Levaquin tendon ruptures continue to cause problems

59 Responses to:

“Levaquin tendon ruptures continue to cause problems”

1. Boyd Says:
   February 28th, 2008 at 2:08 pm

   I have been taking Cipro every 8 weeks routinely as a preventative for respiratory infections. I have experienced pain in my Achilles tendon. At one point it hurt walking but now it just bothers me at night.

2. Cipro and Levaquin Ruptured Tendons - Cipro and Levaquin Lawsuits | Legal News & Updates Blog - Saiontz, Kirk & Miles Says:
   May 1st, 2008 at 7:56 am

   [...] There have been hundreds of reports received by the FDA and the makers of Cipro and Levaquin involving ruptured tendons associated with use of the antibiotics. However, individuals who are prescribed the medications are still not being properly informed about the risk of Cipro and Levaquin ruptured tendons. [...]

3. Chantale Perron Says:
   June 11th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

   I cant possibly believe the way i was treated just now, as i called the pharmacist. I am a 35 y.o woman with a urinary infection. I have been given Cipro, 250 mgs twice a day. Since the second day i experience a fair pain in both ankles, tendons, and right arm and shoulder. I just gave a call to the pharmacist who said there was nothing to worry about.

   I suffer from the restless leg syndrome. I told my doctor about this. My legs are twitching all night already. Now i am in severe pain, and both doctor and pharmacist said this thing about Achile tendon’s rupture is NOT TRUE.
   Why was i not properly warned about this? I just wanted to heal from my infection and i am rarely sick.

   My family already lost a child, a baby, due to a medical mistake. We won our lawsuit, it’s been all over the newspaper here. But damn i still can’t believe the stupidity of the doctors AND pharmacists who keep prescribing these drugs without giving any proper warning and EVEN telling me that there’s nothing to worry about.

4. Diane Says:
   July 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

   After some blood tests, I was called and told that I might have a
   Urinary Tract Infection and should start a prescription of Ciprofloxacn Tab 250MG. 1 tablet by mouth, twice daily. I did receive a 2 page Patient Education sheet with this. About a week
   into the 10 day (20 pills) prescrip. I started noticing more pain in my wrists and hands. I had been told when taking antibiodics…, be
   sure to finish your prescriptions! I came upon this notice while on the Mayo Clinic Website.

5. JoAnn Says:
   July 15th, 2008 at 6:04 pm

   I took cipro and similar antibiotics throughout my 20’s and 30’s for chronic sinus infections and 2 bouts of pheumonia and bronchial infections. For years I have wondered why my muscles and tendons became painful with any type of activity and they never seemed to heal.

6. MONICA Says:
   July 21st, 2008 at 6:33 am

   IN THE WINTER OF 2001 I WAS PUT OF LEVAQUIN
   ON FEBUARY 2 OF 2002 I HAD A SEVERE REACTION TO THE ANTIBIOTIC THAT CAUSED ME TO BE BED RIDDEN FOR NEARLY 4 MONTHS
   DURING MY WEB RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT WHEN MIXED WITH PAIN MEDS SUCH AS IBUPROPEN OR MOTRIN IT CAN CAUSE STROKES &/OR SEIZURES AND OTHER NUEROLIGICAL DAMAGE. I LOST MY HOME AND HAD TO RELOCATE MYSELF AND MY FOUR CHILDREN AS A RESULT. IT WAS THE WORST TIME IN MY LIFE ! I STILL HAVE VERTICO TODAY AND SUFFER TERRIBLE LEG CRAMPS FOOT TENDINITIS AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS ALL BECAUSE THE MAKERS OF LEVAQUIN HAVE THE NERVE TO PUT THIS POISON OUT ON THE SHELVES

   I ALSO HAVE A SISTER WHO JUST THIS SPRING HAD A BAD REACTION TO CIPROFLOXIN THAT HAS CAUSED HER TO BE SO BADLY DIBILATATED THAT SHE CAN HARDLY TALK , THE CIPRO ATTACKED HER CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM…SHE TOO WAS ON IBIPROFEN FOR HEADACHES AND WHILE BEING ON THE CIPRO THE COMBINATION CAUSED HER TO HAVE EITHER A STROKE OR SEIZURE IN HER SLEEP.IT’S TERRIBLE !!!

7. Guina Says:
   July 21st, 2008 at 2:41 pm

   I had surgery in April 2008 for a tendon tear in the elbow. The doctor says I definitely had golfer’s elbow. Before the tear occured in December of 2007, I had taken levaquin about 2 weeks earlier.

8. KB Says:
   August 19th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

   I took Cipro for the first time last summer for a recurrent UTI. About the same time, I began suffering tedonitis/plantar fasciitis in my left foot, and a year later, it hasn’t cleared up. I can’t help but wonder if the two aren’t related now. I’m overweight but I’ve never had any sort of tendon injury in that foot that didn’t clear up in due time.

9. Debbie Says:
   September 12th, 2008 at 4:41 am

   I went to doctor for suspected U.T.I., was given Cipro and told to come back in 10 days. 2 days later I called to say I thought I might be having an adverse reaction.They told me to keep taking them. My leg swelled and was severely painfull That was the beginning of this year long nightmare. I just had surgery again for this and am back on crutches.

10. Rose M A Says:
    October 14th, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    I am 52 yrs I have been on both Levaquin and Cipro for over 2 yrs with a UTI very often. I have experienced cronic pain in my knees and fingers, and I continue to get these UTIs.

