Levofloxacin and Weakness: What Users Say

• Sop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 24, 2019

Levofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "I was only taking 100 mg of Levaquin 2x a day, a very low dose, but since day 3 I started having tingling and weakness in my legs and dizziness. However, because I wasn’t warned about the black box warnings, I continued to take it until on day 6 I was taken into emergency because of loss of feeling in my legs and hands. Three months later, I continue having nerve damage. The side effects are permanent and debilitating."

• Sel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2020

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "500 mg x 1 a day. I took one pill. I was warned about the black box by my doctor, but I don't even know if that matters at this point. I experienced extreme tendon, joint, and ligament swelling for over 48 hours. That was nothing, though, compared to the nerve pain in my arms and extreme weakness. Three days later, since taking just one, the weakness/electric shocks are now in my legs too. I can't even hold a glass or balance myself properly while walking. Just typing is difficult. My doctor basically told me, 'This could get better, this could get worse, or it could just never change. There's no treatment, and people improve or don't at different rates, from anywhere to weeks to months to years.' TL;DR: Don't take Levaquin, even if you have handled Cipro in the past. It's not worth it unless it's an emergency and life-threatening infection. I now have to just hope I improve."

• SGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2020

For Pneumonia "I started a 10-day dose of levofloxacin for pneumonia. I seemed to handle it fairly well. I’ve been done with it for about 10 days. I woke up with the worst pain in my knees, thigh muscles, and calves. Each day it’s gotten progressively worse. I can barely walk even with pain meds. I can’t do stairs at all. My muscles are so weak. I’m really scared to see how this goes down. It cured my pneumonia, but I’m paying a heavy price for that cure. I actually feel like I should be in the hospital, it’s that bad. Right now, the hospital is off-limits due to COVID-19. I so wish I’d never taken levofloxacin. Please think twice before taking it, the risks outweigh any good it might provide."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2009

Levofloxacin for Pneumonia "I've been given this medicine twice - once for serious bronchitis/pneumonia that nearly required hospitalization. Since I am a well-trained athlete, hospitalization for a lung infection was serious. Doctors tried several other drugs before Levaquin, but Levaquin was the best. Now dealing with a relatively minor bronchitis and have it again. I've never had any of the side effects others listed - bear in mind that weakness, headaches, and many other symptoms might just be the progression of the disease and not due to the drug. It's hard to tell since each bout is different but compared to many other drugs, this is statistically a very good bet. If you have bronchitis or a respiratory infection, take your medicines with lots of fluids."

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2016

Levofloxacin for Urinary Tract Infection "My mother is 84 and was given this drug for a mild UTI. After 2 doses, she became so confused she didn't know where she was or who I was. Her muscles were so weak she could not move or stand. She was paranoid and manic at times. Her potassium dropped very low. She was in the hospital for 4 days. They immediately took her off it, gave her IVs and potassium. They tested her for stroke and dementia, which were negative. She is home and better, but it took several weeks. Not a good drug, especially for the elderly. She now takes D-Mannose 1000 mg/day, 2000 mg for any UTI symptoms."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2018

Levofloxacin for Kidney Infections "I was hospitalized for 3 days and given the IV antibiotic Rocephin for a kidney infection. After being discharged, I was given a 4-day course of Levaquin, 750 mg dosage. Side effects started within hours, first nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy) in the soles of my feet, then within a day extended up to my knees and from my fingertips to my shoulders. After the 3rd pill, muscle weakness appeared alongside the nerve pain. I was lucky that within 10 days of taking my last pill, all side effects were gone. I was told by my regular GP to never take the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics again. This is a serious drug, and the nerve pain I experienced could have been permanent. I'd only recommend taking fluoroquinolones as a last resort. Read the FDA black box warnings, and if your doctor doesn't take them seriously, I'd find a new GP."

• Bew...
• November 7, 2009

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "Was prescribed Levaquin 750 mg/5-day dose on June 22, 2009. First week, no bad symptoms except for insomnia and nightmares. It did knock out the sinus infection temporarily (10 days), but then sinusitis returned. It wasn't until week 3 after using this drug that I started noticing joint pain in elbows, knees, shoulders, and lower back. It's November now, and things haven't improved. Along with tendinitis symptoms, I've also lost muscle strength in calves, biceps, and will experience burning in hamstrings after doing simple things like cutting my lawn. I hope this goes away or somebody offers a remedy to counter these effects."

