Post Marketing Reports for September 1999

billjan@s...
Date: Mon Sep 6, 1999 1:07pm
Subject: Trovan - Liver Failure
I just became aware of the connection with my liver failure and Trovan.
I have been searching the internet for about 3 weeks and ran across
this site just today. What a wonderful exchange. In January of this year I was
prescribed Trovan for an infected bug bite. At 1st 10 days and then
after no improvement another 7 days. The last day I took this was on Feb.
3rd. On Feb. 16th I had a liver transplant. By the grace of God and a
wonderfuly generous donor family and great doctors I am alive today. I don't
remember hardly anything about my illness and hospital stay, but my family has
filled in the blanks for me. I was appx. 48 hrs from death when I received my
transplant. What a high price to pay for a bug bite?! Is anyone out there had a similar experience? I read the FDA reports. I have never had any adverse
reactions to any other drugs.

JTLEGALRN@a...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 8:50pm
Subject: Re: I'm Getting Better
QT interval and torsades de pointes relate to the heart. It is my
understanding that the QT interval is the repolarization time for the heart
to re-charge and beat again....if it is prolonged it can cause the heart to
go into a fatal arrhythmia and result in sudden death. Torsades de pointes
is a fatal heart arrhythmia and unless there is immediate medical
intervention the patient will die. Both of these cardiac events are more
common with the fluroquinolones sparfloxacin and grepafloxacin. (see:
www.vids.org/pharma.htm) This is the first time I have seen these potential
heartproblems associated with Levaquin.
My husband died (49) in June 1997 while being treated with Levaquin (7days)
for a prostate infection. He was a heart patient and had a pacemaker, but
his autopsy was normal. His doctors cannot explain the cause of his death
except to say that he died of a fatal heart arrhythmia.....Levaquin had only
been on the market for 2 months at that time....needless to say, noone
associated it with the medication.
Please advise where you located this information.
thank you.

jphanley@i...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 5:59pm
Subject: Re: Levaquine Welts
The welts subsided about an hour after breaking out. It is now about
three hours later, no repeats. Urologist office called in different
antibiotic prescription [Macrobid] and still plans the prostate biopsy
tomorrow. Pharmacist says the Levaquin is very popular and has had
only one report of allergic reaction such as I had. I will monitor.


Luffagus@a...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 1:04am
Subject: Re: I'm Getting Better
Hi!
I have taken Leviquin for 3 days now and I feel awful. I am not taking
another one. I have a spot on my lung thought to be pneumonia but
undiagnoised now. I feel like I have a bacterial infection.
I have a question I hope you can answer.
I have the muscle aches,headaches,neck and back pain I don't know if it is
from Leviquin. I was given that in November after I had a bad sinus infection
and was wondering if this can still be an effect of the Leviquin. My doctor
is puzzled and less than helpful these days.
What are the long term effects of Leviquin and are bad side effects a
"normal" part of this drug?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Lorayne


alsteed9999@h...
Date: Tue Sep 14, 1999 4:45am
Subject: Levaquin
I have been talking Levaquin for seven weeks. Five weeks at 500mg
per day and the last two weeks at 250mg per day. I have had sore
tendons and joints for the last two weeks the doctor didn't seem to be
concerned and prescribed another thirty days at 250mg per day.
The reason I was presribed levaquin to start with is that I was
admitted to the emergency room with a severe prostate infection that
had spread to my kidneys. I had pain throughout my body, nausea, and a
temp. of 103F. I'm glad I decided to check the internet before I
started this last prescription. I think I would have been back in the
ER
Has anyone else had a doctor that tried to prescribe Levaquin for
this length of time.
Thanks,
A. Steed


bonky303@p...
Date: Sun Sep 12, 1999 3:45am
Subject: drug eruption
I tested positive for strept throat,Sept.1, and was given Biaxin orally, 500ml, one in the morning and one at night. By Sat.,Sept. 4, I was very ill, with blisters and itching, over 95% of my body. Dr. had me stop Biaxin and start Amoxocillian 875ml. By Sunday they had me stop everything. I was able to fly home Monday, and went to my Dr.,and she sent me to a Dermatologist. She is the one that told me what had happened. I am still in a daze over all of this, as I am otherwise in very good health. Is there some way the Medical profession can test for an allergic reaction such as this, so that it won't happen to others who might be allergic to the quinolones? I am still soaking in domeboro, and covering my body with steroid ointment, and aquaphore, and taking atarax for itching. It is getting better, but there are alot of open little blisters all over me. This was not fun. I have never had an allerigic reaction to anything before, and I hope never again.

