Serious Side Effects Associated with Levaquin
April 6, 2009
The fluroquinolone antibiotic Levaquin, used to treat lung, sinus, skin, and urinary tract infections caused by certain bacteria. FDA recently ordered the makers of Levaquin to include a black box warning on the drug after reports of severe Levaquin side effects related to painful tendon and ligament injuries.
The Levaquin side effects resulting in this black box warning include tendonitis and tendon ruptures, both of which can be very painful and debilitating. Patients may not realize they are experiencing such side effects until it is too late.
If you are taking Levaquin you should discuss these possible side effects with your doctor. If you have been taking Levaquin and have experienced pain in your tendons, ligaments or joints, you should consult with your doctor immediately about a possible link between the drug and your symptoms.
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35 Responses to “Serious Side Effects Associated with Levaquin”
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How long does it take for these side effects to show up.I was on Levaquin in Dec.2008, 500mg. 10 pills.In late Feb.I started having pain,stiffness and pulling feeling in my neck.Could this be from the Levaquin.
I took levaquine for a bad bout with bronchitis, I took the whole prescription, by that time, I could barely walk up the stairs. I developed bursitus in my hip. I suffered with the pain for years. It is finally getting better. I was in pain for a few years. I went back to my doctor, he claims it wasn’t from the Levaquin, but I know it was. Hw sent me to a rheumatoligist and she concurred that the levaquin could cause the pain I endured. I have levaquin on my liist of drugs never to take again. it was a nightmare. Anyone I know who is prescribed it, I warn them to go back to the dr and get sometihing eles. I did help my bronchitis but it killled my joints, and caused other issues.
I was on Levaquin for 7 days recently because of Diverticulitis. The day after the first pill, I had a difficult time walking. I had pain in all my joints, and it was hard to get off the couch .I’ll never take this drug again.
Two days ago, I took Levaquin for a potential urinary tract infection while having troubles with anxiety. I woke up at 2 AM unable to go back to sleep.
I lay thinking about ships crashing and their cargo pouring out, then all of a sudden I had a severe panic attack which caused me to start thrashing about, I had chills all through my chest, my neck grew hot, and, strangely enough, my netheregions felt like they’d EXPLODED. I’m still having problems with that particular issue. I still have no idea why.
I took it again last night and found later that night that I was developing a rash on both of my legs just south of my hips.
My mom read the list of “CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY IF YOU EXPERIENCE THESE SYMPTOMS” list, and all of my problems were THERE
To top it all off, I’ve not been able to eat anything for the last day because of vomiting it helped produce. THe other cause of my problems? LEXIPRO.
NEVER TAKE THEM BOTH TOGETHER YOU WILL REGRET IT
I have been taking levaquin for 5 days I feel terrible. My hands and feet are swollen, I can barely walk. I have difficulty swallowing as well. I will not take it any more.
I took Levequin for a sinus infection about 1 month ago and the day i took it I could not walk without severe knee pain. Five days ago I had emergency Knee Surgery for a cartlidge tear that just came on 6 days after taking the dangerous drug. Tell everyone you know not to take this drug. I am in serious pain now and home recovering and on crutches for 4 weeks. This is a serious problem and needs to be taken off the market.
I was also prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection a couple of weeks ago. I had taken my 4th dose and the next morning I woke up to the WORST knee and lower back pain I have ever had. Of course I threw the drug in the trash. But it has been over 2 weeks now and I still have difficulty going up and down stairs and just walking in general! Several of my doctors (and not the doctor who prescribed it) have told me that I should be lucky I am only experiencing pain because it usually causes tendon RUPTURES! I am sure the drug did some damage to my knees (I am just praying that it is not permanent). I’m going to give it another couple of weeks and if the pain hasn’t gotten better, I guess I’ll see an orthopedic doctor to see if any permanent damage was done. My back pain has gotten somewhat better, but is still there. The knee pain is just awful though. I am only 51 years old and I have many steps I have to go up and down every day. I can’t get anything done here around the house in this condition. This drug should be BANNED. I warn anybody to think twice before they take this drug. I would much rather suffer through my sinus infection than suffer this knee pain that is affecting the quality of my life!
I took two regimens of Levaquin recently for bronchitis. The first time was a two week regimen and after taking about 10 pills, I got horrible bicept muscle pain. After suffering with this for about 5 weeks (I thought it would go away), I went to see my GP. He did not know what was causing the muscle soreness, but thought I was coming down with bronchitis again, so he ordered a three-week regimen of Levaquin. I still have muscle pain, but I believe it is getting better. My doctor referred me to a rheumatologist. After reading about the side effects of Levaquin, I am sure that is what happened to me. The pain is subsiding, but the range of motion in my arms is still lacking.
