I have suffered greatly from taking (5) doses of Levaquin. I believe I would have had ruptured tendons if I had remain seated the vast majority of 4 days. My pain continues, but less than normal with the supplements I am taking. If I reduce them, the pain increases. C.E.
Why does Levaquin cause such horrendous pain in some people?
- Asked
- 9 May 2012 by C.E.
- Updated
- 16 April 2018
- Topics
- levaquin, pain, nosocomial pneumonia
Details:
This question has also been asked and answered here: How long does tendonitis last from taking Levaquin?
Responses (9)
balbanese
9 May 2012
Have you addressed this with the prescribing physician? Sounds fairly serious and I would point you in that direction rather than have you mess with the dose. Hope this helps:
LEVAQUIN® can cause side effects that may be serious or even cause death. If you get serious side effects, get medical help right away. Talk with your healthcare professional about whether you should continue to take LEVAQUIN®.
SeeknFind
9 May 2012
C.E. there is currently a class action/lawsuit about the horrific effects of Levaquin on many people. Do some searching for the side effects and articles about it. I, too, took it a few years ago and had "mental" side effects like hallucinations that lasted for a week. I believe it affected me in many other ways as well. The after affects last long after taking it and the list is long. Many people can take it with no problem but others really are affected. You are catching it very early on so there are things you can do to mitigate the lasting effects. There's too much to go into here but I strongly recommend you search it out online yourself, you will find lots of information.
The folks that took it over a few years ago have no legal standing but the current users do!. The manufacturer had to add "warnings" to their product information after it buried the adverse affects for years. Protect yourself now and write down ALL the effects you are experiencing, I am sure you will find others on the lists... Good luck and take this seriously
C.E.
9 May 2012
Thank you for your response! A pharmacist told me that the side affects can last up to one year; thereafter, you are working on taking care of "old" reactions. Did you have any new side affects, you believe are due to the Levaquin, after one year's time? Thanks, again.
SeeknFind
9 May 2012
I am positive that the "mental/brain" side effects affected me in many ways, my over all health went straight down hill fast. I think it made the fibro really kick in, and chronic fatigue. My "mind" was somehow altered negatively, hard to explain. The nightmares and hallucinations were incredible, NEVER experienced anything like that. I still get the chills remembering them now, it's been 3 years. Since fibro affects the muscles, tendons, etc it makes sense to me that one of the biggest complaint about Levaquin are about the archilles heel tendon issues?? what about the rest of the tendons all over the body?
DzooBaby
9 May 2012
Most fluoroquinolones of which one is levaquin, have warnings pertaining to tendon problems. Here is one copied from levaquin literature:
Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN®, are associated with an increased risk of tendonitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This adverse reaction most frequently involves the Achilles tendon, and rupture of the Achilles tendon may require surgical repair. Tendinitis and tendon rupture in the rotator cuff (the shoulder), the hand, the biceps, the thumb, and other tendon sites have also been reported. The risk of developing fluoroquinolone-associated tendinitis and tendon rupture is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in those taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants.
SeeknFind
9 May 2012
and that warning was added AFTER the first lawsuit, as a Black Box warning.
DzooBaby
9 May 2012
It has been known for a while though. I remember before levaquin ever came out, that it was well known in Cipro-another fluoroquinalone.
donpat123
9 May 2012
Levaquin being prescribed for me is one of the worse things that ever happened to me. The levaquin attacked my tendons causing a great deal
of pain and limiting mobility. My Achilles tendons ruptured and I had great
difficult walking for a year. It also affected tendons in my upper torso , making
it painful to just lay down in bed. The levaquin was prescribed for walking
pneumonia. The doctor should have checked the contraindications.
SeeknFind
9 May 2012
I agree. We have to be as educated as possible in our own health care but the doctors are at fault too for just writing scripts, handing them out, not asking "the right questions' when they prescribe something. They should know all about the meds they prescribe. So many of us are walking around with condtions we have no idea we have, especially without insurance, how are we supposed to know what we're allergic too BEFORE we take it?? We pay the doctors for their expertise and knowledge, but we do not get what we pay for or entitled to. I don't mean to generalize about anything, like doctors, but my entire life long health history is a very long list of serious mistakes, misdiagnoses, unwarranted surgeries, and oversight by almost every doctor I have ever seen! What other conclusions to come to?
C.E.
10 May 2012
I am very sorry you went through this as well. I hope you are doing much better now.