smurrie@w...
Date: Sat Sep 11, 1999 10:57pm
Subject: Cipro Heart Attack
May of 1992 I had a heart attack at the age of 32 while taking Cipro. I
believe strongly that this medication was behind this heart attack. I
took this medication once before this for 4 days when half my face went
numb for a few minutes. I was on Cipro for 5 days when I had the heart
attack. I was not aware it was the same medication that had cause my
face to go numb until I was released from the hospital and was going
through my medicine. Please note that I have not had a problem with my
heart since this and have had two heart caths which do not show a
problem outside of the damage from the first heart attack. I was very
lucky to have gone to a hospital quickly. My body through a blood clot
and I would have died had I not been treated within the first 30-45
minutes with a clot buster.

From: Luffagus@a...
Date: Wed Sep 8, 1999 4:03am
Subject: Stopped taking Leviquin
I have stopped taking Leviquin and went to the Dr. to inform him of the
adverse reactions such as muscle pain,killer headaches,vomiting,rash etc. He
did not want to prescribe another antibiotic in it's place so I am going
natural with Goldenrod root.I hope it helps. I have bronchitis and pluersy
and bad back pain and chest pain...stomach...etc...
I just don't know where or what to do from here. Dr. is unresponsive to other
treatment.I feel like it is pneumonia. 2 abnormal chest x-rays,1 abnormal
CT,2 blood tests showing infection,EKG is normal,cortozone shot in the back.
And I am just taking nebulizer treatments daily.Any suggestions are welcome.
If I do not reply in a few days you know I am in the hospital.


jphanley@i...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 3:21pm
Subject: Levaquine Welts
Prior to a planned prostate biopsy, took one 500 mg. tab of Levaquine,
within one hour, 20-30 welts over most of my body. Never had such a
reaction to an antibiotic nor any medication. I am 62. Been reading
these posts and others, has me a bit spooked. Have a call into the
urologist, waiting on return call. Had open heart surgery 16 months
ago, don't like how I feel right now.
John

Sara Hammond <Sara.Hammond@w...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 1:39pm
Subject: Re: Cipro & my Achilles tendon
TiMortizpr@a...,
Your symptoms are very much related to Cipro. FOr instance, I had a
horrible reaction to Floxin last year and one of the first things my doctor
told me was that I should not do anything more than walking for awhile
because I could pull a tendon. This is only because I was very persistant
with my doctors and interns and made them do alot of research because I
wanted answers. I am so sorry to hear what has happened to you. I wish you
the best and keep pursuing those doctors, because they are responsible for
perscribing the drugs. Are you interested in pursuing a law suit? I am
looking into a class action suit for quinolones. Sara


rick@r...
Date: Wed Sep 15, 1999 9:20pm
Subject: Re: Levaqiun
ric-@r... wrote:
As long as we are doing Levaquin effects, here are the ones that I've had which I believe were caused by 3 Levaquin (and 1 Cipro) tablets. I took them in early June, 1999. Lingering means I still suffer from this, short term means that the symptom has apparently disappeared (although some lasted months).
-- joint pain (short term)
-- rotator cuff tendinitis (lingering)
-- blurred vision in my left eye (lingering)
-- incredible sensitivity to light in my left eye (short term)
-- anxiety (I suffered from some GAD already, got worse on Levaquin, now better)
-- depression (the only bout of depression in my life -- I'm 43)
-- dizziness (lingering)
-- insomnia (short term)
-- stomach pain (short term)
-- intestinal upset (lingering)
-- fatigue (lingering, but improving)
By the way, the label for Levaquin clearly states "taste perversion" as "likely to be drug related in patients receiving [Levaquin]". Ask your doctor to read the label. If you believe an alteration in taste was cause by Levaquin, you've stopped taking it, right?
-- Rick

Amy Sparks <asparks@w...
Date: Wed Sep 15, 1999 7:40pm
Subject: Levaqiun
Has anyone experienced complete loss of sense of taste as a side effect
of Levaqiun (Levofloxacin)? My doctors insist this is not a known side
effect of this drug; however, there couldbe no other cause as the onset
was following the initial dose of Levquin two weeks ago. Please
comment!!
 

