Levaquin's Litany of Side Effects

Syracuse, NYIn October 2006 Amanda was given a two-week course of Levaquin for a sinus infection. After a week she felt weak and wobbly but her doctor advised her to continue for the duration. "I trusted him and finished the Levaquin antibiotic treatment but at the end of that time I couldn't even stand," she says. "Nobody mentioned Levaquin side effects".

Amanda (not her real name) was unable to walk due to bilateral foot drops—the nerves in her feet had deteriorated to the point where her feet just flopped and she couldn't make them move. "There are a lot of ramifications to this drug that haven't been publicized, more side effects than tendon ruptures," Amanada says. "I have also experienced peripheral neuropathy in my feet, lower legs and hands; I developed vasculitis and diabetes; I also developed high blood pressure and double vision.

One week prior to taking this drug I was out paddling my canoe, I was a totally independent, healthy woman. Now I am disabled.

I was admitted to hospital at the end of the Levaquin treatment because of all these symptoms. The doctors were puzzled, to say the least. They did numerous tests but had no idea what was wrong. My doctor decided to give me high doses of steroids to counteract the adverse affects of Levaquin—he was suspicious but wouldn't admit it: he prescribed the drug in the first place so I guess he wouldn't admit it was an error. I firmly believe this was the case.

I was in hospital for about a month. When I was finally able to walk again, they sent me home with a walker. After five months I stress-fractured my right hip (I am a nurse so I know the right terminology); I was just walking and my bone broke but I still had to use the walker.

I was admitted to a nearby hospital; my hip was repaired, infection developed at the surgical site inside and I had to get 3 more surgeries. Even though the steroids contributed to the bone breaking, Levaquin was the root cause of all this--it started the ball rolling. From the hospital I went to a nursing home for rehabilitation but one week prior to being discharged, I stress-fractured my left hip! It was a repeat performance, even developing another bacterial infection.

Part of the effects of Levaquin is edema of both feet and lower legs, so I was back to rehab and in February of this year I was finally sent home. I still cannot walk independently and thinking about my canoe is really sad, it is difficult to deal with. I had to sell my car and I can't even hang my clothes outside to dry—my lifestyle has been altered drastically. It isn't a pretty story and I'm not the only one.

I no longer have double vision but the peripheral neuropathy remains in my fingers, lower legs and feet and the vasculitis hasn't gone away; I just have to live with an everyday battle.

I know that Levaquin is to blame, not only because of the timeframe (the onset of these symptoms occurred right after taking the drug) but also because several acquaintances have the exact same symptoms and they too were healthy people prior to Levaquin. I knew a gentlemen in his 80s who was given this drug; it affected his respiratory system and he died a few years ago. Levaquin can adversely affect all systems of the body.

The makers of these drugs need to take them off the market and the FDA needs to prevent people from being disabled, even dying. I have researched Levaquin and came across forums where people have listed their symptoms after taking Levaquin and there are many people who have experienced adverse side effects other than ruptured tendons. I also discovered that young people had died . I feel blessed—at least my lungs haven't been affected. And I remain optimistic: I consider myself in training until next spring when I paddle my canoe again."