Levofloxacin and Tendon Pain: What Users Say

• Reg...
• November 16, 2019

Levofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "2015, 2x/day for 10 days for first-ever UTI. Day 3, woke up very sore all over, got worse each day. Days 6 & 7, misery. Every single joint and tendon in my entire body felt like it had been put through a paper shredder. I couldn't even walk. It wasn't until that day that I read that it was black boxed (had never even heard of that before). I also read that if you experience any of these side effects, to stop taking it immediately. So I should've stopped on day 3 when I already felt hit by a truck. 0 warning from doctor or pharmacy. 6 months before I could lift my left arm due to the pain in my shoulder. 5 years later, and I still have severe joint pain in my knees, hips, and back. The worst is my hands, which ache so bad, which is devastating as an artist. I'm 35, yet I feel 90. This poison needs to be taken off the market, and doctors and pharmacists need to be more responsible if they do prescribe it, and at the very least, warn patients of the risks. I should've had the choice."

• pia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 29, 2016

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "I get a really tough sinus infection each October and early spring like clockwork. If I let the infection go too long without going to a physician, I can be in bed with thick phlegm, headache, full head, and extreme fatigue for several weeks. Levaquin is the only medication that gets rid of these infections. Walk-in clinics never prescribe it... so I have to wait to get in with my own GP. In Mexico, you can buy it without a prescription, as I did last year on vacation when I came down with a sinus infection, but hence, as a lot of things in Mexico, was a scam... sugar pills. The only side effect I have ever had was tendon pain - that cleared up relatively soon. This is the go-to for anyone suffering chronic sinus infections."

• Pet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2018

Levofloxacin for Bacterial Infection "I took 1 pill of 500 mg Levaquin for an epididymitis. About 2 hours later, I was experiencing a lot of side effects, such as anxiety, fast heart rate, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, dizziness, and insomnia. The next few days, I experienced major tendon pain and muscle spasms/pain that I have never had before. Instead of Levaquin, I was prescribed Bactrim. Hopefully, this antibiotic does the trick without destroying my body in the process. It’s honestly a shot in the dark with all of the antibiotics on the market, which is truly a disappointment and shame. You never know whether the side effects from the antibiotic might be worse than the actual disease/infection it’s intended to treat. Just shows how messed up America’s healthcare system really is. I hope you all never have to take an antibiotic again! I know there will be way better treatments within the next 10 years."

• No...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2016

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "Levaquin is not for me, even though it did help clear up my sinus infection. The tendonitis and joint pain were just too much for me. What they fail to tell you is that with lots of people who take this drug, the side effects do NOT go away with discontinuation of the drug. I now feel like I have arthritis in my hips, knees, elbows, and hands that simply will not go away, and I blame the Levaquin for these lingering symptoms. I would not recommend the drug to anyone unless their sinus infection simply will not respond to other treatments."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2013

Levofloxacin for Pneumonia "Took Cipro for a Pseudomonas infection and then five months later took Levaquin. Joint and tendon pain just kept getting worse, and I'm still suffering from these side effects two months after discontinuing."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2011

Levofloxacin for Bronchitis "I am 54 years old and was put on Levaquin in August. I had side effects from the medication that caused joint and tendon pain and damage. I used to take it when I was younger with a good outcome. It is now January, and I still have very bad knee and tendon pain. Beware of the medication."

• PJI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2017

Levofloxacin for Pneumonia "Age 63. I developed pneumonia from a respiratory infection passed on from my wife, the school teacher. Once a day, Levaquin knocked out the pneumonia in 5 days, and an X-ray on day 7 showed my lungs were clear. On day 9, I developed tendonitis in my shoulder replacement that had been in place for 3 years. I was prescribed a high-power NSAID by the orthopedic surgeon. After 3 weeks, I turned out fine."

• Lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2013

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "I was prescribed Levaquin after suffering for 2 weeks with a severe cold and sinusitis. The Levaquin took care of the cold, but I got such severe tendonitis in my right ankle the day after stopping a 10-day course of it that I couldn't even touch my foot to the floor. It has improved by staying off my feet and icing - ice is really your friend here - but almost two months later, I am still icing and wearing a brace, and now the pain has migrated up my leg. But the real problem is that I have breast cancer for the second time, and the doctors do not want to operate until my body is infection-free and inflammation-free. My son's way to ice is the best: ice the spot with a cube until it has completely melted."

• kwo...
• July 19, 2015

For Bronchitis "I have autoimmune disease, and after 2 bouts in the hospital and 2 inpatient stays, I could not get them to give me anything stronger than doxycycline. It would wear off and then come right back. After only 2 days on levofloxacin, I see marked improvement, I can breathe, go out, and walk. I am taking it combined with prednisone: 3 pills in the morning, 2 pills at night, and finally, I'm not hacking up green phlegm. I know this medicine is not for everyone, but for people who suffer from resistant infections not helped by anything else, like me with COPD, it's a godsend. I am not having any of the tendonitis anyone is talking about. You need to make sure you are taking supplements because it tends to deplete magnesium."