billjan@s...
Date: Mon Sep 6, 1999 1:07pm
Subject: Trovan - Liver Failure
I just became aware of the connection with my liver failure and Trovan.
I have been searching the internet for about 3 weeks and ran across
this site just today. What a wonderful exchange. In January of this year I was
prescribed Trovan for an infected bug bite. At 1st 10 days and then
after no improvement another 7 days. The last day I took this was on Feb.
3rd. On Feb. 16th I had a liver transplant. By the grace of God and a
wonderfuly generous donor family and great doctors I am alive today. I don't
remember hardly anything about my illness and hospital stay, but my family has
filled in the blanks for me. I was appx. 48 hrs from death when I received my
transplant. What a high price to pay for a bug bite?! Is anyone out there had a similar experience? I read the FDA reports. I have never had any adverse
reactions to any other drugs.

JTLEGALRN@a...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 8:50pm
Subject: Re: I'm Getting Better
QT interval and torsades de pointes relate to the heart. It is my
understanding that the QT interval is the repolarization time for the heart
to re-charge and beat again....if it is prolonged it can cause the heart to
go into a fatal arrhythmia and result in sudden death. Torsades de pointes
is a fatal heart arrhythmia and unless there is immediate medical
intervention the patient will die. Both of these cardiac events are more
common with the fluroquinolones sparfloxacin and grepafloxacin. (see:
www.vids.org/pharma.htm) This is the first time I have seen these potential
heartproblems associated with Levaquin.
My husband died (49) in June 1997 while being treated with Levaquin (7days)
for a prostate infection. He was a heart patient and had a pacemaker, but
his autopsy was normal. His doctors cannot explain the cause of his death
except to say that he died of a fatal heart arrhythmia.....Levaquin had only
been on the market for 2 months at that time....needless to say, noone
associated it with the medication.
Please advise where you located this information.
thank you.

jphanley@i...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 5:59pm
Subject: Re: Levaquine Welts
The welts subsided about an hour after breaking out. It is now about
three hours later, no repeats. Urologist office called in different
antibiotic prescription [Macrobid] and still plans the prostate biopsy
tomorrow. Pharmacist says the Levaquin is very popular and has had
only one report of allergic reaction such as I had. I will monitor.


Luffagus@a...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 1:04am
Subject: Re: I'm Getting Better
Hi!
I have taken Leviquin for 3 days now and I feel awful. I am not taking
another one. I have a spot on my lung thought to be pneumonia but
undiagnoised now. I feel like I have a bacterial infection.
I have a question I hope you can answer.
I have the muscle aches,headaches,neck and back pain I don't know if it is
from Leviquin. I was given that in November after I had a bad sinus infection
and was wondering if this can still be an effect of the Leviquin. My doctor
is puzzled and less than helpful these days.
What are the long term effects of Leviquin and are bad side effects a
"normal" part of this drug?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks
Lorayne


alsteed9999@h...
Date: Tue Sep 14, 1999 4:45am
Subject: Levaquin
I have been talking Levaquin for seven weeks. Five weeks at 500mg
per day and the last two weeks at 250mg per day. I have had sore
tendons and joints for the last two weeks the doctor didn't seem to be
concerned and prescribed another thirty days at 250mg per day.
The reason I was presribed levaquin to start with is that I was
admitted to the emergency room with a severe prostate infection that
had spread to my kidneys. I had pain throughout my body, nausea, and a
temp. of 103F. I'm glad I decided to check the internet before I
started this last prescription. I think I would have been back in the
ER
Has anyone else had a doctor that tried to prescribe Levaquin for
this length of time.
Thanks,
A. Steed


bonky303@p...
Date: Sun Sep 12, 1999 3:45am
Subject: drug eruption
I tested positive for strept throat,Sept.1, and was given Biaxin orally, 500ml, one in the morning and one at night. By Sat.,Sept. 4, I was very ill, with blisters and itching, over 95% of my body. Dr. had me stop Biaxin and start Amoxocillian 875ml. By Sunday they had me stop everything. I was able to fly home Monday, and went to my Dr.,and she sent me to a Dermatologist. She is the one that told me what had happened. I am still in a daze over all of this, as I am otherwise in very good health. Is there some way the Medical profession can test for an allergic reaction such as this, so that it won't happen to others who might be allergic to the quinolones? I am still soaking in domeboro, and covering my body with steroid ointment, and aquaphore, and taking atarax for itching. It is getting better, but there are alot of open little blisters all over me. This was not fun. I have never had an allerigic reaction to anything before, and I hope never again.

