FDA Imposes Urgent Safety Warnings on Fluoroquinolone Drugs Due to Tendon Risks

I'm a 32 year old female, who was a victim of the Levaquin and Cipro, mainly Levaquin. Levaquin caused me toxic psychosis, brachial plexus nerve damage, achilies tendon issues. What the media is being told isn't true, there are more cases of people being affected, and they're younger than 60. They also haven't mentioned the people that have lost their lives because of these drugs.

KLS, about 3 years ago

There are thousands and thousands of people with multiple system problems due to the non-chalant prescribing of quinolones. I am a medical technologist and urge all prescibing physicians to please consult their hospital's antibiogram and choose the least toxic, but effective antibiotic available and leave the quinolones as a last resort drug. Treat it like Vancomycin which no one would give out routinely. Quinolones are causing so many problems for so many people. The reactions are not fully reported because of the latency of some of the side effects and just lack of knowledge as to all the damage these antibiotics can cause. If the true statistics were available, the numbers would be shocking and this class of drugs would be put on the back shelf where they belong. I know what I am talking about, I am permanently damaged from Avelox, I have tendon, muscle and nerve pain constantly. I have had spontaneous muscle ruptures and permanent muscle damage in my hips along with CNS damage. I am trying to prevent others from suffering like I am.

Leslea Bates, about 3 years ago

I was a healthy 42 year old male who took Levaquin for a sinus infection. The same day as the Black Box Warning was issued; I was having my third tendon reattachment surgery. I have to wait at least 6 weeks before I can undergo yet a fourth tendon rupture reattachment. At least it takes my mind of the Achilles Tendinopathy, joint pains, headaches, uncontrolled muscle twitching etc. I consider myself one of the lucky ones since so far it has not affected my kidneys, liver, heart, eyes and other side effects that many are dealing with from this class of drugs. I would urge a real journalist to take the time and look at the real number of cases. The Fda numbers are misleading. The clinical data coming from other counties are showing much higher rates of tendon ruptures and other life threatening side effects.

Ty Taylor, about 3 years ago

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics have damaged many people. I know of this severe damage on a personal level since I suffered such and adverse reaction to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic Levaquin myself 22 months ago. Since then I have had daily pain and disability of my nervous and musculoskeletal systems and for several months had endocrine and gastrointestinal problems as well. The disability and damage caused by fluoroquinolones is long term and may gradually escalate in that more severe problems such as worsened neuropathy, neuromuscular disorders, musculoskeletal disorders and endocrine disorders once initiated by the fluoroquinolones may develop with a delayed and insidious progress.

This progression of the fluoroquinolone toxicity syndrome is well know by its sufferers and not recognized by health care givers. There has been no investigation in to the reactions. This lack of attention stems from of an antiquated FDA reporting system and the under-representation of the seriousness and frequency of the adverse reactions. The makers of fluoroquinolones have no interest in investigating adverse reactions when doing so will hurt them financially. It is only recently with the weight of litigation pressing down that the FDA has published its incomplete and grossly inadequate boxed warning about the potential for fluoroquinolone toxicity.

I have met many other patients suffering from the adverse effects of fluoroquinolones. Many of them reside in my community including 3 physicians and more than twenty patients.

Although these drugs may be life saving in certain infections when less toxic antibiotics may fail, they have been promoted for use as first line treatment for sinusitis, and urinary tract infections, and are often given indiscriminately to unsuspecting patients by uninformed and cavalier physicians for such benign illnesses as the common upper respiratory infection. Unfortunately for many patients they are trading a mild short term medical problem for a serious long term one.

Sincerely,

Todd Plumb MD

Todd, about 3 years ago

My husband took Cipro in 1998. Around a month later he started having muscle & joint pain. He thought he was developing rheumatoid arthritis. He had also started having involuntary jerking movements in his arms & legs when he tried to rest, insomnia, vivid nightmares, panic attacks, bottom left corner of his lip swelled horribly, tiny sores appeared around his ankles, rectal bleeding, severe depression, suicidal thoughts & acts & so many other things. In 1999, around 11 months after taking Cipro, a muscle tore away at the bottom where it was attached in the back of his left calf. In 2000, the quadriceps tendon ruptured at his right knee. In 2001, a quadriceps muscle tore apart in the center of his right thigh. For the next few years, there weren't any more ruptures, but most of the other things were still happening. In 2004, he took CiproXR. In 2005, around 11 months after taking CiproXR his triceps ruptured in his right elbow. He had 2 more ruptures during 2005. The last 1 occurred in his lower forearm in his left arm while using the pressure a person would use to squeeze a blood pressure bulb. He had started having quite a bit of tendonitis cases after taking CiproXR. Numbness got worse in his legs & his hands were feeling more numbness in them. Severe headaches & migraines were becoming frequent. Most all the other things he was suffering from after he took Cipro in 1998 became more severe after he took CiproXR. He became disabled in 2005. In 2006, I found an article about Cipro & tendon ruptures. I looked up the adverse reactions & not only were tendon ruptures there but ALL the other things he was suffering from were listed also. None of the doctors (around a dozen) ever connected his 6 ruptures with Cipro. My husband was in his early 40's in 1998. He is a former Marine & was still in great physical condition after being honorably discharged years ago. He was proud of his strength. That's all gone now. Our little grandchildren are stronger than he is. The FDA needs to concentrate on warning doctors about the risks before doctors can warn their patients.

ciprovictimalso, about 3 years ago

On my 23rd birthday I started ciproI only took 3 doses of cipro in total before realizing what was happening... I went from being a very healthy 23 year old male who was athletic for over 10 years doing Karate, Yoga, Football, Judo and other sports, I eat an extremely healthy diet, no bad foods at all, and generally take care of myself in everyway possible, I have never drank alcohol and never smoked... I have all the blood tests and other tests to prove how healthy I was. After taking the ciprofloxacin my life completely changed in an instant, for months I had to crawl around my house beacuse of the pain in my achilles tendons. I noticed the side effects approx two hours after taking cipro... however my doctor told me to carry on taking it! (I stopped myself after 3rd dose).

After my very first dose of cipro I had a cascade of symptoms that I never experienced in my life before such as; Bilateral Achilles tendinitis, Tendinitis in both wrists, Chronic insomnia where it would take 5 hours to fall to sleep then I would be waking up every 1 hour and this continued for 4 months. What is interesting is that I have never had insomnia in my life before cipro. I also experienced chronic nightmares, moderate peripheral neuropathy (burning, tingling, numbness), constant body tremors, dry eyes, dry mouth, dry skin, pulsating sensation in my stomach/neck/hands, pulsatile tinnitus, tinnitus (4 noises), muscle pains, joint pains. Eye flashes, blurry vision, eye floaters, static/snow vision, inability to adjust from light to dark (right eye), twitching, dizziness, stiff neck, head pressure, eye pain, ear pain, difficulty swallowing, aspiration, GERD, lack of appetite. I also had massive increase in spider veins, nail ridges, constant wrinkled fingers, nail growh abnormalities... and my skin become thinner around my body (breakdown of collagen?).

It has been 9 months now since I had my reaction and I still cannot function properly because of my tendinitis... about 80% of my symptoms have lessened or have now gone away. I am improving at a very slow and frustating rate. How can I go from being extremely healthy and having just a minor infection to not being able to function and feeling like I had aged 50 years in one night. I have lost thousands of pounds in earnings and have not been able to work consistently since my reaction.

