used to
call a lurker; I didn't feel I had anything to contribute. Now that
I am feeling better (yay!), I would like to share my story, what
treatments I've tried, and some of my theories (so you can know why I
tried what I tried).
There seems to be great diversity among the members as far as what
has "worked" to generate improvement, and it's clear that what works
for one doesn't necessarily help another. So maybe what has helped
me won't work for anyone else. Heck, maybe time is the ONLY answer,
and anything we think has helped has been a happy coincidence. But
maybe not! And if my story helps even one other person, how excellent!
One other thing . . . Having stored up my input for awhile, my first
few posts will probably be annoyingly long. I promise to try to be
more succinct after those. Feel free to tell me to get over myself
and get to the point already!
History:
In 1994, received from doctor some free samples of Floxin with no
literature. Spent first night "crazy hyper". "Trouble sleeping"
doesn't even come close to describing it, I couldn't even stay lying
down. I went into living room to pace around in the semi-darkness,
all jittery, heart racing, etc. Fortunately had PDR in house and
found insomnia as possible side effect. Gee, doc, thanks for warning
me. Taking the rest of the Floxin pills earlier in the day at least
lessened the severity of the problem a little. I was only on it for
three days.
In fall of 2001 I was put on successive courses of antibiotics, which
included both Cipro and Levaquin, for a stubborn kidney infection.
Remembering the Floxin, I made a point of taking them as early in the
day as practical, to minimize the sleep problem. They made me feel
physically jittery and jumpy, and mentally/emotionally "short-fused"
and edgey, for lack of a better description. Then, what seemed out
of the blue, first one Achilles tendon became intensely painful, then
both of them. Who would connect such a bizarre symptom with an
antibiotic? I didn't. Fortunately the pain subsided on its own
relatively quickly. I did not connect the panic attacks I continued
to have intermittently throughout the next year, either. I figured
it must be "stress", though these episodes were different than
anything I'd experienced before. It was like my body would go into
over-drive, the actual physical response to a fairly routine stressor
would be so exaggerated. I considered getting medical attention for
it, but took a wait-and-see approach.
In October of 2002, I got stung by a wasp on my shin. About ten days
after the sting, the area suddenly turned hideously deep red. The
red area was strikingly rectangular in shape, about 2" x 3", no
streaks, no pain, didn't feel warm, skin was "level", not raised at
all, only other sympton was it had begun to itch. After three days
of no change, I showed it to the nurse at work, who told me to see a
doctor right away, that I had a skin infection and needed
antibiotics. The physician's assistant that treated me, though,
agreed with me that it did NOT seem infected, that it was probably an
unusual localized reaction, but gave me Levaquin "just to be on the
safe side" plus a cortisone cream for the itch. Remembering what I
called "the Floxin effect", I postponed taking the first pill until
the next morning.
Within two hours of taking it, in addition to the
anticipated "edginess", my left Achilles started hurting. Yes, it
happened that quickly. (From manufacturer's prescribing info: "Peak
plasma concentrations are usually attained one to two hours after
oral dosing.") This time I had received from the
pharmacy the printed material for patients (you know, the really
abbreviated, toned-down version), which I had read, and immediately
recognized the tendon pain as drug-related. So I did what the
printed material instructs us to do: contacted my health-care
provider. Who can guess what a waste of time THAT was?


From: "tzap2" <tzap2@w...>
Date: Fri Mar 7, 2003 12:33 pm
Subject: updates
Hi All!

