Levaquin

Discussion in 'Ortho-McNeil' started by Anonymous, Feb 7, 2006 at 7:29 AM.

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  1. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    After reading through the old thread about Levaquin, and seeing the rampant misconceptions regarding this drug (and its parent class, fluoroquinolones), I now find that it is necessary to share my own experiences with Levaquin.

    To start off, I am 24 years old, and was healthy prior to ingesting this antibiotic.
    The first time I was given this drug was in December of 2003, and approximately 6 months later I partially tore a tendon in my shoulder during non-strenuous activity. This along a few other symptoms (joint pain, fatigue, muscle spasms, etc...) were never connected to the drug I was given by either myself or doctor; blood tests revealed nothing egregiously wrong, and my doctor was stumped. I recovered from my injuries, only to be given Levaquin again in December of 2004.

    This time, it destroyed my life. I find myself now, over 13 months later, still nearly unable to walk due to severe tendon and nerve damage in my lower legs. I have been unable to walk for more than a few minutes at a time since January of 2005, and even standing is exceedingly difficult at times. I have now suffered from tendon problems in the following joints: feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders (I would merely say all joints, but I think that I may have a toe or two which are still unaffected); I also have problems with every major muscle group in my body. The pain is indescribable, unbearable, and quite simply, cruel and inhuman punishment for the mistake of merely trusting the medical community.

    The full list of my side effects (almost all of which continue to this day) is as follows:
    Fatigue, severe muscle weakness/soreness, buzzing/pricking/vibratory sensations in lower legs (signs of neuropathy), popping/cracking joints, gastrointestinal problems, recurring ear pressure, difficulty finding/spelling words, severe pain/stiffness upon waking, burning pain in legs, heart palpitations/tachycardia, red/dry eyes, hair loss, brain fog, memory loss, inability to focus, mood disturbances, bouts of depersonalization/derealization, anxiety (unprovoked panic attacks, even while sleeping), depression, insomnia, electrical sensations in brain, jitteriness/shakiness, limited joint range of motion (almost every joint), cold extremities, mild occasional hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, dislocated fibular head below left knee (due to muscle weakness), periodic limb movement disorder, and others which are not easily describable in list form.

    Many of you who read this may scoff, may attack me as ill-informed, or worse, a liar. I cannot change that, as mankind has a remarkable ability to ignore/disbelieve information that threatens one’s previous worldview. You are allowed to believe whatever you want, and so be it. But let me ask you this, if it was not Levaquin which caused me all of these problems, then what was it? And why did they begin occurring shortly after consuming that drug? Why are thousands of other people complaining of the exact same array of ailments after being exposed to this class of pharmaceuticals?

    You can shield yourself by wrapping up snugly in disbelief, but doing so in no way changes the truth of the matter. Nor does it alleviate, prevent, or alter the suffering that we endure.

    Anyone who reads this can easily choose to close to their minds to this, but what about their hearts, the basic essence of compassion and humanity which bind us as a species? People have come to you and said that they are suffering, and thus far the only retort I’ve seen is to attack them and their credibility rather than listen, try to learn, or at least offer some condolences (see the old thread for examples of the caustic replies). What do I have to gain by doing this, or making this all up? The victims of this are not ‘conspirators’, we are hurt, and seek justice. I ask for nothing more than recognition by those who perpetrate this, and help in stopping it. More importantly, what do you have to lose by listening? Market share and profit margin, the proverbial ‘bottom line’? If so, if these factors weigh more heavily on your mind than gross injustice and the cries of humanity, than I pray for you. It is too late for me, as I have already been hurt and only time may one day heal me, but if no one stands up, if education about these dangers does not proliferate, then more innocent people will end up like me today, tomorrow, and the next.

    I am not asking for a complete ban on these drugs, merely that they be used as a last line of defense (which is what they were originally designed/approved for) against resistant infections where they would mean the difference between life or death, and only then in cases where the patient is fully informed. Most, nearly all, of those who have been hurt were given these drugs before any others were tried, for diagnoses that did not require them. Pushing these drugs as first line agents by playing down their toxicity profile and claiming that they are ‘safe and effective’ is a moral crime if not a legislated one (yet).

