Levaquin tendon ruptures continue to cause problems

Austin Kirk

By Austin Kirk
Posted February 7, 2008

ADD YOUR COMMENTS 83

Popular antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones, which include Cipro and Levaquin, have been associated with a potential increased risk of ruptured tendons. Although this risk has been known for some time, manufacturers of these antibiotics provide inadequate warnings to doctors and consumers. As a result, users continue to experience Cipro and Levaquin tendon ruptures because they are not aware that they should be concerned about development of tendon pain or inflammation.

>>PRIOR POST (1/7/08): Cipro and Levaquin lawsuit filed by consumer group
regarding risk of tendon ruptures

Fluoroquinolones are a class of antibiotics which are used to prevent bacteria from reproducing in the body, which could cause infection. Levaquin (levofloxacin) and Cipro (ciprofloxacin) are two of the more popular drugs in this class of antibiotics, but others which could also be associated with the risk of tendon damage include Tequin (gatifloxacin), Penetrex (enoxacin), Factive (gemifloxacin), Maxaquin (lomefloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), Noroxin (norfloxacin), Floxin (Ofloxacin) and Trovan (trovafloxacin).

For over a decade, manufacturers of these antibiotics have received reports of people suffering inflamed or ruptured tendons, particularly in the shoulder, hand and Achilles tendon. The tendon problems have occured within a few days of taking the antibiotic or months after the course of therapy is finished.

Tendon ruptures are a serious and debilitating injury which can require extensive therapy, weeks of casting and possible surgery. An achilles tendon rupture is a complete tear of the tendon which connects the calf muscle and the heel of the foot. A tear of this tendon could cause the heel to lose stability, impairing a person’s ability to walk, run, jump or perform any activities which involve use of the foot.

Last month the consumer advocacy group, Public Citizen, filed a Cipro and Levaquin lawsuit against the FDA asking the court to require the drug regulators to act on a petition they filed over a year ago.  Although the current warning label does mention the risk of tendon damage, Public Citizen believes that stronger warnings should be added to the label and that a seperate information guide should be provided to those taking the drug so that they will know that the first signs of tendon problems should be reported to their doctors.

Education about the possible risks of Cipro and Levaquin tendon ruptures could help prevent inflamed tendons from actually rupturing. The adverse effects of the antibiotics could be compounded with prolonged exposure to the drugs, and if early symptoms of tendon problems are reported, a doctor may switch their patient to a different type of antibiotic.

CIPRO AND LEVAQUIN TENDON RUPTURE LAWSUITS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are reviewing the potential for Cipro and Levaquin lawsuits on behalf of users of fluoroquinolone antibiotics who have suffered a ruptured tendon or permanent tendon damage. If you, a friend or family member have experienced tendon problems after using an antibiotic, request a free consultation.

83 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Boyd says:

    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.

    Posted on February 28, 2008 at 2:08 pm

  • Chantale Perron says:

    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.

    Posted on June 11, 2008 at 9:42 pm

  • Diane says:

    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.

    Posted on July 13, 2008 at 5:20 pm

  • JoAnn says:

    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.

    Posted on July 15, 2008 at 6:04 pm

  • MONICA says:

    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 !!!

    Posted on July 21, 2008 at 6:33 am

  • Guina says:

    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.

    Posted on July 21, 2008 at 2:41 pm

  • KB says:

    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.

    Posted on August 19, 2008 at 3:29 pm

  • Debbie says:

    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.

    Posted on September 12, 2008 at 4:41 am

  • Rose M A says:

    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.

    Posted on October 14, 2008 at 4:15 pm

  • Barbara says:

    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!

    Posted on October 24, 2008 at 3:46 pm

  • alfredo says:

    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

    Posted on November 29, 2008 at 4:05 am

  • Diane A says:

    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.

    Posted on December 4, 2008 at 2:11 pm

  • sally says:

    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 .

    Posted on December 15, 2008 at 9:47 am

  • Laurie says:

    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.

    Posted on December 25, 2008 at 1:50 pm

  • Ashley says:

    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.

    Posted on January 8, 2009 at 10:28 pm

  • rose says:

    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.

    Posted on January 9, 2009 at 9:59 pm

  • Leslie says:

    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!