It's been a long time since I posted anything. I passed my 4 year ADR
Anniversary in January. Everything is STILL exactly as it began in 1999. I
have no improvement in any of my symptoms or conditions. I had surgery in
December - a cochlear implant. So far it's doing nothing but giving me even
more noise than the Tinnitus I have already does. So I have been wearing it on
and off for 5 hours - off for 1 then back on. I don't know who it was that
posted about hearing loss and Tinnitus. I wanted to explain to you that
Tinnitus is something that unfortunately there is no cure for. I have dealt
with blaring Tinnitus for over 4 year now. My Otolaringist at Duke said to
watch my salt intake. The only other thing that had been suggested to me is to
take a water pill. But I am on that any way and it does nothing for the
Tinnitus. It's very frustrating to listen to and generally no one with the
exception of someone else who has this problem understands how frustrating it
can be. I had a friend of mine (who works in radio) do a tape of the noises I
hear. I have been making family and friends listen to it and I found that it
is really helpful for them to get an understanding of how debelitating this
really is. Even with the implant I was told it wasn't going to help with the
Tinnitus. Any way, if you do have any more questions please feel free to
contact me via private email (tzap2@w...) and I will gladly help you in
any way I can.

Hugs to all!
T

From: "corkeyforever" <corkeyforever@y...>
Date: Sun Mar 9, 2003 2:29 pm
Subject: Another Newbie.........

I've just stopped taking Levaquin as of yesterday due to all the
things that were happening to me. I've pretty much been spending the
day reading up on this. Question, has any one ever developed welps???
and since I just stopped taking the drug what am I to expect next???
From what I've read my Hellish nightmare is just gona start-that is
besides the aches and pains that I have now. Any help greatly
appreciated. Priscilla

From: "love4kaya" <Mama2Kaya@a...>
Date: Sun Mar 9, 2003 4:59 pm
Subject: Cipro/genital bumps/swollen tongue/sore throat
HI there. I have been searching the web over for information about my
health. On Jan 3 I started taking Cipro for a UTI. Took a dose twice
a day for 7 days. I thought I was having a start of a yeast infection
during that 7 days but within 2-3 days I found bumps on my genitals.
I have been to two doctors in the past month and they are unable to
diagnose it as a STD, which is what I thought I had. My partner has
no symptoms and never has. All tests came back negative.

However, about 3 weeks after the bumps showed up, my tongue felt
swollen and the edge of it all the way around is red and inflamed and
has teeth imprints, which I have never had before. It feels VERY
itchy from the inside out at times but it does not hurt to eat. My
throat was sore for a week and I look again to find bumps all over
the back wall of my throat. My gums are spongy and they bleed
everytime I brush my teeth. I had an HIV test which came back
negative and was within the right window period of three months or
more so its accurate. Since the time I found the bumps, I have had
anxiety attacks and many sleepless nights over this. I also have bone
pain in my tailbone, pain in various muscles all over my body and pin
and needles pain in my legs and feet and hands for no reason. I want
to know if anyone here has had problems with their mouth and genitals
after taking Cipro. Before this I was in great health. Never sick.


From: "weebemovin" <weebemovin@y...>
Date: Sat Mar 15, 2003 7:34 am
Subject: cipro

I'm glad I found this post on side effects of this antibiotic. I was
prescribed Cipro two days ago. After taking two doses in two days, I
woke up at 3:00AM feeling "weird". I felt restless, breathless,
weak, nervous, just basically not normal. I started researching the
side effects online. I'm amazed at the list of "possible" side
effects. My husband was given Floxin years ago and had a bad
reaction. Is Floxin in the same family as Cipro? I also remember
over-hearing a conversation my doctor and a pharmaceutical rep had
about Floxin. (about 11 years ago) My doc said he would never
prescribe it again, because the majority of his patience had some
sort of reaction. The rep argued why he should continue prescribing
it. That was amazing! Why are doctors prescribing these
antibiotics? Should I expect these side effects to go away? What
experiences have others had with long term effects?
Thanks!

From: Sharon <sharon@t...>
Date: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:35 pm
Subject: Levaquin taken 1 year ago

I just joined your group. I took Levaquin a year ago this month for 14 days
(for a sinus infection) when I realized that all the muscle/joint pain was not
just middle aged aches and pains! My arms were both not useable for about 4
months because of pain and the inability to totally control them...along with
no strength in them. Other joints muscles were painful, but not disabling.

