Levaquin Side Effects, Levaquin Tendonitis, What is Levaquin,

Levaquin Side Effects are quickly proving the Levaquin medication to be a dangerous choice of antibiotic.

All across the country, complaints about increased pain and tendon damage and tendon rupture have been coming in from people that have been prescribed Levaquin.

Levaquin has a significant side effect of tendon degradation (Tendonosis) and tendon rupture, even in people that had no tendon issue before taking the drug.

While people have been getting damaged by floroquinolone antibiotics, people are starting to wonder "What is Levaquin?" and 'Why did it hurt me so drastically?". It's been hitting the medical news and even main stream news.

Of course, lawyers are jumping all over it and looking forward to class action lawsuits. As they should be.

What is Levaquin?

Levaquin is a 'broad-based antibiotic', so it is used with the shotgun approach, as it is not targeted to a specific bacteria. Ideally a doctor will test and identify what bacteria seem to be the problem and pick the best antibiotic, instead of just seeing an infection and Levaquin dosing and hoping that that will do the job.

The use of Levaquin as an anti-biotic seems like a good idea until you start to notice that large numbers of people are experiencing severe unexplained Levaquin tendon damage and pain, sometimes require extensive surgery, and even end up with unrepairable damage.

Levaquin medication is used to treat a variety of different infections in adults (only from certain kinds of bacteria) including:

* Sinus infections
* Bronchitis
* Pneumonia
* Skin infections
* Urinary tract infections (UTI)
* Kidney infections
* Prostate infections.

Interestingly enough, Levaquin is also 'approved' to prevent infection after exposure to inhaled anthrax in adults and children. I wonder how they discovered that.....

Plus, Levaquin is approved for the use with children only in cases of Anthrax poisoning. Makes me wonder how often that happens.

How Does Levaquin Work?

Levaquin works by interfering with two important bacterial enzymes (topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase). These enzymes are necessary for bacteria to be able to copy and repair DNA (important steps required in order for bacteria to multiply).

Whether delivered in pill form, by injection, or by IV Levaquin targets certain kinds of bacteria and disrupts their ability to replicate.

Levaquin Side Effects, at least tendon tissue related side effects, may or may not have anything to do with that enzyme targeting process. Doctors and researches don't seem to know how exactly Levaquin damages tendon tissue.

Side Effects of Levaquin

* Yeast infections
* C Difficile Infection
* Shortness of breath
* Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
* Vomiting
* Indigestion or heartburn
* Water retention
* Chest pain
* Pain at the injection site (when the medication is given by IV)
* Vaginal irritation or infection.

Of course you are at risk of yeast infection and Intestinal Candida Symptoms if you kill all the good bacteria in your digestive tract.

There are many other side effects that I'm not going to list because every drug has a huge list of side effects, which normally aren't a problem.

But the tendon related side effects of Levaquin are much more significant. This is the first drug I've heard of that specifically targets tendon tissue and damages it.

People have reported tendon ruptures in the week or two after first taking Levaquin. That is fast and significant damage. For the most part, Levaquin side effects and dangers aren't any worse than other antibiotics'...except for the tendon damage.

Irreversible Tendonosis from the antibiotic you were give for a cold?? Oops. (BTW, antibiotics don't work for colds, doctors give them just to make people think something beneficial is being given to them.)

Cipro and Floxin are also bad guys from the same quinolone family that cause joint pain, burning nerve pain, and possible tissue damage.

www.Levaquin.com says this: "Fluoroquinolones, including LEVAQUIN™, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart, or lung transplants."

Levaquin Tendonitis

Growing knowledge of tendonitis is pointing to a particular issue of 'Tendonosis', which basically means that due to lack of blood, the outer layers of a tendon begin to die and deteriorate.

Then the dying areas get pulled apart due to the stresses placed on the tendon from muscle contraction.

This can happen quickly, like in a week or two, even as soon as 2 hours after delivery to the body. Or due to extended Levaquin use, it can slowly do damage over time. It just depends on the person, their body's reaction to Levaquin, and the Levaquin dosage they take.

A common Levaquin dosage is 250mg to 500mg. I just spoke to a woman yesterday whose doctor gave her 1 gram dosage of Levaquin. Looking around the internet I also see that a 'common' dose of Levaquin 750 mg.