11. Barbara Says:
    October 24th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    Taking Levaquin, only 5 pills in about 4 days, left my knees in constant pain, since the end of March ‘08. Over-the-counter pain pills do no good. It is very hard to bend my knees to sit or to stand back up. Lying down doesn’t help, either. Even though the pain is constant, at times it is more severe. Getting a good night’s sleep is impossible. At times it feels as if I’ve been shot in both knees! They feel as if they belong on a 100 yr. old, & I’m only 59! I’m scheduled to go to a pain center, so I’ll see what they can do for me. Very interesting!

12. alfredo Says:
    November 29th, 2008 at 4:05 am

    I started taking levaquin for 7 days as result of a UTI…A month before i was diagnosed with plantar fascitis wich got a little better after i started using arch soles…well, a week after taking the levaquin the planar fascitis became extremely painful…i am glad i finished teh antibiotic today but also hope the PF now goes away and doesn’t get any worse…i checked the drugug litarature and there’s nothing written about PF but tendonities as a side effect

13. Diane A Says:
    December 4th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

    I am 49 yrs old and have suffered with UTI’s for the last 2 yrs. My doctor has prescribed Cipro and Levaquin both with tempoary results each time. Now I have been diagnosed with a ruptured muscle between my shoulder and neck with no mention that it may be a result of Cipro or Levaquin. …also backaches and sore feet.

14. sally Says:
    December 15th, 2008 at 9:47 am

    Ive have cancer and I take cipro for ten days after cemo so in the hope
    that I won”t get put in the hospital. I now have numbness in my left arm
    from my elbow to my finger tips ,pain in my neck and shoulder its like
    my head draws to the left .

15. Laurie Says:
    December 25th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    I have Crohn’s disease, I have been hospitalized several times, they give me intravenus cipro. I have lost feeling and function of my hands and they are extremely painful I have no sensation in several of my fingertips.

16. Ashley Says:
    January 8th, 2009 at 10:28 pm

    I am 31 years old. I 750 mg od Levaquin for 10 days for pneumonia. The day after I stopped taking it I started having some knee pain. 8 days after I stopped this drug I went to my doctor thinking I was having an arthritis attack or something. He said that Levaquin can cause tendonitis. This is what he wrote on my discharge notes from his office – TENDONITIS from Antiboitics. I was told to take 800 mg of motrin 3x’s a day. I missed a does today 11 days after ending my Levaquin presciption and I was in tears because I couldn’t get up from the dinner table. My body feels like it is being held together by broken hinges.

17. rose Says:
    January 9th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    I’ve taken Cipro around the 80’s or 90’s, for a bacteria infection, I’m not sure if my tendonitis is due to this problem or not.

18. Leslie Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 12:29 pm

    I have been on and off of Cipro and Levaqin for UTI’s and pneumonia. I also have severe pain and some swelling at the Achelles when arising in the AM or if I sit for a while I walk like a penquin. I have a new physician thank god and when I told him what my symptoms were he immediatly said Levaquin can cause this side effect. Great New Doctor!

19. rena Says:
    January 17th, 2009 at 1:14 pm

    A few years ago I had pna. and the doctor put me on levaquin, I took it a few days and I got so sick i thought i was going to die. I went back to the doctor and eventually she thought it was a reaction to levaquin, I was aching all over my body, my legs were killing me i thoght i was having a heart attack, I started dry heaving in her office,, my chest got tight,my blood pressure went up and then they called a ambulance and sent me to ut hospital where i was admitted, with mental status change, which i could tell myself something was not right about me and i thought the same thing also, then they gave me ativan trying to calm me down and i was so sick and out of it i could not tell them i wqas allergic to ativan , it has a adverse reaction on me , it makes me hiper, thare i was hiper, mental status change and my legs killing me, my bones, muscles, tendons, joints, and the rest of my body aching, they admitted me to the floor where i am a nurse and my bestfriend took care of me. I told her i had to walk my legs were killing me and she helped me walk around the hallways. i remember walking but i had my eyes closed the whole time. My legs, were still hurting but I thought that it was from the damage in my back because i had had 2 back surgeries. . then the docotor ordered a dilaudid pca, and finally got my legs quit hurting and i went to sleep, then the next mornoing i was back to normal as far as my mental status change goes. but my knees, legs, lowe back, joints, muscles, and bones in my lower extremities were still hurting very bad and still is till this day. I had back surgery in 4/08 and now i dont have the siatic pain but i still have alot of knee pain, joint, muscle and bone pain, which now the doctor has idagionsed me with fibromyalgia. I hope this does not ever happen to anyone of you out there reading this. MY life has been miserable since i 2000 when i hurt my back at work, then had back siurgery went back to work and in 2001 after being back to work almost a month hurt my back again and had toi have another back surgery. hurt it aagain about a year and a half ;later and comp said there was no change and it has been down hill ever since. I am 50 now and have been a nursae for 12 years and it is really biothering me to thoink i may have to retire. I love helping peoiple. this is my calling, I grqaduated at 3 after raising my 2 children and the year after i graduated and started working my husband got hurt at work and had to retire. I would love to work at least 8 more year but at this point i have 3 grandchildren which i lovew with all my heart and i can’t get out and play with them,, go p[laces with them and do the things i want to do. I love to shop but this christmasd i ordered most off the intertenet, which i would have rather went to pigeon forge tn and shopped till we dropped like my daughter said and then get a motel room and sleep. but pain is horrible and i would not wish it on my worst enemy.. I don’t know if the medication made it worse but it did cause mental status change.