    Posted on January 13, 2009 at 12:29 pm

  • rena says:

    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.

    Posted on January 17, 2009 at 1:14 pm

  • laura says:

    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

    Posted on February 5, 2009 at 2:59 pm

  • Vicki says:

    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.

    Posted on February 18, 2009 at 8:07 pm

  • Lisa says:

    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.

    Posted on February 24, 2009 at 10:21 am

  • Joan says:

    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.

    Posted on March 14, 2009 at 1:01 pm

  • Loretta says:

    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.

    Posted on April 1, 2009 at 8:18 pm

  • Azad says:

    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.

    Posted on April 2, 2009 at 7:54 pm

  • betty a says:

    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!

    Posted on April 7, 2009 at 7:52 pm

  • mike says:

    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.

    Posted on April 22, 2009 at 2:29 pm

  • Mike says:

    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

    Posted on April 23, 2009 at 1:10 pm

  • Frances says:

    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.

    Posted on April 24, 2009 at 12:30 am

  • Johnny says:

    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.

    Posted on May 2, 2009 at 12:48 am

  • misty says:

    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?

    Posted on May 11, 2009 at 9:07 pm

  • jimroy says:

    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)

    Posted on May 13, 2009 at 9:18 pm

  • jimroy says:

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

    Posted on May 13, 2009 at 9:19 pm

  • ellen says:

    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.

    Posted on May 22, 2009 at 1:12 am

  • Lulu says:

    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

    Posted on May 26, 2009 at 8:23 pm

  • Rose says:

    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.

    Posted on May 27, 2009 at 2:41 pm

  • Bambi says:

    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.

    .

    Posted on June 3, 2009 at 10:12 pm

  • kimberly says:

    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.

    Posted on June 4, 2009 at 8:12 am

  • Sky says:

    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.

    Posted on June 9, 2009 at 6:08 pm

  • Carol says:

    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.

    Posted on June 17, 2009 at 12:01 am

  • k.spurlock says:

    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?

    Posted on July 8, 2009 at 4:17 pm

  • Anna r. says:

    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.

    Posted on July 21, 2009 at 9:56 pm

  • Dirk says:

    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!

    Posted on July 22, 2009 at 1:32 am

  • Lynda says:

    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.

    Posted on July 24, 2009 at 3:45 am

  • Barbara says:

    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.

    Posted on August 31, 2009 at 10:00 pm

  • Kathleen says:

    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

    Posted on September 4, 2009 at 8:22 pm

  • kim says:

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

    Posted on September 8, 2009 at 1:31 pm

  • BRAD says:

    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.

    Posted on September 9, 2009 at 9:52 am

  • Sheila says:

    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..

    Posted on October 4, 2009 at 2:58 pm

  • Susan says:

    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.

    Posted on October 9, 2009 at 1:28 pm

  • Humaira says:

    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.

    Posted on October 29, 2009 at 8:21 pm

  • Patti says:

    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!

    Posted on November 13, 2009 at 2:33 am

  • Brendan says:

    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.

    Posted on November 23, 2009 at 10:47 pm

  • Kyla says:

    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.

    Posted on December 11, 2009 at 10:54 pm

  • Dana says:

    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.

    Posted on December 26, 2009 at 4:37 pm

  • rachel says:

    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…

    Posted on January 6, 2010 at 7:57 pm

  • robin says:

    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!!!!!

    Posted on February 8, 2010 at 7:08 pm

  • robin says:

    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.

    Posted on February 8, 2010 at 8:58 pm

  • fiona says:

    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

    Posted on March 3, 2010 at 7:49 pm

  • Wenona says:

    This is 2010…… I have not been informed of any side effects or life I may encounter if I take Levaquin. I called my doctor and they said it is absolutely normal to have leg pains while taking Levaquin.

    I think this is Terrible!

    Posted on April 1, 2010 at 1:32 pm

  • Jennifer says:

    I was put on Cipro last week for a severe sinus infection that ive had off and on since January. Before that I was put on Levaquin. So obviously neither prescriptions were working. Two days into taking the Cipro I noticed severe pain in my shoulder and legs. The only thing I wanted to do was stay in bed. Doing daily activities and taking care of my kids was almosty impossible. After the initial leg and shoulder pain I noticed that my fingers, arms and lips felt numb and tingled. My body aches and I am having the worst muscle cramps imaginable. I called my doc and was told to stop taking the meds, that maybe it was a reaction to them. Ive been off of them for two days now and not much has changed. If I had known that this could be the outcome of trying to clear up a sinus infection I would have never listened to my doc. Just hope that theres light at the end of this tunnel!