I have seen literally thousands of people in the same position as me, a significant portion of them were healthy and young like me, and now are disabled. How can the true devestation of this class of antibiotics be revealed if things like tendon damage does not show for months after the last dose? I feel the numbers reported are probably very small because people are not associating antibiotic use with tendon problems, and other problems as I mentioned above. From the moment I took the antibiotic I had a cascade of symptoms that never stopped showing up until about 4 months post-cipro. From there I healed from most of it but now have several injuries which are likely to be with me for life, or until medicine can fix them. I just want my life back, and for doctor to prescribe quinolone drugs when only absolutely needed

Matthew Lake, about 3 years ago

I was a healthy 42 yr old mother of three with a doctorate that I worked very hard to get. After taking 4.5 days of cipro for a simple UTI, I couldnt work for almost 3 months and I lost my practice. I suffered tendinosis, very painful, head pressure, vasculitis, peripheral neuropathy, tachycardia, and countless other adverse affects.
It is 7 mos later and I am still suffering. There is no cure or treatment, just try to figure out a way to deal with the loss of function and ability to care for my children and to continue my career.
All this is robbed from me. I now have multiple tumors over my body which I did not have before. I dont know what my future is now. I could have had a wonderful life. Now I look through tear filled eyes all the time.

Karen Fisher, about 3 years ago

The fact that Cipro and quinolones can cause permanent, untreatable tendon damage as highlighted by the need for a black box warning, that leaves patients with crippling untreatable pain, is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the other severe and permanently disabling adverse reactions that Cipro and other quinolones can inflict. The product information sheets provided by quinolone manufacturers fail to indicate that some individuals will suffer from multiple adverse reactions that will become permanent and untreatable. They list a wide variety of adverse reactions that would seriously impair anyone’s quality of life, psychological, neurological as well as physical, if one had to live with only a few of them for life. Some of these reactions can develop days, weeks or months after taking these pills as well, making if more difficult to identify the drugs as the culprit of the disease.

I as well as numerous other individuals, who have tried to report these reactions to their physicians and the FDA, have been ‘ignored’ or ‘rebuffed’. I have a ‘constellation’ of symptoms from taking Cipro in 2006 that do not respond to treatment. My permanent adverse reactions include tinnitus, hyperacusis, visual distortions and light sensitivity, smell and taste perversion, insomnia, anhedonia, chronic fatigue, anxiety and severe depression, loss of appetite, peripheral neuropathy, myoclonic muscle jerks, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypothyroid, brain fog, memory problems, constipation and 25 pounds of weight loss in addition to the muscular and degenerative bone issues. Tendonitis is a small part of the entire picture. If you find this hard to believe, check the ADR lists for Cipro and Levaquin. They’re all listed, but are considered “rare” reactions. Only tendon damage and peripheral neuropathy are indicated as possible permanent adverse reactions. What I and many others dispute is how “rarely” they occur, and we report that many of these adverse reactions cannot be treated and remain permanent long after taking the drugs. And when people report that they do occur after taking Cipro, or Levaquin, doctors are reticent to admit they were caused by the drugs, especially if they develop in these ‘constellation’ of maladies. When will the FDA really examine the data, and when will the public know the truth?

DB Cipro, about 3 years ago

I took Levaquin 2 months ago for a UTI. After the third dose, I went from a healthy 34 yr old to a 100 yr old woman. I had myalgia, extreme anxiety and panic, insomnia, tremors, neuropathy, tinnitus, blurred vision, and joint and tendon pain. Most of the symptoms have either diminished or gone away except for the joint and tendon pain, tinnitus, blurred vision, slight neuropathy, and some anxiety.

There has not been one day in the past two months that I have not been in pain. Both my achilles tendons, both knees, both wrists, both elbows, both shoulders, and my right hip take turns hurting and aching. My quality of life has greatly dimished.

It is outrageous that there is a medicine out there that can do this kind of havok on a person's body. Of course, most of us realize that all drugs can cause adverse reactions in some people. But we expect those reactions to be short-lived. I never imagined that adverse reactions to a drug can continue and actually get worse once the drug is discontunued. There are so many quinolone victims out there. Just go to the Yahoo health forums "quinolones" and "fqtoxicity."

What makes all this so much worse is that the medical community is so oblivious to what is happening.

Seena Darwish

Seena Darwish, about 3 years ago

I'm a 27 year old male who finished a little over 6 weeks of ciprofloxacin in may of 2008. As I was on the drug I noticed increasing muscle and joint stiffness, dizziness, and neve problems such as eye twitching and icy pains shooting down my leg. I assumed these would abate when I stopped the drug, and continued to take it as the doctor refused to give me another antibiotic and I was desperate to get well. Big mistake.

Within a day of stopping I had shooting pains down my legs, and my joints started hurting and cracking loudly when moved. I had constant muscle spasms, tightness and pain in my arms and legs that left me unable to leave the house for a week. I also developed a constant ringing in my ears for the first time in my life, which has not decreased since. Along with a host of other smaller symptoms.

All of my symptoms are still with me over 2 months since stopping the drug and improvement has been very little. I truly hope a law firm will have the tenacity to launch a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of these drugs.

Evan P, about 3 years ago

I took 28 pills of 500 mg levaquin in July 2001. My life has not been the same since. The drug (as confirmed by several doctors including mayo clinic) caused tendon damage all over my body, extensive peripheral neuropathy, vision damage, hearing damage, insomnia, severe fatigue, night sweats, non stop 24/7 muscle twitching in several areas, muscle weakness and numerous other issues. I was a very athletic individual and active participant in the lives of my two young children. That all changed in July 2001. Seven years later, I have improved greatly, but it took 4.5 years to really see the healing begin. Even now, the tendons in my feet, knees and shoulders are still too damaged to allow me to play most of the sports I once loved including tennis, racquetball, running, baseball, etc.

Stay away from this drug unless it is the ONLY option to keep you from dying.

cbs, about 3 years ago

The number of side effects and the seriousness of these side effects caused by this class of antibiotics is grossly underrated and under-reported. Tendon damage is only one of the many injuries these drugs inflict on thousands of people each year. The delay in time between taking these drugs and having the adverse reactions present can be what has concealed the high number of reactions. Most Dr’s do not even realize that the tendon, nerve, joint, muscle and CNS injuries that their patients develop after taking Fluoroquinolones is related to this class of antibiotic.

The true number of people affected each year by these antibiotics is astounding and has been well hidden by the manufacturers. There are thousands of people that have been permanently crippled and hundreds of thousands more that have suffered the ADR’s of Fluoroquinolones for months to years.
These ADR’s are not uncommon at all.

I was a normal healthy 51 Y/O male that was prescribed Cipro for a uncomplicated UTI. I was not given a risk vs. benefit warning first by my Dr. When I told him that Cipro had caused severe ADR’s, he refused to file a Medwatch or FDA report as I asked him to. He told me he would no longer treat me and I was asked to leave. I was treated like a criminal because I complained that Cipro had given me bad side effects.

I can only say that this Black Box warning is way overdue and still doesn’t cover many of the other severe and disabling side effects these drugs inflict on otherwise healthy people.

Gary Boyles, about 3 years ago

I took exactly 2500 mg (10 pills of 250 mg) of ciprofloxacin over a period of 5 days in the summer of 2007 .

Because of Cipro I need a wheelchair now.

I've always been a healthy person. I took part in squash, tennis, football and jogging.

After taking the third pill the first signs started. I had joint and muscles pain in my calves and arms. Because it was on saturday I did not call my doctor. I did read the paper in the box of Cipro and it did not say to stop immediately. If I did stop I would have less problems. Damned why don’t they warn us better.

On monday I went to my doctor and he said it was from Cipro but he thought it would not harm to go further. He did not know what to do.

MY SYMPTOMS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Joint pains
Calves/Achilles Arms Hamstrings Shoulders
Muscle pains
Increased joint stiffness
Dry ears
Dry eyes
Dry mouth and nose
Insomnia
Numbness feeling right foot
Joint popping all over my body
Dry sinus
Ear pain
Red skin after touching it / pressure on it

It is almost a year after taking Cipro.

I cannot walk because of pain in calves and Achilles.
I need a wheelchair out of my home.