20. laura Says:
    February 5th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    I am a canadian women who has been on and off cipro since 2004 for bladder infections.I now have tendon damage and am living in constant pain.Possible surgery.I am trying to find other canadians that have suffered as a result of taking cipro.I don’t know of any class action lawsuits in canada but there should be I know I am not alone and I will pursue this until I get some answers.Good Luck To You All

21. Vicki Says:
    February 18th, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    i have a sinus infection and was prescribed 750mg of Levaquin for 5 days first by my primary physician and then when the condition persisted he sent me to an ENT (ear, now & throat) doctor. The ENT continued the prescription by ordering another 5 days of 750mg. Both doctors were aware that I am also taking 10mg of Prednisone a day for an autoimmune condition.

    Last Saturday, 2/14/09 I had a rupture to my calf tendon on my right leg and my calf on my left let was very tight and I was afraid that it was going to happen to it as well. My son is a certified EMT and told me that it was a tendon rupture. He checked to make sure it wasn’t my achilles tendon. I immediately wrapped it, iced it and elevated it. I had crutches from an earlier knee surgery so I didn’t need to go to the doctor as everything I read about the condition said that it would heal and reattach and I read about stretching exercises for after the pain is gone. But for 4 days it was excrutiatingly painful so I stayed off it.

    Today it is still wrapped for support, I went to see the ENT and had a CAT scan of my sinuses – I still have some infection in my frontal sinus areas. He decided to try a similar drug, AVELOX. This time as I was reading the warning at the top, it became clear to me what had happened. I asked the pharmacist for an information sheet on Levaquin and read the exact same warning.

    So I called my ENT to change the prescription immediately.

    I am sooooooooooo mad now! I wish one of my doctors would have realized the problem. Even the pharmacist from whom I get both the Prednisone and the Levaquin from might have said something to me about the two being used together. But everyone said that this rupture is very rare. Maybe not so rare after all.

22. Lisa Says:
    February 24th, 2009 at 10:21 am

    I was prescribed levaquin 500 MG for a sinus infection to take once per day for 21 days. The Allergist doctor said if your joints start aching, like in your knees call me and I’ll change the prescription, don’t try to work through it. I didn’t think it to be a big deal. After a week into taking Levaquin my hand and arm would go numb in the middle of the night. I thought maybe I was sleeping on it for too long and it went numb. After about 4 more days my knees and lower back started aching and all the way up the back of my calf where the achillies tendon is ..is extremely tender. I called the doctor and asked to have the presciption changed. The doctor never told me the damage this drug can cause to your tendons. He just said if you have aching in your joints, like arthritis. What makes it worse is I went to see an ENT about 10 days after taking the medicine because my sinus’ still didn’t show signs of improving. I told the ENT that I was taking Levaquin. He said it was a good medicine and to keep taking it. Even after I wrote down and told him my elbow joints were aching, had numbess in hand and pain in back of leg. I haven’t taken the medicine for 2 days but the pain up the back of my calf and aching in my knees has not improved.

23. Joan Says:
    March 14th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

    I took 500 mg of Levaquin for 3 days in row to cure a UTI one year ago. I started to have tenden pain in my feet 4 months later and eventually it has resulted into a full blown case of plantar faciitiis. I just started taking the same medication yesterday, one year later, for another UTI. While searching the web for information about UTI’s I came up with this web site and am in shock. I am going to call my doctor and find out why I was not told about the side affects of this medication.

24. Loretta Says:
    April 1st, 2009 at 8:18 pm

    I was put on 500 mg of Levaquin for an URI infection and laryngitis. My doctor knowing I couldn’t talk, just called in the prescription to the drug store. I picked it up on 3/23/09. When I started getting reflux pain, I checked out Levaquin on the internet and saw many side effects that I chose to stop the medication, I took 4 pills of the 7 prescribed.

    Yesterday, 3/31 I tried to get out of bed and couldn’t stand on my foot. I called a foot doctor and made an appointment for 4/1. I went to the doctor a few hours ago and he said this is the worse case of plantars fasciitis he ever saw. I have never had foot pain before this and am convinced this is from the Levaquin. I will have xrays taken and just hope it is not a torn ligament.

25. Azad Says:
    April 2nd, 2009 at 7:54 pm

    I took Cipro for 30 days, I’m 56 years old and now I have sever pain in my Achilles and Shoulders, not ruptured yet but very painful, I have to take pain killer to help me. I stopped taking Cipro a week ago. I’m so worried. Anyone been at doctor for help to reduce the pain and prevent further injury.

26. betty a Says:
    April 7th, 2009 at 7:52 pm

    In sept I had a total knee replacement and during surgery he discovered that every tendon and ligament in my leg was torn. Pre-op and POST-OP, I was on levaquin. It’s been six months since surgery and my knee has never healed properly. I now have a huge lump where my patella tendon was reconnected to my tibia. and in constant pain.

    Why did my dr. put me on levaquin immediately BEFORE and AFTER a tendon repair? stupid!

