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.

For what does Levaquin treat that another antibiotic could not? Is there 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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