Complain about a product or service

Levaquin

Jason of Fenwick, ON September 21, 2009

After taking these antibiotics for an infection, my body became extremely sore all over. A short time afterwards my right Achilles tendon ruptured, then 10 days later my left Achilles tendon ruptured. Then my left shoulder tendon, my right elbow and two more tendons in my right hand.

I have been out of work as a firefighter for 2.5 years. I was in a wheelchair for 18 months and then on crutches for 6 more. I started walking slowly 6 months ago and am now slowly building strength. I was forced to move to a custom built handi-cap accessible home. I am hoping to start work soon on a modified work program but may never return to full, active duties as a professional firefighter.

Kim of Waterford, MI February 25, 2009

I have taken Cipro and Levaquin for many years for Sinus and Ear infections. Only recently have I heard anything about the possible damage to tendons. During the past 10 years, I have had numerous problems with partial tendon rupture to the point that in 2004 I had to have a complete foot reconstruction that involved taking tendon out and harvesting tendons from other areas; bone grafting; and correction of Achilles Tendon damage. In 2007 I had to have surgery on the other foot, which resulted in blood clots and shots in my stomach for several months.

I have already had three opinions regarding further necessary surgeries and they have all said the same thing. If I want to be able to continue to walk, I am going to have to have bone fusion surgery in the near future. The interesting thing about it is no doctor has been able to tell me why this happened to me. I think I know and I am in the process of putting together medical records and prescription records to see if they have similar dates.

I have not only lost income due to these problems, I have also lost a lot of my independence. Most evenings I can't even walk to my bathroom that is less than 20 feet from my bed. I have to pay people to do several things that I am no longer able to do. What happens to people like us that didn't have the advantage of the black box warning? Are we expected to just suffer in silence?

Thomas of High Bridge, NJ September 7, 2008

In feb. of 08 a doctor found an infection in my back and treated it with cipro and levaquin. I needed surgery to remove the infected area that was june 3 08. After the surgery I stayed on levaquin, in the begining of july I noticed intence pain in my left ankle and sweeling. I thought it was from the surgery, but my wife and I saw a report on the news about cipro and levaquin warning of the side effects and dangers these drugs cause. I am now left with severe pain in my left ankle and want to know if it will ever go away.

John of Union, NJ July 16, 2008

i was prescribed levaquin on may 9, 2008 and completed taking the ten pills on may 20, 2008. shortly after my ankle became sore and swollen and on june 12 2008 i was walkin and felt i snap. the following week on june 18 2008 i was operated on my an achillies tendon rupture.

could not walk for many weeks had to turn down job oppurtunites due to this and i am still healing not able to walk.

Patricia of Aldie, VA January 7, 2008

I was prescribed 750 mg Levaquin for a pseudomonas infection which resulted from a burn on my forearm. After three doses, I developed flashing lights in my right eye which persisted for three weeks. I had a vitreous tear and now have permanent floaters. Two weeks after I d/c'd the meds, I turned my ankle when I came off my bike. This minor mishap resulted in ruptured tendons all around the ankle. The pain swelling and bruising is subsiding, but now I've got shoulder pain and it seems to pop in and out of joint. Other symptoms of this drug were tinnitis, rash, low grade fever and night sweats. After three weeks, these symptoms have subsided.

Jennifer of Knightstown, IN January 4, 2008

I have gone through chemotherapy for Non-Hodgkins lymphoma in the last 2 years. During that time I had many lung/sinus infections due to the medicines immune supressing work. During this time I was given a running prescription by my Oncologist for Levaquin and the occasional script for Ciphro when bladder infections popped up.

Its been a year since the chemo treatments, but I still have the random lung/sinus infections so my doctor kept these scripts running incase I needed them. A few weeks ago I had struggled to rid myself of another lung infection, so began taking the remaining levaquin.

After 3 days the nausea was just too much so I quit taking the medicine and decided if it got worse to just call in and go see my doctor. It didnt, but a less than a week later I had a new problem... my shoulder/arm began hurting something horrible particularly at night.