I took Levaquin for 7 days due to a urinary tract infection. After the 4th day I noticed a hot, almost burning sensation in my privates. It wasn’t unpleasant, but the odd thing was I began to develop an excessive, way overactive libido. My husband was thrilled, but… dang. He wants to know if I can get more of these pills for our vacation.
I just started taking this as I went to an emergency medical clinic this weekend feeling pretty lousy. Severe chest/cold symptoms, that I have had for 3 weeks and my first round of antibiotics my family physician gave me did not work. My doctor was not available this Sunday, so I went to a walk-in clinic. Anyway, the doctor gave me Levaquin. I am on day 2, and the only side effect was that I couldn’t sleep last night. But I am taking it with cheratussin, cough medication. thought my cough meds were keeping me awake. Anyway, I want this sickness out of my system, and per the doctor, this is one of the best ways to get rid of infection. As I read side effects I am actually starting to feel pain in my feet. Psychological, perhaps? I felt nothing before! I am freaking out. It seems that people who experience side effects are taking other meds. I am taking nothing else right now. Hopefully, it doesn’t affect me?
I’m a 45y/o female who took one Levaquin tablet back in early 2006 and have been suffering joint pain since. That one pill put me in the ER approx. 45 minutes of taking it! The shoulder pain is the worst, and it radiates down both arms; it’s even painful to write now because of the bone pain in my hands. My orthapedist was giving me cortisone shots in both shoulders every three months; they don’t help at all now. Went to a rheumatologist for a huge battery of tests that showed nothing. In July 2008 I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma (b-cell)…and after reading so many comments about Levaquin side effects and the lymphoma associated with it, I am seeking the advice of an attorney. Did Levaquin cause my cancer? I have always been a very healthy person who exercised daily and maintained a healthy weight…no illnesses…nonsmoker…very rarely drink alcoholic beverages…no cancer in my entire family.
Continued from previous mssg. I also have severe pain in my ankles and feet; hard to get out of bed in the morning, or even after sitting for a brief period. Once I put any amount of weight on my feet it feels like they are breaking! My orthapedic doctor showed me how my left foot comes completely out of the socket..and I’ve never even injured it. I can’t run any more because I will fall to the ground with no warning since there is little strength in my ankles. I feel like an 80 year-old! My oncologist even says the pain I experience in my neck and shoulders is not from the lymphoma.
I am 66 years of age and have always been a healthy woman. I prided myself on going to the doctor just once every year for a normal check-up. Last year, I found out that my heart has a very small mitral valve which caused angina pains. I was put on all kinds of medication.
This year, in May I got the flu and went to my doctor. He prescribed a treatment of 7 LEVAQUIN tablets. He never mentioned the side effects to me and I bought and took the tablets in good faith. The day after I took the first one, I could not walk. I was in so much pain from my knees down. I never thought that it could be the LEVAQUIN. I normally go for a two-mile walk every day, but the pain prevented this. I had to take time off my work and lie down to ease the pain. I also had very bad angina pains. I called my cardiologist and reported this.
I am very sad about this as I wonder if this will be with me for the rest of my life. I, who have always enjoyed good health, am now in pain due to lack of openness on the part of my doctor. I would NEVER had taken this awful thing had I known then what I know now.
I am posting on behalf of my brother. He had taken two regimins of Levaquin about four months ago for a sinus infection and hasn’t been the same since. He has had joint pain, muscle pain, tingling in the neck and back, brain fog, and just felt plain miserable. He has even had to take FMLA from work because he cannot work because he is soo miserable. He has been to numerous doctors, and had numerous tests ran, done several months of physical therapy and yet no one can figure out what is wrong and instead of getting better he is getting worse. No one will say it has anything to do with the Levaquin. I do not beleive that it is just coincidence that his symptoms started right after taking Levaquin. This is criminal and it needs to be stopped!
I had a horrid cough and chest congestion starting the first week of June. I went ot my doctor and he gave me cough med and azithromycin. It didn’t clear up, so I went back two wks.later and he put me on Levaquin becasue of wheezing in my chest. He believed I had pneumonia. I had x-rays and 4 days later, his office called and said I did not! But they didn’t say to stop the Levaquin.. I was scared to take it because of thes die effects I read about. My sister, who works for an urologist, told me she has taken it and felt better after the second day and that the urologist presribes t all the time for patients. I took it for 9 days and then stopped because I started hurting in my hands and feet. I am now off of it for 5 days and returned to the doctor to let him now what is happening to me. He didn’t seem to think it is a big deal hurting like this!!! Naturally, the drug companies and drs. stick together becasue of lawsuits etc, I believe. He offered me pain pills, but I refused becasue they also wil have side effects. I am still hurting and pray this leaves me with no further effects. KD I will never, ever take this drug again…
I am 65 years old with a sinus and bronchille infection. I have taken Lev Aquin for 5 days and have had severe stomach problems, bad dreams, bad taste in mouth, sore tendons legs hurt and nausea, joints hurt.