Carlo, about 3 years ago

I think it's great to see more publicity about fluoroquinolone side effects. Many doctors forget that patients have a right to be informed about side effects, or perhaps doctors are not informed of side effects well enough to have intelligent conversations about them with their patients. I had a conversation with my doctor about possible side effects of Levaquin before I took it, and my doctor never mentioned tendon disorders, and convinced me to take the Levaquin since it'd be no problem for me to switch to a different antibiotic if I did have side effects. Or so we both thought.
Luckily my mom came across a publication by Public Citizen that talked about tendon damage by fluoroquinolones when I was 7 days into my 14+day course of Levaquin. I'd been wondering why my achilles were so sore and my calves so rock hard. Four years later with continued tendon and nerve pain, I'm still regretting that initial assumption that side effects go away when I quit ingesting the pills. But if this is what the result of 7 days of Levaquin is like, thank goodness for that article by Public Citizen that kept me from taking 14 days worth of pills. I am a formerly healthy, active 35 year old.

Teri, about 3 years ago

I am a 43-year-old woman. In December of 06, I was prescribed Levaquin and then Avelox. I took them for a total of 17 days. Within 24 hours, I felt like I was in a fog. Within two days, I was awakened from a sound sleep with severe muscle cramps in my thighs. My leg pain was excruciating. I was also experiencing electrical and burning sensations all over. I called my doctor. She didn't tell me to stop taking my antibiotic. I continued to take it, never attributing my pain to an antibiotic. Over the next 6 months, I developed tendonitis in every possible tendon in my body. As a professional pianist and piano teacher, I couldn’t practice the piano for 2 months. I couldn’t teach for a whole month as I could barely hobble around. I couldn't drive a car due to the pain in my calves, thighs and knees for 6 months. I couldn't walk 20 yards without my legs giving out. I couldn't even rest my foot on the floor for more than a minute because of the pressure on my tendons. I had to constantly keep changing my position from sitting, to standing, to lying down. I had muscle twitching all over and severe insomnia for about 5 months. I had terrible night sweats, but could never get warm during the day. I lost 13 pounds within 2 weeks. I spent over $3000.00 on medical tests to rule out everything from Celiac's disease to neuromuscular diseases and Sjogren's syndrome. Of course, you can imagine the anxiety over the thought of having a disease like ALS. Gradually, I began to get better. Nearly 2 years later, I have mostly healed. However, I do continue to get tendonitis if I am not careful. I workout daily, as this seems to help ease the arthritis I now have. However, I have to be very careful to not over do it. I have nerve pain in my shoulder and neck that isn't getting better. My husband, an MD, was ashamed that he didn't recognize the symptoms and stop me from taking the drug. He and I both just want doctors to inform patients and recognize these reactions. If I had only known within the first 24 hours to stop taking the drug, I probably wouldn't have had such a severe reaction. These reactions are anything but rare, just RARELY recognized.

Kim Bean, about 3 years ago

At age 46 I was given 750 mg of Levaquin for 21 days to combat epidytimitis in 2007. I had some
mild side effects during the course of treatment, ie... mild insomnia, mild joint aches, and some skin itching. After finishing my course of treatment I have developed more severe muscle and joint aches and pains
along with muscle weakness. Alot of my joints, especially my knees and wrists became very frail and prone to easy damage.
At a year out I have experienced Severe joint pain (especially of the knees and leg muscles), weakness in the
arms and neck, never-ending neck pain (constant muscle strains and pains), insomnia, anxiety, depression, dryness and vision issues with left eye, and various peripheral neuropathies. I have had periods of
no symptoms followed by strong relapses (cycles).Prior to this adverse drug reaction I was very healthy and bicycle 7-10 miles a day. I have never regained the ability to aerobic exercise and have to constantly guard against joint damage.

David, about 3 years ago

My reaction to avelox started almost three months after I took the drug for a sinus infection, in March, 2005. I did not have the muscloskeletal problems that many have, but I had the vision problems, extreme fatigue, dehydration, brain fog and short term memory loss, neuropathy, and tinnitis. Some of these ADRs stay with me today.

The medical community simply does not acknowledge the danger of fluoroquinolones. In 6 months of going from specialist to specialist, no one could tell me what was wrong with me because nobody is looking for ADRs to drugs in their diagnostic paradigm. And because they’re not, people are being mis-diagnosed.

I feel this is nothing short of a health crisis in this country. These drugs are causing major damage to people and incur great cost to our health care system. In my case, I had probably 30K worth of useless tests. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromylgia are possible results of fluoroquinolone ADRs. I know that FQ ADRs mimic arthritis in older people. FQs have been known to cause diabetes. And the list goes on.

Black box warnings should include the FULL SPECTRUM of the ADRs assocoated with these drugs. The FDA is only cutting their losses with this warning in response to a lawsuit by Public Citizen. The FDA should insist on Dear Doctor letters in the USA like there are in Europe. But the FDA is not protecting the citizens of this country; that much is evident. The FDA has ignored the evidence of damage this class of drugs cause for at least 25 years.

Rick Radcliff, about 3 years ago

Well, the black box warning about tendon ruptures is a start, BUT there is so much more to warn people about. I was misdiagnosed with a kidney infection and began taking Levaquin (500mg once per day) in September 2006. On the 5th day I had to stop taking the medication due to severe shin pain and Achilles tendon pain. I began to have difficulty walking. Over the next several months new symptoms appeared including severe muscle twitching in my legs and feet, painful aching in legs, heart palpitations (for three weeks I had arrythmias for 3-5 hours every day), severe brain fog, paresthesia in feet, toes, fingers, and face, rash on arms, severe shoulder and hip tendonitis, severe insomnia, body vibrations and dysthesias, chills, depression, dizziness, itchy torso, anxiety, panic attacks, tinnitus, eye twitches, GERD, severe neck and shoulder pain, head pressure, tachycardia, burning soles of feet, anorexia with loss of 17 pounds over 5 months, mood changes, crying jags, popping joints, arthritic like pain in fingers, hip sciatica (diagnosed by Rheumatologist), vertical nail ridges, tender scalp and migrating pain (moving from one area of the body to another), horrible headaches, internal tremors, blurry vision. I had not had any of these symptoms prior to taking Levaquin. I began taking Ativan to sleep and ease the anxiety and became addicted to it for 8 months. I was lucky to be on a sabbatical when the symptoms were the worst, otherwise I would have had to take a leave of absence. I spent so much time being tested by different specialists (referred by the primary care physician) for cancer, MS and other neurological disorders. After 22 months I still have many of these symptoms. Levaquin has brutally altered my quality of life.

Laura, about 3 years ago

In January 2008, I was 37 years old, married with 3 kids under six and in reasonable good shape considering I had had a partial elbow replacement in September 2006 from a fall. That took a real downward turn once I went to my doctor for what I thought was a sinus infection. At the visit the doctor without doing any test wrote me a prescription for ciprofloxin, which I had never heard of and definitely never used before. Of course I filled said prescription only to be somewhat surprised when I read in the warning that this was a drug used for anthrax infections. Like a good patient, I started the medication even though its strength concerned me only to have burning pain in my surgically repaired elbow and my achilles tendons at which time I called my doctor per the instructions on the medication warnings. The doctor totally ignored my complaints, saying they had nothing to do with the meds and told me to keep taking the cipro. Once again, I did what my doc suggested only to have increased tendon/muscle pain over the next two days and finally found myself having an anxiety attack after 8 cipro tablets. I stopped the medicine and made an appointment with my doctor. For the two days I had to wait to see my doctor, I was in bed with terrible anxiety, severe muscle/tendon pain/weakness and all sorts of neurological issues like brain fog, neuropathy,and spatial proximity distortion that I had no knowledge of before taking this drug. When I did go to the doctor he acknowledged that cipro could have rare side effects but didnt think my issues were caused by the medication and told me to give it a month to see if everything went away and if not come back and we would start running tests to discover my real problem. I left feeling both betrayed and scared , because my doctor of the last fifteen years had basically disregarded all my issues. So I have struggled for six months by myself trying to fix these side effects. At present I still cannot say I am 100% back to normal again. Each day has been a day to discover what adr I will have today. One day I will have severe tendon pain/tightness then that will resolve and brain fog will creep up then that resolves only to have burning neuropathy plague me for a few hours or days. The side effects from these drugs are exactly that nothing short of a modern day plague. No one acknowledges they exist and no doctor that I have seen has any idea what to do for them except to ignore them or to blame them on another disease, yet every day I have to deal with them as best I can. Something must be done to these companies and the FDA for allowing this to go on for so long without doing anything about it.