    Posted on April 21, 2010 at 9:16 pm

  • Lisa says:

    After 2 days of taking Cipro, I woke up in the middle of the night with severe pain in both of my feet. I couldn’t figure out what it could possibly be from because I was sick and had just been resting for a few days. I never had any kind of pain in my feet or tendon injury before. The next day I did some internet research and found out about the tendinitis and tendon ruptures Cipro could cause (neither the doctor or pharmacist mentioned anything about it). So I stopped taking it and the pain diminished but some pain in one of my feet remained. That was 6 weeks ago and I thought is was getting better over the last couple of weeks so resumed my normal activities, but in the last few days the pain has gotten much worse.

    The worst thing is that the manufacturer does not seem to provide any information on what to do if you experience a problem, other than talk to your doctor (who may or may not know anything about it). It would be helpful if they could provide some recommendations about what do to do (should I minimize any kind of weight bearing exercise for 6 months to avoid tendon rupture even if it is not bothering me?). The literature says that there is a risk of rupture up to 6 months later, so I hesitate to do anything that might be bad for it – I am normally very physically active and it has been very difficult to refrain from exercise.

    Posted on May 11, 2010 at 9:00 pm

  • Lisa says:

    Oh, another thing that it would be helpful if the manufacturer could provide advice on – when someone has these kinds of effects from Cipro (tendinitis), is stretching and/or massage a good thing or a bad thing? I have been avoiding stretching the feet because I’m worried it might make tendon rupture more likely, but on the other had I have read that stretching is good for tendonitis.

    Posted on May 11, 2010 at 9:10 pm

  • Gudrun says:

    Have been on and off Levaquin/Cipro/Tequin for almost 10 yrs for UTIs and kidney infections. Outta seemingly nowhere, I get up one day and cannot bend my ankle, and my foot swells up like a sausage. Went to ER and they said it was tendonitis. 6 months later and my foot has done nothing except get worse! I now have pain CONSTANTLY. Breathtaking pains.

    I went to a regular GP yesterday and she did xrays which revealed nothing. Went home frustrated and sad that she didnt take my pain seriously. Went online to research tendonitis and what I could do and BLAM, Im inundated with all these articles and forums that contain stories just like mine.

    Have an appt. with a Podiatrist in a week, and you bet that Im going armed with any and all information that I can about Levaquin and the like being connected to tendonitis and tendon ruptures.

    People need to be informed about this and they should also be informed that it doesnt ALWAYS HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY!

    Posted on May 12, 2010 at 8:01 pm

  • dolores says:

    took levaquin for 5 days ,2 days later my arms and body started to ache. could not sleep in my usual position i could not lift my arms around my pillow.took my last pill may 5 th i.have to live on pain pills since then.still hoping i will feel better. it has also made me extremey tired.never in my life had to take a nap after work,i do now.all my joints hurt.shoullders, thumbs,legs,knees.my knees are giving out on me. things seem to be getting worse. scared to death. im a widow, must work to support myself.this drug should be taken off the market.im just so gratefull to know im not alone , my dr. said i must be getting a bug when i told him i have terrible body ache .i changed drs.he should have told me levequin could do this.that was just unconsionable!!!!

    Posted on May 29, 2010 at 8:55 pm

  • carolyn says:

    Fluoroquinolone antibiotics has ruined my life, killed my spirit, and
    put me in the poor house!
    What shocks me is that they never did proper studies prior, esp. with respect to adults ,,, and now, are there any??!! You can bet that BIG PHARMA wants this all to go away, now that the BLACK BOX WARNING is out. But what about the people who have been injured prior to this date!!??? These drugs turned my body into my own personal TORTURE CHAMBER. I have had non stop excruciating, intolerable, suicidal pain for over 1500 straight days! Pain that is often untouched by narcotic pain medication. Hip replacement soon, then my back, knee, wrist, elbow, shoulder….
    I have read the early research and it is very clear that they DO DAMAGE.
    Go to fqresearch.org to find out more about the research done and read the stories of the tens of thousands of victims still hoping someone will listen and help them.