This is the 5th day and a decided to look up side effects.
I have 5 left, but I quit – it isn’t worth what I am dealing with.
Just completed 10 days of treatment using Levaquin and have severe pain in both knees. I have never had pain in either knee before. I’m really scared!
I am a 25 healthy female who has a cyst and it became infected due to an aspiration. So the doc put me on Levaquin and wooo is it expensive! $400.99 ouch in the pocket book!
i took it for the first night last night and was very excited all day and even today. I kept waking up thinking someone had broken in my house or someone said something…scary crap huh? lol doc said toss um and dont take another dose..400.00 down the drain…
But at least I wont have trouble sleeping, aches, pains or hear things. scary crazy drug.
My husband just had fusion of the C-4/5 and also had a plate put in his neck. Two days later he developed pneumonia. Our family doctor prescribed Levaquin for him. Do you think it will do more harm than good? Please advise.
I took the drug a year ago, and ended up in the hospital because I woke up like I was crippled- Till this day my joints ache daily – I do exercise but sometimes the pain is always there- I never knew about this recall-
my doctor did several tests on my legs and still tells me this was not caused by the drug levaquin – at least now I know that I am not crazy, and that several other people are going through this -
I am a very healthy and active 29 yr old…The doctor I work for prescribed me levaquin for a uti that wouldn’t go away. I had been experiencing several symptoms but attributed them to being active over the weekend. I finished my last dose yesterday and feel horrible. I called my gp and told her I feel like a 90 yr old with arthritis. I can’t turn a door knob, squeeze a shampoo bottle or walk the stairs at the hosptial. All of my joints ache so badly (my hands, elbows and knees). I am really scared that this isn’t going to go away and that I will feel like a cripple the rest of my life-all of this to have it not hurt when I urinate!!
So what’s the deal with this drug? I’m 39 years old and in relatively good condition. I took this powerful drug for 3 days (I stopped because of these symptoms) and now have mild pain and tightness in my feet with some pins and needles sensations. I’ve been off the drug for 2 days now. I can’t seem to get a straight answer from anybody regarding how Levaquin ravages the body (does it raise Uric acid) or if the damage done is permanent. Also, how can I get the toxicity levels in my body down and get better? It seems all i’m hearing are similar issues but noone seems to have a “magic bullet” answer which is frustrating to say the least. Probably most frustrating is that the Doctor’s seem to defend this drug almost denying that it has side effects at all. Yeah right. Doctors seem inclined to insult the intelligence of their patients. So anybody have any answers or solutions rather than complaints? Anyone?
I’ve just finished taken 20 days of levaquinn for sinus infection, and I’m in so much pain with my knees it hurts to walk. I don’t dare try to get on my knees or squat, I wouldn’t be able to get up. I was on levaquin once before, several years ago and woke up one morning with one knee swollen twice its size. I was told then it was a reaction to levaquin. Will this pain go away, or does it cause permanent damage.
I started taking Levaquin for fever and infection. I woke up the next day with my knee swollen. My wife looked up the side effects–I’m stopping the medication now. I have been on it for 4 days. Will the pain in my knees go away. My wife is freaking out that I will be disabled for life because of all the stories out there. Are there people who recovered after taking the medication? why are they still giving this stuff to people???
On July 23 started taking UTI but couldn’t see my doctor for a month! Went to his
office and saw a nurse who called in a prescription for Cipro, which didn’t do a thing! On August 5, the doctor’s office called in a pres for Levaquin, three pills.
Thank God, it was no more! Long story short, it took four prescriptions and doing
a urine culture to get rid of it. By that time I had BIG PROBLEMS and thought I was groing crazy from the terrible nightmares. My left foot swelled around the ankle and my right foot started with pain in my arch and now is swollen on the top. My right hand, little finger has been puffy and discolored, very tender and sore. The worst pain ever. Within two days of taking the Levaquin, I saw a TV ad
a group of doctors had and my daughter researched the internet and found this
website along with others. When I finally got to see my doctor again, he wants me to go to a Rheumatologist—seems to be the norm. This doctor may have some ways to relieve the pain, but I don’t want to go through any more tests as
all that I’ve had (blood tests, etc) have been negative. It has been eight weeks, I can’t walk without pain pills and a cane. Up until now I’ve been healthy, only an
occasional UTI, now I’m a cripple. Is there any hope? And, does this drug do good for anyone? It should be banned. I don’t want my daughers to ever be given
this drug—or anyone else!
