problems after taking antibiotic 'Levaquin'

[LuckySevens]

I had an out of state visitor catch something horrible on the shuttle bus on July 3. There was a couple on the bus with her, coughing horribly, and they stated they were on a cruise and the entire ship got sick. My visitor ended up getting this, and the day she left I got it also. Long story shortened, I took the antibiotic 'Levaquin' and also prednisone. The second day, I noticed my shoulder was extremely painful, but thought it was from tossing and turning in bed. On day 4, I had problems even moving my shoulder. Stopped the pills, called DR. and he said to stop taking them. Did lots of research and discovered this is a side effect of this antibiotic....tendinitis, torn tendons, etc. A week later and my shoulder is not better. I am looking for anyone that has experienced this, and hoping they have some suggestions on how to help my shoulder pain. I have been taking Aleve, and pain patches but no help. Has anyone out there experienced the side effects of this drug? Google it, it is a nightmare drug!!!
Thanks in advance. Rose

[John_W]

This is what Drugs.com writes;

Levaquin may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. This can happen during treatment or up to several months after you stop taking Levaquin. Tendon problems may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take steroid medication, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant.

I've taken large amounts of predisone the past two years for various skin problems, so I know it's a steroid. The one thing that stands out to me is they say tendon problems may be more likely if you're over 60 and take steroid medication. Seems like he shouldn't of prescribed that drug in combination with presdisone, a steroid.

[blueash]

The key problem is in your first sentence. "horrible cold virus" Repeat and repeat and repeat No antibiotic should ever be taken for a viral illness. It is completely useless and only will result in side effects either for you the patient or for all of us in inducing of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Even those overdiagnosed excuses of "sinusitis" or "bronchitis' need to be viewed skeptically. Just because your nose is runny and you have a headache does not mean you have a BACTERIAL sinus infection. Just because you are coughing does not mean you have a BACTERIAL bronchial infection. Here is what the CDC says about bronchitis and antibiotics:
Bronchitis (Chest Cold)

Antibiotics are almost never needed for bronchitis, a condition that occurs when the airways in the lungs swell and produce mucus, which causes a person to cough


and about sinusitis:
A sinus infection (sinusitis) does not typically need to be treated with antibiotics in order to get better.
Sinus infections occur when fluid is trapped or blocked in the sinuses, allowing germs to grow. Sinus infections are usually (9 out of 10 cases in adults) caused by a virus


So please stop asking for antibiotics even if you have a "bad" virus. And severely question the need for any antibiotic for bronchitis or sinusitis. There is no such thing as a safe antibiotic. Only lower risk. And the benefit needs to outweigh the risk. If there is no benefit (except your "need" for a useless Rx) then always the risk exceeds the benefit.

[LuckySevens]

The key problem is in your first sentence. "horrible cold virus" Repeat and repeat and repeat No antibiotic should ever be taken for a viral illness. It is completely useless and only will result in side effects either for you the patient or for all of us in inducing of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Even those overdiagnosed excuses of "sinusitis" or "bronchitis' need to be viewed skeptically. Just because your nose is runny and you have a headache does not mean you have a BACTERIAL sinus infection. Just because you are coughing does not mean you have a BACTERIAL bronchial infection. Here is what the CDC says about bronchitis and antibiotics:
Bronchitis (Chest Cold)

Antibiotics are almost never needed for bronchitis, a condition that occurs when the airways in the lungs swell and produce mucus, which causes a person to cough



and about sinusitis:
A sinus infection (sinusitis) does not typically need to be treated with antibiotics in order to get better.
Sinus infections occur when fluid is trapped or blocked in the sinuses, allowing germs to grow. Sinus infections are usually (9 out of 10 cases in adults) caused by a virus


So please stop asking for antibiotics even if you have a "bad" virus. And severely question the need for any antibiotic for bronchitis or sinusitis. There is no such thing as a safe antibiotic. Only lower risk. And the benefit needs to outweigh the risk. If there is no benefit (except your "need" for a useless Rx) then always the risk exceeds the benefit.

