Post Marketing Reports January 2004

Tue, 27 Jan 2004 18:51:54 -0500 by Guest, #4302
I called the FDA
Their sending me a form to fill out to list side effects of this terrible drug LEVAQUIN. And also any other information I have. I'm going to send the address to this discussion group. Hopefully they will check into it.
I realize some people have had no problem, but for those of you that suffered such terrible side effects and wants to help get this durg off the market please do so.
Call the FDA and complain...please. before anyone else suffers.
Janet G

Sun, 25 Jan 2004 08:40:11 -0500 by Guest, #4276
My internal medicine specialist prescribed Levaquin 500MG, one per day on 10/14/03 for lesions on right arm. Took last dose 11/07/03 when my dermatologist said I should stop taking the Levaquin and start Cipro. I checked with my nephrologist who was treating me with plasma exchanges for a peripheral neuropathy was advised they used Cipro "all the time" and it would be OK for me to switch from the Levaquin to Cipro (also a fluoroquinolone). On 11/08 I started Cipro and took only one dose before becoming nauseated. On 11/10 I left a message for my dermatologist that I was switching back to Levaquin because the Cipro caused nausea. I got no response to the message. On 11/24/03, while standing motionless beside my van, my LEFT ACHILLES TENDON SPONTANEOUSLY RUPTURED. I am now taking NON-Fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Interestingly, when I made a routine followup visit to my internal medicine M.D. on 1/20/04 and brought him up to date about my 11/24 tendon rupture and showed him literature about tendon damage as a side effect associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, he replied, "Oh yes, they are a known risk for tendon problems." It didn't occur to me until this moment while looking back into my journal that this is the same doctor who originally prescribed the Levaquin. The sad point of this situation is that NONE of the physicians recognized the risk of my taking fluoroquinolones. I have been on long-term Prednisone therapy for the neuropathy. The literature is filled with references highlighting the risk of tendon damage associated with the combination of steroid therapy and fluoroquinolone usage. I've been in a cast for 10 weeks and will be in physical therapy for several weeks, all of which has set back my therapy for the neuropathy and caused an overall deterioration in my condition. Does anyone think my docs were negligent?

Wed, 21 Jan 2004 17:27:57 -0500 by Guest, #4240
Yes, shortness of breath was also one of the side effects that I experienced. I posted previously #4l51
I printed out all the information I found on the effects of Levaquin and all the other antibiotics in the Quinolone family and brought it to the dr that gave it to me. He didn't even want to look at it. saying "I know about the side effects this drug can have on some people" and told me I should have gotton off of it right away and that it will take time for the effects to get out of my system.
I also found that this drug was unaccepted in Canada and other countries.
If you are getting shortness of breath, I suggest you stop taking it and tell your doctor.
Janet G

Tue, 20 Jan 2004 14:16:40 -0500 by Guest, #4219
I started taking Levaquin (500 mg 1 per day) five days ago and after one day started experiencing a sensation of a shortness of breath. This causes me to gasp a bit and is quite startling (and scary). Has this happened to anyone else here?

Sun, 18 Jan 2004 10:27:15 -0500 by pambo, #4182

Though levaquin has been extremely effective against my pneumonia, it came with several of the side effects previously mentioned: severe diarrhea, preceded by stomach cramps, joint pain, a metallic taste, disrupted sleeping patterns and yes, weird dreams and near hallucinations. I've also felt very foggy--as if my brain weren't functioning normally.
I usually scoff at the list of side effects on a prescription, rarely having problems. This time, though, I think I experienced nearly all of them. I'm now taking Flagyl to counteract the effects of Levaquin, to no avail so far.


Thu, 15 Jan 2004 12:31:37 -0500 by Guest, #4151
A few weeks ago, I was given Levaquin for a sinus infection.
Within a day or so, I started feeling really werid. Constant quivering in the stomach, very weak in the arms and legs. sweating, then chilled. And a feeling of unreality. I was given a 10 day supply.
I checked on the internet and found this site. I am so amazed on how many people are suffering from the side effects of this terrible drug.
I called the manufacturer. and was directed to a dr.
I was told that some people have complained of side effects.
And that anyone having a tendon problem should not go on this medication...She said that after going off this medication, it will take a week or so for the side effects to diminish..
I printed out all the information and letters from people suffering for the side effects and brought them back to the dr that put me on this. He didn't even what to look at them and said he ALREADY KNEW ABOUT THE TERRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS THIS LEVAQUIN OR ANY ANTIBIOTIC IN THE QUINOLONE FAMILY CAN CAUSE. I was told that I should have gone off of it imediately. (I had two left). He also told me that it will take a little while for the effects to get out of my system.
You wonder why in the world drs prescribe such drugs. Guess we're all just gunnie pigs...
Take care everyone and BEWARE OF WHAT YOU PUTTING IN YOU SYSTEM...
Janet G