27. mike Says:
    April 22nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    I took 10 days of cipro 1000 mg in 2006, resulted in plantar fascia, achiles tendoniti, shoulder pain, lower back pain, both knees are bad, had surgery on the shoulders, need it again now. left elbow is shot. this is three years after taking cipro for ten days and I see no end to it. I live each day in pain, can’t stand on my feet long unless I want to endure the pain. personally I started conversing with a law firm and want to sue the %$#@ out of themanufacturer. I too was told by Dr’s in 2006 that it could not be the cipro, yeah right!
    to all that have been damagaed by these drugs my sympathy and I hope you seek out a law firm and get some justice for your suffering.

28. Mike Says:
    April 23rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    Unfortunately, this is what fluoride does to the body. When you take fluoroquinolones, it basically causes fluoride toxicity in the body. This is how it treats infections, but the problem is that fluoride destroys your body while it does it. It is well documented that one of the MANY side effects from fluoride is that it hardens connective tissue (arthritis). This is why tendons rupture when exposed to prolonged fluoride toxicity. Just think, this stuff is in your water too. You drink it, you bathe in it, you cook food in it, you brush your teeth with it (it destroys teeth in the long run too) and now, you allow yourselves to be further poisoned by taking these drugs.

    As we have seen with drugs like Vioxx, the FDA won’t hesitate to suppress health risks for drugs in order to make a buck on the population. These people are the real drug dealers and the drugs they peddle are the dangerous drugs people should be worried about. The FDA will approve this garbage while, at the same time, refuse to approve something like Vitamin C. That in itself should tell you what kind of people they are. They just want to make money off drugs they can patent and don’t care who they hurt in the process.

    The moral of this story is: Don’t trust the FDA further than you can throw them and avoid taking anything that is FDA approved whenever you can. If you have to, do your own research beforehand and choose something you feel comfortable with. For UTI’s, a combination of cranberry juice/extract, Vitamin C and Echinacea will cure it in most cases. The cranberry inhibits the ability of the E-coli bacteria (the usual culprit for UTI’s) from adhering to the walls of the urethra making it easier to flush out, the Vitamin C helps prevent any further infection from developing and the Echinacea kills E-coli rather easily. Effective natural cures are out there and with a little research, you can find them. Echinacea is a wonder drug, look into it.

    I wish all of you the best in your recoveries.
    Mike

29. Frances Says:
    April 24th, 2009 at 12:30 am

    I took Levaquin in March 2008 and March 2009 for chest congestion. I recently mentioned to my podiatrist that I thought I was getting achilles tendonitis in my left heel. I had this problem in my right heel several years ago. However, he told me it was not achilles tendonitis, that I had a torn tendon. He gave me an ankle wrap which I will have to use until the tendon heels. I have a “bump” on the back of my heel where the tendon is torn. If it does not heel, I will need to have surgery to repair the tear.

30. Johnny Says:
    May 2nd, 2009 at 12:48 am

    I took a couple courses of Avelox for a severe sinus infection, early last year. Now, eight weeks ago, I ruptured my achilles tendon. It was a complete rupture requiring surgery. I’ve only just begun to walk without a “boot”. I would never have taken this antibiotic if I had even the slightest idea this would have happened.

31. misty Says:
    May 11th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    I have been on Levaquin and Cipro too. I am currently on Cipro now for a kidney infection. I have been on both pills several times in my life and I am 27yrs of age now. So I have no idea if these pills cause this issue or not. I have never had any problems with either of these medications. I am currently on Cipro at 500mg twice a day for 10 days. I suffer from Sacral Agenesis and I have chronic UTI and Kindey Infections. So I have been on these pills several times. If this sort of thing happens does anyone know how long it takes for these certain side affects to happen?

32. jimroy Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    I blew out my shoulder- rotator cuff and labrum hitting ONE serve (that was all) June of 08. I have to have surgery June 09. I had been taking Levaquin for sinus and UTI’s during 09 (three or four times) and to make matters worse I had also used Fluticasone (a corticosteroid nasal spray) during much of the same time. I can’t be positive but it damn sure seems like the Levaquin and spray exacerbated my shoulder problems. I’ve tried acupuncture and taken many Ayurvedic/ Chinese herbs- pain might be a little diminished but I can’t really use my arm adequately. BTW I just bought more Levaquin two days ago as a precaution on a trip to Europe- the pharmacist as usual said nothing. (Naturally I will just throw this stuff in garbage)

33. jimroy Says:
    May 13th, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    One more thing. I have been to three orthopedists for evaluation. NOT ONE OF THEM even asked about any antibiotic usage.

34. ellen Says:
    May 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 am

    2 months ago I was hospitalized with Ph, when admitted to the hospital I was given Leviquin by IV for 4 days and a rx for 10 days of oral antibiotics. After I had taken 4 days of the oral medication I went to the doctor explaining that my arms and legs were in great pain. At that point, I had read about the side effects of Leviquin and when I mentioned this to my Doctor I was told that all of that was nonsense. Now my left shoulder and arm ache insistantly and my legs are so bad that I can’t hardly get up in our house becuase the stairs are to high and I can’t put any weight on my legs.
    I was not told in the hospital about the side effects of this medication and would not have given my approval if I had known what I would have these type of side effects.