    I ask that all doctors be properly educated (by the pharmaceutical representatives they rely on) as to the inherent risks associated with fluoroquinolone use. Finally, I also ask the companies who manufacture these drugs to immediately send out ‘dear doctor’ letters warning of the following three facts: that fluoroquinolones can cause adverse reactions long after treatment has been discontinued, that these adverse reactions can sometimes be completely disabling, and that they can be non-abating. Merely the truth and nothing more…to save the health and lives of your fellow man.

    Is this too much to ask in return for my life?
     

  2. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Levaquin is garbage... avelox is 5 times more potent with less side effects.
     
  3. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    There were posts like this going around about a year ago. I will try and find them. It was someone who had a similar reaction to Cipro. They even had a website dedicated to telling the world that the quinolones should be used last line.
     
  4. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I too had a horrific reaction to levaquin. My life is changed forever. I hope someone reads these posts and tries to help those of us that have become disabled because of this class of drugs.
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    What are you people doing posting on a industry web site? Why not start your own little blog and blast us there. Frankly, we'll just ask the moderators to pull your bullshit posts and monitor for your IP address posting more.

    Thanks! [​IMG]
     
  6. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    FYI - alot of docs don't see pharm reps, especially if they are working for an HMO (Kaiser, etc.). A lot of docs decide to write drugs out of indication on their own.
     
  7. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    What are we doing posting on an industry website? We are informing you of what it is you are doing to people. That would only bother you if you think there is something wrong with what it is you are doing. If you think there is nothing wrong with what you are doing, then these posts should not bother you at all.
     
  8. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    We are not doing anything to people, the drug is what is causing you a bad reaction. Having said that, there are a lot of risks in taking medications, especially with side effects and a competant doctor is supposed to help inform you of your condition and the drugs you are taking to help with that condition. Some drugs are miracle workers, some drugs are okay, and some cause bad reactions in patitient. It depends on the patient and how their body reacts to it, especially if you took multiple drugs that had a drug to drug interaction with one another. Some patients do great on one drug while other patients react horribly to the same drug.

    I feel for your situation and I hope nothing like that ever happens to anyone whom I love. I think you need to see a different doctor and get a second opinion to help with your situation.
     
  9. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Do you inform all doctors that fluoroquinolones cause serious, long-lasting adverse reactions that can devastate the lives of victims, and therefore should only be used as a last resort? Do you tell all doctors that their patients should be fully informed of the risks before taking these drugs? If not, then you are doing this to people. As a drug rep, it is your responsibility and ethical duty to teach doctors about what these drugs can do to people. If you do not, and instead are just telling the doctors that these are wonderful drugs that work great, then you are doing these horrible things to innocent people.

    By the way, levaquin was the only drug whatsoever that I had taken for over a year. So you can't blame anything else for what has happened. I could have taken a safer antibiotic for a minor infection. Instead, I was given Levaquin by a primary care doctor who simply said it was a "great antibiotic." My rheumatologist told me I was "chemically poisoned." There is no point in getting a second opinion. My life is devastated and there is absolutely nothing any doctor can do.

    Yes, PLEASE warn your loved ones about the dangers of all fluoroquinolones, even if you don't warn the doctors.
     
  10. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    This is stupid, because you use this site to blast everyone else. About their families and everything else.
     
  11. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Someone posts that their life has been devastated and you call them stupid. That tells me everything I need to know. Like they said, if you don't think there's anything wrong with what you are doing, you would feel no need to attack someone who describes what you are doing.
     
  12. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Psychosomatic!!!!

    some people have reactions... These are chemicals and they help people. Some people cannot tolerate them. Does that mean they are bad drugs? Go someplace else to post this nonsense. It is boring and you are wasting peoples time… you probably already heard this from a number of physicians, pharmacist, lawyers, etc Get a life.
     
  13. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    The problem is that too many people cannot tolerate FQs, plus the adverse reactions are more severe for fq's than they should be - the balance of benefit to adverse reactions is poor. Also they are being over-prescribed for minor infections when a less problematic antibiotic could be used. This is mainly because drug reps are representing them as you just did.