Mon, 12 Jan 2004 22:06:11 -0500 by staffbot, #4116
I took Levaquin for a pretty severe case of pneumonia. It's hard to say whether I could initially distinguish side effects from the 103, coughing fits, wheezing, and tremendous body aches and fatigue -- interestingly, I thought the body hangover (2 days after the fever was gone) was from the heavy-weight cough medicine. No material impact once the 10 days of meds were complete.

Just got back on Levaquin to combat what felt like a sinus infection - Dr. did not want it turning back into pneumonia like last month [for a healthy, knock on wood as I cough] 37 year old, I feel like I'm 70!

I stopped taking the Levaquin after 2 days - something was definitely not right this time around:

My sinuses feel better BUT:
My hands are killing me - the bones hurt!
My throat it as dry as the desert
Headaches that come and go
Sore calf leg muscles
Didn't sleep the first or second nights very much at all
Tightness breathing or some kind of chest discomfort - know that it's not a heart attack

I dug the prescription card out of the garbage and looked at the possible side effects - holy crap, it still hurts when I type .. kind of like I just bowled about 60 games in a row with a ball that had holes that were too small. Got to go back to fix this cough again, but from now on, no Levaquin - I don't feel quite right yet after 2 days off.

Mon, 12 Jan 2004 16:04:39 -0500 by Guest, #4110
My daughter is 13 years old. In October 2003 she had her right middle lobe of her lung removed. She has chronic asthma and other respiratory problems. She has also has 2 sinus surgeries and 5 sets of ear tubes. After her lobectomy she was on several different antibiotics and we had a terrible time clearing her lungs. Finally in December her Drs. put her on Levaquin. She took her levaquin at night due to some of the side effects listed. I didn't want her in school if there had been a problem. It was like a miracle drug for her. For the first time in months I did not hear her say she was not feeling well, no low grade temps and most important of all...she stopped coughing up phlegm. The Drs now have her on another antibiotic...its working well but some of her problems have slowly returned. She is much wheezier, she has started to cough again and she says she doesn't feel as well now as she did on Levaquin. As a matter of fact she has a Dr. appointment in a week and I am going to ask about using Levaquin again.

Mon, 12 Jan 2004 03:45:55 -0500 by Guest, #4097
I am an extremely healthy 27 year old male and was prescribed Levaquin for an abscessed tooth that had broken off. I requested Zythromax as I had had great success with it before, but was told by the doc that this was much better at treating what I had. So of course I took his word for it and got the medicine. I actually left the pharmacy and had almost decided not to buy it because it was so expensive, but I really wanted to get rid of the abscess. I went back and shelled out the 110 dollars for 10 pills and started day one. Had very minimal side effects and thought that it was just maybe the infection which had brought several adverse reactions itself. After sleeping way into the next night, I woke up at 4am and took my second pill. Needless to say, the next day was probably one of the top three worst days of my life as far as health goes. I had the worst headache of my life, VERY nautious, extreme sweats followed by chills, even in a hot house-with no fever, and my only relief was to sleep which brought on very bad dreams. When I would wake back up I literally thought I was going to die and even hoped to at one point I felt so bad. Maybe this doesn't happen to everybody, but I wanted to let SOMEBODY out there know that they ARE NOT crazy if they experience any of this. Dont be scared by the "you have to take them all" phrase you hear from your doc. STOP immediately if you experience this.

Sat, 10 Jan 2004 23:33:15 -0500 by Guest, #4085
I was given a 3 day course of Levaquin 500mg for a UTI as I am allergic to Sulfa medications. Right away after taking the first pill I felt very bloated and nauseated. I didn't think much of this, as some medications can have this side effect. I thought twice the next day however when I up most of the night with muscle pain, a horrible headache and anxiety. All during that day I felt so drained and achey you would have sworn I had the flu! I am so pissed that I feel worse now then I did when I had the UTI.... I even read the side effects on the printed sheet the pharmacy gave me and didn't expect this!