35. Lulu Says:
    May 26th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    I was put on Levaquin for Bartholin Cyst. I was okay until two days after finishing two week of this medicine. I was diagnosed with tendonitis of the leg. My legs, feet and hands get so numb I can’t feel them. My hands and feet burn constantly. Now a portion of my left hand in the thumb area feels dislocated and I can’t write with my left hand. I am left handed. I cannot hold anything that is even slightly heavy as it is too painful. I developed neruomas, after about three weeks of taking Levaquin. I can no longer walk comfortably as the soles of my feet feel as if they are walking on nails. My feet are red an swollen. I needed all new shoes to fit my swollen, painful feet. I have lost my balance standing and sitting down on a chair…I almost fell off of the chair sideways while at a diner. I never get headaches and now I do. My right cheek hurts and one of my eyes would not open right away when I woke up from sleep. It also is twitching a lot.

    I called the company who makes Levaquin and was crying tellling them how my life has changed since taking Levaquin. I told her thousands of people are reporting their poisoning from Levaquin and it’s aftereffets. The Levaquin represensative saId, Many people are being helped though BUT I WILL TAKE A REPORT. I asked her if we are being used as guinea pigs? Is that all they do talke a report of how you have been harmed with no advice on how to get this poison out of your system??? She said that Levaquin is already gone from your system. I asked her how come the effects from it are still increasing and she said, WE DON’T KNOW WHY. Your doctor is the one who is responsible for knowing all about what can happen. We are NOT RESPONSIBLE. IT’S UIP TO YOUR DOCTOR TO INFORM YOU OF WHAT TO DO.

    I spoke to one doctor, not the one who gave me the Levaquin, and she said to me, “we can’t possibly know everything about the drugs we give to patients.” SO THE DRUG COMPANY IS NOT AT FAULT AND NEITHER IS THE DOCTOR.,.,..,THEN WHO IS? WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE?

    I have read on the internet that the reaction from taking Levaquin can continue for 8 months to 18 months and sometimes the damage is permanent.

    WE MUST STOP THE DRUG COMPANY FROM GIVING THIS OUT.,

    I called the FDA and they said, “we will take a report” that is all we caxn do and we have many reports.

    The drug company and the FDA have been taking reports for many years nowand knowing the damage it is causing…CONTINUES TO “JUST” take reports with no action or responsibility for the thousands that are now handicapped, on disablity, not longer able to live normal lives.

    LET US UNITE AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. LET US STOP THEM FROM EXPERIMENTING WITH US.

    LULU

36. Rose Says:
    May 27th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    I have been prescribed Cipro and Levaquin for several years for bladder infection and dental visits at the recommendation of my cardiologist.
    In August of 03 I thought I sprained my ankle but found out a week later I had ruptured my achilles tendon on my right leg, was put into a walking boot for about 6-7 months. Had several proceedures to try and get blood flow to the lower leg, including a vascur bypass, that didn’t work.
    In June of 05 they had to amputate the leg BK, the wound wouldn’t heal, January of 06 they amputated the leg AK.
    I feel because of the ruptured tendon and having to be in a boot for so long for it to heal, was a cause for poor circulation in that leg.
    I do not have diabetes.

37. Bambi Says:
    June 3rd, 2009 at 10:12 pm

    Hi, everone,

    I can’t believe the horrible side effects I am reading in your comments.

    I have been on Cipro for 4 weeks, intermittently,over a month for otitis. It has not helped to clear the infection and just as I finished the last lot, a 10day dose, I found my knees to be incredibly sore and swollen. I had to see my Dr for the otitis and hostital treatment and never mentioned my knees; felt a bit like a am falling apart, hypochondriac, etc. Now nearly 3 weeks later I am still having great difficulty walking. I am 69years of age, always been in good health and not a sign of arthritis or similar in my body. I am outraged that this can happen – your life ruined by some greedy pharmaceuticals ! Have just made an appointment to see my Dr tomorow and show her some of your comments and info on this horrible drug.

    Not sure if there is a class action in Australia, but I have not found any comments on the net. Plase let me know if somebody does.

    .

38. kimberly Says:
    June 4th, 2009 at 8:12 am

    WOW! I was pumped full of these medications for what doctors assumed were continuing UTI’s.
    Came to find out my condition was something more serious than just a UTI.
    But for 10 years I took this medicine over and over and over again until underlying problem was discovered.
    I was walking in parking lot of a business and stumbled over trash/bottle and suffered a severe tendon rupture, had months of therapy, then surgery and have really never recovered.
    Could never understand how a simple Misstep could have lead to such a severe injury… well NOW I know.
    Would have been nice if my doctor would have drawn a parallel between the two.

39. Sky Says:
    June 9th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    I was put on Levaquin for 30 days to see if my prostate was infected due to a high psa. Within a month after finishing the course of treatment my archilles heel becgn to hurt and a short time afterwards my knee popped above the knee cap and I have been limping around since. While an MRI has determined a small miniscus tear in the opposite part of the leg from the ligament, I believe it was always there and the knee damage is the result of Levaquin. I had read the manufacturers counter indications but was unaware of the extent of any potential for these problems, Coincidenally, my wife had been put on Cipro for a numb foot and had her plantar faciatis tear. We are now both limping around together.

