Post Marketing Reports March 2004

Cipro

Mon, 22 Mar 2004 09:13:03 -0500 by Guest, #4881
4 doses of cipro for uti..severe myalgia and peripheral neuropathies also tendonitis this was 1 year ago..still experiencing side effects but to lesser degree
 

Levaquin
jim beale, RPh - Fri, 26 Mar 2004 16:14:45 -0500 - #1739

Re: Re: levaquin pain
I am a pharmacist as well as a victim of Levaquin. It has been 9 months now and I lay awake nightly til 3 or 4 am from pain in my achilles tendons. I have file a report with FDA but not much response. I have also written drug manufacturer and received a registered letter requesting my medical records. They are not entitled to your records. Anyone who would like may send me comments, question,etc. I am going to do all I can to see this drug taken off market! Send me you evidence.

Caljen@wayxcable.com

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 19:04:30 -0500 by Guest, #4927
Took one 500mg levaquin last night for sinus infection, sore throat, cough. Awoke several times during the night because my eyes were tearing, and felt "sticky", but did not get out of bed because I was too tired. At 5 a.m. I finally went to look in mirror, and my eyes were red and puffy, & my face was swollen. I felt dizzy and almost fainted. My legs also ached badly around the thigh/knee area, and it was painful to walk the stairs. I had some chest pains on and off during the day, and my rt. eye is still hurting. I am now on benadryl. My doctor wants me to take prednisone, a steroid, but at this point I am afraid to take any more prescriptions. The only reason I agreed to the levaquin is because I had taken it once in the past. 1999 according to my dr. He said he has noticed cases of patients who have a reaction to it the second time around. I am through with antibiotics. These side effects are too scary. I would rather have the sinus infections.

Wed, 24 Mar 2004 13:15:16 -0500 by anne, #4923
I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection. I finished my last pill (10 days worth) Sunday (3 days ago). On Friday (5 days ago), I woke up with discomfort - dull pain in my stomach (solar plexus area) which has continued. On Sunday, I took Maalox and got diarreah. Since Sunday, I have experienced alot of gurgline, as well as, dull pain in stomach, upper and lower intestines. It seems to improve temporarily when I eat something. This morning (Wednesday) I had painful gas. I just called my gastro doctor and he can't see me for 2 weeks. Help!

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 00:07:08 -0500 by mtnman, #4824
I've had recurring bronchitis for years and have used just about every drug, so my physician gave me someLevaquin about 2 months ago with 2 refills in case of another bout. Well, the first go around (7 days 500mg.) went fine and the bronchitis cleared up. The seconf go around, last week, was quote different. I took a pill and started to feel some relief; I took a second pill and hell broke loose. I had chest pain, numbness in my hands, a mild panic attack and trouble breathing. So I called the Pharmacist and he said STOP now!.
He then asked me if it was the first time I had tried Levaquin and I told him no. He then told me that it's not unusual for your body to produce a protein that then lives in it aftee the first shot and the, upon a second dose sees the Levaquin as a foreign body and produces these respitory dide effects.
I say this becasue he continued to tell me that had I not stopped I could have been hospitalized within a couple of days.
My point is that such an incredible drug with such wonderful potential for good can kick you in butt big time and that any side effect should be considered a red flag, stop taking it and report the effect to your physician post haste.

Tue, 16 Mar 2004 13:55:40 -0500 by Guest, #4806
21-year old male taking Levaquin for 11 days for sinusitis.

Side effects in chronological order:

Chest Pain and tightness/Tachicardia, high blood pressure, had to go for a ECG the day after beginning the drug. Brought it up with the doctor who told me it was not the antibiotic.

Tension Headaches (intermittent) and mostly towards the evenings/nights. Even had some pain in my right eye for 2 days, when I looked to the corner of my eye.

Neck and back pains, which I think may cause or at least exacerbate the headaches.

Insomnia as well.

I shall stop taking it today and go see my doctor to discuss this. I feel less worried now that I've been enlightened about how many people experience side effects with this drug. Of course you read the "possible side-effects" leaflet and dismiss it. I won't be doing that again.

Good luck to all, Thomas.

Mon, 15 Mar 2004 22:53:22 -0500 by Guest, #4795
Where to start? During a 7 day seige, the following "acceptable" side affects began to show up: tendonitis in the Achilles; cramps in the calves; soreness in the thighs and glutes; joint stiffness in knees; neck and arm pain; personality changes; and finally acne-like sores on the forehead. I was supposed to have 14 days of treatment, but didn't. I threw the medicine away, looked into homepathic remedies and finally cleared up the problem on my own. I'm sure this works for some...but not me. After stopping, all side affects disappeared except stiffness in my right calf. That lingered for about a month and then finally got better. I'll never knowingly take this stuff again.