The pain runs from my high upper neck, down into/between the knobs of bone in my shoulder, into the outside portion of the bicep, into my forearm and right down to the tips of my forefinger and thumb on the right side. I feel my shoulder grind when rotated and last year when this pain appeared it was diagnosed as a rotary cuff injury without a known cause.

I had NO clue as Im sure my oncologist didnt that Cipro and Levaquin can cause tendon damage... but I feel pretty confident that I have atlast found the cause of this re-occuring pain. I just hope the damage isnt permanent!

Nancy of Wimberley, TX July 5, 2007

My mother, Melba, age 77, was seen by Dr. Ramsey on 1/7/06 in the emergency room at Fredericksburg Hospital in Fredericksburg, TX. Dr. Ramsey was the physician on call that day. After a quick exam, Dr. Ramsey diagnosed Melba with pneumonia. A chest x-ray was ordered and then cancelled. He prescribed the drug Levaquin to her and sent her home with instructions to return if she was not better by Wednesday, 1/11/06.

On Wednesday, 1/11/06 Melba went to see her regular physician, Dr. Weaver in Blanco, TX. Dr. Weaver told her she needed to get to a hospital immediately for some tests. Melba chose to go to McKenna Hospital in New Braunfels, TX rather than returning to the Fredericksburg Hospital. She was admitted immediately at McKenna and treated for liver failure. She stopped taking the Levaquin immediately when admitted to McKenna Hospital.

Five days later when there had been no improvement to her condition; the doctor in charge of her case at McKenna had her transferred by ambulance to the Christus Santa Rosa Health Center in San Antonio, TX where she was admitted to their Liver Transplant Intensive Care Unit. Hepatologist, Dr. Robert S. McFadden was assigned to her case. Dr. McFadden told us that Melba’s acute condition was brought on by taking Levaquin. He stated that Levaquin was a widely prescribed drug for upper respiratory conditions, but was very strong and complications to the liver were one of its side affects. After another 13 days of treatment at Christus Santa Rosa, her liver functions were never regained and other body functions started shutting down. She died in the I.C.U. on 1/29/06.

My family and I feel that Dr. Ramsey was negligent in the care he gave to my mother in the emergency room on 1/7/06. If a chest x-ray had been taken to show that she did not have pneumonia (as determined by x-rays taken at McKenna Hospital) maybe Levaquin would not have been his drug of choice to prescribe. If he had examined her more closely with less haste he may have noticed she was already so dehydrated from vomiting that she could not walk on her own. Given this and the fact that she was 77 years of age, maybe Levaquin would once again not have been his drug of choice to prescribe. We also feel that due to her age and health condition that he should have admitted her if he was going to give her such a strong medication. Closer observation while taking Levaquin could have prevented the events that followed.

Honi of Naples, FL October 4, 2006

On 7/28/06 I was prescribed a 10 day supply of Levaquin (levofloxacin)750 mg. The instructions were 1 pill per day and I began taking them on 7/28/06. I was prescribed this medication for a re-occuring skin infection which could go into my sinus if left untreated.

5 days into taking the Levaquin, I noticed pain in my right elbow. It felt like something hit my "funny bone". My right hand is my dominant hand. I continued to take the Levaquin and I noticed that the pain in my right elbow was worsening. My right arm had become very painful and weak (from the elbow down through my right hand) and I could not lift anything with my right hand or arm nor could I staple 2 pieces of paper together with my right hand without extreme pain. On about the 9th day of taking the Levaquin, my left elbow started to become tender & painful as well. The infection had not cleared up and I went to my doctor on the 8/6/06, I had 1 pill left. I told him about my pain and he said it would go away. He also told me not to take the last pill and he prescribed a Penicillin type drug which did clear up the infection.

It is now 10/4/06, more than 2 months after I started taking Levaquin and I am still feeling pain and weakness in my right elbow, arm and hand as well as pain in my left elbow. The pain and weakness are not as intense as it was at the beginning, however, my right hand, elbow and arm are still painful and my right hand and arm are still weak. My left elbow is still tender. I saw my Doctor on 9/29/06 for my yearly physical exam and told him I still had pain and weakness. No remedy or further consultation was prescribed.