After the first 4 months I had limited use of my arms, and I saw a lot of
improvement in January as long as I continued on my Vioxx. Without my Vioxx
(taken for back arthritis) my arms immediately began to hurt again. To this day
I cannot use them very much without pain. I've tried mild exercise to
strengthen them but the pain is too much afterwards that last for weeks.

Also, I'm now realizing, last summer my whole back felt like it had a sunburn
when I touched it, it also itches all the time...nothing visible. After this
continuing for 9 months with nothing helping a neurologist diagnosed it as
Nostalgia Paresthetica, nerve damage that causes the sensation. Of course, this
neurologist had no knowledge of the side effects of Levaquin and laughed at me
when I asked if it could have caused this. I never went back to him!

I'm now thinking my back problem is probably also a reaction to the Levaquin. I
am now a year into this and from what I'm seeing online, this may not ever go
away or could last for years. The manufacturers of Levaquin told me that it
would last about 6 months, no longer than a year....obviously it is longer than
a year.

I have a very positive attitude in life and have not let this get me down, but
I'd really like to get some insight into what I'm in for here.

Thanks,
Sharon

From: "iamcasper67" <iamwjr@h...>
Date: Sun Mar 16, 2003 8:21 am
Subject: Cipro Reaction??? Can this be - Please help...
Two days ago I ate chicken for lunch and I swear an hour after I
started to have a reaction in my upper lip (tightness and like it
was going to blister) I freaked out so bad that as soon as I got home
from work I ran to my doctor explained everything that was happening
and they sent me to the ER. The doctor there gave me a shot of
antihistimine with anxiety relief (I believe it was). My lip
never blistered and the pain subsided. Has anybody ever heard of this
happening - I know most chickens are feed with quinolones (thanks to
this site) - I am just wondering can it happen that fast or severe?
This is the first time I ate chicken since the joint and tendon pain
started. Other people ate chicken from the same place with no
reaction at all.

Very scared

Bill



From: "sunshine7777777777" <stwiety@c...>
Date: Sat Mar 22, 2003 9:04 am
Subject: Another Levaquin reaction

It has been 9 days since I have been off the Levaquin. I was feeling
so very good yesterday. Today I got up and had the tingling and
numbness in the feet and hands. On the way to work the tremors
started. I took Benadryl after an hour at work. It seemed to help
but then the tremors came back after 2-1/2 hours. The benadryl makes
me groggy also. I am going to lose my job if this keeps up. We have
to meet certain medical standards and this is going to prevent me
from working. My husband had to come down and get me from work as I
didn't feel I could make the drive home. Will this get any
better?????




From: "eizabethk" <dallas412@a...>
Date: Sat Mar 22, 2003 1:57 pm
Subject: Levequin ,shoulder pain and doc

Hi everyone , first let me say you are so great here! So helpful and
as positive as you can be. Thank you! I've posted a couple of times
in the beginning of my ordeal but mainly been reading and lurking
around since. Gotten some great info. Guess I can run over this
quickly again. I was given Levequin about 8wks ago and started having
adverse effects right away. I was given sample packs of 500mg 1 a
day. Stopped taking it on the 4th day because of knee pain ,
dizziness, ear noise, insomnia, headache, nausia, foggy brain,
shakiness...I still have sleep probs and knee pain when I run
although not severe, left eye has been a little weird, weakness in
arms and legs,still fogginess in brain, wonder if this is because of
weird sleep.I have had shoulder pain pop up suddenly in last 3wks and
all of a sudden today Iwake up with lots of pain and can barely move
it. I go to local express care place being it the weekend, and they
say I have a sprained shoulder. He mentiones trapzoid muscle. I told
him about my situation with Levequin and he laughed and said that was
irrevalent now since it would be out of my system.Well anyway sent me
home told me to use ice and heat and it would heal in 6wks.Boy they
can make you feel so invalidated! I told him about the info I have
gotten and they look at you like your crazy. I did go back weeks ago
to see the P.A that gave me the samples and he seemed concerned and
he listened and agreed that these were very strong drugs and that I
definately had a bad reaction so ...Okay? Sure wish I had gone on Web
before I took anything at all. Is there anything I can do legally
about getting sample packs with no info? Dont want to sound greedy
but everytimes there is pain or some weird thing going on I get so
angry. Oh well just got to try and be positive and eat reeeaaly
healthy and carefully excersise. Thank you so much. Beth