Inactive
19 May 2012
Gee since I have had so many infections in my life, Cipro, levaquin are the first drugs of choice from my doctors with all the urinary tract infections I get. I have become allergic to the penicillins, and sulfa drugs. I know about the warnings, but now I'm really scared to take it!! Hopefully if it hasn't bothered me in the past, it won't in the future, as I live my life out without getting any more infections!!
Adeline
19 May 2012
My doctor tired me on Levaquin last year, because i also was running out of antibiotics that were working, but by the second day i thought i was dying! not so much pain but horrible stomach "issues" so he stopped it and put me on something eles. The antibiotics on a whole bother me but levaquin was the worst for me. I have since talked to other people who have no problems with it, but it is not for me.
Inactive
20 May 2012
I'm afraid to take any antibiotic in that category anymore. I'm not getting any younger,Adeline :-)
jdstarn
21 Mar 2014
I am a health care provider and I am also a Levaquin rupture patient… I have had three ruptures and have had no legal recourse. I have been ill for four years. I have no strength. Recently I read an article that stated the thought that this class of drugs causes a magnesium deficiency in the tendons. There are other drugs that do that as well. I stopped all those meds and started on supplements and that has helped. Though I am not a big believer in Eastern medicine I do work with an acupunctuist and he has been pushing me to try one of the 7 classic combinations of herbs for ridding the body of damp and sinew. Western meds are commonly plant based but genetically altered so after his pushing me and my not being able to recover from my most recent surgery, I agreed to give it a try.
Erin222
31 Mar 2015
Henni Buice
10 Mar 2017
Dear Isn't Bad, I was on Levaquin and I am so injured from it. I wish that day I took my first dosage never happened.I am suffering so bad and I also had pneumonia ... Bacterial... and Hospitalized for a week. Don't try to tell people that have been affected by this monster of a drug that it isn't so BAD... IT IS!!! Unless you have walked a mile in my shoes, please shut up...
meme is awesome
26 Jan 2018
well yipee for you, but to those of us in constant pain and unable to do the things we used to do its a horrific druh and therefore should not be given if there's even a chance someone will go thru this.
Jyug
28 Mar 2017
I have been taking Levaquin for 8 days and the second day it felt like all my muscles were hurting. It took me a few days to put two and two together and realize it was probably the Levaquin that did it. I kept looking up muscle soreness all over my body and I couldn't find anything. Then I realized it was probably my tendons and I look that up and Levaquin was the first thing to pop up. I just finished taking them yesterday and I am still in a lot of pain. I've been reading these stories and I am terrified that this is going to take forever to go away. I just pray that it doesn't because I cannot live like this.
lauriethiels
14 Sep 2017
Please pay attention to your body and I encourage you to keep a 'daily diary' of how you feel an what is going on. I have been off Levaquin for over a year and continue to have lasting issues. I have found that warm therapy pools or hot tubs help with the pain. Working with a good Rhumatology doctor and having a good diet helps as well. Good luck.
MorganaRaven
17 Apr 2018
Levaquin has been a nightmare for me. I am a retired nurse. I have RA. I got MRSA in my lungs from taking biologic drugs to treat my RA. Went to ER over and over and over to get diagnosed. They said I just had bronchitis. They treated me constantly back to back for six months with various antibiotics so I was on a lot of levaquin. I had extreme pain in all my joints and body. After sitting home so long undiagnosed properly by many many many health professionals I also got pasteurla just for touching my kitty's while I was sick. Finally admitted me in hospital after six months and ended up getting some lung removed and got put on vancomycin which was terrible. It's eight years later and I was forced into early retirement and am still having awful pain.
Further Information
- Levaquin Information for Consumers
- Levaquin Information for Healthcare Professionals (includes dosage details)
- Side Effects of Levaquin (detailed)
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I talked with a pharmacist, and she could not tell me of any help from medications (RX). I really don't trust my physician now with giving me Levaquin with the prior side affects I've had to other antibiotics. I am careful when I begin to have "break-through" pain and swelling. Thank you for your concern.
I hear you loud & clear, time for a new Doc.
I had a severe reaction after taking Levaquin, Yes, it was discussed with my Physician. I immediately stopped taking it (3 doses). Extreme joint pain. Had a MRI that showed ruptured tendons - both shoulders, had cortisone injections, and physical therapy for 3 months, 2 times a week. Still have pain in all my joints and have lost 10 lbs. because of it affecting my appetite. The pharmaceutical Companies do not want or care to know about these experiences. It's all about money to them. Yes, they include warnings on the written inserts that come with your medication BUT they do not ask you to notify them IF you have a problem, It would be great if they would analyze the # of patients that have this kind of outcome, not just warn you that it MIGHT happen!!!