Levaquin Leads to Achilles Tendon Problems

I have taken Levaquin 500 mg tablets for 11 days (until 2 days ago) against pneumonia.

I have developed severe pain in my achilles tendons (mostly on the left side ). I can hardly walk in the morning. Not having had any problems before I could not figure whatever could be the reason for this problem, especially since I have been doing stretching exercises for years.

My wife and I both have Chronic Lyme disease. Levaquin is one of the medicines given orally and by IV to treat Lyme and other tick-borne co-infections. Several people that we have spoken with personally have taken Levaquin and experienced serious tendon problems.

My wife has a tendon that has split (per MRI results), and she was told it was probably from taking the Levaquin. She is disabled at this point and we have found nothing to help reverse the situation. I have also read about tendon problems from use of Levaquin on several forums related to Lyme disease.

I was diagnosed in an emergency room with pneumonia after some mysterious symptoms that included blood pressure over 200 and pulse of 110 with sputum containing blood. I was given a prescription for Levaquin for the "pneumonia."

After two days, there was tremendous swelling of my right arm and left leg.

There was acute weakness and pain of the left Achilles tendon. My left leg bothers me to this day--about 8 months later.

I was in doubt about the pneumonia diagnosis to begin with, and still am. Doubly in doubt about the prescription, since I have never been allergic or had any reaction to drugs in 85 years.

I have had a prostate problem for years. I was often given Cipro or Levaquin for frequent kidney infections. I was also prescribed Levaquin after two prostate surgeries.

During this period I noticed I was having pains in my knees that kept getting worse, but I did not associate them with the use of the two drugs. Following one particularly painful bout, I found it necessary to use a cane to walk from the parking lot to work. I even consulted an orthopedic doctor who recommended surgery. However, after an MRI, he said I could probably put it off until my 60s, about 5 years away.

I still have knee pain off and on, but I have discovered that if I stay away from Levaquin and Cipro my problem is not as bad. I blame these two medications for the acute pain I have experienced in the past.

I just finished taking Levaquin for 10 days for a sinus infection. After the 5th day I noticed extreme pain in my muscles through my entire body. I just finish my 10th pill 3 days ago and am still in extreme pain. I feel like I'm an 80 year old woman in a 34 year old's body.

This is very interesting information as I am suffering from achilles bursitis which is inflammation of the achilles tendon. I've suffered from this condition for a couple years. I've taken Levaquin several different times for sinus infections because it helped me more than other antibiotics. I'll never take it again after reading this.

I have had shoulder and upper arm pains and stiffness since being on a 750 mg dose of levaquin for five days. That was about a month ago. Still have symptoms. Want to know if anything can be done to help with the healing process. I have started glucosomine sulfate. Don't know if that will help or hurt.
Thanks.

I am a doctor, and I took Levaquin 750 mg for 5 days to treat a bacterial bronchial infection. Subsequently, I
noticed a tightness in my left Achilles tendon which hampered my ability to walk normally.

Two days later, I felt a similar, but less intense, sensation in my right Achilles tendon. Three days later, I woke up with a severely swollen left ankle and I could barely walk.

An MRI of the ankle showed a severe tendino-pathy and a completely severed Achilles tendon. I underwent repair of the tendon with a pigskin graft; then, over six weeks in a wheelchair in a non-weight bearing cast.

The cast is off and I am currently on partial-weight bearing with a walker. It's a slow and arduous process.

I was on Levaquin for a sinus infection for two weeks. After the first week, I noticed that both my shoulders ached and I had some numbness in my leg, arm & hand, but it didn't occur to me that this drug was the cause. I hadn't noticed the joint side effect listed on the drug info because it was buried amongst a host of others towards the bottom. I started to feel joint achiness in my entire body, from my fingers to my toes, especially in my knees and shoulders. It continued to progress after I had finished the full dose of the drug.

About one month later, my knees are still stiff, my shoulders ache and feel weak, and I still feel achy/week all over, on and off. The pain is enough to keep me up some nights. After doing more research, I'm pretty positive that Levaquin is responsible for the havoc created in my body.

The frustrating part is that I haven't seen any information that tells me that this is going to be temporary or what I can take to counteract the antibiotic effects. I don't believe that this is a rare side effect. This drug should be recalled! How many people will have to experience this before that will happen? I am a 48 yr. old active female, but feel about 70! Can anyone help?

I think I have suffered the side effects of Levaquin... After being treated for pneumonia & bronchitis both, I was prescribed 500 mg of Levaquin once a day. After the 6th day/dose, I had terrible pain in the soft part of my left ankle, and my ankle got very swollen. Then soon after, the pain started shooting up my leg and swelling also started up my leg.

I went back to the doctor and they did 5 x-rays and an ultrasound, and I was told no problem was found that the doctors could see. Two doctors that observed me were very stumped as to why this was occuring. I was told that if it gets red or worse to come back in & they would do an MRI.

I asked the doctor if this would be a reaction to the Levaquin, and the doctors didn't believe it was related & that would be very rare if it was at all! But they did have me stop taking the drug, and I had 4 pills left...

After 10 days, my left ankle, toes and calf are still swollen and sore, and it is very painful to walk. The doctors also suggested steroids may be an alternative if I have to go back to the doctor if swelling doesn't go down! I am very tired all the time, have no energy at all, I wonder when or if the swelling will go down.

I just couldn't believe after reading all the side effects posted on this web page that people were experiencing the same thing I was!! I think they need to pull this drug off the market. I have never exeperienced any reaction from any drugs I've take before... and I do not regulary take any medication. I just want to warn people to be careful! Still recovering in Minnesota!

I WAS GIVEN THIS DRUG FOR A FOOT ULCER. AFTER BEING ON THIS DRUG, THE ACHILLES TENDON IN MY RIGHT LEG WAS RUPTURED. SEVEN YEARS LATER I AM STILL IN A WHEELCHAIR UNABLE TO WALK MORE THAN A FEW FEET.

Stay away from Levaquin!!!! I took it in December and my ankles are still swollen. My feet, ankles, and knee are always very sore and stiff. It has gotten worse, not better. My doctor gave me water pills to take down the swelling. I'm 7 days into the water pills, but it's not working.

I was given Levaquin for 7 days to combat pneumonia. I could not figure out why my tendons in each upper shoulder area pained me so.

When I went back to read the discharge papers I received from the emergency room, a closer look revealed this statement: "Rarely quinolones have been shown to cause tendon inflammation and even ruupture". The pain seems to be more severe at night, making it quite difficult to sleep.

I took three doses of 750 mg Levaquin on December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd. On January 5th I woke with horrendous pain in my right thigh and hip. My physician said it was in no way related to the drug/poison. It really hurt to walk, but after reading online the suffering that so many had gone through with this medicine, I felt lucky. Then... on January 14th I woke with excruciating right Achilles tendon pain, and three days later it was in both ankles. Of course I went to see my doctor, and he assured me this was not the drug's responsibility.

He is so ignorant. I am devastated. I feel like my life is destroyed. Can anyone please help me? How long will it take for this agony to pass? I am trying physical therapy and supportive measures to try to ease the pain, but nothing works. I can hardly walk. I am so terrified that one or both of these tendons will rupture. I am begging for some help from anyone.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a respiratory infection on 12/10/07. On the 10th and last day of the prescription, I noticed bilateral tenderness in my achilles tendons, more in my left than right. I used ice, NSAID, and rest to reduce the swelling. I finally gave in and saw a podiatrist on 1/25/08. He gave me a walking boot and scheduled an MRI. The results of the MRI showed a partial tear in the left achilles tendon. He confirmed that since I had no recent injuries, this was probably caused by the Levaquin.

I was told no surgery was needed, but I would need to wear a walking cast, and then physical therapy. I was never warned by the pharmacist or my ENT that this could even be a possible side effect. It seems to me that this should have been presented up front. I was definately told about the chance of nausea, vomiting, and all the other "normal" side effects of an antibiotic.

This has put such a terrible strain on my life. It's almost impossible to do my job. I am not supposed to spend more than an hour a day on my feet. My employer is graciously working around my condition, but frankly, this sucks. It hurts to walk or stand. As I read of the side effects others have experienced, I wonder if the recent stiffness in my hands and wrists might be associated too.

I really think this medication should be taken off the market. And... I think that doctors and pharmacists should research medications and their side effects more thoroughly before prescribing them. I don't think I can print the suggestions I have for the pharmaceutical companies. Thanks for listening.

I went through the horrors of a reaction to Levaquin last Sept.-Oct. 2007. I broke out in severe hives all over my arms, legs and back. I felt like I was being eaten alive by fire ants! There were a few on my neck, chest and face also. They actually got into the whites of my eyes. There were deep hives in the tendons of my feet that hurt so bad I could hardly walk or stand for more than a few minutes at a time.

I found tendon relief by taking 2 glucosamine (500 mg) & chondroitin (400mg) tablets plus 1 MSM (1000mg) tablet 3x daily. I also found a cream with the same thing by Nature's Plus. It was the only thing that I felt turned this reaction around.

So sorry for anyone going through this! Yes, I thought I was going to die, too. Hang in there, you are in my prayers.