Thanks for your response. I did not go into a lot of detail about my illness, and should have just said I was very sick and not even mentioned 'cold'. My pulse was very high and my chest hurt and I could not sleep, but I did not even have a runny nose or head cold. A few years back I had a long and scary bout of pneumonia. Since then, my lungs seem weakened, and when I get 'bad stuff', it goes directly to my lungs. I was worried the bronchitis was getting worse and I feared pneumonia again. Levaquin IS prescribed for bronchitis so I thought it would be safe. I took it 2 years ago and it worked fine and I had no adverse reaction to it. I will say after 4 days of the drugs this time, my lungs cleared completely. Unfortunately I got the tendon side effects this time, which I was not aware of even being a side effect. I do understand antibiotic abuse and as for taking antibiotics often, I work hard at NOT abusing them. I am allergic to several and am afraid if I get pneumonia again that they might not find one that will work for me. Of course if I could have a 'do over'.....I would NOT take the Levaquin. I thank you for you take on this.

[kaydee]

This post really caught my attention. I too have had numerous bouts with bronchitis & sinus issues. I went to Urgent Cares during these episodes and of course antibiotics were prescribed. I seem to have bad reactions to most of those that were ordered and Levaquin is one of them. Since taking that med, I seem to have an issue with my upper left arm. Feels as though I've torn something or possibly a pulled muscle...aches and sometimes a burning sensation.
I work hard at avoiding ALL antibiotics and do what I can to enhance my immune system. Worth a visit to the lake nutrition store in Spanish Springs area
Hope you feel better soon

[Lisa64]

My father had a bad reaction to the drug. He had severe pain in his legs and could hardly walk. He stopped the medication and felt better in about 2 to 3 weeks.

[CFrance]

Thank you for this warning, LuckySevens. I did not know about this. I hope you are completely better soon.

[GolfGirl122]

The story of levaquin has a long history. My father was prescribed levaquin while visiting in Florida and within days his Achilles' tendon ruptured. That happened in 1999!! Even then the warnings were there that elders or athletic individuals may experience tendon problems or rupture. Levaquin is off my list.

[jnieman]

Lots of lawsuits against Levaquin if you do a Google search.

[Sanibel]

I also took that drug. Torn tendons in both shoulders. Physical therapy but they are still not healed. It's been a year now. My symptoms didn't start until the 7th day, last day of taking it.

[Bonny]

Stick to the Z Pak if you need an antibiotic.

[manaboutown]

I would never take Levaquin again. Within four days after I started taking it I developed an Achilles tendon issue. It should not be available IMHO.

[Vernster]

The key problem is in your first sentence. "horrible cold virus" Repeat and repeat and repeat No antibiotic should ever be taken for a viral illness. It is completely useless and only will result in side effects either for you the patient or for all of us in inducing of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Even those overdiagnosed excuses of "sinusitis" or "bronchitis' need to be viewed skeptically. Just because your nose is runny and you have a headache does not mean you have a BACTERIAL sinus infection. Just because you are coughing does not mean you have a BACTERIAL bronchial infection. Here is what the CDC says about bronchitis and antibiotics:
Bronchitis (Chest Cold)

Antibiotics are almost never needed for bronchitis, a condition that occurs when the airways in the lungs swell and produce mucus, which causes a person to cough




and about sinusitis:
A sinus infection (sinusitis) does not typically need to be treated with antibiotics in order to get better.
Sinus infections occur when fluid is trapped or blocked in the sinuses, allowing germs to grow. Sinus infections are usually (9 out of 10 cases in adults) caused by a virus


So please stop asking for antibiotics even if you have a "bad" virus. And severely question the need for any antibiotic for bronchitis or sinusitis. There is no such thing as a safe antibiotic. Only lower risk. And the benefit needs to outweigh the risk. If there is no benefit (except your "need" for a useless Rx) then always the risk exceeds the benefit.

