Levaquin Career Changing

Bluefield, WV"Last fall I was renovating our house and got a sinus infection from the plaster so my doctor prescribed Levaquin, says Ann (name withheld). " I also had an ear infection and he gave me Cipro. Four weeks later he prescribed another z-pak of Levaquin that got rid of my sinus problem but for some reason my heel was hurting so much I could barely walk—I had to wear different shoes without any heels."

Ann says she has been out of work since mid-October last year because she has to walk with a cane. "I couldn't understand what was causing this injury; I had done nothing to sprain my foot," she says. "The doctor told me that my Achilles tendon was on the verge of rupturing and he prescribed ice paks every 90 minutes which was troublesome but the only thing that would relieve the pain. Pain meds did nothing. He also advised me to get crutches. I couldn't even get from my bathroom to the bedroom without the crutches. When I woke in the morning it took 15 minutes to get out of bed. My husband had to work but he also had to wait on me and my daughter had to do come over to do my housework.

My doctor then prescribed a special brace for my foot; it was too dangerous for a cortisone shot because it was on the verge of rupture. He thought I had overworked my foot. I am a very strong and active person: I am 52 but I had bone density tests which showed they are the equivalent of a 15-year-old. How could this happen?

Then my doctor told me if it didn't get any better I would have to get into another line of work—a desk job. That is very difficult for me; it isn't easy to change careers at my age!

I have an appointment to see an orthopedic surgeon at the end of August and he will likely put a cast on. They told me how much money I need—I only have catastrophic insurance so I will have to pay about $800 for the supplies and injection. I certainly don't like the idea of having to wear a cast in the summer.

A few weeks ago my girlfriend called and said, ' I know what happened to your foot because I saw on TV that Levaquin can do injury to your foot and you took 2 doses.' Then I got online and was really shocked that there were so many stories like mine...

It makes sense that Levaquin is to blame but I couldn't believe that you can take meds for your sinuses and wind up with a torn tendon. It is really embarrassing when go grocery shopping and get an electric cart; I am also very limited to what I can purchase because the basket only holds so much. I have to explain to people that I haven't had a stroke, just a problem with my foot. It is really affecting my life—it has been traumatic, especially because I am so active.

If the makers knew in any way that Levaquin could have caused these side effects, I am furious. You trust your doctor to make you better, not to get worse. I am self-employed and have lost my livelihood and have to rely on my family. At this point it has been almost a year that I have suffered Levaquin's side effects.

I hope people read my story and realize that they shouldn't take drugs like Levaquin and Cipro."