I'm a 44 year-old-male. Very active in endurance sports. I was on Levaquin (750mm) for 6 days. Days 3,4,5 and 6 were very bad. Lots of joint pain in my knees and feet. I've been off of it for over a week now and still have trouble walking.

First, go to this site for very good info on this condition:
http://www.fluoroquinolones.org

Don't give up. Take control. This is your body. Nothing is as bad as sitting around waiting to be healed. Start with mild/gentle streching, hot/cold therapy, good diet, good sleep and positive outlook.

Good luck to us all.

We have been trying since 1999 to get "Black Box" warnings as well as "Dear Doctor" letters regarding this very common adverse reaction to the fluoroquinolone drugs without success. Public Citizen as well as the Attorney General of the State of Illinois had both filed petitions seeking this with the FDA, only to be ignored. In January of 2008 Public Citizen filed a lawsuit in Federal Court demanding the FDA review thier petition. Though required by law to do so the FDA chose instead not to repond properly to both petitions, and have been sued as a result of such malfeseance.

Visitors of this site who have an interest in the horrendous adverse reactions associated with this class are invited to log unto www.fqresearch.org where they will find well over 4000 medical journal entries, clinical studies, post marketing information, etc., the clearly document these severe and at time permanent reactions.

Personally I was both blinded (permanent double vision) and crippled (chronic tendonitis) by these drugs. That was over eight years ago. My life will NEVER be the same since then. There is not treatment available for the majority of these reactions.

Regards,

Mr. David T. Fuller
Director
Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation
www.fqresearch.org

I took levaquin for 3 days for a bladder infection in Feb. 07. Had a lot of joint pain and muscle spasms. 10 months after taking it, I have tendonitis in both of my feet. I don't think this damage ever leaves us. I don't know if I will ever get better. Please let everyone know what poison this stuff is.

My wife has taken this for 4 days. Last night, I had to take her to the emergency room. Her feet, legs, and ankles are swollen, and she is in pain. The doctor refused to even discus this drug and its effects. Tomorrow, she goes back to the doctor that prescribed this. I don't know what to do. She's 39, and has never dealt with anything like this. On top of this, we have no insurance, and she's scared that this will devestate us. I don't care if I lose everything, I just want her to stop hurting. If anyone can give me any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. My prayers to all of you. Thank you.

I have taken Levaquin 500 mg for 4 of my 10 days of prescription and after reading this I'm done. I was fine up until this morning when I woke up with severe knee pain in both knees. So bad that I had to have help out of bed and into the shower. (the shower didn't help much by the way) Both knees have sharp pains in them making it almost impossible to walk. By the way, I'm only 27 and have never had knee problems.

I had an achilles rupture 10 days after taking Levaquin. This was followed by surgical repair. I had horrible tendon pain for several months until I contacted an MD in California that had done some research on this. He suggested high absorbtion (chelated) Magnesium. IT WORKS! 2-3 weeks later there was a significant improvement.

Note that Magnesium does not absorb easily so you need the Chelate. By the way, when I saw another MD for an unrelated problem, he asked why I noted on my chart "no levaquin". After I explained, he told me he had taken levaquin a few weeks earlier and could barely walk because of achilles pain. I told him about the magnesium and on a later visit, he told me that he had tried it and it worked for him also.

Add me to the list. I have Bartonella (a lyme co-infection) and one of the primary drugs to resolve is Levaquin. Day 3 into my treatment of 1x daily 500 mgs, I went for an easy jog---I'm a semi-competitive runner currently doing about 35 miles a week. 10 minutes into it, I had to stop due to tendon inflammation. I walked home and the leg continued to be sore all day. I iced it last night and it seems fine today.

Despite that I will discontinue taking Levaquin. Unfortunately it seemed like it was working for the Bartonella symptoms. I pray that my tendon isnt permanently damaged. Good luck to everyone.

Chris

About a mounth ago I was on an antibiotic call Cipro 250mg two a day for 7 days right after that I started complaining to my husband that my legs were hurting and felt sore clear down to my feet.Thought it would go away but it feels like my legs are just not right and my feet are cold too most of the time

I have a daughter who was put on this med over the weekend for a UTI 500mg twice a day thats quite alot more than I took after reading this site I will tell her to watch for swollen anclells or feet the sad thing is then its to late.

I took 500 mg levaquin for 10 days. I am 28 and my body ache is not going even a week after stopping the medicine. I am getting tired very easily and the muscle pain is not going away. How long does it take for the pain to go away ?

I developed severe levaquin-induced achilles tendonitis which included small tears and severe inflammation of the tendon. I needed 4 months of physical therapy to achieve a partial recovery. http://www.iamnoexpert.com/?p=42

The pain and inflammation waxed and waned for about a year, but it gets better in time. I read about using magnesium as suggested in a comment above, makes sense. I tried it but could not say how well it worked. I also had acupuncture which seemed to help a lot.

I got all the crap mentioned in this website after taking Levaquin 750 for 7 days for a sinus infection. 2 weeks later I still have trouble walking.

My husband David took Levaquin for pneumonia and Mrsa. He is now wheelchair-bound. The pain started in his neck, then moved to his shoulders and arms. Now it is in every joint and muscle. David has to have assistance with daily activities. We have gone to multiple doctors and until recently when he was hospitalized for a sprained ankle, no one would listen to our concerns.

I hope you have better luck with the doctors than we did. They all want to blame this on Fibromyalgia and RA. We have three kids and one income. We've lost our car and some other things. We're now selling personal property just to make it. Isnt it great how a medication can cure one thing and instantly put a 35 year old self-employed man in a wheelchair? I think the FDA needs to look at their standards for safe.

Just finished a 21-day prescription of Levaquin. Shoulder joint pain started about 10 days ago and now it is in knees. Dr. never told me about potential side effects. I am very upset and want to know what I can do to get rid of the pain and weakness.

My husband had been on prednisone (steroid) for a rheumatoid arthritis flare when he developed pneumonia 4/08. Fifteen days of Levaquin for the pneumonia triggered the FULL BODY tendinopathy, including so much swelling of his hands that he now has carpal tunnel syndrome. The pain was excruciating. The swimming pool was his life saver. It was the ONLY place he was/is pain free, because he "unloads" all his tendons in the pool through zero gravity. If you can get into a warm pool with this, do it FAST! It feels GREAT. Hydrocodone and oral prednisone for the rheumatoid arthritis that persists has reduced the pain further. But, as we've reduced the prednisone, the tendinopathy pain is coming back big time. My hub's rheumatologist doesn't know what else to do. Does any body have a doc or phys. therapist that knows how to treat this???

I took Levaquin about a year ago for a sinus infection. I woke up in the middle of the night with all of my muscles contracting and relaxing. I was very anxious and could see the muscles in my body, especially my arms and legs, continually convulsing. I had to go to the ER and was released after taking some Ativan. I discontinued the pills. Now, just two weeks ago, I dislocated my posterior tibial tendon (ankle) and I've been told that this is a very difficult thing to do and very rare. Could this be related to the Levaquin taken almost a full year ago?

About two months ago I was prescribed a four week dose of levaquin for a prostatitus condition....

After two weeks I had trouble walking due to the pain in my knees and calves and I discontinued the medication. the pain has yet to subside....its horrific....

I took levaquin last November, 2007. After five days, I suffered severe tendonitis in both achilles tendons that lasted for four months and I still have some effects today. I could not walk without pain; the drug should never have been on the market.

So yesterday, six years after I took levaquin and then ruptured my achilles,and over 10 years after significant evidence of a problem with flouroquinilones and tendon problems, the FDA has decided that people should be warned about flouroquinilones.

It is good to know that the FDA is able to respond so quickly and are diligently working in the interest of public health!

The timing of this warning of course has nothing to do with the fact that Public Citizen got fed up with the stalling and filed a lawsuit against the FDA forcing them to issue the warning. If I sound bitter, it is only because I am!

I finshed taking Levaquin a few days ago, which I took for 10 days for a bacterial infection that I've had on and off for about 6 weeks and didn't seem to clear up after 2 other antibiotics. At one point about three weeks ago I thought I was getting better and felt well enough to work out.

I did my usual workout on the treadmill and a workout with dumb bells. It wasn't unusual for me to experience occassional soreness. I did have a bit of soreness in my upper arm, but figured it was due to the fact that I hadn't worked out for a little while. It really caused no discomfort. A few days later I was starting to get pretty sick again, this time the doctor prescribed Levaquin.

I really didn't have any side affects except that about 4 days after starting the meds my arm started to hurt more. I thought this was odd since I hadn't worked out for a few weeks and the arm had felt better. I went back to the doctor for a recheck a couple days ago. I'm still not completely well, but I'm not on any more med's for now. The doctor feels since I was so sick for so long it will just take my body a while to recover, I do feel a little better each day.

I mentioned the arm situation, which was pretty sore by then, the pain is going up and down my arm form the elbow area, but the doctor didn't mention this could be a side affect of the Levaquin. It wasn't until last night that my husband saw a report on the news linking Levaquin to tendon and joint problems. After learning this info and doing some research, I'm quite sure my arm pain is related to the Levaquin. How could my arm have been better, then get worse with no activity? I'm taking Ibuprofin 800mg. now and hoefully it will get better.