Rocky, about 3 years ago

I was a healthy, vibrant and active 27 year-old wife and mother when I was prescribed Cipro on September 25, 2007. I stopped after the third 500 MG pill when a "guardian angel" friend helped me connect the insomnia and severe headache I was experiencing to the Cipro....within 24 hours of discontinuing the Cipro symptoms intensified and multiplied. I experienced severe neuropathy all over my body, tachycardia, insomnia (not one minute of sleep for over two weeks), profuse sweating, inability to stop pacing, psychosis, loss of appetite, metallic taste in my mouth, mouth sores, dizziness, tendon pain, joint pain, extreme weakness in every muscle of my body especially my jaw, high blood sugar readings, inability to focus my vision on objects, eye floaters, and many more. After this acute stage subsided I have since gone on to develop vertigo (bad enough at times that turning over in bed induced vomiting), severe jaw pain, treatment-resistant hypothyroidism, inability to digest food and extreme stomach pain, atonic colon, skin that will not heal, multiple food and chemical sensitivities broken capillaries all over my body/face, weight loss, extreme fatigue, and a disabling skin reaction to any amount of UV light, and I look like a deflated balloon...there are more but my memory has been affected as well. If I had been given adequate risk/benefit warnings regarding taking this drug I would have absolutely opted to take another antibiotic instead. This drug has ruined my life, and robbed my children of their mother and my husband of his wife. There is not one aspect of my life that hasn't been affected by those three Cipro pills taken almost 10 months ago. My brief experience with conventional medicine is officially done....if there is one thing that I am grateful for from going through this experience it has taught me that without exception no pharmaceuticals can be trusted, and I will never put my life and health in the hands of conventional medicine again

Laurie Reylek, about 3 years ago

The dangers of fluoroquinolone drugs go far, far beyond tendon ruptures and have been known for a long time. Their toxic reactions include irreversible neuropathy and other neurological and soft tissue damage, endocrine complications, and psychosis. The list is a long one. And their occurrence is greater than we, and perhaps even doctors, are led to believe. And we risk these serious and often permanent reactions for what? A sinus infection? A simple UTI? A “boo-boo”? In my own personal experience even doctors, themselves seem to be too busy, lazy, or careless to even know much about the drugs they prescribe or even read the patient insert. The Black Box for tendon ruptures is “nice” but is late and hardly scratches the surface of recognition and education required for these drugs.

John, about 3 years ago

Flouroquinolones antibiotics (Levaquin, Cipro, Avelox) can be very dangerous. It’s imperative to understand the potentially insidious side effects and that research be spent on finding a cure.

I was a healthy 43 year old male. 12 days of Levaquin has changed my life. I had never had a side effect from a medication. This dangerous drug is in a different league.

My side effects from Levaquin include a deep ache in thigh, disabling tendon issues across achilles, groin, elbow, etc. I have tingling, numbness sensations, and muscle twitching. I need crutches now to walk, and some days cannot walk at all. This is my life now because of Levaquin.

While the black box warning issued by the FDA is a start, it doesn’t go nearly far enough in describing the seriousness nor the scope of the side effects.

It’s time to recognize the facts and not rationalize them away. Let’s not have more tragedies.

Lou, about 3 years ago

I had surgery in 2000 to remove a urinary bladder stone caused by a previous unnecessary and unsuccessful surgery for minor stress incontinence. I was given Cipro for weeks prior to the surgery and after. I was told that the inside of my bladder looked like raw hamburger meat. I continued to get UTIs while the bladder surface was healing. I was given Cipro many times over the next 5 years by 3 different physicians. I was 60 or over at the time. I was told by 2 physicians that I needed to be on Cipro for a year. After 5 months in 2005, I stopped taking the drug since I developed severe ear pain. I experienced about 20 side effects, tendon rupture, neuropathy, sensitivity to noises, balance problems, rashes and itching, sun sensitivity, fatigue, vision problems, to name just a few. I'm still disabled and suffering. What in the world will a black box do? This drug needs to be withdrawn from the market.

Lynne G, about 3 years ago

I took Levaquin while living out of the country for a suspected bacterial infection. By the last day of treatment, I had burning in my muscles and nerve pain so badly that I could no longer function. My heart rate was extremely elevated (170 bpm) and I had severe anxiety and panic attacks. My arms went completely numb; I began passing out whenever I stood up and had to be immediately sent home. I experienced depersonalization, blurred vision, sensitivity to lights and noise, and became agoraphobic. By month 3, my tendons, muscles and joints were hurting me so badly that I could no longer walk. I developed tendonitis in every major tendon in my body, peripheral neuropathy, blood glucose and distubances, liver damage, and damage to the valve of my heart as well as disorder called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS- which means that my autonomic nervous system can no longer control my heart rate and my blood pools in my lower extremities) all as a direct result of Levaquin. I am in pain on a constant basis and there is nothing that I can take to ease my suffering because I have developed Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and my liver enzymes are so damaged. It has been an absolute nightmare; I wished for death many times. It is now a year later and I have not been able to continue on with my studies or resume work. I have lost everything that I have worked so hard for and I am only 27-years-old. Levaquin has destroyed me; I used to be healthy and happy and now I am broken.

I am glad that the media and public are now starting to pay attention to the dangers of fluoroquinolones but I am very angry that this had to happen to me, or anyone for that matter. I never once was informed that there were any potential risks with taking this medication. I am in shock that it has not been pulled from the market as the FDA’s numbers on adverse events are very low. The ADR rate is NOT 1 in 100,000. 1 in 1,000 seems to be suspect as well. Check out medications.com and it is evident that there are many, many, many people suffering from this class of medications. I personally know 7 people that have had serious problems with this class of drugs. The pharmaceutical companies knew that this drug was dangerous and they failed to release information because they knew that it would interfere with their profits- that is truly criminal.

Perlgrau, about 3 years ago

I was previously a healthy 40 year old with no history of kidney, heart or lung problems . A 10-day prescription of Levaquin 500 mg for pneumonia completely changed my life. I have lived with crippling pain and neuropathy for more than seven months because of this poison. The thing I want to point out is that I had a DELAYED musculoskeletal and neurological reaction. I suspected my symptoms were caused by the drug; but when I began researching side effects of fluoroquinolones, my suspicions were confirmed when I found thousands of others online who were suffering from the same problems I was suffering from. Imagine how many others are suffering who have not connected their pain with the drug because they had a delayed reaction. Doctors: Wake up! These are not rare reactions. I personally know more than 10 people who have had a negative reaction to a fluoroquinolone antibiotic. When patients go to the doctor with these symptoms, doctors don't even think it might be from a drug. Instead, they order thousands of dollars worth of tests that all come back negative. Why doesn't the FDA require doctors to follow their patients for a year after they've been prescribed a FQ? I'm sure the world would be shocked! On the other hand, those of us who have been floxed would not be so surprised to see the vast numbers of people affected.