• Ano...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2017

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "DO NOT USE THIS DRUG!!! I was prescribed Levaquin for a sinus infection over 2 years ago, and I am still suffering the side effects. The tendon pain was SO severe during many months after finishing this med. Now, 2 and 1/2 years later, I still have severe tendon pain, stabbing, hot pain, mostly in my wrists, hands, and arms. I do not sleep through the night due to the horrific pain, and it persists constantly throughout the days! I have Achilles problems now and cannot walk or stand up for any length of time. I am sure I have permanent tendon damage from this drug, which my doctor denies can be caused by this drug and wants to do further tests for autoimmune disease! Stay away from this drug, it is poison and ruined my quality of life!!"

• LuA...
• January 5, 2017

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION - EVER! Should be illegal. Went to the urgent care during the holidays with chest congestion, cough, low-grade fever, and sinus headache on Monday. Told the doctor I was starting an 8-day cruise on Thursday. She gave me a 10-day, 750 mg tablet of Levaquin. Had a dull ache in my right side after a couple of days on the cruise, which seemed to progress every day. When I got home, I was favoring my right shoulder. Two nights ago, the pain was so bad I couldn't move it, and it was very swollen. Went to emergency and was diagnosed with tendonitis caused by the Levaquin. Read drug info and horrified that the doctor prescribed it to me, a 60-year-old, without trying any other treatment first. So many warnings on this drug."

• JT6...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2017

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "Please don't take Levaquin or any other fluoroquinolone. It can destroy all of the tendons in your body and cause severe organ damage. It has basically disabled me. There are at least tens of thousands of people harmed by this drug. The FDA put out a black box warning against this drug in July 2016. Please read it!"

• Ten...
• September 10, 2010

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "Two years ago, my doctor gave me a five-day dose of Levaquin for a bad sinus infection. I have to admit, by the second day, all of my sinus symptoms were nearly gone. However, after about two weeks, I started noticing that the tendons around my heel and arch of my feet started to hurt. About a week later, the tendons in my neck and both elbows started hurting. To this day, I still have pains in my tendons that come and go. The only thing that helps is NSAIDs, stretching and B12 also seem to help."

• So ...
• August 15, 2016

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "I was given Levofloxacin 750 mg for 5 days for a sinus infection. On the 5th day, I started having Achilles tendon pain. I've been off the medication for 4 days, and I now have some swelling in the area as well as pain. I have never had problems with my tendons. In my opinion, taking the drug was a big mistake and one that I regret. From all I've read, this condition may not go away for a year if it even goes away. For me, the cure wasn't worth the horrible side effects. I won't take it again or anything else in the fluoroquinolone family."

• Phy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This drug levofloxacin has ruined my life. Aug. 2018, I was prescribed this drug by my primary care. After 4 days on the medication, I was rushed to the ER. Levofloxacin has caused me severe side effects: 2 torn tendons, tendonitis in my feet, legs, and arms. It has affected the nerves in my feet. There are days I cannot walk or function. It has been 14 months of complete pain and frustration. There is no help for me. I have to spend the rest of my life in pain and not having a quality of life. I do not understand why this drug has been on the market and that doctors are prescribing this drug. My primary care said she did not know the side effects. That, to me, is criminal."

• pxe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 23, 2015

Levofloxacin for Bronchitis "I was prescribed this medicine for bronchitis, 500 mg for 7 days. It really cleared up the bronchitis, but left me with bad tendonitis in my right leg. No telling how long this will go on. I can barely walk when I first get up in the morning, although it gets better with gentle exercise. I too have noticed crazy dreams, no dizziness, but I think it is causing me to make some bad decisions. Do not take this medicine for anything under any conditions. Find some other drug. The side effects are unpredictable, come on after you have already stopped taking it, and are miserable. I'm going to try some of the remedies the other reviewers have mentioned."

• Cac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2015

Levofloxacin for Bronchitis "I took this antibiotic for a bronchial infection. I did get rid of the infection. But while on it, I had horrible nightmares (the gory kind you can't talk about); was jittery, moody, and the tendonitis in my shoulder came back. I also have MS with mild symptoms. The problem is, now that I'm off of it, I feel 'fluish', my neck hurts, my shoulder hurts, I've had horrible spasms in my legs and feet and not the kind that you get with MS. I was prescribed this because I cannot take any of the 'clindamycin' or erythromycin of a Z-Pak. I have no idea when this is going to end. I would not recommend this to anyone. And don't get me started with the back pain."