I noticed that when I am driving for trips greater than 1 hour I have trouble walking for about 10 minutes. It is my left achilles tendon. I have also had trouble sleeping on my right shoulder. I took Cipro about two years ago. I have had the pain about two years. I never made the connection until now.

Levaquin : 5 days for sinus infection. Experienced disorientation, insomnia, muscle soreness. Double burst shoulder requiring surgery.

This occured 3 years ago and am still experiencing very bad muscle soreness. Shoulder, after surgery, just not the same, still pain.

Levaquin can be dangerous in my opinion and experience. Do your best to avoid it just in case you happen to be victim to it's "side effects". Avoid driving if on levaquin due to induced disorientation.

Anyone who has been recently given Cipro and / or Levaquin should not take it and ask for something else that is not a fluoroquinolone. I was taking Cipro for a slight diverticulitis attack back in April 2008. The knuckle of my left thumb would snap when I try to either bend it or straighten it out. Also, I would hear a snap coming from my legs when I walk. My doctor denies that thes symptoms are from Cipro but "old age" (I am an otherwise healthy 51 year old).

Meanwhile, I have primary lymphedema in my right leg so my lymphatic system is not working properly. How could he do this to me?! He knows that I have this condition and he still gave me this poison!!!!

I have have been taking 1500 mg of Glucosamine for about a month and it helps a bit. I am thinking of taking MSM with it.

I want to be an advocate against these poisons!!!! I want to spread the word how dangerous these drugs are.

Im searching information on why both of my achilles tendons and both my elbows suddenly started hurting only to find this website after taking my last dose of levaquin 1 hour ago. I am a 51 year old telephone repair person that climbs ladders and poles all day. Now I am afraid to move for fear of a rupture.

I was on the medication for exactly 1 week ending today but I can hardly walk since about the second day. With my job I never thought of the medication. I did read the warnings in the beginning regarding tendonitis occurring in persons mostly over 60 or taking prednisone (i had a script for prednisone to be taken at the same time but skipped it just because of that comment) What should I expect now. Do I continue to try to climb and risk a tear or what....

I took levequin for 5 days for a wound that would not heal. I now have tendoapathy in my left achilles tendon and I have both shoulder pain, I cannot reach up. My doc took me off med right away but said he didn't think it was the medication. of course not he prescribed it. Not sure if he is right or it is the levaquin. how do i get rid of my pain?

I am a 21 year old female who has had recurrent sinus infections for the past 4 years. Levaquin is the drug that works the best for me so I have taken it several times a year since high school. 3 years ago, I began having severe pain in both knees that could not be explained by an injury. I went to orthopedic doctors who could not give me any answers, tried physical therapy (which only made my knees more painful), and eventually had to quit being a college athlete.

To this day, I am unable to walk around my college campus or go up the stairs without pain. If I do ANY amount of exercise - as simple as throwing around a frisbee or doing leg lifts - I will hardly be able to walk the next day. I have periodic back pain and what feels like carpal tunnel in my arms.

I feel cheated that the medicine that cures my illnesses is ruining my quality of life. I am 21 - I should be able to run on the treadmill or play softball with my friends. Does anyone know if the pain will ever go away?

As I posted earlier, Chelated Magnesium worked very well for me in combating the tendonitis in my achilles and shoulders. Magnesium does not absorb easily so you really need the Chelated Magnesium. I hope it works for some of you like it did for me, I saw big improvement in 2 weeks. This was recommended to me by a MD in California that had done some research into fluoroquinolone adverse effects. If anyone else has positive results from this, please post.

I was prescribed Levaquin for a Sinus infection. Within 24 hourse of taking the medication, my body felt as if it was poisoned. I felt extreme pain in every joint, muscles, bones and every part of my body. I stopped taking the medication; and my doctor then apologized for not telling me about the side effects!

The doctor said the side effects should disappear in a few days. Well, I just got worse. I was unable to move and get out of bed. I was screaming and crying in excruciating and indescribable pain. Long story short, I now have Fibromyalgia. My husband, who is also a doctor, and I are completely convinced I have Levaquin induced Fibromyalgia. However, we can't get another doctor to agree.

I was in perfect health, other than a slight infection, and now I am in pain everyday. My organs have now been affected by the drug. I struggle to get through everyday, with virtually no help from my doctors. I believe this is a toxic drug, and we are experience drug toxicity - not a simple drug reaction or side affect! As of July, 2008 this drug finally has the "Black Box" warning.

My life will never be the same. I have no quality of life now, and it certainly affects my husband, as he has to watch me go through this horror. I do not even know my body anymore.

I have taken cipro and levaquin. I have been on that medication for my pneumonia, sinus infections, and kidney, bladder infections. I had some reactions using the drug, but i have ignored it and kept taken my medication. Well I am in misery and no one can find out why. I am starting to have pain everywhere and barely can move my arms and legs and i feel ill all the time. can Levaquin or Cipro be the reason why I never ever felt good in all these years. I need help cause doctors are not able to find what's wrong even though they see I am in pain.

I recently went to the dr for a painful sinus infection. I asked the PA who was to treat me that I would like either samples of anitibiotics or rx for a generic due to insurance issues. He brought me a bag with some nasal spray and 5 individual blister pks of pills (levaquin). I was not given any information on the meds and did not have worries as I am healthy and never had a reaction. Well after the 2nd day, I awoke with painful swelling in my hands and feet.

Additionally, with each passing day, more pain and itching. I noticed the pain was localized to my joints. Not making the connection, I phoned a friend to ask if my sinus infection could get into my joints. She thought it might be the meds. I returned to my dr who prescribed ibuprofen and suggested that I take 1/2 pain pill 3x's a day. It has been one week since my last dose of meds and although the swelling in my hands is not as bad, I still have the pain especially in the ankles and find myself walking "flatfooted" due to the pain. Had I been told what to look out for, I would've discontinued the meds right away. It's a tragedy what has happened to young, active people due to this type of medication. I wish you all well.

I was prescribed Levaquin 500mg back in May 2008 for a mild sore throat. The second day I was on it I went to the ER because I wasn't feeling right, the Doctor in the ER told me Levaquin was a good antibotic and for me to continue on taking it and I did. I went back to my PCP (he wasn't the original PCP who prescribed me Levaquin, another PCP did) and I told him something was going on with my legs, they got extremely tight and very painful. He too told me to continue to take the medicine. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I went to my PCP telling him the same thing "something was wrong with me."

Of course, he just looked at me like I was a nut case. I even told him I NEVER had problems with my legs before. While I was on Levaquin I even developed oral thrush in my mouth (something else I have NEVER had). Needless to say, I freaked out! On the 6th day I went back to my PCP and told him Levaquin wasn't curing my sore throat and my legs were still hurting me. He put me on another medication which cleared my sore throat but not the pain in my legs. It has been 8 months since I have been off of Levaquin and the pain in my legs is worse.

I even went to an Orthopedic Dr. told him my theory that my leg pain was medication related and he too just shrugged it off. He sent me to a Physical Therapist because he felt like I pulled my hamstrings and my abductor muscles and I told him I thought his diagnosis was wrong. I went through Physical Therapy and it didn't help me one bit. It wasn't until I typed in Levaquin on the web and I saw how many people have experienced problems since they have taken Levaquin. I am livid because 3 Doctors didn't even tell me about the side affects. I never read side affects of medications, I figured the Doctors knew what they were doing so why bother.

Now I am convinced the pain in my legs is due to Levaquin and I think my husband now believes me because I never had any leg problems before and now I am in constant pain. Now I am trying to find a doctor who will actually listen to me and take me seriously. I just don't know what type of Doctor I need to see. I am not going back to the Orthopedic I went to because he just brushed me off. I cannot even stand for a long period of time or walk through a Mall because I am in that much pain. Now I am afraid to take any medication. This is horrible. Then to top it off I was told by the Pharmacist I should have never been put on Levaquin for a sore throat. Now here I sit completely miserable because I am in so much pain.

4 months since the last time I posted on this website. I am still having the same trouble with pain on my achilles tendons and on my heels where they attach. I have discomfort in both knees and elbows to. I have been treated 2 per day with anti-imflamatory medication (voltaren 75mg) and physical therapy 3xper week including heat and ultrasound - friction massage and stretching. It has helped somewhat but I still have swelling, pain and tightness if I have been on my feet for any length of time.(10 minutes or more) So it still is not healed.

I am a 57 year old female who is otherwise pretty healthy, about 12 lbs. overweight, don't smoke or drink, and have never had arthritis before. On Dec. 5th I was given a five day regimen (also samples....no literature to read) of Levaquin (750mg) by my own physician, to treat a small infection on my toe.

I started having some unusual pain in my legs within 24 hrs. that I chalked up to a long walk I'd taken the day before. Then I started having a weird disoriented feeling by the 2nd day, with periodic lightheadedness. I figured the head stuff was the drugs, but decided I could bear with it for 5 days.

I wish now I had searched the internet at that point and learned more about the drug, because by the third day the very painful, stiff muscles and tendons in my legs, from mid-thigh to the bottoms of my feet, the backs of my knees and in my elbows was almost crippling.

Since I take another prescription drug (Femara) that has caused me hand pain, I thought I was suddenly having a worse side effect from that pill. It just didn't occur to me that all this new pain was from the Levaquin, since I've never had trouble with antibiotics before.