Sat, 13 Mar 2004 10:27:55 -0500 by carla, #4756
I just thank God I found this website...I literally thought I was losing my mind until I started to read all the horror stories associated with Levaquin. After only 3 doses of 500mg levaquin over a 3 day period, I literally thought I was dying. I was given this drug for a sinus and ear infection. Almost immediatly I experienced chest pain, headache, severe nausea diarrhea, and visual disturbances. I continued to take the medication in hopes that these symptoms would subside after my body got use to it, but unfortunatly that was only the beginning. What followed was extreme fatigue, muscle spasms, numbness in my hands and toes and probably the worse feeling I have ever experienced in my life. I called my doc and told him I stopped the medication and thankfully he prescribed another antibiotic for me. After 5 days of not being able to get out of bed, I finally am able to function somewhat although I still am experiencing some muscle weakness. I am sure this drug has worked for some people, but if I had my way, it would be banned. It was the scariest expereince of my life..and what is most troubling is that we are at the mercy of these drug companies. Someone should have told me that these side effects were possible....the cure shouldnt be worse then the illness. Good luck and good health to all of you...I hope you all will be well again soon.

Fri, 12 Mar 2004 10:59:54 -0500 by Guest, #4744
regarding 4638. After I stopped taking the Levaquin, a total of 1750mg over 3 days I feel back to normal finally 5 days later. I feel extremely lucky to not have these side effects linger as they have with so many. Why mine went away, I'm not sure. Maybe because I only ingested the 1750mg 250mg at a time. My best suggestion to anyone taking these types of antibiotics is if you start to feel any of these awful side effects STOP taking them regardless of what your Dr. may say. It may make the difference from recovering and living miserably for a long time, possibly the rest of your life. BE CAREFUL

Thu, 11 Mar 2004 22:37:34 -0500 by Guest, #4736
Been taking lavaquin for maybe a week now.

The side effects are really bad for me. Nausea to the point of getting a watery mouth like I'm about to vomit. Stomach bloat, which makes me feel like I've eaten the largest meal in my life, even if it's just a slice of bread with peanut butter. Sleeplessness - I've been up until 4am wondering when I was going to go to sleep. Constipation - I'd like to know when my next bowel movement will happen.

Now please excuse me while I go lay down and hope my dinner stays in my stomach.


Mon, 8 Mar 2004 09:01:15 -0500 by Guest, #4666
I viewed the vidio.
Maybe you should send it to
MedWatch
The FDA Safty Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program
Food and Drug Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Md 20852-9787

Thats where I sent in the report.
Janet G

Sun, 7 Mar 2004 18:28:23 -0500 by njgirl, #4659
In the previous posting, I meant to say that I'd be better off NOT taking the medication. It must be affecting my typing skills as wel.

Sun, 7 Mar 2004 18:13:01 -0500 by Guest, #4658
I must say that reading these postings has both frightened me and reassured me that I am not losing my mind! Levaquin has been only mildly helpful for my UTI, but the side effects have been most unpleasant: nausea, constipation, gas, and insomnia. I unfortunately took my first dose in the early evening since I had just picked up the prescription that afternoon, and kept taking it at that time of day. It took me a few days to realize that I wasn't just having a sporadic bad night, but that the medication was making me very restless and unable to sleep. I have been taking Ambien to help me soldier through, but the postings on this site have led me to believe that I'd be better off taking the medication. Thanks to all of you for sharing so that folks like me better understand what they're going through!

Sun, 7 Mar 2004 18:11:59 -0500 by Guest, #4657
I have a vdeo I would like distributed to anyone willing to view it. My goal is to get it in the hands of someone in the media or legistlation that can do something with it.

The video can be seen at www.fqvictims.org My family took this 4 months after I ingested Cipro. I know it's not levaquin but it's an FQ with the same damning ADR profile.

Please if anyone has a contact in government or media - get this into their hands.

Thank You,
Bob (fqvictim@fqvictims.org)

Sun, 7 Mar 2004 07:40:07 -0500 by Guest, #4647
I posted previously..
I went on Levaquin in the middle of December for a sinus infection and I'm still feeling the effects.
After taking a couple of pills I started feeling really shaky and lightheaded..feeling of unreality, crying constantly..
But you know how they tell you "you have to take all the antibiotic" well stupid me took 8 of them..couldn't stand it anymore. I found this site and printed out all the information on Levaquin and went back to the drs. He didn't even want to look at the info. He said he knew that this drug could possible have these effects on some people. and that I should have stopped it right away and it will take time for it to get out of my system
I did the call the maker of this drug and also called the FDA and sent in a report to MedWatch.
Its been almost three months now and I still feel shaky inside.
Its just going to take time. I am better though.
Janet G


Sat, 6 Mar 2004 15:39:18 -0500 by Guest, #4638
I started taking Levaquil on, I think, wed. March 3. I took 250 mg twice a day for 3 1/2 days. Since I started taking these pills for pneumonia I have felt absolutely terrible. I have a bad headache, intermittent hot flashes, shortness of breath, metallic taste in my mouth, an acute sense of smell and complete lack of taste, extreme lethargy, irritability, unable to sleep more than 3 hours at a time even if I take an ambien, bad nightmares, have gotten out of bed in the middle of the night and wandered outside, mild nausea, a feeling of whoooshing throughout my body, chest pain, and my memory is so shot I couldn't even count from 10 to 1, I keep getting stuck on the 5 or 6. I am an otherwise healthy physically fit 37 yo physical instruction teacher. I spoke with my Dr. and he instructed me to stop taking Levaquin and has put me on Biaxin. Does anyone know how long will this last? Thanks for what information you can pass on.