Rose, about 3 years ago

Here I sit over 25 months later from taking 4 750mg pills of Levaquin for a simple sinus infection. Here I sit in much pain with blurry vision. I've been in pain every day since day 3 of Levaquin. I wasn't given any warnings, just samples in my doctor's office, who, had been lied to by the drug reps about these fluoroquinolone drugs. I asked, "anything I need to know, any side effects"? "No" I was told, "these are great big-gun antibiotics". No, I have not had a tendon rupture but still have tendonitis in many parts of my body, my shoulder being so bad that my therapist is scared to work on it. My neck froze up 2 weeks ago leaving me screaming in pain and unable to drive. I suffered from severe insomnia, depression and thoughts of suicide, all drug related. I still suffer from many other ADRs including muscle twitching, nerve pain, osteoarthritis (never had this before Levaquin), floaters, gastro problems, liver problems, fuzzy vision, etc., etc., etc. My doctor has written "Levaquin toxicity" as my diagnosis. My neurologist agrees. This Black Box Warning is not strong enough! Tendon ruptures in people over 60 is just the tip of the iceburg! I was only 47 and very healthy when I took this drug. I did not take it with steriods. This drug has ruined my life! It has taken 2 years from me and God knows how many more it will take. These drugs should only be used as a last resort! Please stop hurting people!

Christine B., about 3 years ago

I was 23 years old. My life was ahead of me and I was looking forward to it. I came down with simple, acute cases of bronchitis and sinusitis and was given 20 days of Levaquin as treatment. My life has never been the same.

I’m almost 27 now and have spent the last 3 1/2 years completely disabled and housebound. The list of adverse reactions I’ve experienced is too long to really post here, but includes severe non-abating tendon problems in every part of my body; muscle contractures; severe fatigue, depersonalization and short-term memory loss; peripheral neuropathy; circulation problems; gastrointestinal problems; anxiety with random, uncontrollable panic attacks; and some neurological symptoms that no one has been able to even diagnose. I was mostly unable to stand up for over a year due to severe problems with my ankles, knees and hips and can still only walk very short distances; I also require speech-recognition software to type and any sort of even mildly strenuous activity results in further injury.

Every doctor I’ve seen has concurred that Levaquin caused this, but none have been able to help me at all, despite the warning label on the drug saying to contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. No one in the medical community can give me any idea of what my prospects for recovery are, nor can they can tell me what effect this ordeal will have on my health as I age.

While the full prescribing information lists nearly all of my symptoms as possibilities, it does not warn that they can last for years or even be permanent, that adverse reactions tend to appear in groups (many people report dozens of symptoms), and that such severe side-effects can appear weeks or months after the drug has been discontinued. The brunt of my reaction started approximately two weeks after I completed my course of Levaquin, worsened in many respects for well over a year and continues to this day. The vast majority of people who are prescribed these drugs assume that any side-effects experienced will resolve when the drug is discontinued and warnings that this is not the case are required immediately in order to provide some semblance of informed consent. The current situation is resulting in large numbers of people who are injured by this class of drugs, but have yet to uncover the cause of their ailments due to the delayed nature of these reactions.

Over the years, I’ve corresponded with hundreds of victims of these drugs, all with stories eerily similar to my own, and read thousands of such testimonials on the various websites devoted to these reactions. While these may be anecdotal reports, the correlations between them, the sheer number available and the severity of what is being reported more than warrant a thorough investigation into this matter. Informed consent is never too much to ask for and the least that should be given when it comes to a person’s health.

This black box warning, while a step in the right direction, does little to prevent others from ending up like me and nothing at all to help those who are already here. The FDA has dropped the ball on this one (to put it nicely) and I can only hope that someone in either the medical or journalistic communities decides to pick it up again. No one deserves to have to go through what I have and especially not for infections that most likely would have cleared up on their own with some time, rest and increased fluid intake.

Levarel, about 3 years ago

Many of these comments, while undoubtedly sincere, seem suspiciously similar in tone and verbosity. This strikes me as somewhat odd, considering most comments sections are riddled with typos and other grammatical errors and here we evidently have a range of people spontaneously typing pages worth of text describing their entire case histories. Curious indeed.

Aaron Poehler, about 3 years ago

Aaron, I like using Microsoft Works to check for errors before I post anything. I couldn't write everything about that happened to my husband after taking Cipro. I didn't write about the time he took a loaded .38, put it in his mouth & pulled the trigger or several other serious attempts he survived. I didn't write about the psychotic episodes & what happened during them. There are more "other" things I didn't mention. What I posted was only a short version. The reason I posted what I did was because someone might be suffering from adverse reactions similar to his & not be aware of it like we were for over 8 years. If he hadn't taken that second prescription of CiproXR, perhaps he wouldn't be disabled today. I don't want anyone to go through what he has. BTW, thank you for publishing this story. These medicines need to be Black Boxed & should have been a long time ago.

ciprovictimalso, about 3 years ago

Guess you never thought to consider that such post are from intellegent, professional people, executives, doctors, lawyers, ect that learned a long time ago if they wish to be taken seriously that they should employ thier spelling and grammar checkers before commenting on such a serious subject. This is not your typical red neck free for all where anything goes. This is a concentrated effort to sway the medical community to open their eyes and quit crippling and killing people with these drugs. Nothing more, nothing less. The reason the stories sound so similar is the fact that this is EXACTLY what this class is capable of doing. The symptoms are strikingly similar for this very reason. We all have suffered the same things from the same drug for the same reason. I would be more suspicious if indeed the post WERE filled with all kinds of spelling errors and the like. You would then have a reason to blow em off as nothing more than the ramblings of an ignorant fool basking in thier percieved "fifteen minutes of fame".

david fuller, about 3 years ago

David, you proved my point exactly. It's clear you are a reasonable, intelligent person, yet you managed to misspell 'intellegent,' 'ect,' and 'thier' in your first sentence alone, which is fairly typical of people spontaneously posting their thoughts online rather than copying and pasting already-prepared statements.

I understand that you are attempting to draw attention to your cause and I support you in that end. However, a simple copyscape check indicates that several of the above comments have indeed been pre-prepared and posted elsewhere and I would ask you to keep these comments to actual discussion rather than as a location for copy-pasting material.

Aaron Poehler, about 3 years ago

Aaron, I'm truly sorry if my posts have caused contempt. My only intention was to try to help others who may be going through adverse reactions. I sincerely apologize.

ciprovictimalso, about 3 years ago

I believe what is taking place here is simply the fact that a lot of people are so trashed by these drugs that it takes everything they have in them to post their stories once, let alone retyping it on the hundreds of sites that have ran with this story. Rather difficult to relive it once while writing it the first time, but reliving it yet another hundred or more times? Hence it becomes a matter of practicality (as well as avoidance of pain) rather than malice to simply copy the comment and post it on the other sites and perhaps add a few things to make it relevant to the discussion at hand.

Similar to what we see with so many sites simply cutting and pasting this story as it is found in the media nationwide, while performing no fact checking whatsoever. (which is appearing word for word, the same as a few of these post, in so many newspapers and websites.) I am quite sure that if you were to run a copyscape scan on the story itself you would find this to be true.

Anyhow, I apologize if you found it to be unacceptable that a few of my 'editorials' regarding this issue were posted on other sites as well as here, and I will refrain from doing so in the future here. In fact I did not even bother running this through my spell checker which has been an ingrained habit with any email I write for almost a decade now.

This has become a neccessity as for the most part I cannot even remember how to spell words I learned in the first grade anymore (even though I have been a recreational writer for over thirty years now) and my short term memory is non existant these days. Just another gift from these drugs that I, and so many others have learned to adapt to.

With the links to these various sites being circulated amongst the various adverse drug reaction forums dealing with this class of toxic chemotherapeutic agents, which have thousands of members, I'm sure we may very well see more of this in the near future. But as a courtesy to you, and in an effort not to abuse my welcome here, I will ask those who participate on my forum to be aware of your reasonable request and to behave accordingly.