Four days after finishing the drug and still in a lot of pain (despite hot baths and using 600 mg. of Ibuprofen twice a day, or acetaminophen when the Ibu. didn't help. Also, I have doubled up on my daily dose of Glucosamine but don't see it helping.) it finally occurred to me to start researching this drug online.

I have been shocked and horrified to see that these are common side effects of Levaquin, AND that people continue to suffer for months and years afterwards! I will call my doctor tomorrow (Monday) and tell her what's been going on. I have always trusted her judgment before this but now I am very distressed that she'd prescribe this drug without a warning of possible side effects.

Has anyone used accupuncture to try and heal the damage from Levaquin? Re. the Magnesium supplements as mentioned above by another blogger... I have a bottle of Mag. Citrate...would this be as useful as Chelated Magnesium?

Please give me some hope that I can rid myself of this painful condition!

Ok. This has scared me to death! I finished a 10 day cycle of 500mg Levaquin 2 days ago. I have not experienced any of these symptoms yet. Just let me tell you who prescribed this to me. It was my orthopedic surgeon for treatment of a cellulitus infection 4 days post-op ACL reconstruction surgery! I sincerely hope this does not create serious problems for me.

For the past couple of weeks I am experiencing pain in my right shoulder joint. I don't know if it's arthritis, aging sign, or due to having intravenous Levaquin at the emergency room a few months ago. Anybody know how long it takes for this medication to cause rotator cuff problems?

I am 70 year old man with heart failure. I was prescribed Levaquin 500mg for 10 days for a sinus infection. After 5 days I noticed a painful swelling on the top my left foot. It got worse on the 6th day and I call my doctor on the 7 day after I could no longer walk. My foot was badly swollen so I call the Dr. His nurse told me to keep taking Levaquin until it was gone.

I decided to stop the Levaquin because it was the only thing that was new. I did some research on the internet and found I was not alone with these problems. I have been off the Levaquin for 3 days and pain in my left foot keeps getting worse. I went back to the doctor yesterday and was prescribed Triamcinolone Acetonide and Voltaren creams.

I looked on the web and found they aren't recommend for people with heart failure. I don't think I will use these meds. I am not sure what to do and am now on crutches and can't put any weight on my left foot.

I am 42 years old. Don't smoke or drink, eat healthy and live an active life.
I just finished 5 days of levaquin 750 mg. for a sinus infection. I took it 2 other times within the last year and didn't realize that the pain in my joints that I have been experiencing since I first started taking it was caused from the levaquin. This 3rd. time I was prescribed it, I really had severe joint pain in all my joints.

So tired I can hardly work and no energy at all. I knew something was wrong because I felt worse instead of better while I was taking it. I got on the internet to look up the side effects and saw all of these stories of people who had taken levaquin and had the exact same symptoms as I was having. This is really disturbing, I know that some medications have side effects but it seems that this medication causes disabling effects on people.

This medication needs to be taken off the market and the Dr.'s that prescribe this need to realize the severity of this drug and worn patients about it.
I pray that this pain in my joints doesn't last forever, and that I can return to my previous health soon.

I am 42 yr old a former pro surfer and am in perfect health and shape. I eat only the best foods available, home cooked, by me. NO SUGAR. My father is a MD and a world renown expert in health. I can swim 7 miles, and free dive 50 feet at length. After only 3 days of Levaquin for a infected eye injury, I had very painful achillies tendons and knees. I called my father and he immediately made me stop the Levaquin. 12 days later I am a mess. I can't even run with my 3 year old son. Dizzy and I feel like an old man. I cannot go back to any of my usual routine. It is quite scary. I wish you all a speedy recovery.

I am a 35 year old female and mother of 3 with health issues that I too believe were caused by Cipro. I took the antibiotic for approx 4 days for a UTI. I stopped taking the medication due to developing allergic hives as instructed by my doctor. One year later, out of no where, I developed severe pain and tingling in my right hand and arm. Then it went on to my left hand. Blood work was done to out rule autoimmune diseases. All were negative. I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome.

Eventually, this progressed to Dequevarains Tendenitis and Tennis elbow. I had recently given birth to my third child. This was an uncomplicated pregnancy just like my prior two with little weight gain and no water retention but my primary care doctor seems to feel that this was all brought on by my pregnancy.

I strongly disagree and although I worked at desk job for the prior 4 years no one would say that this was work related in any way shape or form. Why 2 months after the pregnancy did this arise when I had no symptoms during the pregnancy?

After extensive and expensive surgery was done to correct both of my hands I was researching the probability of re-occurrence and found the information regarding CIPRO.... Please help me, I am better now, but feel that I deserve an answer to all of this. I lost my job, became depressed while I was in pain for months because I could not even hold my newborn son without tears streaming down my face because of the pain. I couldn't even get a good nights rest even though the baby slept all night thru at 6 weeks of age.

I’m 38 yrs. Old. I was prescribed levaquin 500 MG for a sinus infection to take once per day for 21 days. The Allergist doctor said if your joints start aching, like in your knees call me and I'll change the prescription, don't try to work through it. I didn't think it to be a big deal. After a week into taking Levaquin my hand and arm would go numb in the middle of the night.

I thought maybe I was sleeping on it for too long and it went numb. After about 4 more days my knees and lower back started aching and from my achillies tendon to all the way up the back of my calf is extremely tender. I called the doctor and asked to have the prescription changed. The doctor never told me the damage this drug can cause to your tendons.

He just said if you have aching in your joints, like arthritis. What makes it worse is I went to see an ENT about 10 days after taking the medicine because my sinus' still didn't show signs of improving. I told the ENT that I was taking Levaquin. He said it was a good medicine and to keep taking it.

Even after I wrote down and told him my elbow joints were aching, had numbness in hand and pain in back of leg. I haven't taken the medicine for 2 days but the pain up the back of my calf and aching in my knees has not improved. As a matter of fact at this very moment the back of my calf feels like it’s burning.

I had an SI Joint fusion eight weeks ago. I had a sinus infection last week and started Levaquin. Started it on Friday and by Friday night my pain in my back, hip and leg got a lot worse. I spent the whole weekend in pain. I called the pharmacy today and they said to stop taking it. My surgery pain was getting a lot better and now it, plus my leg and knee hurt.

I am going to try and detox. My surgeon said don't worry and continue taking it. I don't get how they can ignore all of these side effects. I am worried that since I am more compromised I will have damage. I took a whole dose in Nov. and now that I think about it that is when my knee started hurting so bad I could hardly do stairs.

Back then I attributed it to my back pain. Now that my knee is hurting so much I think it was from the Levaquin. Geeze, my back, hip, knee and leg all hurt.

I took Levaquin for 6 days for a respiratory infection last week. I am an occupational therapist myself and when I started getting severe pain in my left arm and shoulder, I knew to stop the Levaquin right away, but it had already done it's dirty work. I have been in severe pain since last Thursday. I have tried therapy but I am still in terrible pain. It is unbelievable that they would still allow this drug to be prescribed. This disorder is not rare. It is becoming a very common problem with Levaquin. It is affecting my job performance. I will never take Levaquin again and suggest others refuse to use it.

I was prescribed 500 mg of Levaquin for 5 days to prevent infection after my appendectomy. I had heard a few years back that fluoroquinolones could "RARELY" cause tendonitis and/or tendon rupture in the elderly. I am a health nut, so naturally this frightened me. I refused to take these drugs when my ENT wanted to prescribe them to me for a sinus infection.

However, after my appendix was removed in Feb 2009, my surgeon told me that Levaquin was the "gold standard" antibiotic to prevent infection after this kind of surgery, and assured me that he had never heard of tendon issues with Levaquin. He said that he would take it!

I took 4 of the 5 pills before throwing the Levaquin away. I now have tendonitis in both Achilles tendons, left shoulder pain, and popping joints all over my body.

Before taking this drug I was an active, very healthy, 37 year old, who felt like a 20 year old. Now I feel like an 80 year old woman.

I begin physical therapy tomorrow, I am taking chelated magnesium, glucosamine, MSM, chondroitin, a multi-vitamin, and cod liver oil. I am hoping that the combination of these supplements, physical therapy, and time will heal my body from all of the horrible side effects this POISON has caused!

My thoughts and prayers are with each person whose life has been changed from these poisonous drugs.

I took Levaquin IV in the hospital several times with no problems. I took a 10 day dose with no problems. A few months later, I started another 10 day dose and had severe tendon pain by day 4. I stopped immediately, but the tendinitis persisted, mostly in the left Achilles, but also behind knees, in fingers, wrists, etc.

I found some good relief from magnesium supplements and epsom salt baths. After about 8 weeks, I took a 5 day burst of Prednisone and this pretty much kicked it. It has now been about 2 months and I haven't had any more problems (knock wood). I do soak in epsom salts 1-2x week. Not sure if that really helps keep it at bay, but it sure is relaxing.

I was given samples of levaquin by my doctor for my diagnosis of pneumonia. 750 mg for 5 days. On day 2 my left achilles hurt so much, hard to walk. I began taking 3,000 mg of MSM daily, icing it twice daily, and epsom salt soaks. Still sore, but I think it's getting better. Trying to think positive and be proactive instead of reactive.

my grandma took this for years off & on for bladder infections. we think the because of it the tendon in her thumb snapped &, in addition, she's had to have several surgeries on her achilles tendon. she was wheelchair bound for weeks. i can't believe they still prescribe this stuff when it's rather obvious that it has some serious negative side effects.