• BRa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 5, 2020

For Pneumonia "I took levofloxacin with prednisone. I had 10 days on the levo and 5 days on the prednisone. Heed the warnings for tendon damage. After the 3rd day, I could feel the tightness in both Achilles tendons. So I walked around like a duck for the rest of the week and an additional week because my tendons still felt sore. I knelt down to wipe something off the floor and didn't take care as to the way I got up and pushed off (although gently) with the ball of my right foot, and wham, the pain was immense. Went to the doctor's, had 3 X-rays and finally an MRI done on my ankle. The tendon was torn 70%, so now I am wearing a boot for the next 3 months. No, it did not get rid of the pneumonia. I took cefdinir for an additional 10 days. Got a CT scan and still have pneumonia. Now I'm back on cefdinir for 21 days with probiotics. We will see!!"

• cis...
• September 3, 2013

For Urinary Tract Infection "This was my second time taking levofloxacin. First time had no problems. This time, however, after my 5th dose out of 7, I developed severe tendonitis in my hands, feet, and knees. The first morning I woke up with this pain, I could only close my hands about halfway. I discontinued the medicine, and thankfully, the pain went away after a few days."

• jbw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2020

Levofloxacin for Prostatitis "I also had prostatitis. Changed to Levaquin after the Cipro wouldn't cure it. I also experienced severe tendonitis, which my doctor never mentioned. I usually read the adverse effects labels before taking, but I had none on the Levaquin. About a week in on the medication, I had to stop taking it and moved on to another antibiotic. I continued to have side effects after discontinuance and still suffer from the tendonitis today. Having said that, I had not been experiencing any problems with my tendons prior to taking this, other than occasionally from overexertion. Now it is something I live with on a daily basis. Age 63 when taking in 2018. Now 12/18/2020."

• Art...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2020

For Epididymitis, Sexually Transmitted "After two doses, levofloxacin immediately had terrible tendon pain in four places. Pain is still intense after five days. Hoping it will go away, but according to the inserts in the packaging of the medication, it can be permanent. Issue is - I am a landscaper - and I may need to take off work for a long time - no pay - and it's because of this stupid drug."

• Llo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2023

For Sinusitis "My ENT doctor prescribed levofloxacin for sinusitis. After taking it for a week, I came down with serious tendonitis in my Achilles and have been limping since with extreme to moderate pain. I would never recommend anyone take or prescribe this medicine and look for other options. After doing some research on this, I have found that there have been numerous lawsuits over this and that it appears to have been taken off the market before."

• Fit...
• August 16, 2020

For Pneumonia "My pulmonary doctor was on vacation, as well as my family doctor's nurse. I got another doctor to prescribe levofloxacin 750 mg for 14 days for my third COPD flare-up in 3 months. On the 6th day, the tendons in my feet and lower leg seized, and I was unable to walk (just shuffle around flat-footed). When you Google this drug, all kinds of warnings appear as the symptoms being a real danger and can even cause torn ligaments! The European Medicines Agency states > disabling and potentially permanent side effects which lead to a suspension or restrictions on using this drug! Drugs.com > levofloxacin may rarely cause tendon damage - greater if you are over 60 years old. Side effects page: 'Fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin, are associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions that have occurred together, including tendinitis and tendon rupture, peripheral neuropathy, and CNS effects.' MedlinePlus > important warning - taking levofloxacin increases the risk that you will develop tendinitis or tendon rupture. Become informed - I am now disabled, awaiting some resolution to healing and getting back on my feet as I need the exercise."

• Fit...
• August 16, 2020

For Pneumonia "My pulmonary doctor was on vacation, as well as my family doctor's nurse. I got another doctor to prescribe levofloxacin 750 mg for 14 days for my third COPD flare-up in 3 months. On the 6th day, the tendons in my feet and lower leg seized, and I was unable to walk (just shuffle around flat-footed). When you Google this drug, all kinds of warnings appear as the symptoms being a real danger and can even cause torn ligaments! The European Medicines Agency states > disabling and potentially permanent side effects which lead to a suspension or restrictions on using this drug! Drugs.com > levofloxacin may rarely cause tendon damage - greater if you are over 60 years old. Side effects page: 'Fluoroquinolones, including levofloxacin, are associated with disabling and potentially irreversible serious adverse reactions that have occurred together, including tendinitis and tendon rupture, peripheral neuropathy, and CNS effects.' MedlinePlus > important warning - taking levofloxacin increases the risk that you will develop tendinitis or tendon rupture. Become informed - I am now disabled, awaiting some resolution to healing and getting back on my feet as I need the exercise."

• Ver...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "I took levofloxacin on October 8th, 2021. The doctor nor the pharmacy counseled me about damage to tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints or the effects to my central nervous system. I was ill and did not see the warning papers in the pharmacy bag. These types of antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, are dangerous and should not be prescribed so carelessly. Thousands of people have been injured from fluoroquinolones. Big Pharma strikes again, and now I am facing a lifetime of pain and suffering. Since taking ciprofloxacin for several years, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, RA, restless leg syndrome, and depression. Now connecting the dots, my symptoms are all fluoroquinolone toxicity."