Wed, 3 Mar 2004 22:01:44 -0500 by Guest, #4616
I was given Levaquin for a upper respiratory infection. The first day I had diarrhea from 12:30 until 10:00 that night. I just assumed it was part of what was going on with me. My husband and I are remodeling a house, and I having carpell tunnel so I assumed my hands hurting was from the hammering and working at the house. However, it was a different hurt. It hurt in the joints and all the way to the bone. Then it moved up my arms, my elbows hurt terribly. My shoulders and in-between my shoulder blades are painful. I have been taking Levaquin for at least 10 days now, but no more. I have been getting up in the morning only to walk like my grandmother. My ankles hurt so very bad. I have cried for 2 days now worrying if I have rhumetoid arthritis, or worse. My mother died of cancer. She had breast cancer, and then was cancer free for two years. In the following winter, her legs and bones hurt. She also had arthritis (her father had rhemetoid arthritis) so we assumed that's what it was. It was cancer in the bones. She was diagnosed in January and died in April of that year. I have been so afraid, scared and really was terrified of finding out what was wrong. I also started drinking Mountain Dews because I had no energy and felt so bad. Then when my hands started swelling I started taking motrin. Now I have learned from some of you on here that that's exactly what I shouldn't have done. I am so thankful for all of you sharing and knowing now that I'm not alone or a whiner. I'll pray for all of you and I will do my part to try to get this medicine off the market.

Renee'

jim beale, RPh - Fri, 26 Mar 2004 16:14:45 -0500 - #1739
Re: Re: levaquin pain
I am a pharmacist as well as a victim of Levaquin. It has been 9 months now and I lay awake nightly til 3 or 4 am from pain in my achilles tendons. I have file a report with FDA but not much response. I have also written drug manufacturer and received a registered letter requesting my medical records. They are not entitled to your records. Anyone who would like may send me comments, question,etc. I am going to do all I can to see this drug taken off market! Send me you evidence.

Caljen@wayxcable.com
Sharon Weeks - Mon, 22 Mar 2004 21:24:17 -0500 - #1715
Levaquin Killed My Dad
My Dad walked into the ER at Muskogee Regional Medical Center, Muskogee, OK, on 4/18, complaining of shortness of breath. Docs stated he was not "sick enough" to be admitted..didn't meet criteria. My Dad insisted, stating "There is something terribly wrong with me. I can't breathe." They reluctantly admitted him with prognosis of bronchitis. No X-Rays. My Dad listed Coumadin on his ER Admittance Form. He had been taking Zithromax for four days prior (side effect of Zithromax-Coumadin drug interaction = breathing difficulties...Dr's missed it.) for the bronchitis. The Docs also prescribed LEVAQUIN. To make a long story short, my Dad was in the hospital for 8 days with no PT/PTT/INR taken until he had GI Bleed, convulsions, massive organ failure. They continued to prescribe Levaquin up to the day he died, even though charted bloodwork was obvious that my Dad was in TROUBLE. The trouble was = LEVAQUIN. Anemia, elevated BUN, etc, etc. -- They finally looked at coagualtion results. Guess what??? There were none. No coagulaltion testing until day 8, even though my Dad listed Warfarin as a med? He and I walked in....we wheeled him out ...DEAD. I realized what happened after his death by requesting a copy of the chart. I am a lay person...no medical education. However, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the facts. Coumadin toxicity...drug interaction...Dr. tried to push under the rug with COPD on death certificate (My Dad was not on home oxygen...never had been.) Doctors listed GI Bleed as Secondary (not related to death) on death certificate, even though his PT was >100, and his INR was 85 when first tested. Massive bleeding, seizing before my eyes and my children's eyes. We saw a vibrant man walk into this hospital...then he was literally killed by lack of care. Nurses listed on meds chart "Dr., you haven't ordered INR/PT." Dr. never noticed. They weren't looking...just decided this man needed a "few breathing treatments"...Never even tested his PT/PTT/INR??? Incompetence. Reported my findings to the Oklahoma State Board of Health. After reviewing my Dad's chart, they sided with me, and are citing the hospital with neglect. Also, the State of Oklahoma will file complaint against chief physician for his part in my Dad's death. Hopefully, he'll pay a little more attention to his patients in the future. This drug has horrible side effects...4 doctors missed the signs of drug interaction...they miserably failed my Dad. My Dad should have walked out of that hospital. After all, as I said before...the Docs didn't want to admit him...he wasn't sick enough.. But my Dad insisted, and now he's dead. I wouldn't give my Dog Levaquin....