Fri, 9 Jan 2004 00:05:38 -0500 by Guest, #4066
My 89 year old mother, a resident of a nursing home, was given Levaquin for a UTI. Within about three days, she was bizarre. She actually could not distinguish between reality and her dreams. She believed so strongly about what she perceived being real, that I asked that two psychiatric evaluators be called in. Knowing the doctor's attitude (based on an immediate past experience with Lexapro that made Mom a zombie and his reluctance to take her off of it), Mom refused the Levaquin. In our state, at least, the nh cannot force a patient to take a medicine when it is refused. After seeing this site earlier in the week, I was adamant that she would not take one more Levaquin and will not in the remainder of her life.
Tonight she is still a bit fuzzy on some things. And as a happy postcript, the evaluators said her mind was very good and her memory was excellent and agreed that her bizarre (and I do mean bizarre!) behavior was likely caused by either the Levaquin and the UTI; also that the Lexapro was too strong for someone her age.
We are in the process of changing doctors. His "I am god, you are stupid" attitude can be gone! It is unacceptable.


Wed, 7 Jan 2004 00:23:17 -0500 by rabbitquest, #4042
My wife took two pills of levaquin after her C- section, as she thought she may have had an infection, so the doctor prescribed this. I have never seen her start crying about stuff like she started to. I strongly suggested her to stop the levaquin after I showed her what the web said about it. The doctor suggested she go to his psychologist friend, to be treated for post delivery depression, since our insurance would pay for it. She went a couple of times, but she didn't have any problems, after the levaquin was stopped.

Fri, 2 Jan 2004 17:04:05 -0500 by Guest, #3983
I started Levaquin 3 days ago and have been suffering from headaches, fatigue, nausea, sleeplesness, severe changes in body temperatue, muscle pain and serious anxiety problems. I have a UTI and get them chronically and unfortunately cannot stomach bactrum or cipro. After reading this web site I called my doctor and requested klonopin an anti-anxiety medication i took for a year just for the first five days of treatment. She offered to change the antibiotic but said using all different kinds might leave me in worse shape with the infection than I started with. Since I get them chronically and will be starting a prophylactic when I'm done I want to make sure this infection is gone, I get them every 60 days. If you can stomach another antibiotic and have a choice definitely get something else. I'm hoping the klonopin will calm me down.

Fri, 2 Jan 2004 02:36:27 -0500 by Guest, #3974
I took levaquin in april for a severe bronchial infection. Now it is January and I cannot smell anything and haven't been able to since I took levaquin. Has anyone else had this side effect? It also affected how food tasted for a month or so but that side effect is long gone.

Veronica de la Fe - Tue, 13 Jan 2004 17:33:35 -0500 - #1396
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Horrible Side Effects to Levaquin
I AM A BREAST CAN. PATIENT I JUST READ THE ABOVE FROM A 52 YR OLD MALE ABOUT LEVAQUIN. I HAVE BEEN ON THAT ANTIBIOTIC AS WELL & I HAVE THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS I'M GLAD I ENTERED HERE. PLZ HELP CAUSE I WENT TO A NEOROLOGIST HE SAID I NEED SURGERY CAUSE I AM SUFFERING FROM CTS.

COULD THIS BE FROM THE LEVAQUIN????
43petty43 - Tue, 13 Jan 2004 04:31:51 -0500 - #1391
Re: Re: Re: Re: Horrible Side Effects to Levaquin
Good letter. I'm interested in legal action. I never have been before ..Read below

59 1/2 yr. old male.
I began treatment on Oct 29th.03 for a low grade sinus infection. I was on a 10 day regiment. On Wed PM/Thurs AM Nov. 6 I woke up several times during the night with various joint aches and pains. I read up on the Levaquin side effects and stopped the medication immediately. A little history. I've had some minor knee problems over the years along with Legg Perthes disease in both hips between ages 3 and 4 1/2. I was Confined to a wheel chair. I never have had any more problem with the left hip but the right one has bothered me off and on especially last year with all the cool/cold damp weather. My left shoulder was operated on in 1989 for a torn rotator cuff torn during ski racing. I never had any problem with it after that, my right shoulder has never had any problems.
On Nov. 6 all my joints were involved.Even my wrists and thumb movement. My left shoulder and right shoulder were the worst.
I am still experiencing considerable pain and discomfort in these areas, along with condiderable numbness in my limbs expecially when sleeping or resting. It's been over nine weeks with no relief in sight. I even get some pain radiating from my Patilla down to my right ankle. My extremities are constantly extremely cold and my fingers turn white & cold
in very short order even with gloves on. What gives here, how long does this go on. I'vre seen hundreds of letters with the same or similar problems.
Levaquin is indeed dangerous. When I woke up on Nov 10 with a sore Left Hip and the repaired rotator cuff inflamed I was definitely concerned.
Bob Kirby