As to the other forums I have no say, no influence, and no control as to what those members may do as I am neither an active member or even a guest there. I have my hands full dealing with those who participate on my own forum without getting involved in some other webmaster's grief.

Hopefully they too will read your comment and respond accordingly. But with the worldwide membership on such forums being in the tens of thousands they may not, and as such I can only speak for myself regarding this.

david fuller, about 3 years ago

I was prescibed Avelox for a sinus infection in June. The first round didn't have any effect, so I got a second antibiotic -Cipro.
My knees started popping within two weeks. I was alerted to the
"potential" cartilage problems by hearing a blurb about an FDA
warning. Three days ago, both hip joints started hurting. I have
never experienced any hip pain before in my life. (I am 57 years old.) While I was on the medication, I experienced insomnia, anxiety, and depression. I requested Amoxicillin from my physician, but I guess the kickback from the pharmaceutical company was too great for him to recommend it. The cost of
two rounds of antibiotics was over $250.00. If you want to know
why the doctors disreguard the side effects of these drugs, just look at the size of their wallets.

Earl, about 3 years ago

***Possible Symptom Control***

When I was 14 (in 1993) I tore my ACL and cartiledge while playing soccer and proceeded to have arthroscopic surgery. During the surgery I contracted a staph infection from the concrete used to hold my graft in place (which almost killed me). This was then followed up by multiple surgeries and a prolonged period (4 months) of being overdosed by Vancomycin, Ciprofloxacin, (and Oxycillin when the Vanco and Cipro had depelted my white blood cell count to the point where I needed to be in isolation). Honestly these drugs saved my life, but I have been left with the following significant problems since then:

* weak joints
* continuous tendinitis
* headaches and backaches causing vomiting multiple times a month (I actually only went a couple days a month without them)
* insomnia
* heart palpitations
* dizziness
* depression
* numbness
* muscle weakness

Since then I have spent a significant amount of my time searching for remedies. I have gone to multiple neurologists and found minor relief from neurontin and been tested for every neurological disease possible (to no avail). The best solutions I found came from a change in lifestyle and a willingness to try anything to decrease the symptoms.

The most effective solutions I have found include:
- Chiropractor - this eased the levels of pain, but never completely got rid of it
- Accupuncture - for the first time since I was a teenager I went multiple days in a row without pain.
- Detox Patch - I decided what the heck and tried it. I was actually able to sleep through the night and not wake up feeling like I couldn't move.
- NO MORE SUGAR or white flour - Sugar actually causes nerve damage as well. Once I removed this from my diet and started eating only fresh foods I had an amazing experience. I actually was able to stop taking most of my prescription and over the counter pain medication. All I have to do is eat the slightest amount of sugar and within 15-30 minutes I go from feeling ok to having piercing pain in my head neck and back as well as becoming dizzy.
- Exercise - My symptoms decrease as long as I exercise at least every other day.
- Omega-3 fatty acids (such as fish oil) - this can not reverse nerve damage, but it helps keep further damage from happening.

Since I have been looking for solutions I have actually been able to live a more active lifestyle. I went from not being able to run at all without my legs giving out on me and shooting pain throughout my entire body to running a marathon last October.

It's worth a try to get off of some of the medications that doctors give to control symptoms. I am personally uneasy taking anything now due to unknown side effects such as what we are all dealing with right now.

Tracy, about 3 years ago

I also forgot to mention that Melatonin 3-5 mg for me (although others have had help through less) has helped bring me to be able to sleep 5-7 hrs most nights although it is still sometimes quite interrupted.

Tracy, about 3 years ago

I was prescribed Cipro for a UTI. Shortly after finishing the prescription, I experienced muscle soreness/pain, twitching, tingling, & spasms. I also developed extremely dry skin, eye problems, tinnitus, severe headaches and other symptoms. Furthermore, shortly after being prescribed Cipro, I severely tore my calf muscle, which took nearly two months to heal. Nearly 2 1/2 years later I continue suffering with muscle spasms and twitches, although, thankfully, the muscle soreness has mostly abated. The doctors I have consulted have mostly dismissed my complaints and no link has officially been made to Cipro. I continue to try and live my life to the best of my ability, but it has been irrevocably changed.

JENNIFER, about 3 years ago

My husband was having problems with a neurological disorder which really had not been diagnosed. He was given cipro for a maybe UTI, 3 days after taking cipro he had 3 mild episodes of what appeared to be seizures. On the fourth day after I had bathed him he took a nap and could not be awakened. The ambulance was called because I did not know what was happening. He was taken to the ER, and woke up 3 hours later.
He was alert and told the nurse who I was, but they thought he should be admitted to the hospital for observation. I told them that I thought the seizures were brought on by cipro and apparently they didn't pay any attention to what I said as when he was admitted to the hospital he was given levaquin by IV for 4 more days. I did not realize it was a sister drug to cipro until he left the hospital. I believe this drug escalated his neorological condition as he died 2 weeks after leaving the hospital. His body slowly stopped functioning. He could not stay awake, could not talk, had no gag relex, horrible way to die.

Karen, about 3 years ago

I just finished a course ofLevaquin after a severe reaction to Amoxycillin; my thigh muscles have been sore for several days, among other symptoms; I am extremely alarmed after reading all of the comments listed. How can drs be allowed to prescribe "toxic" medication and what can I do now?? I am tempted to start a lawsuit against the dr and/or the drug co.

Charlotte, about 3 years ago

My wife had Lou Gehrig's Disease. In late December of 2007, she had a urinary tract infection. Ciprofloxacin was prescribed. This sent her into an absolute drop. She had massive cramping and diarrhea, as well as respiration problems. We called her doctor, Dr. Daniel of Manchester, Tn. and he then prescribed Immodium. it was at that point that I realized there was a massive problem. She got incredibly weak and could no longer move. Prior to this time she had been able to transfer herself from her wheel chair to a toilet or her bed. It was a terrible event because she was confined to either her wheel chair or a bed. The diarrhea was six to seven times a day and it got all over her, the chair, her bed and everything else. I figured that Immodium was a ridiculous call from the doctor because that certainly would not stop her stomach pain nor the respiration problems that she was experiencing. We had to take her to the Emergency room at the local hospital. She stayed there for almost a week and then had to be transferred to a rehab unit in a local nursing home where she was for a week. Eventually she came home. She never was able to transfer herself, again and even though she could still swallow and cut her own food and sit up in her wheel chair, she died on April 22, 2008. I am convinced that this was at least a year and a half sooner than she would have been expected to live. I am also convinced that she endured tremendous suffering and all because of the Cipro. I urge anyone who is prescribed this product to be extremely careful and cautious.

Ken Preiser, about 3 years ago

Bob from Lincoln UK

I took 7 days of a 28 day course of Ofloxacin in November 2007
Had to stop the meds due to intense pain in my knees and shoulders.
4 weeks in: -
hardly walk with severe swellings in knees , ankles and hips.
6 weeks in: -
Toxic psychosis, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts
9 months in: -
Pain in joints and muscles, tendons popping in every single joint but worse in spine.
Chronic back pain
Worsening of pre existing Tinnitus
Burning sensations on hands and feet.
Flushing sensations
Bee like stings all over
Feeling of being cold even in hot weather.
Urinary problems
New symptoms manifest themselves every week
Symptoms are progressive and not transient as stated in the prescribing literature.
I am 43 but feel like 63.
If you have Prostatitis or any infection that HAS NOT been cultured refuse Fluoroquinolones until they can confirm its life or death, honest it is just not worth the risk.
BE WARNED YOU QUALITY OF LIFE MAY DEPEND UPON IT!!!!!!!!!!!

bob, about 3 years ago

i burst into tears as i read the first entry. i'm laying in my bed right now, typing on my PDA, and unable to move my neck in any direction. i've been google-ing my symptoms for 2 hours now, and not once did i search levaquin. coincidentally, i took 7 levaquin last week for a sinus infection. the day before yesterday, i got bit by a mosquito 3 times, so my first thought was meningitis. but yestereday my left leg starting hurting constantly, similar to shin splints and for days my body had been mildly sore and exhausted. now, i cant even get up to use the restroom. i'm scared.