Great post and entirely on target. Wish docs would STOP prescribing antibiotics for viral infections.

[LuckySevens]

I also took that drug. Torn tendons in both shoulders. Physical therapy but they are still not healed. It's been a year now. My symptoms didn't start until the 7th day, last day of taking it.

So sorry to hear you are still not well.
I need to find an orthopedic dr. to see, to find out if mine is just tendonitis or an actual tear. Hurts to move my elbow out to the side, plus impossible to undo my bra in the back. Putting arm straight up is very painful. I fear a tear.

[Abby10]

For those of you who have experienced tendon ruptures, etc, from being on Levaquin - by any chance, were you also taking steroids (Prednisone) at the same time? There is a major drug interaction between the 2 drugs.

Levaquin and prednisone Drug Interactions - Drugs.com (http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/levaquin-with-prednisone-1457-861-1936-0.html)

[Barefoot]

For those of you who have experienced tendon ruptures, etc, from being on Levaquin - by any chance, were you also taking steroids (Prednisone) at the same time? There is a major drug interaction between the 2 drugs.

Levaquin and prednisone Drug Interactions - Drugs.com (http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/levaquin-with-prednisone-1457-861-1936-0.html)

This is what Drugs.com writes;

Levaquin may cause swelling or tearing of a tendon (the fiber that connects bones to muscles in the body), especially in the Achilles' tendon of the heel. This can happen during treatment or up to several months after you stop taking Levaquin. Tendon problems may be more likely to occur if you are over 60, if you take steroid medication, or if you have had a kidney, heart, or lung transplant.

I've taken large amounts of predisone the past two years for various skin problems, so I know it's a steroid. The one thing that stands out to me is they say tendon problems may be more likely if you're over 60 and take steroid medication. Seems like he shouldn't of prescribed that drug in combination with presdisone, a steroid.

Abby, this was mentioned by John in Post #2 on July 28. He also referenced drugs.com.

[Abby10]

Abby, this was mentioned by John in Post #2 on July 28. He also referenced drugs.com.

Sorry, Barefoot. I read the posts a few days back and should have reviewed them before I posted last night (combination of way past my bedtime and that darn memory thing!). Anyway, what I was alluding to was how many people who were afflicted was it a direct result of this interaction versus just taking the drug alone.

I guess in summary, a few things should be taken into consideration when taking Levaquin - the steroid situation, age and condition of patient, and is one really treating a bacteria versus a virus. Taking away the drug interaction aspect, I often tell patients if you are being treated with the right drug, at the right dose, and it is for the right condition (for example, bacterial vs viral) the chances of side effects are much less. The side effects that I often see that people experience are because either it is not the correct drug for the condition or the dosage is more than the patient can handle. Many people take these same drugs with no problems whatsoever. Unfortunately, medicine is not an exact science. Prescribers are often left with a trial and error situation because everyone's body make-up differs so much. It may be the exact same pill but the end result could have more to do with the physiological make-up of the patient than the drug itself.

[CFrance]

Sorry, Barefoot. I read the posts a few days back and should have reviewed them before I posted last night (combination of way past my bedtime and that darn memory thing!). Anyway, what I was alluding to was how many people who were afflicted was it a direct result of this interaction versus just taking the drug alone.

I guess in summary, a few things should be taken into consideration when taking Levaquin - the steroid situation, age and condition of patient, and is one really treating a bacteria versus a virus. Taking away the drug interaction aspect, I often tell patients if you are being treated with the right drug, at the right dose, and it is for the right condition (for example, bacterial vs viral) the chances of side effects are much less. The side effects that I often see that people experience are because either it is not the correct drug for the condition or the dosage is more than the patient can handle. Many people take these same drugs with no problems whatsoever. Unfortunately, medicine is not an exact science. Prescribers are often left with a trial and error situation because everyone's body make-up differs so much. It may be the exact same pill but the end result could have more to do with the physiological make-up of the patient than the drug itself.
For what does Levaquin treat that another antibiotic could not? Is there something else that would work without the risk?