• Aga...
• January 24, 2020

Levofloxacin for Bronchitis "After a bout with Levaquin and fluoroquinolone, I developed muscle weakness and muscle tears. This medicine can result in muscle and nerve damage. I have put Levaquin, fluoroquinolone, and Cipro (been allergic to this for years) on my medical chart as an adverse reaction."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2016

Levofloxacin for Bacterial Infection "If you live for decades after taking Levaquin, you will experience multiple tendon ruptures in your arms, shoulders, legs, and Achilles tendons. All your muscles will forever be weak, and your reflexes slow. Do not take, under any circumstances, unless you want to destroy your health."

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2016

For Pneumonia "Well, at the beginning of Feb. 2016, I had a bad sinus and ear infection. The clinic gave me Augmentin. After 3 days, the infection went into my lungs, and the doctor said bronchitis. I finished the Augmentin and was still very sick and coughing like mad. I told the doctor it feels like razor blades when I cough, and he scheduled me for another appointment ASAP. I said, please X-ray my chest, I know there's something wrong. Yep, the X-ray showed pneumonia in my right lung, the left lung looked okay. He prescribed Levaquin (levofloxacin), and yes, it has been 7 days now, and I have had the worst insomnia and nervousness. For a while there, I felt like I might die. It was very scary. But I am feeling better but still get breathless and weak. I hope by day 10, I am clear."

• Rui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2017

Levofloxacin for Bacterial Infection "This has been a horror since I took this drug - which did nothing for the situation it was prescribed for. I became unable to walk or grip anything and basically became an invalid. I was writhing in severe pain every night from the small amount of shuffling I had to do to keep the shreds of my life going. I got no help from my doctor, who denied the entire thing (worried about a lawsuit probably). The medical/pharmaceutical industry keeps us in the dark - the side effects listed officially are rubbish. I also had complete fog brain, as if my mind had been replaced with gelatin, really terrifying. I also had, in the first year, random speeding heart, like I was going to have a heart attack. Four years later I am still bad. DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG unless you have a life-threatening infection."

• kjs...
• December 4, 2015

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "I don't know if I am getting well or not. But I am having a good bit of the side effects: all the inflammation, swelling, weakness, and hurting all over hand, arm, shoulders, legs, and feet. I sit down and I don't want to move again because of all this. I'm also experiencing confusion, emotional, and mood changes."

• Itr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed 500 mg of levofloxacin to get rid of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. I don't have a weakened immune system or C.F., and my lungs do not show congestion. I'm on day 13 of 14 and still seeing the black flecks in my mucus. Joint pain and weakness are the side effects I've noticed. But it doesn't seem to have been effective in killing the bacterial infection."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "The effects of this far outweigh the problem it was meant to solve. I was given this for a bacterial infection of MRSA (after researching this should NOT be given for MRSA at all (Clinical Advisor)). I was given this on Oct 5th, 2015. On October 8th, I was making dinner and my legs (lower legs/bi-lateral) began to hurt terribly. I began shaking and became weak. I sat down after the shaking subsided, it took everything I had to stand up, the pain was mind-blowing. Ever since then, I have had numerous tests done to rule out ???? whatever they seemed to think it could be. I was finally told by my PCP that it was the effects of Levaquin. It will be a year soon and I still suffer with weakness, shakiness, and extreme pain. My life has changed for the worse."

• gyp...
• December 25, 2009

Levofloxacin for Bronchitis "Dosage was 500 mg for 10 days. Stopped after 2. Feet and ankle pain and swollen knees, hands, and fingers that do not stop aching. Also, lower back pain. Headache is almost constant despite Tylenol every four hours. Cough has lessened but feel overall much weaker."

• Cat...
• May 3, 2021

For Pneumonia "19 days of levofloxacin after being hospitalized for 3 days. Having trouble walking, I assume because of the levofloxacin. 26 days later, the CT scan showed I still had pneumonia. I requested a prescription of Augmentin. With the Augmentin, I started feeling better in 3-4 days. These drugs mess up your whole system, do not take without a very good prebiotic and probiotic. Makes a huge, huge difference on my stomach. The stomach pain without the prebiotic and probiotics is hard for me and lasts several months after taking these drugs. Not sure why the doctors do not give you some pre and probiotics when taking these drugs. They do know it causes this problem. A good doctor will bring that to your attention."