smurrie@w...
Date: Sat Sep 11, 1999 10:57pm
Subject: Cipro Heart Attack
May of 1992 I had a heart attack at the age of 32 while taking Cipro. I
believe strongly that this medication was behind this heart attack. I
took this medication once before this for 4 days when half my face went
numb for a few minutes. I was on Cipro for 5 days when I had the heart
attack. I was not aware it was the same medication that had cause my
face to go numb until I was released from the hospital and was going
through my medicine. Please note that I have not had a problem with my
heart since this and have had two heart caths which do not show a
problem outside of the damage from the first heart attack. I was very
lucky to have gone to a hospital quickly. My body through a blood clot
and I would have died had I not been treated within the first 30-45
minutes with a clot buster.

From: Luffagus@a...
Date: Wed Sep 8, 1999 4:03am
Subject: Stopped taking Leviquin
I have stopped taking Leviquin and went to the Dr. to inform him of the
adverse reactions such as muscle pain,killer headaches,vomiting,rash etc. He
did not want to prescribe another antibiotic in it's place so I am going
natural with Goldenrod root.I hope it helps. I have bronchitis and pluersy
and bad back pain and chest pain...stomach...etc...
I just don't know where or what to do from here. Dr. is unresponsive to other
treatment.I feel like it is pneumonia. 2 abnormal chest x-rays,1 abnormal
CT,2 blood tests showing infection,EKG is normal,cortozone shot in the back.
And I am just taking nebulizer treatments daily.Any suggestions are welcome.
If I do not reply in a few days you know I am in the hospital.


jphanley@i...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 3:21pm
Subject: Levaquine Welts
Prior to a planned prostate biopsy, took one 500 mg. tab of Levaquine,
within one hour, 20-30 welts over most of my body. Never had such a
reaction to an antibiotic nor any medication. I am 62. Been reading
these posts and others, has me a bit spooked. Have a call into the
urologist, waiting on return call. Had open heart surgery 16 months
ago, don't like how I feel right now.
John

Sara Hammond <Sara.Hammond@w...
Date: Thu Sep 2, 1999 1:39pm
Subject: Re: Cipro & my Achilles tendon
TiMortizpr@a...,
Your symptoms are very much related to Cipro. FOr instance, I had a
horrible reaction to Floxin last year and one of the first things my doctor
told me was that I should not do anything more than walking for awhile
because I could pull a tendon. This is only because I was very persistant
with my doctors and interns and made them do alot of research because I
wanted answers. I am so sorry to hear what has happened to you. I wish you
the best and keep pursuing those doctors, because they are responsible for
perscribing the drugs. Are you interested in pursuing a law suit? I am
looking into a class action suit for quinolones. Sara


rick@r...
Date: Wed Sep 15, 1999 9:20pm
Subject: Re: Levaqiun
ric-@r... wrote:
As long as we are doing Levaquin effects, here are the ones that I've had which I believe were caused by 3 Levaquin (and 1 Cipro) tablets. I took them in early June, 1999. Lingering means I still suffer from this, short term means that the symptom has apparently disappeared (although some lasted months).
-- joint pain (short term)
-- rotator cuff tendinitis (lingering)
-- blurred vision in my left eye (lingering)
-- incredible sensitivity to light in my left eye (short term)
-- anxiety (I suffered from some GAD already, got worse on Levaquin, now better)
-- depression (the only bout of depression in my life -- I'm 43)
-- dizziness (lingering)
-- insomnia (short term)
-- stomach pain (short term)
-- intestinal upset (lingering)
-- fatigue (lingering, but improving)
By the way, the label for Levaquin clearly states "taste perversion" as "likely to be drug related in patients receiving [Levaquin]". Ask your doctor to read the label. If you believe an alteration in taste was cause by Levaquin, you've stopped taking it, right?
-- Rick

Amy Sparks <asparks@w...
Date: Wed Sep 15, 1999 7:40pm
Subject: Levaqiun
Has anyone experienced complete loss of sense of taste as a side effect
of Levaqiun (Levofloxacin)? My doctors insist this is not a known side
effect of this drug; however, there couldbe no other cause as the onset
was following the initial dose of Levquin two weeks ago. Please
comment!!