[...] Levaquin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic used to treat pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, sinus infections, [...]
I took Levaquin for a sinus infection a couple of weeks ago. By day three I felt great, but then I took the fourth pill. That night I had a sudden panic attack that included peeing all night long. The peeing wouldn’t stop for days and developed into a UTI that I got an antibiotic for today. I feel much better already and the peeing has subsided. I have problems with anxiety as it is and this drug pushed me to go get back on a psychotropic med. Horrible, just horrible.
I came across this site and board thru a google search. The search being Levaquin.
I have major health issues and have been told I cannot be in pain, my test results come back normal for RA, Thyroid, etc. Back in 2001 I had a hysterectomy which was botched. I ended up with major abcesses (sp) internally and was given MASSIVE amounts of this drug intraveinously. While it did nothing for the abcess in the long run, I remember how crappy I felt while this was being run thru my system.
Since then, I have had one problem after another, I had an ACL tear in my right knee and thought it was related to my job. I constanly feel like I”m in pain and was told maybe it’s Fibromyalgia, At the time I was given the Levaquin I was 38, I am now 46 and feel 90. I have constantly complained about aching all the time, legs swelling, being tired constantly. I wonder if some of my issues now can’t be traced back???? I always attributed my ailments to my Hyst…….now I wonder? Anyone have any suggestions on how to find out? I’m so bad I can’t even work anymore and am currently appling for SSI.
I was prescriped Levaquin for bronchitis five days ago. On the second day I started to have pain in the knuckles of my right hand. By this morning, it had become unbearable. My doctor switched me to a different antibiotic, but I want to know when the joint pain will stop.
I was prescribed Levaquin late in 2008 for strep throat. it was the worst experience i have had with medication in my life. i couldnt sleep, i kept hearing music and people talking in my head. it was HORRIBLE. i didnt panic only bc i have a doctor in the family and i work for a biopharmaceutical company and am well aware of such weird side affects. so the following morning after not sleeping and having hallucinations, i googled this drug and read all of the side affects. needless to say, i threw it in the trash and called my doctor immediately. she gave me amoxcillin instead. and now, 11 months after taking this drug i am having tenderness in my tendons. will have to go back to the doctor for this. if you are reading this and all of the previously written comments, throw this drug out!!!!!!!
I am a 32 year old healthy female. I started taking Levaquin 750mg once a day for a UTI. Come to find out this was not a drug that could cure the problem in the first place. After two pills, I have severe back pain. It hurts to walk. Hope it gets better soon. Threw drugs out, I will not ever take this drug again. If you have a UTI ask what drugs can actually cure the culture, before you start taking any antibotic. Hope this helps.
I took 10 Levaquin tablets (500mg) back in July 15 for a colon infection . Since then I have been experiencing extreme pain in my lower back, shoulders (especially left) and hips. I also have trouble sleeping, and a very dry peeling skin, it seems like even little exposure to the sun is affecting my skin. My medical record show that I took this drug (Levaquin) 3 years ago for a lung infection and I don’t remember having any of these side effects..weird.
I am 37 years old and healthy. I got a lung infectionand the Dr. priscribed Levaquin 750mg. I took the pills for 3 days.on the 4th day my knees and hips hurt so bad that I have needed cruches. Now I am having trouble sleeping, walking, or even just sitting.. I will never take this Med, again.
I was in the ER having my gallbladder removed and also had a sinus and ear infection, they put me on levaquin after being on amoxicillin for 5 days, then when I go out of the hospital, they put me on 15 days worth at 500 mg each, my legs and feet are killing me, I can hardly walk and feel like if I sit too long and get up I might fall over… I thought maybe it was arthritis but I am only 35. I am glad to have found this site and will be going off Levaquin forever. Hope to be back to normal soon, hard to even put shoes on- my bones ache….
I was prescribed levaquin for 5 days for an upper respiratory infection. I only took it for 4 days because it made me feel awful. It has been a month. I really don’t have in joint pains, but every time I eat I get nauseated and have headaches every day.
I have taken more aspirin in 1 month than I have in a year. I am miserable and just want to feel better. I cannot believe that they still give this drug to people with this many complaints.