So depending on how much Levaquin a person takes, and how their body reacts to it, and a host of other factors that haven't yet been identified, a person on Levaquin may or may not experience tendon damage.

Levaquin Side Effects are a serious consideration if you are thinking of taking that particular antibiotic, no matter how young or healthy you are. The woman who was prescribed 1g is 25 years old, and suddenly has severe Achilles Tendonitis pain and limitation- possibly permanently.

What To Do If You Have Tendon Damage From Levaquin

Doctors don't have anything to offer to reverse these disabling side effects and damage that is being done. But some common sense and some understanding of how the body works is a good place to start.

But there IS hope if you have experienced ANY of the multitude of tendon and toxicity problems caused by Levaquin, you can read more about the 'Levaquin Tendonitis Solution' on the Healing Levaquin Tendonitis page. While there are many doctors and people suffering from this problem that claim that the damage can't be healed, there are certainly people who HAVE healed from this and so there ARE solutions. In any case, supporting the body's healing processes, stopping any further damage and keeping pain levels down is the number one priority.

For a more in depth and technical description of some of the problems caused by Levaquin and what one of the 'worst case scenarios' is for what could happen to you if you take these antibiotics and end up with Levaquin Tendonitis and toxicity, see my conversation with David Fuller, Director of the Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Research Foundation. Side Effects Of Levaquin Conversation

Have You Taken Levaquin and Had A Bad Experience?

Do you have a story about you or a loved one taking the Levaquin antibiotic? What were the Levaquin side effects? Levaquin Tendonitis or tendon rupture?

Please share your experience, how it is now, and what, if anything, helped.

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this Levaquin medication page...

My Quinolone Antibiotic Nightmare
I was poisoned by a quinolone antibiotic (just 2 pills!) over 4 years ago when I was 30. I had no problems whatsoever with tendons or joints before that....

Shoulder Tendonitis, Levaquin 500 mg, Antioxidant is helping

I took levaquin for 8 days started feeling pain from my neck to around my shoulder blades.

I had stabbing pains, in my shoulders and ribs. Felt ...

Levaquin for throat infection now pain in ankles and wrist

Hi Joshua,

I am so glad to have found your website and hope that you can help me!

I had a really bad throat infection for almost a month. My ...

Levaquin put me in a wheelchair....

2003-2007 - I have ulcerative colitis and can dehydrate when it flares up.

I went to Dr. due to flare up, trying to prevent the dehydration. Was ...

Treated for pneumonia, took levaquin in 2001. Wished I never did.

I was treated for a severe case of pneumonia with the drug Levaquin.

Within a month I started to experience pain in my joints. A couple of months ...

4 Bags Of IV Levaquin for pneumonia. Bad Drug

I was given 4 bags of 750 mg Levaquin iv in Nov. 2009 for pneumonia. I was also given a prescription for two Levaquin capsules to take at home.

On ...

Levaquin 750 mg for skin on chest infection- Jan 2010

Male, age 82, excellent health (mother lived to 104 and physician father to 91).

Local Urgent Care prescribed 5 Levaquin 750 mg pills - and gave ...

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I am 36, male, took cipro for 8 days, 1x500mg a day for prostate infection. I was aware of the side effects and reduced a dosage to 1X500mg instead ...

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My levaquin story. I need to vent.

While a patient in the hospital for GI bleeding, my Dr. had a chest x-ray taken because I had a fever.

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Hi Joshua

I wrote to you before about possible levaquin side effects for a sudden onset tendonitis and rotator cuff tear.

I saw a surgeon in ...

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I had sudden onset of left shoulder pain following use of Levaquin antibiotic in May 2008.

MRI shows tendonitis, bursitis, rotator cuff tear and ...

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My pain started early november 08 -- I didn't know why I had it. Then I saw in late November when the doctor recomended Levaquin (again)that levaquin ...

Levaquin: Is there a cure?
Hi Joshua,

I am a 45 year old male who was prescribed Levaquin for a prostate infection. After 3 doses, I had a severe reaction, started with neverousness,...