    FQ's are a defective class of antibiotic because they are often worse than the disease that could have been cured with something safer.

    What you don't realize, or at least are trying to pretend you don't realize, is that people get these symptoms, and THEN they find out that the FQ causes them. It's not the other way around, because the doctors certainly aren't telling them.

    Only a sociopath could push these drugs without warning that they have a high risk of serious adverse reactions and should only be used as a last resort. Isn't that what the pharmaceutical companies themselves say??

    I've never contacted a lawyer or a pharmacist. The only doctor I contacted was a rheumatologist who said everything was caused by FQ's.

    When you say "this nonsense", what exactly is it you are referring to? It's on THIS website that I learned that broiler chickens have been having tendon ruptures from FQs!!! Are you saying they can read?? Are those ruptures psychosomatic? That's not a rhetorical question by the way. I'm sure you have an answer, so I'd like to hear it.

    Attacking me personally only shows that you feel threatened. Do it all you want.
     
  14. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Why were you presribed Levoquin in the first place?
     
  15. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    OP - sorry to hear of your experience. On another note, I just made presidents club! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
     
  16. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    At 24, and getting levo twice, I'm guessing a female for uti. People can have reactions, but I agree with previous posters that there's probably something elso going on. Bottom line is that levo saves a LOT more lives than it causes problems; the OP is probably just a Roche or Pfizer rep that doesn't have anything to sell anymore. The moxi poster is just a dumbass with a .25 mic and a 2% share. Drug sucks unless you want c-diff.
     
  17. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    There are several people posting here. My first post starts with "What are we doing..." And my last one before this one starts with "The problem is..." I did not write the first post in this thread. And I'm nowhere near 24!!
    You need to realize that the problem we have with Levaquin is that it is being promoted by you and therefore used by doctors as a first-choice drug for minor infections, when safer antibiotics would work and without warning patients of the risks. It should only be used as a last resort when safer antibiotics have failed. But that would cut into profits, wouldn't it?
     
  18. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    Last resort? Safer antibiotics? What crack are you smoking? Levaquin is extremely safe and very effective. No reason not to use it first line where appropriate.
     
  19. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I am a 31-year-old male who went to the doctor for prostatitis, which is a common problem in men my age. I sit in a chair all day for my job, so sitting does not help the problem. I went to the doctor the first part of December. He put me on Levaquin 750 mg once a day. I started it on a Friday. That entire weekend I was very nauseated. About a week later I noticed my right Lat muscle was sore. It was weird because I had not worked out in 2 weeks, as I was gone for Thanksgiving. I body build, and knew it was a totally different pain than a "good" sore muscle. The next thing I know my joint in my shoulder was hurting, then it moved to my left shoulder joint.
    I went for my follow up visit to the specialty doctor and spoke with the Nurse Practioner. He prescribed me 2 more weeks of Levaquin, over the holidays until my follow up visit on 1/6/06. I told him I was having pain down the backs of my upper thighs, butt, and joints of my shoulders. He said my condition would have nothing to do with shoulder pain.
    Over the next week I got to where it hurt to get in and out of bed. The joints in my fingers and toes started hurting. Then the joints in my ankles and wrists were aching. I had piercing pains in my muscles coming from nowhere all over. My jaws started aching like I had the flu. All of this is very off and on. My left thumb joint almost ruputred. My digestive tract is all out of order. Too may anti biotics kills all the good bacteria in your body.
    I have been off the Levaquin since 12/26/05. I took 27 days of the antibiotic. I had been doing some research on the Internet, and I finally told my doctor to stop the medicine. He then switched me over to Bactrim until I went for my follow up visit with the specialist. I spoke with the doctor this time and not the NP. He said the joint aches, etc...was from "Levaquin poisoning." He said the adverse reaction happens in 2 out of 99 people.
    I went to my primary care doctor last Thursday, who originally prescribed the Levaquin. He ran blood tests. My CBC's were fine, but my liver enzymes were elevated. He thinks it could be from the Levaquin combined with the 2,400 mg’s of Ibuprofen I was taking (which HE told me to take). I was also taking 4 Ultracet pills a day. I already take anti-anxiety medicine. It was a total of over 20 pills a day.
    Once I found out about the liver enzymes I stopped taking the Ibuprofen (MY doing). He didn’t even tell me to stop it until I suggested it to him. He said maybe I should cut back.
    Since last Monday I have had a lot less joint aches. It has been very minor, but when it hits it hits hard. It will then go away as fast as it hit. I am having more nausea than I was having when I was taking the medication. I now have a kidney stone. This Levaquin has ruined the last two months of my life and is still affecting me to a degree. Pharma companies that sell this crap are evil.