[Abby10]

For what does Levaquin treat that another antibiotic could not? Is there is something else that would work without the risk?

Yes, there almost always is another alternative. Sometimes the problem arises for someone like me who is allergic to 2 major classes of antibiotics. So, if say a Z-pak doesn't work (usually my first line for bacterial infections because of my allergies), then the doctor may have to move on to a quinolone antibiotic (like Levaquin). But of course it all depends on what you are treating, and there are plenty of older antibiotics that work just as well as some of the newer ones for some indications. Sometimes I think there is a lot of overkill when prescribing these newer more potent antibiotics, but it is a very individual thing in more ways than one......again not always an easy decision for physicians.

We as patients also play an important role in all of this (as some mentioned previously), by not insisting on an antibiotic for every ailment that comes along. Viruses, like colds, flu, some ear infections and sinus infections, etc do not require antibiotics and may do more harm than good in the long run. These more potent antibiotics are a direct result of the superbug phenomenon whereby overprescribing of antibiotics that should work, have been rendered ineffective by overuse.

[zonerboy]

Every medication has possible harmful side effects.
The question is always do the possible benefits out weigh thr possible risks?
There is no free lunch.

[Abby10]

Every medication has possible harmful side effects.
The question is always do the possible benefits out weigh thr possible risks?
There is no free lunch.

You are so right. Always have to take that into consideration as well.

[Pam S. Greene]

I recently took an antibiotic, Chephalexin for a week after a tooth extraction (I have an artificial hip and need the drug) and have had traveling aches and stiffness, shoulders, arms, wrists, hands, fingers and even in an ankle and my jaw since then, three weeks worth. My PCP's comment on my bloodwork was 'it's ok", but the Urgent care doc later gave me Prednisone for his best guess, "Inflammatory Poly Arthropothy." This has cleared stiffness and pain from all but my hands. I had an elevated sed count which he reported was connected to the pain. What caused this sudden debilitating issue?? I wish I knew but I'm not sure. Two docs agreed it wasn't the antibiotic or the fact that I have one kidney. Could it have been the trauma of tooth extraction which felt brutal? A flu virus that takes months to resolve? The antibiotic? No one seems to know.

[maddie101]

I took this drug years ago. I was fine one minute and couldn't walk the next. It was at least three weeks before I could walk without pain. very bad side effects from levequin are possible.

[LuckySevens]

It has been over a month and my left shoulder is still very painful. From reading a lot, it seems that even PT doesn't seem to help much. Wish I had never heard of Levaquin before.

[NotGolfer]

Is Levofloxacin the same as what you all have taken?? Oooops I googled it and it is. They should take it off the market!! So what did you folks do for treatment??? If P.T. doesn"t help...pain meds???? I have chronic pain so know what it's like to suffer.

[CFrance]

Is Levofloxacin the same as what you all have taken?? Oooops I googled it and it is. They should take it off the market!! So what did you folks do for treatment??? If P.T. doesn"t help...pain meds???? I have chronic pain so know what it's like to suffer.
One of the brand names of Levofloxacin is Levaquin.

[courtyard]

You can get relief from upper body pain through a 2 minute video on You Tube called "Classical Stretch Mini-Workout for Upper Body Pain Relief:" Here is the link:

Classical Stretch mini workout for upper body pain relief - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPjMze4FpM)

[NotGolfer]

You can get relief from upper body pain through a 2 minute video on You Tube called "Classical Stretch Mini-Workout for Upper Body Pain Relief:" Here is the link:

Classical Stretch mini workout for upper body pain relief - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBPjMze4FpM)

won't work bringing arms up with acute shoulder pain....though I did save this for favorites. Thanks for sharing!!!!