I was prescribed Levaquin on December 12, 2008 by my ENT for a sinus infection. Within three hours I had strange pain in my right ankle that felt like phlebitis. I iced it and elevated it and the pain subsided. Five days later I woke up with what felt like a sprained ankle. I limped on the ankle. The next day the ankle was red and swollen. I saw my internist who tested me for gout and rheumatoid arthritis, etc. He casually mentioned that it could be the Levaquin. He said if my ankle wasn't significantly better in a week I might need to change to a different antibiotic. Three days after that I woke up with pain in my right shoulder, elbow, wrist, thumb, and knee as well, with severe achilles pain.

I was told by my sister about issues with Levaquin and joint damage. After looking it up online, I called the ENT who prescribed it and was told to stop it immediately. I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE BLACK BOX WARNING BY EITHER DOCTOR OR THE PHARMACY. But it only took me 30 seconds to find it online once alerted by my sister. Also learned that my earlier use of high dose Prednisone and a course of another quinolone, Avelox in the preceeding weeks made me more susceptible to the tendonitis.

The tendonitis spread all up and down all four limbs over a period of weeks. I could barely walk, couldn't lift a glass of water for weeks. An orthopedist put me in a walking boot cast for four weeks and two arm splints. I have been receiving physical therapy since early January and have been on four different NSAIDS. Almost four months later I still have constant pain in both ankles, knees, the bottom of my heels, and my left wrist and elbow. It hurts just to wash my hands sometimes.

I am a very active 50 year old woman who typically does Pilates three times a week. I like to ski,hike and bicycle, garden, cook, knit, etc. I have been incapacitated for almost four months. Can't participate in any of my normal activities. For several weeks I couldn't even hold a book to read or hold the telephone to talk for more than a few minutes. Magnet therapy has provided some(only some)relief for the pain. Got a set of 30 magnets from Nikken Co. You can find them on the internet. I tape the little magnets all over, wherever it hurts. I'll try anything!

I went through two different episodes of taking Levaquin. Shortly after starting the second round I began to have severe muscle pain in my quads and knee pain as well. That pain episode took practically a year to pass. Later I went through a period of plantar fasciitis. Now two years later I am experiencing severe achillies tendonosis. Is there never an end to this problem of having taken levaquin?

I went through two different episodes of taking Levaquin. Shortly after starting the second round I began to have severe muscle pain in my quads and knee pain as well. That pain episode took practically a year to pass. Later I went through a period of plantar fasciitis. Now two years later I am experiencing severe achillies tendonosis. Is there never an end to this problem of having taken levaquin?

After only 4 days of taking Levaquin at 500mg daily, this drug has attacked my tendons aggressively. Both of my achilles tendons feel ready to snap at any minute and other tendons throughout my body pop now. This drug may be good to fight some infections, but there is no way in hell that those experiencing these adverse drug reactions deserve what is happening to them.

These adverse side affects are immediate and apparently irreversible and there is no way that sufficient warning can be given for people to really understand how this hideous drug can cripple people almost immediately. It is basically criminal that the FDA allows people to become disabled by Levaquin daily. Very sad indeed and this needs to be stopped.

After only 4 days of taking Levaquin at 500mg daily, this drug has attacked my tendons aggressively. Both of my achilles tendons feel ready to snap at any minute and other tendons throughout my body pop now. This drug may be good to fight some infections, but there is no way in hell that those experiencing these adverse drug reactions deserve what is happening to them.

These adverse side affects are immediate and apparently irreversible and there is no way that sufficient warning can be given for people to really understand how this hideous drug can cripple people almost immediately. It is basically criminal that the FDA allows people to become disabled by Levaquin daily. Very sad indeed and this needs to be stopped.

I took Levaquin for sinusitus 6 days. The 6th day, I had a severe allergic reaction. Swelling of the ankles, wrist, face, diarrhea, nausea, sensitivity in all nerves and joints, heart racing, hallucinations, and my throat started to swell and close up. Was taken to the ER where they gave me 125mg of a steroid IV to get the swelling down. The ER Dr. told my husband this could have been very serious.

10 days later and have lots of pain in both ankles and wrist. My feet, ankles and legs up to the knees tingle and go numb. I also followed up with the MD who prescribed the med and he was shocked at all the symptoms. Told us that he had taken Levaquin himself and many of his patients as well without any problems other than insomnia. He did say one patient had IV Levaquin in the hospital and ruptured 2 tendons that had to be cast for several months. I am very concerned. He told me not to go to aerobics for a month, but I don't know when I will be able to exercise again. Just walking is painful. I also want to know if anyone has gotten better after experiencing all of this tendon pain.

This article and comments explain the severe pain and tightness in my left ankle and lower leg. I took 500 MG of Levaquin, one a day, for seven days for a bladder infection. The last day of the prescription was eight days ago, and two days ago the pain began. I have not been to a doctor yet, but if the pain continues, I will go with a copy of this article. Thank you!

I am also a victim of Levaquin poisoning. I took the antibiotic as a preemptive measure after having sinus surgery. Now I have horrible joint and tendon pain throughout my entire body. I also twitch constantly, different muscles convulse on their own no matter what medicines I take.

I never thought that at 28 years old my husband would have to wheel me to the bathroom and care for me like an invalid. My life has been severely altered by this medication.

IF ANYONE HAS FOUND HELP, OR ANYTHING THAT EVEN MINUTELY MIGHT BE ENCOURAGING I'D LOVE TO HEAR ABOUT IT. MY DOCTORS ARE AT A LOSS...

I was prescribed Levaquin for asthmatic bronchitis that did not respond to Zpak therapy. The dosage was 500mg. After 3 -4 days of taking this medicine I noticed joint pain in my right Achilles tendon but dismissed it for a normal injury. However 3 days later I awoke to the same discomfort in my left ankle.

I immediately called my doctor who instructed me to discontinue it. The left ankle cleared up within a day or two but the right ankle is still sore although much improved after nearly a month. I've spoken to two doctors who assured me it is not a permanent condition but will clear up.

I took Levaquin back in FEB09 and although I didn't experience the muscle\tendon pain most have\are going through, I have been bothered by itchiness and breaking out in hives after something has touched my skin. Also, I've had a rash around my nose and have felt lethargic and tired since then.

I am now just starting to have less hive outbreaks and my nose rash is getting better as well as feeling less tired. I'm thinking my immune system was really taxed by Levaquin and is taking a while to recover. Going in for my annual physical next week so will report if something else is found.

Will for sure not take Levaquin again and not let anyone in my family take this drug.

Its May 29, 2009 my first post regarding achilles tendonitis was Aug. 4, 2008. All these months have passed and I still have pain and swelling. I had approx 6 mos of physical therapy and both Voltaren and then Relafen I seemed to have relief for a short time then after ending the therapy and going about on my own I am about back where I started.

Constant aching and swelling in both joints stiffness when I start out walking seems to lessen the more I walk. Evenings seem to hurt more when I wake in the morning there is still visible swelling. Time to go back to the doctor again...

I have read all these horrifying accounts. And can attribute all my pain and exhaustion to this reaction. I have chronic sinus infections and go between levaquin and amoxicillin.

So now - how do we fix ourselves? How do we rid ourselves of these toxins? And when we have green stuff coming out of our nose - what do we do?

This drug has stolen my early twenties from me, and damaged my career. Took levaquin late in 2007. By 2008, both my wrists had severe tendonitis, so I could no longer pursue my career in digital animation. My right knee also suffered from a partial tendon tear that cost me thousands of dollars in therapy and doctors. Thanks a lot for stealing my time and happiness. ALWAYS do your research before ingesting any drug. You never know what new poison these people will give you.

I took 750 mg of Levaquin for a respiratory infection that had lingered for months and was complicated by Asthma. The infection is gone, but I can barely walk! I am awakened several times each night by the pain in my left ankle and achilles tendon and am now experiencing pain in my left knee. When I discussed with my Dr. she suggested I be on two weeks bed rest and avoid stairs. Hello? That's no solution. I need answers not a bandaid! Its been about two months and there's no relief in sight. To tell the truth, its worse.

I was prescribed Levaquin( the AValox thenLevaquin) within a 2 1/2 month period for a persistent sinus infection. After my last does I began to notice a pulled muscle sensation in my left heel. I of course blew it off thinking it was age and my new exercise routine. 3 weeks later I visited doc who informed me that he believed it was achilles tear due to Levaquin. MRI confirmed it.

3 tears and now in walking boot cast for at least 4 weeks. I also noted all comments about shoulder pain. I have also had recurrent pain in front of right shoulder during this time and chalked it up to sleeping on it wrong but now I believe it may also be a result of Levaquin. I reported this to my allergist who had prescribed the drug and he was very concerned and told me he would report his findings.

Thank goodness for caring doctors like him. I did read about possible tendonapathy but was told by pharmacist that it was very rare....I guess I'm that rare individual unfortunately.