    If you read about the drug Ketek you will find 3 cases in Charlotte, NC one resulting in death and one of them in liver failure...almost dying. The 51 year old female that had to have a liver transplant due to this antibiotic is my mothers best friend. She is an attorney in the area. She is now on 23 medications. All I can say, is what goes around comes around. I will be telling everyone about Levaquin and I believe in due time it will be taken off the market.
    I believe every person will help with the long-term effect of getting this drug off the market and helping others.
     
  20. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    I am a 31-year-old male who went to the doctor for prostatitis, which is a common problem in men my age. I sit in a chair all day for my job, so sitting does not help the problem. I went to the doctor the first part of December. He put me on Levaquin 750 mg once a day. I started it on a Friday. That entire weekend I was very nauseated. About a week later I noticed my right Lat muscle was sore. It was weird because I had not worked out in 2 weeks, as I was gone for Thanksgiving. I body build, and knew it was a totally different pain than a "good" sore muscle. The next thing I know my joint in my shoulder was hurting, then it moved to my left shoulder joint.
    I went for my follow up visit to the specialty doctor and spoke with the Nurse Practioner. He prescribed me 2 more weeks of Levaquin, over the holidays until my follow up visit on 1/6/06. I told him I was having pain down the backs of my upper thighs, butt, and joints of my shoulders. He said my condition would have nothing to do with shoulder pain.
    Over the next week I got to where it hurt to get in and out of bed. The joints in my fingers and toes started hurting. Then the joints in my ankles and wrists were aching. I had piercing pains in my muscles coming from nowhere all over. My jaws started aching like I had the flu. All of this is very off and on. My left thumb joint almost ruputred. My digestive tract is all out of order. Too may anti biotics kills all the good bacteria in your body.
    I have been off the Levaquin since 12/26/05. I took 27 days of the antibiotic. I had been doing some research on the Internet, and I finally told my doctor to stop the medicine. He then switched me over to Bactrim until I went for my follow up visit with the specialist. I spoke with the doctor this time and not the NP. He said the joint aches, etc...was from "Levaquin poisoning." He said the adverse reaction happens in 2 out of 99 people.
    I went to my primary care doctor last Thursday, who originally prescribed the Levaquin. He ran blood tests. My CBC's were fine, but my liver enzymes were elevated. He thinks it could be from the Levaquin combined with the 2,400 mg’s of Ibuprofen I was taking (which HE told me to take). I was also taking 4 Ultracet pills a day. I already take anti-anxiety medicine. It was a total of over 20 pills a day.
    Once I found out about the liver enzymes I stopped taking the Ibuprofen (MY doing). He didn’t even tell me to stop it until I suggested it to him. He said maybe I should cut back.
    Since last Monday I have had a lot less joint aches. It has been very minor, but when it hits it hits hard. It will then go away as fast as it hit. I am having more nausea than I was having when I was taking the medication. I now have a kidney stone. This Levaquin has ruined the last two months of my life and is still affecting me to a degree. Pharma companies that sell this crap are evil.

    If you read about the drug Ketek you will find 3 cases in Charlotte, NC one resulting in death and one of them in liver failure...almost dying. The 51 year old female that had to have a liver transplant due to this antibiotic is my mothers best friend. She is an attorney in the area. She is now on 23 medications. All I can say, is what goes around comes around. I will be telling everyone about Levaquin and I believe in due time it will be taken off the market.
    I believe every person will help with the long-term effect of getting this drug off the market and helping others.