courtney, about 3 years ago

I took Proquin once in May 2008 and once in July 2008. In May, I had tingling, prickly feelings, muscle spasms, numbness in my arms, pain when my right arm is stretched or twisted, pain in my right foot when stretched, an itch in the middle of my back. I was tested for Multiple Sclerosis in August. The neurologist ruled that out. As of Sept 2008, what remains is an itch in my back, poping in joints, pain in my right arm and pain in my right foot when stretched. Neither the neurologist, my internist nor my gynocologist identified my symptoms as being related to Proquin. When I pointed out that my symptoms match the "rare" side effects of Proquin, they seemed hesistant to consider this. I don't know why the medical community is so unaware about this problem. After having tingling and pin pricks start 12 hours after the second round of Proquin in July, I called my doctor to ask if the drug was causing it. He said no and to keep taking it. I dread what is coming. I hope it doesn't get worse but there a little things like poping in new joints every day. A massage therapist did help releive some of the nerve pain in my arm. She said if feels like my fascia (soft tissue component of the connective tissue system that permeates the human body) has been shrink-wrapped and twisted. She has been working on me for 4 years and knows what my body was before and after. She said it feels like I've been in a car accident even though I haven't.
I am a professional with a master degree.

Valerie, about 3 years ago

I took three 500 mg doses of Cipro in August 08, and after the third one, my foot cramped so violently that I almost fell over. I looked it up in the insert and then googled madly until I got the picture of this awful drug. I also remembered a friend that had warned me about levaquin, because she is partially crippled from it, so at this point I learned that the two drugs are related. I stopped right away-- and 2 days later, the black box warning came out! In my search for solutions, I learned that fluoride, a main component of these drugs, interferes with enzyme function in the body, and also competes on a cellular level with calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iodine. It seems to be of paramount importance to keep your levels of these elements at a good level so that they can displace the fluoride ions and even create a chelation effect to help carry them out of your body. For iodine supplementation, be careful not to overdo it, as that can tax the kidneys. A safer way is to paint iodine on my skin the size of a silver dollar (not more than once a day) and let your body absorb it. Or you can eat sea vegetables. Do some research on your own, my dear friends... I think these ideas I have mentioned can be a valuable place to start. I found that when I slack off the supplementation, I notice more muscle and tendon pain, which abates soon after I resume. I have been taking 1000 mg calcium-magnesium citrate in a 1:1 ratio and painting the iodine to good effect. I try not to go to bed with food in my stomach, as the liver is better able to cleanse itself if it is also not trying to break down and metabolize food. Everyone's body reacts to and stores the drug differently in the tissues. But the idea would be to assist your body in releasing this toxin as much as possible. Also important for us is to eat organic produce and meats, as many of the pesticides and drugs used are fluoride based. Avoid fluoridated water, too (most filters don't remove it, though).

Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. I send you all love and good wishes...

Melissa Middleton , almost 3 years ago

I am a 62 year old man who recently had a partial nefractomy for cancer.After myt operation I was diagnosed with a serious bacterial infection of the skin i.e. cellulitis. I was treated with massive doses of antibiotics including Levaquin/ I I weas on the3 drug for 4 weeks and stopped it myself when I thought that I was gettin g sicker from taking it. Thedoctors were trating the infection but it was the side effects of the antibiotics that was masking the infection. I have been experiencing extreme tendon pain, muscle soreness in my thighs that at times is so sore I accnnot bend over and horrific neuropathy in my feet. I allso have insomnia and gastointestonal problems. I have begun to realize t5hat I might have these dibilitating issues for the rest of my life.. When I told the Doctor I was stopping all my medication, he advised me not to but I realized that the side effects could actually destroy my life. Any longer on them I believe would have killed me.

Larry, almost 3 years ago

I took Factive in June 2008 for an upper respiratory infection. 6-8 weeks later I noticed abnormal smells and soon after altered taste. Almost everything has an altered smell. I can only eat some foods by wearing a nose plug. First I went to a dentist and Ithen I saw an ENT and had a CT scan, next I saw a Neurologist and have had an MRI. My dentist perscribed Amoxcylin and did some dental work. My ENT perscribed Clindamycin. Nothing has helped. Has anyone else had these smell & taste disorder after taking FACTIVE? Thank you - I am desperate for help!

Peggy, Ft Lauderdale, almost 3 years ago

Hello. I fear I will be added to this list soon. I had a severe case of bronchitis. I am allergic to penicillin, therefore my doctor prescribed Levaquin 500 once a day for 10 days. Let me say this, first. I hate prescription medications, I avoid them if I can. I have to be pretty darn sick, to even go to the doctor. After 3 weeks and not being able to get well from this bronchitis, I finally went to my doctor. Naturally they testeded me for Swine Flue which was negative and prescribed the Levaquin. I was so tired of coughing and congestion, I was willing to give it a try. For the most part I have been a very healthy 50 year old, I hike daily and am a very active person, on NO other medications. Day #1. I felt dizzy, staggered a bit, tingling in my feet, itching on the ankles, my hands were a bit stiff. I figured, ok, so maybe it was a strong dose that I needed to get over this, a few symptoms, I'll tolerate it to get better. Day #2. still dizzy, began getting severe pains just below my rib cage on the left side.
Day #3. I thought I was having, some kind of medical problem, but not sure what, couldn't of been kidney stone, I was getting concerned. Started having horrible diarrhea. Day #4. my entire rib cage was hurting, I could not sleep, Laying down was extremely painful! Day #5. I could not believe the sweats, the burning followed by pain in my side and stomach. on Day #6. I woke up early with extreme pain, like someone had broken my right leg, along the calf, my pains were so horrific, on my side and ribs, I was nauseous. I looked up Levaquin, read the warnings on-line and decided, OK enough is enough. I want to be better but this has to Stop. I did not take my last 4 pills. I figured ok after this gets out of my system, I'll be fine. NOT!! My side pain in continuos, no over the counter pain relieve medicine is helping. My ribs hurt, my foot at the ankles were so achy I could not tie my shoes tight. A week after, I was still having some bronchitis but now I could not tolerate coughing because of the pain, I had to go back to the doctor. He took blood tests and x rays. He said everything was fine. Well this is NOT in my head. he gave me a muscle relaxer, But it is not helping. I now have a stiff neck and a new sharp pain in my right side. Now I am wondering how LONG am I going to be experiencing these pains? Some days I cannot do anything, housework, my job or even go for a hike. Who would of thought 6 doses could cause such a nightmare? People act like I am crazy, but why would a person who enjoys outdoors, gardening, hiking and just being a busy person, full of life, suddenly change into a 80 year old? That's what I feel like. If this keeps up, I am going to have to ask my doctor for stronger pain pills. I have been looking into herbal remedies to counteract what has been done. Figures, a person who is healthy, does not like to take prescription drugs, finally has too, for health reasons, trusts the Doctor, and now my life may be changed forever. Well he told me to contact him in a week if this has not cleared up, and you better believe, I will be sending him to these web sites, and testimonies, We need to get more physicians to wake up and on the bandwagon, against drugs like these, to not blindly prescribe medication, esp those that are causing alarming side effects.

Sherrie, over 2 years ago

My husband John was prescribed Levaquin due to fever, chills and high white cell count. After taking 3rd daily 500 mg pill he developed excruciating lower back pain, insomia and feeling like he is in a twilight zone. I researched Levaquin and read about all of the long term human suffering this little pill has caused. I told him what I found and he stopped taking immediately. Called Dr. and he said to stop taking Levaquin, but offered no other guidance or antibiotic. Called Dr. second time and on call Dr. said it couldn't be the drug. This is day 5 since first pill was taken and John is going to the emergency room in hopes of some relief. We are hoping he won't have long term effects like many of the people that have taken fluoroquinolone medication seem to have. It is hard to believe a drug that has ruined so many lives is being given out like candy.