40. Carol Says:
    June 17th, 2009 at 12:01 am

    I took Levaquin in December and Jan of 2008/2009 which was prescribed to me by a Dr. who was treating me for double pnemonia.I noticed after taking Leviquin for a week (750 mg 4 times a day) it was hard for me to walk.I never related or even thought that the drug that I was taking for pnemonia would cause my “legs” (of all things,) to hurt.
    What really caught my eye in reading about Levaquin is that last week when I was getting out of the bed and as my right foot touched the floor, something popped and made a snapping sound in my right calf.The pain was so bad that I began to sweat, felt as I would faint ,got hot and cold chills.The pain was VERY bad. I finally got ahold of myself and layed down in the bed again.My hubby brought me 2 muscle relaxers ,ice pack and an ace bandage.
    I was not able to walk on my right leg for 3 days and on the 4th day I could put some pressure on it.I have a huge bruise on my calf where what ever it was snapped..I also took Levaquin and I truly believe that this odd occurrence that happend was caused by the drug Levaquin.
    My body is not the same after taking Levaquin.I think that alot of investagation should go into researching this drug and the side effects that people are having from taking it. People should know the side effects that their body will possibly go through by taking this drug BEFORE it is prescribed to them by a licensed physician.

41. k.spurlock Says:
    July 8th, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    I was put on Cipro 500mg twice a day for 10 days for a UTI. I kept telling my doctor i was getting no better and hurt all over and was told to keep taking the medication. Now i have pain in my legs, pain in my wrists and my back and soreness everyday, pressue in my head, rining in my ears, and pressure over my ears. I have also been experincing a spaced out feeling. I developed C-difficule while taking the medication, and candida. I have been unablt to work for 2 months. I have lost 30 pounds and have been treated for severe dehydration of couple of times. I developed extreme nervousness and shakiness also. I also have headaches everyday. Any ideas out there im 32 years old and would like to get back to living. Thanks for any suggestions?

42. Anna r. Says:
    July 21st, 2009 at 9:56 pm

    I am 21 years old. I had my first labrum repair in 2004, due to chronic dislocations of my shoulders. We related this injury to sports. In 2006 I was reaching into my backseat to grab something and my repaired shoulder dislocated. A month ago it dislocated for the 9th time since my 1st surgery while I was swimming with my daughter. 2 weeks ago I had my 2nd shoulder surgery which involved a labrum repair and a doubling over and screwing down of all my tendons which were basically like fruit by the foot. My other shoulder which has not been operated on has dislocated twice while I was sleeping. I was told I prob have some genetic disorder where my ligaments do not attach properly to my bones blah blah no testing was done to prove this. Two weeks post op I stumble across this levaquin cipro mess and I am wondering if my traumatic injuries and surgeries could be linked to the many times I have been prescribed this class of antibiotics for various infections. I would really appreciate some advice/giudance on how to further investigate to see if I may be reimbursed for the trauma I have endured from an early age.

43. Dirk Says:
    July 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 am

    I cannot thank you enough for this site. Just yesterday I was prescribed Cipro for a nagging UTI which seemed to only partially get better with Doxycycline HYC. After only 3 Cipro pills I am stopping!! And will never take Cipro again. I take responsibility for rushing back to my doctor at the emergency care clinic and asking ‘now what’ after the Doxycycline was finished–we Americans are so quick to want the next candy pill with more strength! So even though my initial urinalysis showed no dangerous / STD bacteria present, because I was still urinating too frequently my doc suggested Cipro. I trusted him and took the first pill last night–I got a terrible headache, woke up promptly at 3:30 AM and had trouble returning to sleep. Got up this morning, took the 2nd pill and by early afternoon, was so tired and aching I had to lay down for 1.5 hrs..I felt miserable. Then this afternoon, after taking my 3rd pill, that’s when I began to feel occasional tingling in my joints, hot pain in my knee capsules, continuing low-grade ache to my head, the feeling that my esophagus was shrinking, etc….. EVERYTHING you guys all have reported. I got on the internet and thank God I found your site. After 2 hrs of my own research and the testimony of so many people, including tons of once-healthy, athletic persons whose lives have been destroyed irreparably by Cipro, I took my healthcare into my own hands, called my pharmacist and said ‘I’m finished touching Cipro…never again will I take it.’. This drug is more toxic than anything I’ve ever taken, and the way my body has begun to react in only 24 hrs, it is obvious that the drug co’s are playing with fire on this compound. We as people must stand up and take action, and educate our doctors. I am taking some info. into him tomorrow, telling him i will be on a strict cranberry juice and kidney/liver tea detox program for the next few weeks to see if these ‘natural’ methods might help me rid my system of the bacteria. In any case, I refuse to use Cipro ever again and hope that many more people will read these pages before ingesting any or too much of this dangerous drug. dirk 48-yr old sporty, and very healthy guy who wants to stay that way!

44. Lynda Says:
    July 24th, 2009 at 3:45 am

    I have been suffering with pain in my neck left shoulder, arm, hip and leg for several months after taking cipro. Seemed to be getting better, then I had diverticulitis so of course I was put on cipro again. Pain is starting all over again especially in my left shoulder and arm. It is so bad that I can’t work don’t know how I am going to make it if I don’t get on disability. NO more Cipro for me. Thank God I found this informative website.