From: "Eric" <william_the_scarlet@y...>
Date: Sat Mar 29, 2003 4:33 pm
Subject: cipro effetcs

Well i have been on cipro now for about 15 days now. I finished my
first dose of 20 tablets on 03/21. I was taking this antibiotic for a
prostrate infection. I was off the drug for 1 day and all of a
sudden, while i was at work, i started to get muscle and joint pains
in both of my arms and sometimes in my neck and shoulders. After
douing some research of this drug. i have come to conclucsion that
this drug has some serious side effects. I am going to the doctor
this tuesday for a physical and im going to tell him everything i
have been experiancing in the last week.

eric



From: "Paula" <aussieps@y...>
Date: Sun Mar 30, 2003 10:52 am
Subject: Two Panic Attacks after taking Levaquin

I started taking Levaquin approx. two weeks ago. The first morning
after taking the drug I woke up feeling very dizzy and nauseated.
That quickly spiraled into a full fledged panic attack. I didn't
know it at the time. My wife phoned 911 and I was rushed to the
emergency room. After an EKG and Echo Cardiogram proved negative a
doctor came in and told me I had a panic attack. He subscribed an
anti anxiety drug.

I filled that subscription and saw my doctor the next day. He
scheduled me for a Stress Echo and a Halter Monitor. The Stress Echo
was negative and so was the Halter Monitor.

I continued to feel bad. I had continuous heart palpitations and a
sinking "Dropping Feeling". My heart would race up to 150 beats per
minute and then I would have to struggle to calm myself.

It wasn't until today that I started to research this drug on the
internet and found that I was not alone and that perhaps Levaquin had
something to do with my symptoms.

I have no phobias or fears. I've spoken in public for years, I love
to socialize, I am not afraid of heights, driving etc. Panic Attacks
are associated with some fear that triggers an attack. I simply
would not accept that hypothesis.

Thank you everyone that have made posts. I took my last pill last
night. I had two heart palpitations this morning already, but I
feel better knowing that there is a reason. I continue to have pins
and needles in my arms and face and a slow burning sensation in my
arms and shoulders and have the worst back ache I've known yesterday.

I am scheduled to see my doctor tomorrow where I was going to demand
to have an angiogram. FORGET THAT! Instead were going to have a
conversation about him filing an ADR to the FDA on this drug.

Thanks again



From: rebbitzenmom@j...
Date: Mon Mar 31, 2003 5:01 pm
Subject: sleep deprived help
please if anybody can help I would really apppreciate it. I've been a steady
reader of this sight. I think I finally figured out how to get on the
discussions. I only took 4 levaquins and had the worst anxiety panic attacks
imaginable. i had racing heartbeats, depression and feelings of being totally
overwhelmed. I took ignatia-a homeopathic drug to help with the anxiety and it
did to some degree. it's now 8 weeks later and i am still not able to sleep
normally. I am extremely anxious and "awake" even though i should be dead
tired. I begin my day at 6:30 and don't end til 1-2 a.m. and yet cannot fall
asleep. 3 a.m. arrives and i'm crying because i can't sleep. of course my
infection-brtonchitis never cleared up so now i have a new sinus infection and
the dorctor put me on Augmentin. Will this help me? I am also taking
culturecelle simialar to acidophilus to try to prevent the horrible yeast
infection i went thru after the levaquin. if any one has any advice how i can
get some sleep i would realy appreciate it- i feel like i am aliving zombie- i
probably shouldn't even be driving! I just finished a course of prednisone
because my allergies acted up so badly. I feel like a total wreck. thanks for
listening. cf