• Anonymous
• September 18, 2009

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "I was prescribed Cephalexin for a 20-day course for a horrid sinus infection. I had a throbbing headache, lots of mucus, etc., but I wasn't feeling any better, so I was prescribed Levaquin. Within the first three days of using Levaquin, I felt incredibly tired; just weak, laying around all the time, and unable to sleep during the night. My eyes felt droopy all the time, I was dizzy standing up, my heart raced when I walked up the stairs, and finally, on my fourth day taking the medicine, I was startled. This had been going on for a couple of days, but my head and left shoulder started twitching consistently. I literally could not keep them still. I got worried and called the doctor and was told to stop the drug. I guess it was too powerful for me!"

• Dav...
• May 18, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "Do NOT take this medication at all costs!! Ended up in the ER after 3 dosages. Doctors can't tell what's going on with me. I'm going to see another doc this week to do more tests. I still feel very dizzy, weak, having heart palpitations, can't concentrate, anxious, depressed... I'm going crazy because of this stupid drug!!"

• Hon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2018

Levofloxacin for Sinusitis "Earlier this week, I was prescribed levofloxacin for a sinus infection. I took one dose. I strength train and diet year-round. I haven't felt like working out since I took it Monday. Very fatigued and weak. Last night, I became extremely sensitive to cold. My hands became incredibly numb and cold, and there was no blood in my fingers for the first couple of inches. There's a poisonous taste in my mouth that won't go away, and I have a rash on my back and my chest. My Achilles tendons are so tight I'm afraid I'll rupture them."

• tri...
• December 15, 2016

Levofloxacin for Bronchitis "I am only able to take Levaquin or Cipro due to allergies to other antibiotics. I normally only had 500 mg. This time, the doctor gave me 750 mg for ten days and added prednisone 20 mg, take three tablets daily for four days. I was feeling bad on the higher dose of Levaquin, but I need to get better being asthmatic. I stopped after the 7th day of antibiotics and stopped prednisone as well. Pains, burning, inflammation was horrible, confusion, rapid heartbeat, shaky legs. Can't move left arm well from shoulder to fingers, weakness, pain. Pain, discomfort in joints, muscles, bones. My kidneys and abdominal discomfort on and off with that. My physician said it could be the higher dosage plus, on October, I was on 500 mg. Says it tendonitis."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2019

For Middle Ear Infections "I took 1 levofloxacin 500 mg pill. Got very disoriented and dizzy. It only lasted a few hours, but then the tingling and pins and needles came. It lasted all night and has spread all over my body, starting with my extremities. The second day, I developed leg weakness, and the tingling and pins are worse. I read the symptoms could get worse even after the med is stopped, before you get better, if you even get better. This has poisoned my system, and I only hope the damage doesn’t get any worse and I start to recover. Don’t take it!!! Whatever your infection is, it isn’t worth permanent nerve damage!!!!"

• DBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 5, 2020

For Pneumonia "I was prescribed this drug by the doctor in the ER for pneumonia. I clearly told him that I had pneumonia years ago and that I was given amoxicillin, and it cleared it up quickly, but he prescribed levofloxacin anyway. I took it for 10 days. I had to crush the pills up and mix them in Gatorade because I can't swallow pills, and no liquid levofloxacin was available at the CVS in my area. After 10 days of being on the medication, I still felt weak, and 3 days after completion of the medication, I began coughing again. I called my medical doctor and asked him to prescribe amoxicillin liquid, and now I'm taking that for the past 3 days, 3 times per day and feeling somewhat better."

• CNA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2016

Levofloxacin for Prostatitis "I think it should be considered medical malpractice for a physician to prescribe this drug to an elderly man with heart problems, especially known congestive heart failure. My father didn't know he should report muscle weakness he experienced while taking this drug, and there was no follow-up by the physician. Since the heart is a muscle, I think this drug propelled my father into end-stage heart failure, which he now has."

• Bet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2016

For Sinusitis "My doctor prescribed this drug a year ago because of a nasty sinus infection. After 4 days of 500 mg/1 time a day, I developed joint pain everywhere - knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, could hardly walk up and down stairs. I stopped taking the medication, but continued to notice weakness in my ankles. Four months later, I developed debilitating PTTD, which is a failure of the tendon that holds your foot correctly. I am now in an expensive and uncomfortable ankle brace and facing surgery. I wish I'd never taken this drug."

• Sca...
• September 1, 2018

For Sinusitis "I took number 5 pill today of a course of 8 pills for a sinus infection. And I am scared and done. The side effects are horrible: nausea, dizziness, headache, jittery, insomnia, leg pains, heart palpitations, weakness, sensitive to heat. I can't even stand the hair touching my neck or the shirt near my neck. Absolutely horrible medication! Am hoping it all goes away now that I am stopping it!"