45. Barbara Says:
    August 31st, 2009 at 10:00 pm

    I was prescribed cipro while on vacation in July 2008 for cellulitis in my right caf & leg. I took it for just 10 days, followed by additional antibiotics when I returned to my regular doctor for follow-up. Shortly after (within weeks) I began having a lot of pain in my right shoulder. It continued to worsen and I saw an orthopedist who had an MRI done which confirmed that I had a torn rotator cuff. I had surgery in Jan. 2009 to repair it. Six weeks later (the very day I was released from physical therapy for the shoulder surgery) I slipped on cobble stones at work and twisted my ankle. Within a few days a knot formed along my Achilles tendon and I went to the doctor who gave me a cortisone injection that didn’t help at all. I again went to the doctor who advised that I see an orthopedist who was concerned that it may rupture and ordered an MRI. Before the MRI could be scheduled, the tnedon ruptured and I spent 10-1/2 weeks in a cast, followed by 3 weeks in a boot and physical therapy. During the 3rd week of therapy, while I was at physical therapy, the tendon ruptured again and I have just had surgery 5 days ago and am repeating the series of casts, etc. It’s looking to my like the cipro started this whole series of events that have robbed me of a year of my life so far. I have been off work for months already and doubt that I will be back to work before the end of the year.

46. Kathleen Says:
    September 4th, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    I am sure you must be inundated with emails. I have taken Levaquin for pneamonia and infections and the last time I took levaquin I got welts on my arm and did not take it anymore. But after taking it, for years I have been in pain. It is very hard to walk on my heels especially in the morning. It takes me an hour to be able to walk without really severe pain. I have had tendonitis in the side of my foot this March and then in my hip. This was severe pain where I could barely walk. I had to have steroid shots.

    My mother took levaquin this February and now her hands and feet and ankles are paining terribly. Her hands and her ankles have swollen up terribly. I do not know if this is related

47. kim Says:
    September 8th, 2009 at 1:31 pm

    severe tendonitis and tendon tear in foot due to cipro taken in 2003

48. BRAD Says:
    September 9th, 2009 at 9:52 am

    I’M CONVINCED THAT I TOO AM A VICTIM OF PRESCRIBED CIPRO.
    I TOOK THE DRUG FOR TWO WEEKS AS ORDERED. I SUFFERED FROM
    JOINT PAIN, MUSCLE PAIN AND NUMBNESS IN MY FINGERS, ALONG
    WITH SEVERE PAIN OF MY LEFT HEEL. MY HEEL PAIN IS CONTINUOUS
    AND HAS BEEN FOR MONTHS ALONG WITH NUMBNESS IN MY FINGERS. I COMPLAINED TO MY DOCTOR AND HIS NURSE BUT BOTH INSISTED IT WAS NOT THE CIPRO. I’M A BIG STRONG MAN WITH A HIGH THRESHOLD FOR PAIN BUT AFTER READING ALL THESE TESTIMONIES OF SIMILAR AFFECTS ON OTHERS, IT BRINGS TEARS TO MY EYES. IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT THERE IS NO HOPE OF THIS PAIN EVER GOING AWAY. ONE OTHER FACTOR I FAILED TO MENTION IS MY TEETH. I’VED BEEN BLESSED WITH WHITE HEALTHY TEETH BUT RECENTLY WAS TOLD BY MY DENTIST THAT FOR SOME REASON MY BODY IS CREATING ACID THAT IS EATING AWAY AT MY ENAMEL.
    AT TIMES WHEN I BRUSH MY TEETH THE TOOTHPASTE DOES NOT SUDS UP AT ALL. I HAD MY BLOOD TESTED AND THE RESULTS WERE
    EXTREMELY GOOD ACCORDING TO THE LAB. I WAS AFRAID I WAS PRODUCING TOO MUCH URIC ACID AND POSSIBLY HAD GOUT. NO
    GOUT AND NO ANSWERS. THE ONLY COMMON DENOMINATOR HAS BEEN CIPRO IN MY OPINION. HAD I BEEN TOLD THESE SYMPTONS I WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN CIPRO.

49. Sheila Says:
    October 4th, 2009 at 2:58 pm

    I was prescribed Levaquin 500 mg on September 25th 2009 for 7 days. I had light headaches and some dizzyness, but took it at night , so I would be in bed and would be able to sleep it off. However after 5 days, my right knee became so painful out of no where. I can barely walk. I am limping big time and hunched over due to the pain. It is very hard for me to straighten my leg when it is bent or to bend my leg when it is straight. The pain is so severe even when I am trying to sleep. I tried putting a pillow under my leg but it does not help. Laying on my side does not help. It has so far been 5 days of severe pain, and I am just wondering if there is anything that can help, so I can get on with my life. I’m 58 years old and I cannot fuction right now. I don’t know what to do about my work..

50. Susan Says:
    October 9th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    I’m shocked to read these stories. I took have just finished a course of Levaquin 750 mg for a bad kidney infection. About three days after starting the treatment, I could hardly walk! Even today, after finishing 14 days of this drug, I still CANNOT walk well – going up stairs is torture, going DOWN stairs is torture. My legs, ankles, knees, elbows, arms and hands are in bad pain. I hate doctors and I only go if pain s too bad to tolerate and natural remedies don’t take care of symptoms. I totally regret visiting my doctor and taking Levaquin. No side effects were discussed, of course. I just was told it was a powerful antibiotic that would cure my kidney infection.

    DOCTORS need to me more proactive and warn patients of this particular side effect, which can be potentially devastating. Three weeks ago, I was an active 46-year old woman, and today I feel like my 102-year old grandmother.

    Even my husband has commented on my complaints. I’m able to take a lot of pain (what woman can’t?), but THIS particular pain is truly debilitating.

    How long does this side effect last? Is this a permanent condition? I’ve only been off the drug two days, but I don’t feel any better. Have been popping aspirin every 4-6 hours just to get through the day and prescribed pain killers at night just to be able to sleep. This pain is never-ending and vicious.

