This personal story was originally posted to the Quinolone Adverse Reaction Forum. If you are a victim of a quinolone antibiotic and need support or advice then please visit the Quinolone Adverse Reaction Forum (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones/).
 

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Noroxin
Posted on 31 December 2002 (part 1)
Adverse Reactions to Noroxin (Fluoroquinolone antibiotic)

Prior to adverse reactions I was able to run 15 miles/week, lift weights, yoga, and meditation;
Now I can barely walk down the street and I need the assistance of a cane to move around.
Took 400mg Noroxin twice daily for 20 days beginning July 1 for prostatitis...experienced following adverse reactions-

blurred vision
depth of field problems (focusing near/far)
extreme light sensitivity (street, traffic, and headlights)
feeling of being intoxicated
lack of balance and coordination
dizziness
cannot keep up with scenery passing while riding in car
The prostatitis went away, but vision problems continue. Was baffled by symptoms and made no correlation to adverse reaction until prostatitis returned in mid October; saw same Doctor on November 19– he prescribed Noroxin again, 1 month supply with 4 refills; he indicated that I take it for prolonged time and gradually reduce dosage to one a day or one every other day indefinitely to manage prostatitis symptoms.

Began taking second Noroxin therapy on November 20. Beginning Nov. 26, I started experiencing the following adverse reactions that continue through today:

dizziness
burning and pain beginning in both hands and rt. Achilles Tendon moving to knees, elbows, shoulders, hips, and spine
began limping as I am unable to bear weight on rt. side
now walking with cane
crawling, unraveling sensation in rt. Achilles
same feeling in left Achilles but less pain
burning, pulling pain in biceps, hands, elbows, knees, ankles and shoulders while performing mundane tasks
pain and/or numbness in both shoulders when laying on side in bed
throbbing/beating/pulsating- pressure feeling in both legs while laying in bed
discomfort in spine while sitting or laying down–unable to get comfortable
Discontinued medication Nov. 29 (due to adverse reactions) even though doctor told me to continue with medication. Contacted various pharmacies–told me to stop taking at once and contact doctor. Read pharmaceutical insert and began researching fluoroquinolones on line.

Originally posted on the Quinolone Adverse Reaction Forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones/message/11754

Posted on 31 December 2002 (part 2)

I just posted a minute ago~~ basically a breakdown of my symptoms. I am so concerned and scared for my future quality of life. It has been an agonizing month to say the least. I took Noroxin back in July for 20 days for prostatitis. It went away but shortly thereafter I started having bizarre visual issues--near/far focus is off, extreme hypersensitivity to lights-- street lamps traffice lights and car headlights--very blinding--like looking into the sun; also had a feeling like i was severely intoxicated and felt off in terms of coordination. My eyes hurt pretty bad-just ached a lot. At the time I had no idea what this was and did not correlate it to the fluoroquinolone called Noroxin until the last month or so...

Well, my prostatitis came back in mid October--I started treating it with plenty of gentiourinary herbs..i guess i didn't hold out long enough--took the herbs for about three weeks. then i decided to go back to the uro, he prescribed (or pushed) Noroxin again, said it was the best thing. I was worried and concerned with all the pain in my prostate, and remembering how the noroxin helped in July 2002, decided to take the meds again. I began my second therapy in late November 2002, one week before Thanksgiving~~by day 8 (400mg twice per day) I had intense burning pain in my hands and right Achilles. It started lowkey and then hit my body--knees, elbows, shoulders, spine(?). I stopped taking it immediately(guess my intuition still works:)) and calle dthe Dr. He said that he had never encountered this before and told me to keep taking it!!!! I called a pharmacist and he told me to stop taking it. Well i did. It has been one month off the drug. I am limping as I am having a difficult time bearing weight on right leg. My body feels off. The last month has been severely restricted activity of any kind. I am an artist and also work part time doing office work so it has been easy to save my energy and resolve to get out when i need to get to work.

I don't have insurance but am going into the County Hospital system and pushing every button i can. I have already been to 2 doctors and also the ER. Getting sick of these places already

i know everything happens for a reason and i am doing my best to look ahead and not at what i can't do right now (run, jump, bike, dance, move with grace, express myself in artistic physical movement, etc...)

i just turned 30, and never had ANY health issues my entire life, NOTHING. Now this, it is so incredible to accept...the doctors so far seem to be back and forth but i will persevere and hopefully will get an MRI or tissue XRAYs something.

I knew every nuance of my healthy body before, and now i am having a hard time knowing what is going to happen??? is my tendon going to just rupture out of the blue? That terrifies me? Will i ever run or lift weights again???

On the bright side, my eyes are slowly coming back from the July doasge. I just hope the Nov. dosage doesn't set them back. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. I did see an eye dr in Oct and he said my vision was perfect, 20/15. I have never worn glasses and am not about to start.

I am treating this experience as a poisoning, something to learn from...I am trying to strengthen and heal my system ro I ahve started a supplement regimen (which i don't recommend for anyone, as each person is different)---Vitamin A, B complex, choline, inositol, vitamin D, magnesium, calcium, lecithin, amino acids, MSM, potassium, lots of water, plenty of green veggies, cilantro, carrot juice w/ various greens, warm milk before bed, staying positive, realeasing all blame, loving the self, forgiving anyone who needs forgiving, no alcohol, yadda yadda, right:)

And looking ahead...to marvelous new opportunity and being grateful for every gem of an experience that I have already expereienced...treasure it all...it's all a big grand gift...even if it is hard to walk across the room...we all will persevere and become better people from this atrocity...

i never thought i'd end a year like this, let alone begin a year like this but we are not alone, there is plenty of love and healing energy out there for us all, smile laugh breathe it in...

Thanks for listening to my posts. If anyone has any insight or thoughts or advice please share...i am open

In healing, Robert

Originally posted on the Quinolone Adverse Reaction Forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quinolones/message/11755