Dear David, I'm so concerned & very upset.I have been given Levaquin over the years & did ok (so I thought), but then recently I was given it in April & again now in June & I'm very ill & I can't seem to get better. I've been going to doctors & the Er & no one will listen, or says "oh it's this or that" & it isn't...I'm in so much pain I just don't know what to do. This is awful. I sit & cry & everyone thinks it's all in my head. It's clearly not.

I'm hurting in my knees, my calfs, the bottom of my feet, my shoulder & elbow. I'm a total mess. I cant squat or bend without needing some way of having to get up. I can't get up without major pain. I hurt just to bend down, brush my hair, steer my car lift a glass or a can of tea up to my mouth. I do continue to do all these activities but not without pain.

The pain can be unbearable. But I just deal with it. I have such problems going up & down stairs its just unbelievable. A month and half ago I was dancing-- not now. I can't even lay down on a beach towel without pain & I am embarrassed to get back up onto my feet without looking like I'm strange or like I'm 70-80 years old.

Also my vision seems to be messing up.I did have vision problems before but somethings not right. It's nuts. Something is Very Wrong. I'm 44 & something is clearly wrong I know my body. Can someone help? This is wrong. I'd write more but it's so long of a story... Plus I'm no wimp & don't want to sound like a big whiny baby.

Hi Carol,
Thanks for posting a story with some suggestions for improving the affects of fluoroquinolone induced tendon problems. There are very few out there. I just purchased both today, but would have probably undercut the dosage were it not for just reading your post.
Any further info would be appreciated. Have you improvements maintained?
Thanks again,
Bob

I took 1 Levaquin pill 500 mg one evening in September 2007 for a kidney, UTI infection. My left side went numb and started tingling, my left hip hurt, I could not put weight on my left leg, had to limp to walk. I had severe pains shooting through my head, felt dizzy, nauseous, weak, had to stay in bed for 3 days after taking medicine. I could only limp to eat and bathroom. I called doctor, they said KEEP TAKING IT. NOT. They told me that these were normal side effects.

I read on the internet that these are NOT NORMAL side effects. I didn't take anymore and read about alternative medicines. I was still in a lot of pain in my kidney and bladder. So I asked for Bactrum, a sulfur based drug. It worked great on the kidney/UTI. But since I took the Leviquin, my joints hurt and pop, my achilles tendon is painful everyday, my shoulders have excruciating intermittent pain and my hip hurts inside when I move it.

Also, there is a lot of crackling and strange sounds in my joints now. My wrists have been having a lot of soreness as well. I just read about Leviquin causing these problems for years after you take one pill. I didn't know all of these symptoms might be connected to the Leviquin. Does anyone know how to get the Leviquin out of your body and joints???

Ok, I've asked my Dr why my elbows hurt so bad, he replies tendonitis. I said why now? They have never hurt before. How can I just wake up one day with this? Not to mention my knees neck and back. I'm an accountant and he said overuse. I'm 44 very strong and active. Self employed 4 kids and 2 grand-babies (that I can barely pick up). I was told I was getting old. It was depressing.

I had pneumonia for 2 1/2 months in apr and may this year. I took levaquin for 5 wks after nothing else worked. Well with pneumonia you feel like you are dying anyway, so the symptoms blended in until the pneumonia was gone, but the joint pain stayed. Now I know. Just saw an ad on tv about levaquin.

Add my name to the list of the many people with a hypersensitivity to Levaquin. After taking only three of five 750 mg tablets for bronchitis, I am hobbling along four weeks later from severe tendinitis in my calves. Luckily, I did not take the final two tablets because I well remembered that a friend of mine in his late 70's severed one of his Achilles tendons last year and after taking low does of Ciprofloxacin (same drug family as Levaquin) for thirty days in treatment of an elevated PSA level. I only hope that my tendinitis will not become a chronic situation with me.

In July 2008, the FDA finally required important black box warnings to be placed on Levaquin, but no one is getting this important information--especially not doctors or patients!!! My internist doctor has practiced geriatric medicine for almost 30 years and had no idea of the dangers of Levaquin for some people; he has prescribed it hundreds of times and probably will continue due to the drug's antibiotic efficiency.

As consumers, we can at least need to press to get a black box warnings to patients on these drugs enforced because they will continue to be prescribed. I just sent emails to Wolters Kluwer Health (that prepares medicine inserts with prescriptions) and also to the FDA. Educating doctors is another problem. As noted on the Graedon's website, "Doctors hate side effects. After all, physicians are supposed to follow the adage first, do no harm. Yet every medication they prescribe can cause problems. That poses a dilemma for any doctor prescribing drugs. Perhaps that's why many physicians discount patient complaints about bad reactions to medications."

We all deserve better protection from possibly debilitating injuries. As a starter, demand black box warnings on Levaquin (even though you never should again take it or Ciprofloxcin) from your pharmacist to protect other people. Call the FDA about your side effects at 800-332-1088.

Levaquin was prescribed to me for diverticulitis, before and after a 4 day hospitalization, for that condition. Within two days after coming out of the hospital, while resting and recovering from the divereticulitis, my right knee became so painful I could hardly walk. It's one month later and I have had severe swelling in my knee and the pain is getting worse. I have had my knee drained twice, which has not helped, and was told by my doctor that I may need to see a knee specialist if this condition does not improve soon.

I am absolutely positive that Levaquin caused this painful condition in my knee. Before taking Levaquin my knees were fine, I was walking normally and was looking forward to a vacation in the mountains, hiking and horse-back riding. Obviously, the vacation was canceled and at this time I can hardly walk from the bedroom to the living room. At this time I feel that my life has been turned upside down and I'm very worried about the future.

Nearly 8 weeks ago, I awoke with horrible pain in my left foot. I could barely stand. It was awful. I had not had problems with my feet before and consider myself a healthy 47 year old third grade teacher. I plugged through the day and it got worse and worse. The next day, no weight bearing at all. I was stopped in my tracks and in tears.

We made an appointment with a local podiatrist my husband knew. He got us right in. It was nearly impossible to get in the door due to the pain. We took the sandals I had been wearing just in case they were the culprit of some injury. This doctor and his staff were very concern as they could see the terrible pain I was in. He took a a lot of notes, took time examining my painful foot, He did not think the sandals caused whatever was gong on. He was highly suspicious of an achilles and posterior tibial program....but why?

I lay there crying in pain, then the doctor said, "Have you take any medications recently?" I said that I had just finished a 29 course of Avalox for a staph infection. He immediately became concerned because Avalox is a sister drug to Levaquin. He went and printed out some information from the manufacturer or FDA (not sure) stating the dangers of this family pf drugs, particularly to tendon damage.

He immediately referred to me the area bone and join specialists for a consult and mri. Well no mri was ordered; os decided it was ptt problems because of my age. put me in a hard cast for 6 weeks. I was unable to teach because of the pain and went on unpaid medical leave. I remain on unpaid medical leave still nearly 8 weeks out. Had an MRI today and will see the os again Tuesday morning for results.

I guess I find out then if I have to have surgery and endure 16 weeks of casting, half non weight-bearing, of if there is something else can be done. Life has practically come to a halt for me and my family. I think this drug family should only be used in extreme life or death situations and warnings explained upfront.

I took Levaquin at the beginning of the year for bronchitis. After 3 doses I started to get leg cramps. I took the drug 6 days but didn't finish it. Now, 8 months later, I still have the leg cramps and last week my tendons started hurting. The right foot tendon has a lump and throbs. I probably can't even tell my doctor since he prescribed the Levaquin so he'll tell me my symptoms aren't caused by that.

My mom took levaquin for two days. by the end of the 2nd day she could hardly walk. I don't know how to help her and I cant stand it. She's had previous injuries to her knees and her back and she cannot take off of work. Any suggestions?

I had a cystoscopy and was given Levaquin 500mg. following the procedure to prevent infection. Within 14 hrs. of taking this medication I woke up with the most severe, debilitating pain that I have ever experienced in my life. It was unbearable. I was unable to go back to sleep. This pain persisted for 3 days, with swelling to the top of the foot. I was unable to bear weight. I am allergic to motruim and therefore was unable to take anti-inflammatories.

Tylenol did not help lessen the pain. I knew about the POTENTIAL RARE side affects of tendonitis, but had been put on Cipro for a past UTI which did not respond to other drugs. When I asked the urologist about the possibility of tendon rupture etc, I was told that these are very rare side affects. I am a healthy 52 yr. old who walks an average of 28 miles a week!

I am sure that the Levaquin caused this pain as there was no trauma involved. Well I can see that the medical community is not abreast of what is happening to the general population who receives this drug. As a nurse, I wonder if these side affects are being reported to the appropriate website as well as to the physician in charge.

I have have bad lungs (COPD) for 6 years. I am on several drugs, one of which is a low grade antibiotic. When my lungs get infected, which has happened 4 times in the last 3 years I have been put on 750 mg of Levaquin a day for 5 days. Each of 3 times my ankles swelled and returned to normal within a week after. However, the 4th time, June of 2009, my left Achilles Tendon felt like it had torn and that ankle is still swollen 4 months later.