51. Humaira Says:
    October 29th, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    I was put on Levaquin 750mg once per day for 7 days and am currently on Cipro 500mg twice per day for 7 days. I didn’t know that the pain I am feeling was because of these medications. I have awful headaches and it feels as though someone is prying my joints apart with a screwdriver. When I wake up in the morning or try to walk after sitting for a while it feels like all of the bones in my feet are so brittle that they are going to shatter into a million pieces. I have 4 days to go but I think I will stop taking it now and hope my persistant UTI doesn’t come back.

52. Patti Says:
    November 13th, 2009 at 2:33 am

    Re: laura
    February 5th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
    “I am a canadian women who has been on and off cipro since 2004 for bladder infections.I now have tendon damage and am living in constant pain.Possible surgery.I am trying to find other canadians that have suffered as a result of taking cipro.I don’t know of any class action lawsuits in canada but there should be I know I am not alone and I will pursue this until I get some answers.Good Luck To You All”

    Hello Laura,

    I am also a Canadian woman who was prescribed Cipro for a kidney infection on September 2nd of this year. Since that time I have also had dibillitating achilles tendon pain to the point where I cannot walk sometimes! I did not know of this side effect prior to taking the medication so it was a complete shock to me when I found out! I obviously would not have taken it had I known. It has now been almost 2.5 months later and I am worried that this might be a chronic condition for me which I am very worried about. Please contact me if you are interested in persuing this as a Class action Lawsuit case here in Canada….I sure am!

53. Brendan Says:
    November 23rd, 2009 at 10:47 pm

    I am from New Zealand and I have been taking Noroxin on and off since 1986 for bladder infections. Over the last few years I have had to stop all exercise due to pain and unexplained injuries to joints and ligaments. I have also started getting numbness and tingling in hands and lower limbs, sometimes it feels as if my legs may collapse out from under me. I have had MRI’s and other investigations but only recently did I realise that Noroxin has the same side effects. I already have a disability and am limited enough already. Apparently the companies that have been selling these drugs knew about these side effects for years and if they had only informed me I could have perhaps asked for or been provided alternative treatment. Although I already have a disability, it means I have a lot less to lose. It is annoying and frustrating to me that no doctor, specialist or drug company could let me know what side effects I could be unknowingly suffering while drug companies get rich on my possible misery.

54. Kyla Says:
    December 11th, 2009 at 10:54 pm

    Cure the disease, but kill the patient! I am so angry with my Dr.for giving me levaquin and cipro. I had levaquin by IV for 2 days in hospital. Now I have percription for cipro. Thank God I found out the dangers. I took only 1 pill of the cipro and I am ditching it !! There was no warning on my medicine bottle. I am very very angry with my Dr. I am going back to my natural remidies for my infection.

55. Dana Says:
    December 26th, 2009 at 4:37 pm

    I was prescribed Levaquin 750mg to be taken over a 5 day period in mid November 2009. I haven’t been able to walk without pain since. My legs (especially my achilles tendon, both legs) and arms hurt every time I move. Sometimes it is worse than others. I got a treadmill for Christmas because I was asking for one all year. Now I can’t even use it. Just walking across the room is a challenge. I’m 39 years old and I walk like I’m an arthritic 80 year old. I am totally despondent over this.

56. rachel Says:
    January 6th, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Three or four years ago I had kidney infections. I was giving it IV and at home. One night I felt my inner calf just go.. There is a hole and my calf looks depleted. No docs ever gave me reason just said I blew a tendon or muscle.. IN BED AND ASLEEP!! Five days ago I was put on Levequin again for severe inner ear inf. I have been having joint pain now. I asked Pharm. and he said there is a warning on it. Well, NO ONE told me!. I have five more days left and still have inner ear issue so what does one take? At least now I believe I know why my ankles suddenly hurt so bad I can hardly stand from sitting. I just hope I dont blow another muscle or tendon. I am healthy and I work out but right now no way…

57. robin Says:
    February 8th, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    I was also given these dangerous medication to I was told by my neuro surgent dr. that I was given this medicine because I had an infection that only burn patient have this was after I had my back surgery for the thrid time in 2006, I suffer from serve leg, knee, right hand ,pain Dr.’s don’t tell all that is needed to know about the medications they just write the prescription out and say go get it filled. When you do report a medical problem they say it is all in your mind ,here take this it will make things a little better and the new medicine break down something else to enable you to deal with life. I have been dealing with a lot of medical problems since I first had a surgery in 2006 I was a healthy women could do anything now I have limitation to want I can do and that is NOTHING!!!!!

58. robin Says:
    February 8th, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    I also forget to mention that some of the medication that I was on is neunrotin, lyrica, these medicines are also in the drug side effects that are dangerous also they are suppose to help with the nerveous system
    I can’t sleep at night I have lost the little appite that I had all the Dr. is saying that it will pass when. The lyrica has put a lot of extra weight on me everything in my body hurts my muscles aches all the time all of my money is spent going to the Dr. office for nothing never no real information is ever giving too help with the problem . I feel the stress that you all out there is going through.

59. fiona Says:
    March 3rd, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    Hi All, I am reading the above comments in horror. My son who has just turned 16 was give a course of ciproxin to take in November 2009. Since then he has had severe pains all through his joints. It was onlt over last weekend that i found out about cipro while researching what he was given. Can anyone give me any advice on anything to help his recovery, thanks

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