5 days of Agony, took Levaquin for sinus and throat infection

I was given Levaquin 500 mg. 10 days on a tuesday for a sinsus and throat infection. I have taken it for similar conditons (3 times last year, and ...

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I rushed to the emergency room to find a cure for bloody urine and excruciating pain in my back.

The nurse was even so kind to leave me unattended ...

Cant use my thumbs Not rated yet
Was on levaquin three different times for three different infections.

I have tendon tearing on both my thumbs and wrists. Forty one years old and ...

Can barely walk due to thigh pain after 6 days on Levaquin 500mg Not rated yet

I have been on Levaquin for 6 days now and after the 3rd day noticed pain in both hips and thighs. I thought the pain was a result of having a chiropractic ...

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And now I can barely walk.

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Stay away from levaquin if at all possible, severe leg and back muscle cramps Not rated yet

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My ...

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I took Levaquin for a sinus infection in the Fall of 2008.

I developed cramping in my calves that night and it woke me from my sleep. I had never ...

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3 weeks ago while ...

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I took Levaquin for 6 days, now I can't walk.

The End

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Pneumonia + Levaquin = Knee Tendonitis? Not rated yet

i was hospitalized 2 weeks ago with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. they treated me with a couple of antibiotics and when i was released, i ...

Levaquin is worse than my pneumonia and bronchitis Not rated yet

In short, I had pneumonia following bronchitis.

Now I have horrible ringing in my ears that wakes me up; horrible tendonitis; rigid abdomen and ...

Achilles Tendonitis from Levaquin for post-surgery infection Not rated yet

I took Levaquin (twice) for a post-surgery infection in 2005, and I remember looking up the side effects of this drug when I had a very painful stinging ...

I was given IV Levaquin in hospital for two days-my story Not rated yet

My levaquin story. I need to vent.

While a patient in the hospital for GI bleeding, my Dr. had a chest x-ray taken because I had a fever.

Because ...

Chance of recovering from Ciprofloxacin side effects? Not rated yet

I agree with all that you have listed about Ciprofloxacin.

I have taken it for 3 days 250 mg I believe. Took 2 a day for 3 days.

I began to ...

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I believe I too have suffered from a toxic reaction to levaquin.

Both knees are swollen and sore. I can't completely straighten one.

The ENT ...

Prescribed Levaquin AND Cipro, severe debilitating tendon damage Not rated yet

Hi Joshua.

Thanks for making so much information available on your site.

A few weeks ago I was prescribed Levaquin and Cipro and I've developed ...

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Hi. I am a 35 year old previously healthy female.

I had reoccuring UTIs for the past two years and was given Cipro several times.

The ...

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Joshua-

I've looked at your submission guidelines. I'm not sure I can write about my experience and remain both "in good taste" and non-defamatory ...

Can the usage of Levaquin cause Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? Not rated yet

I have had Carpal Tunnel Surgery on both wrists and was wondering if taking Levaquin could effect the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

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Joshua ...

Scared with Levofloxacin and Bronchitis and Shoulder Tendonitis Not rated yet

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The surgery was sucessfull and I havent had ...

Anything different to do with Cipro induced tendonitis than other forms? Not rated yet

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I have been in PT, and that has worked to some degree, but is taking much longer than ...

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March 17, 2006

Side affects:

Levaquin 750 mg.

Two days - knee function lost. Could not get out of bed on my own.

Lost mobility of my hands....

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I will never forgot my experience with this poison.

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Levaquin Side Effects
Serious Tendon Damage

What is Levaquin?

What is Levaquin used for?

How Does Levaquin Work?

Side Effects of Levaquin

Levaquin Tendonitis

What To Do If You Have Tendon Damage From Levaquin

Have You Taken Levaquin and Had A Bad Experience?

What Other Visitors Have Said About Levaquin

Levaquin Side EffectsSerious Tendon Damage

What is Levaquin?

What is Levaquin used for?

How Does Levaquin Work?

Side Effects of Levaquin

Levaquin Tendonitis

What To Do If You Have Tendon Damage From Levaquin

Have You Taken Levaquin and Had A Bad Experience?

What Other Visitors Have Said About Levaquin

Levaquin Side Effects
Serious Tendon Damage