I cannot 'push-off' with my left foot so walking and climbing steps is quite difficult. Neither my family doctor, my lung specialist, nor the foot specialist I've seen are aware of the connection between Levaquin and the Achilles Tendon.
I'm 72 years old.

my story seems to be something like yours. Took Cipro for a urinary tract infection and have had post tibial tendonitis for about 7 months....worse in one foot than the other.Am wondering if the tendonitis will ever go away. Perhaps should give it a year or so to heal.
Wonder if anyone out there has any helpful suggestions.

After many antibiotics that would not clear up a sinus infection, I was prescribed Levaquin.

I don't like to take drugs and knew I had heard some things about Levaquin so I looked it up on line. I suffered with the sinus infection getting worse all weekend and finally gave in after speaking to others that said "I am sure you only hear the bad stories on the internet."

After my 3rd dose, I woke up with severe cramps in the backs of my legs that kept me awake most of the night. My doctor switched my prescription but it was too late.

My symptoms progressed to severe Achilles pain, ankle weakness, and general leg weakness. I can hardly walk at all. I live up 3 flights of stairs and am new to my area so once a week I wrap the ankles and scoot down the stairs on mt butt so I can go to the store for food. That is the only time I leave the house.

It has been nearly 3 weeks since I stopped the Levaquin and I am not seeing any improvement at all. In fact my knee was hurting terribly yesterday as well and I have not tried to walk on it at all today.

My doctor said that by now I would not be having problems from the Levaquin and offered my Lortab. I don't want to just numb it, god knows what damage I will do if to myself if I just numb the pain. I want to get better.

Is there anyone that has found a way to get this out of their system? I have tried some Magnesium Citrate but need more (that requires a trip to the store) and I started MSM as well. I'm icing and massaging. Is there any thing that can help????

How do we get this drug off the market?????

Was prescribed Levaquin for sinus infection in April 2009. Hands immediately started feeling arthritic. In July shoulders started hurting with sharp biting pain in some areas, soreness in other areas, burning in some areas, spreading to upper back. Have seen orthopedist 2x. He prescribed anti-inflammatory at first, then he gave bilateral steroid injections to shoulders. Still having the discomfort.

I am an M.D and also an attorney. I am 84 years old and semi retired. I developed a bronchopneumpnia in June and was given a Levaquin I.V. in the hospital. 5 days later I was discharged, cured, but immediately experienced a severe bilateral achilles tendonitis which has persisted to this day.

I have tried acupuncture and chelated magnesium without success, I have searched the Medical literature and find little encouragement. It is a recognized complication of Levaquin and related antibiotics. It has been documented for 15-20 years. Pfizer places a warning on it's drug literature, but is no cure and the tendonitis remains lifelong.

I was active in golf, travel and bridge prior to Levaquin. I shot my age in golf this spring, but am now disabled, drive my car and only can play bridge for diversion. It is very painful to walk in airports and supermarkets.

My suggestions are as follows: Maintain hope, exercise mildly but beware of overstretching tendons which may lead to rupture. Keep open sites such as this one alive and active to distribute anecdotes of any and all experiences, treatments tried, and a place where we may complain and sympathize with others so afflicted.

If you are young and disabled you may want to inquire about your legal rights. There are many firms available.. I am waiting a bit, hoping. Best of luck to you all.

MDR.

I had a surgical wound that would not heel. First I was put on Cipro. Then a month later the wound worsened and I was treated and put on Levaquin. I thought my feet hurt because I was laying around in bed so much. After a month of this I went to my General Practitioner and he felt my Achilles tendons and he asked me if I had been on Cipro or Levaquin.

I said both. He got very upset and ordered an MRI and sent me to a foot specialist. I have tendon damage in both feet, and pain. Both of my feet are casted up to the knees to make sure my tendons are immobilized. I have to go back in a month to see if there is any improvement, but I don't notice any.

Then I will either continue to wear casts or boots or have surgery. My thumb is killing me but I am afraid to tell anybody because that will probably end up in a cast if I do. I can't drive or work. Basically I am housebound. Oh well.

I took cipro in the beginning of October for a misdiagnosed UTI. A couple weeks later I developed elbow tendonitis in both, then a couple days later I got shoulder tendonitis in both and Achilles tendonitis as well which started in one heel but went to the other too eventually. I'm only a 19 years old girl, eat extremely healthy, never had injuries before, and am active...haven't ran in months, but swim a couple days a week. Now I can't stand up without pain or stiffness or feeling like my tendons are gonna snap.

I'm ready to be in a wheelchair because I'm terrified I'm gonna rupture the tendons. I can't walk normally... only extremely slowly and with a limpish gait. I use heel cups which help somewhat. Its been a month already and nothing has gotten better. I tried anti-inflammatories which didn't help and rest and ice it constantly. I've started MSM, Chondroitin sulfate, flax seed oil, vitamin C, and am about to start chelated magnesium sulfate after reading this board.

Also about to start physical therapy and ultrasound therapy system I got. My thumb, wrist, hips, and knees have started to hurt slightly at random times as well in the past few days which is making me nervous.

This drug is absolutely ridiculous. My mom ran into two other friends who when she told I had tendonitis from cipro said they had had it as well from that. This is def a more common side effect than doctors or FDA think. and should def be taken off!!! And should NOT have been prescribed for a UTI that didn't even get results yet to see if they were positive or negative.

It is making me suicidally depressed and distant from my best friends and I was always so happy. I go to an ivy league college but now am seriously thinking of dropping out and taking off next semester to rest at home and work on healing because it's interfering with school and its so important to heal asap with tendonitis.

Some other side effects--insomnia, crackling sensation in all my joints (fingers especially), back pain and constant back and joint cracking never had before, depression, and just feeling tired which may be from not exercising or being able to walk for more than a couple minutes without having to rest, lost my appetite and lost 10 pounds, a lot of it muscle. Also, when I took the drug at the time I felt sooo weak and sick.

This absolutely sucks and I feel bad for everyone who has to deal with drug side effects because they really take away your quality of life. I will go back to this website to report any healing in the next couple months or years and say what works and what didn't so I cant maybe help any people in the future who develop the same injury; but honestly, I just wish I can tell the world to not take cipro or any other of the same drug class because I truly believe its poison and toxic. Humans aren't meant to take in what I think is such a toxic substance.

And doctors don't know anything! I went to two who tried every other excuse to say it wasn't cause by cipro. Come on, give me a break. I finally found a good trusted doctor who worked for over 40 years say that this was definitely from cipro. Doctors can not be trusted completely. They just give you whatever drug companies sell them to make money.

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WE WISH YOU LUCK IN YOUR RECOVERY, AND HOPE THAT MORE PEOPLE BECOME AWARE OF THIS POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECT BEFORE THEY TAKE CIPRO OR LEVAQUIN.

Thank you so much for your posting. I took the big L for only 6 days and now I am limping around like an old lady-well I am an old lady of 61, but this is unnecessary! I will follow your advice and "take control."

I am a vice principal of a high school and I will not give up my active life (yet).
Please tell me how you are doing!

I am MD/JD, 84, recently posted,Nov.4. Tendonitis is the same,crippling.
I report a strange episode: I went on a long plane trip for Thanksgiving holiday, with MUCH pain in the long walks to board at two airports.

The next morning at breakfast 95% of pain was gone for about one hour and I could walk. Then pain recurred and is the same to date. I do not know why the temporary relief, but will walk with the pain on the way home to see if the same change occurs.
Please report any incidents such as mine which might give an insight.
MDR

I am a 35 year old athlete and karateka practitioner who has been in misery after just five days of this poison and two subsequent trips to the emergency room. Every place on my body that has connective tissue is miserable as hell. It's been two weeks so far and the only relief at all comes from glucosamine chondroitin which enables me to walk at least. This levaquin poisoning has changed my life and although I'm not litigious by nature, I am infuriated that my health has been taken from me, all because of this man made, synthetic, DNA killing, POISON!!!!!! I could have taken $4 bucks worth of amoxicillin and still kept my joints, tendons and knees! I HOPE ALL OF YOU REPORT THIS TO FDA MEDWATCH!

My wife took only 2 doses of levaquin for bronchitis and developed tendon ruptures in her arm as a result. A friend of ours had a similar consequence, but found out lawyers are not interested in you unless the levaquin caused side effects so serious as to require surgery.

Was prescribed 14 days of Levaquin. I read up on it before picking it up - actually chickened out once before finally going and getting it. I should have listened to my inner chicken. Slight soreness occurred after one day. By the end of the fifth day I was severely agitated and hadn't slept well for two days; I had pain in my muscles, joints, and spiking pain every time I stressed something. As I went to bed that night, my left Achilles tendon started feeling tender. I woke up the next morning, called off work and called the doctor, who agreed that I should get off the medicine (once I explained reading the warning label the pharmacy had stapled to the bag...).

It's been two weeks now - I'm still in pain, though it fades in and out. On the recommendation of another board, I started drinking Kefir; that seemed to work (1-day delay) for a while, but now I'm not so sure. One day was so bad I had to have help getting out of the bed. The next day I had acupuncture, which was followed by three straight days of bliss. Now it's back to pain, and the ankle is starting to let me know it's there again... The slightest amount of work leads to exhaustion and extended pain in whatever muscles I use. I'm going to try the acupuncture again; if it works, my acupuncturist is going on long-term retainer.