Brenda , about 2 years ago

It's ironic that I try always to avoid doctors and taking oharmaceuticals, yet this one time I didn't even read the inesrt in the box. I thought he was giving me a type of antibiotic such as oenicyllin, something I wouldn't choose to take unless I had to, but which I knew wouldn't do any serious, longterm harm. I only had a urinary infection!
I already have M.E./CFIDS, so I have more than enough horrible symptoms without this.
After six days, I was (and am) horrendously tired, weak, dizzy and sick, suicidally depressed, feel as though my skin is on fire, can't see properly, can't think straight, have cramps in my legs, pains in elbows and wrists.... I'v estopped taking the stuff, but am feeling worse and worse - and now I find that I can expect this to get worse in the future, that my body and brain have probably been irreparably damaged and that, apparently, there's no antidote, no known help.

I can hardly take it in. I paid that doctor 40€ and the pharmacy 10€ - to poison me.

What happened to, "First, do no harm"?

Kate, about 2 years ago

Took Levaquin for 2 days for an ear infection. Immediatlely experienced extreme anxiety, shaking, racing thoughts -- these symtoms seem to have stopped. Also developed insomnia immediately after taking, (the same 2 nights I took the pills). This returns from time to time still. (I never ever had trouble sleeping before). The most troublesome symptom which I still have after 4 months is continual nerve sensations -- mostly on my face, arms and legs. It feels like somewhere between hot and cold, or as if a liquid were poured on my skin. Cannot get a docter to believe that any of this was caused from this drug, but I am sure it was.
How is this drug prescribed without any warnings to the innocent patient. This has had a horrific effect on my life.

Liz, about 2 years ago

I was put on Levaquin for a sinus infection. The night after my second pill, I awoke with cramps in the back of my legs. I took one more pill and then was put on a different antibiotic at my request.

Its been 2 weeks since my last pill and I now have severe Achilles pain. I cannot walk without bracing my ankles with ace bandages. Even with the braces, I cannot stand or walk for very long.

I am writing here because I read all of this info before taking the Levaquin but was so sick from a sinus infection that I chose to still take it. This is not like me. I dont take many drugs. I had been on 4 other antibiotics prior to Levaquin and felt awful. I decided that the chances of anything happening were slim and I was over reacting.

I want others in my position to PLEASE not take this drug. My doctor wont even acknowledge that I am still having Achilles pain due to Levaquin. This makes me wonder how many patients have reported severe side effects that are not reported by the doctor. If no one is reporting these side effects, how do we know what the numbers even are?

I can only hope this subsides and I dont get worse. Now I have a sinus infection and can hardly walk. This is AWFUL!!!

Michelle, almost 2 years ago

why dont they just not prescribe LEVAQUIN anymore to many horror stories about this drug. i went to emergency 10/20/09 with a infection,levaquin was prescribed but after reading about it i wont take it.

lynn rhoads, almost 2 years ago

I took ten days worth of a 30 day script for prostatitis in Aug. 2009. I since have been diagnosed with a partially collapsed lung with severe scarring. This keeps me gasping for air at all times. Dilated left and right ventricles in my heart which makes my heart feel like it is doing flip flops and may stop (explode) at any time. Severe vasculitis which at one point looked like a garden hose was placed underneath my skin on my chest. I also had a vein in my neck that looked the same. The pain from this was extreme to say the least. Now I am experiencing the pain in my joints and muscle, am waiting for something to rupture. Muscles feel like they are so tight, weak, and ready to snap. My vision comes and goes with constant floaters. I was a fairly healthy 45 yr. old professional with a master's degree, and now feel like I may have to quit working. The fatigue is out of control! I cannot get enough rest. Anyone who thinks this is a joke I would certainly let you walk in my shoes for as long as you could stand it. If anyone has info or help with an attorney please feel free to post, as my life has been changed forever.

Rich, almost 2 years ago

I HAD A SERIOUS ADVERSE REA CTION TO LEVAQUIN 2 YEARS AGO AND JUST RECENTLY, I ATE HAMBURG THAT MUST HAVE HAD A QUIOLONE IN IT AND I HAVE HAD AN EXTREME REACTION TO IT. VERY SIMILAR TO THE INJURY FROM THE LEVAQUIN. EXTREME PAINS IN MY ARMS AND LOWER LEGS AND MANY NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS. QUINOLONES ARE DANGEROUS TO TAKE.

JNB, over 1 year ago

i had serious adverse reactions to levaquin in september of '08 and have had 1 relapse eating chicken. recently, i have had another relapse and it was from either hamburg or haddock in a restaurant. what is safe to eat after this happens. the pains in my arms have been more severe than when i had the original injury.

Jennie, over 1 year ago

Fluoroquinolones are poisonous drugs that have many horrible side effects. The lawsuits going on all seem to be for Tendon ruptures and other visible injuries. The fact is that many of these fluoroquinolones cause unseen damage to the nerves and the senses, such as vision and hearing problems, tinnitus, hyperacusis,
and other adverse effects that can be permanent. These drugs should be taken off the market.

Mark, about 1 year ago

My mother was prescribed Cipro for a UTI and after taking it developed severe gastrointestinal problems. She has lost over 40 pounds in 4 months and has constant bouts of diareha and vomiting. She has gone through test after test after test and still no diagnosis. It seems that the medical community is reluctant to place blame anywhere -God forbid they trace this to the precious pharmaceutical companies.In the meantime my mother suffers with no relief until they try and figure out the problem. Where will it end?

Karen, 12 months ago

I was recently prescribed Cipro for a UTI and took five doses. The good news is that it finally solved the mystery of what destroyed my nervous system in 1997 (although I've recovered maybe 80%).

I took a full course of a "floxacin" drug in 1997. Within one month I noticed my hand was "drawing up" in a somewhat spastic position. Although I could "pull it back" it kept happening. Days later my hearing was impaired, I was slurring my speech, had severe mental confusion, and I was having painful electric shocks in my arms and legs. This progressed to severe nerve pain where I couldn't have even a sheet touching my legs. My muscles twitched and it looked like there were little animals walking under my skin. Finally I was only able to walk about five steps before my muscles would give out. I lost my job. My doctor was stumped and sent me to a neurologist who said I must have MS. After numerous MRIs and spinal taps it was determined that I didn't have MS. I went to a Toxicologist in Seattle who hadn't a clue. It took about six months before I started improving and about three years to start approaching my "new normal". Residual damage includes permanent right leg numbness, lack of hand coordination, some hearing loss and brain fog. I'm getting by, working, but I'll never be what I was. Cipro should be reserved for anthrax but if there is an alternative it should definitely be used.

MAC, 10 months ago

I have only taken 2 doses of Cipro for a sinus infection. I'm pissed that the Doctor prescribed them to me. It was a walk in clinic, and he really didn't know me. I am 37 years old and have had a few years of undiagnosed heart related problems which we discussed in detail. I suddenly have been stricken with sinusitus as of late so I thought I would get an antibiotic before it got any worse. My first dose made me nausious, and I woke up with a stiff neck. It is not worth it to me to risk a full blown arrythmia along with all the other side effects I am seeing here- for a sinus infection?? I think not. I'm mad because nothing was explained to me I had to find out on my own. It just makes me realize he could care less about what he prescribes to me. Had I been given the choice to deal with the sinus thing or take the drug (knowing the risks)I would have declined treatment alltogether. You totally have to weigh the risks, and it is not worth it. My heart goes out to all those people who were not given the choice or did not find out sooner. Anyways I called the office and asked for Zithromax- a less toxic alternative and I will never go to that Doctor again.

Dina, 9 months ago