I've talked to at least one other person in my small-town area who has experienced bad side effects from Levaquin; it can't be as rare a condition as they note, can it?

I was given samples of, then a 13 day prescription for levaquin. My right Achilles totally ruptured & had to be removed in surgery in 12-08, then 3 months ago my left Achilles was about to rupture so it was removed too. My husband & I are scout leaders and spend (spent for me) our weekends hiking in the mountains. now, i can't even walk around the block. I have never had an attorney, and do not know where to begin. Ideas welcome?

I took Levaquin for a sinus infection back in 2006. I had been sick for some time; so I did not even question the antibiotic they gave me. I developed nerve pain in my arms running from my elbow to my hand, and both of my feet swelled up to monstrous proportions accompanied with calf pain.

I went to numerous doctors after the sinus infection was cleared to try to find out what was going on with my legs and arms. After a bunch of tests and 6 months of time, I sort of got the shrug from them, because they did not know what was going on with me. It felt like some awful virus was attacking my whole body, muscles and nerve fibers.

Out of desperation, I checked online for anything that could undo edema and found an-out-of-the way site which suggested Fish Oil. I took one capsule of that and all the edema went away. It has been 4 years now, and the edema has not returned. If it starts, I take the fish oil and that fixes it.

I still have occasional tenderness in the nerves running down my arms. It is like the nerve is pinched at the elbow. I now realize that all of that physical drama and fear was most likely caused by the Levaquin. I agree, this is a drug that should be kept for only extremely dire illnesses, or discontinued altogether.

I too have extreme pain in both Achilles tendons when I went on Levaquin 750mg for a sinus infection for 10 days. It was the first time I took Levaquin or had a sinus problem. The pain started almost immediately.

I didn't realize the connection until I went to the website trying to figure out why my Achilles tendons were hurting so much. I had a week's break and then went back on Levaquin, as my infection returned. I hope this pain will go away after I stop taking Levaquin. I have 2 more days to go.

I am a healthy 53 yr old woman. I thought the pain was do to repetitious exercise, but I never noticed this much constant pain lasting this long. :-(

SUGGEST YOU PRINT THIS PAGE AND TAKE TO YOUR DOCTOR
LEVAQUIN TENDINITIS MAY LAST FOR MANY YEARS

I was prescribed Levaquin a couple of years ago for a persistent bladder infection. It didn't help, so I didn't take it for very long and was prescribed something else that worked a little better. However, shortly thereafter, I noticed pain in my right heel after going for walks and it gradually got much worse, to the point I stopped walking for exercise.

My massage therapist said my calves and Achille's tendons were extremely tight in both legs, although I was fortunate and only felt it on the one side. She taught me some stretches that were somewhat helpful, but even with doing a lot of stretching, I still had problems. My doctor thought it was plantar fasciitis, but had no explanation for why I had developed that so suddenly.

His remedy was high doses of anti-inflammatories, which helped the pain some, but caused other problems. I finally stopped using those and turned more to natural healing.

It bothered me a lot for almost a year. Massage, stretching and acupuncture all helped. The acupuncturist also suggested I increase the fish oil I was taking and also make sure I get enough sodium during workouts. (I tend to be low on sodium anyway - have been tested for lots of things, but they never found a reason - just the way I'm made.)

So now I take an increased dose of my fish/flax oils and drink a weakened Gatorade solution (I mix a little in my water bottle from the powdered stuff) during my workout or walk. All of that together helped a lot and today I am relatively pain-free. My heel occasionally hurts a little and I'm careful to stretch well after workouts. But all in all, I'm in much better shape.

I never made any connection between my problems and the Levaquin until I saw a recent article in the newspaper about it. But it makes sense to me now.

I am currently in an ankle cast due to tendonitis/tendon tear in my right Achilles. I have been prescribed Levaquin twice in the past year for Sinus infections. I was taking glucosamine at the time I took the levaquin and only started having pain when I stopped the glucosamine.

Besides the achilles pain I also experienced the all over body aching that made me think I was getting Arthritis. I could lay in bed and feel every joint in my body aching. I have gone back to taking my regular daily dose of glucosamine and each day my pain is less. I just shared this info with my Orthopedist and he said to get on glucosamine and stay on it indefinitely as it is the only thing he has seen that gives relief long term.

I am also a doctor (see Nov 2009) How are you doing after 3 years? Both of my Achilles are painful on walking and I have lost some proprioception, no change in 8 months. Have you heard of any successful therapy, or any spontaneous recoveries?

Thanks, MDR

I recently underwent surgery and was prescribed Levaquin to prevent subsequent infection.

Four days after surgery I felt pain at lower part of my calf. I first suspected DVT due to being relatively immobile after the surgery. But after NOT experiencing increasing or decreasing pain, swelling, redness, heat in the area, or any of the other possible symptoms of DVT for 24 hours, I ruled out the possibility of my discomfort being due to DVT. Also, it seemed that the pain was specific to my Achilles tendon and was relieved or worsened during palpitation and extension and flexing of that area. So I was relieved that DVT seemed to not be the problem but was curious as to why my tendon would hurt when I had just being lying about for 4 days.

The pain persisted and a few days later I was watching television and saw an ad run by a law firm. The ad asked if you had taken one of several drugs and for each drug it asked if you had experienced a certain side affect. Levaquin was listed with the reaction of "tendon rupture". This piqued my interest.

A search of the web pointed to the connection between Levaquin and specifically Achilles tendon rupture.

Doctor said immediately discontinue use of Levaquin. So now I wonder if there is anything I can do for the next several months other than being aware that if I exercise and my tendon bothers me, I should stop. Does Levaquin ever stop affecting the tendon where it decided to "take up residence"? Is this temporary, albeit possibly long term, or will it be a permanent concern?

I was prescribed Leviquin from my family doctor for bronchitis that had developed from a reaction from doing way too much painting in my home. After finishing the drugs, the chest infection was gone but I was left with pain in the backs of both my hands and wrists as well as pain in both knees. I complained to my doctor twice about this pain in my tendons and she just says... you have arthritis!

I have been taking glyconutrients and believe that this has kept my reaction to this poison drug relatively mild compared to some horrifying stories I read here. It has been three months and there is still mild pain mainly in just the left knee. I feel that I have made headway with a recovery due to the glyconutrients.

After reading this page I am going to add glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM, as well as chelated magnesium. I think adding this to my glyconutrient routine will help me toward a lessening of the mild pain that is still in my left knee. My heart breaks for the pain and suffering this drug has inflicted on others.

Did the pain and discomfort ever go away?

Lynda, the pain is lessened and not as severe as it was originally. I have been taking glyconutrients faithfully. The glyconutrients I take help with wellness at the cellular level by helping the cells take in nutrition and also get rid of toxins. You can contact me to learn more about how I got relief if you wish. This is not advice to you but simply sharing what worked to give me relief from my pain.
Kind Regards,
DMZ

I went on Levaquin for a sinus infection last January. My Doctor did warn me not to exercise for two weeks while on the meds. I feel lucky I did not suffer from all the effects that everyone has been describing on this board. The effect I have been suffering is a sudden sharp shooting pain (like a burning sensation) on my right Achilles when I start to stretch out my Achilles. The pain only last a second (as I instantly came out of the stretch).

There is no swelling or tenderness. As I slowly stretch out the Achilles I can stretch it further and further until its loosens up. Then I am able to actively exercise with out the pain. To me this sound like a little tear?

Is this a warning that the tendon is about to snap or rupture? It has been six months and has not gotten any better. But it did start the first time I started exercising (yoga) again after taking the Levaquin. I will not ever take it again.

On June 16, 2010, I was given Levequin IV at a local emergency room two days before my son's wedding to help control a painful dental infection. The area above an earlier root canal became infected related to bridge work. For the next few days, including the day of the wedding, I felt out of focus, overly sensitive and anxious.

Five days later the infection re-occurred and I was prescribed 7 days of Levequin, 500 mg. After the first dosage I pain in toe joints during the night, the second day I woke up with a swollen, painful left Achilles. I contacted a doctor who said, "see how you feel after the next dose". The tooth was pulled, and I completed the 7 day prescription of Levequin.

I had severe pains in my thighs and upper arms that extended across my chest for a week or two, as well as continued swelling and soreness of my left Achilles tendon. The third week I began waking up all night with muscle fasciculations in my legs and upper arms as well as tingling sensations which continue. My muscles are no longer painful but extremely weak, and so atrophied they are almost non-existent in my upper arms and left thigh.

Last night I experienced shortness of breath during the night. I start PT today for the Achilles tendon. I was a slender, healthy 62 year old woman in reasonably good shape, a skier and kayaker. I am devastated by what has happened and getting bounced around the medical community which seem largely unaware of the severe effects caused by this antibiotic.

I would appreciate any advice on how best to cope with the aftermath of Levequin and what I can do to relieve symptoms and improve my chances of recovering.

I am going to try the glyconutirients, glucosamine chongroitin, MSM and chelated magnesium after reading your message. I just wrote into the site, Jane G, hopefully it will be posted. I can't believe I have been so damaged by a drug that has been causing devastating effects to people for years and continues to be prescribed. It is almost 6 weeks since I was administered this drug and I am still getting new symptoms (ie. burning sensation down my backbone). Thank you for communicating.