    Posted on June 16, 2010 at 3:14 pm

  • rebecca says:

    i started taking cipro in 2006 for a kidney infection which i was mistreated for and it became serious. over a peroid of 6 months i had 4 7 day courses of 500mg and possible more. i paid to see a renal doc in end to find out why i still felt as if i had a kidney problem he said my bladder had become damage and dry because of the infection and was over sensetive and i had not needed to on antibiotics at all. so iwas given cipro for no reason just because the doctors couldnt be bothered to find out why my syptoms persisted. Now 3 years on i have a whole range of syptoms form cipro damage! they include dystonia which is a movement disorder making my neck pull to the left, my right shoulder is numb and very painfull. my calves and behind my knee to my feet are so painfull i find it hard to walk. i have nerve tingling and electrical buzzing. siezures. episodes were i cant speak very well, extreme vertigo and balance probs. my thumbs ache and i just feel like im not me anymore. was extremly fit and healthy before all this and ran my own hairdressing buisness aswell as attending the gym 4 times a week. i still manage a bit of work because without that i feel im nothing but i cant do hardly anything i would say im near being a recluse. m not interested in compensastion it wont bring back my health and i try to keep happy but after 3 years of extensieve tests to try and find a cause to all this i think i have finally found it in this drug, JUST DONT WANT ANYONE TO EVER EXPERANCE THESE PROBLEMS PLEASE HELP ME FND A WAY!!!

    Posted on July 24, 2010 at 3:00 pm

  • carol says:

    I have a bladder infection and was prescribed Ciprofloxacin. After 2 pills I experienced numbness in fingers on both hands, shoulder pain, stiff knee joints and tingling in legs. I was unable to get a good night sleep and still can’t. Even though I immediately quit taking this drug, it has been 2 days and I am still feeling the effects of this drug. Hopefully I have not damaged anything–I would suggest anyone taking this drug to get off it.

    Posted on February 21, 2011 at 4:37 pm

  • Kate says:

    I was prescribed Cipro for diverticulitis, I have felt horrible since I strted taking it, and have 2 more days to go…..I have horrible aching muscles, light-headedness, sore joints, and bad headaches…..I was told I’d have to take this every time I get a flare-up, but I’m going to tell my doctor absoluuuutely not….he better come up with something else…..This drug is horrible…

    Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:21 pm

  • Cate says:

    I am currently on Levaquin 500mg once a day for a 10 days. Today is the third day. I was warned to not work out (gym) by my doctor. But now I’m paranoid after reading this website. My doctor won’t change the prescription due to paranoia alone; what other measures can I take to prevent tendon damage?

    Posted on May 26, 2011 at 12:44 am

  • Ginger says:

    I’ve been a consistent runner for 40 years and other than sprained ankles from running trails, have never once had a running related injury. After taking Levaquin last December, I have not one day been without pain in my achilles, left knee, and right heel and arch. It began on day 3 of treatment and was initially so bad I was unable to walk up and down stairs. It has gradually gotten about 80% better, but I still live with chronic pain, the fear of a rupture, and am unable to run as I had before, which is a huge loss to me. Besides the pain and fear, something that continues to bother me is why neither my doctor or pharmacist told me about the risk. Being 60 and also on steroids at the time (for a sinus infection) put me in the highest risk group for developing Levaquin tendonitis. The pharmacist did give me a pile of handouts for Levaquin and other meds I was given, but there was no warning on the bottle and nothing on the papers that would catch my eye and make me read every word. No bold black box, etc. Had I known, I would never have chosen to take a drug with such high risks. I feel incredibly angry with the doctors and pharmacy.

    Posted on June 13, 2011 at 11:39 pm

  • Connie says:

    My husband took Cipro twice. Once in 1998 and again in 2004. Around 11 months after taking them his tendons started to rupture. He had 3 ruptures after taking Cipro in 1998 and 3 ruptures after taking Cipro in 2004. It’s not just tendons that rupture but muscle also. On 1 of the ruptures I noticed there was calcification present before the rupture. The doctor who operated made a point of telling me that there was lack of blood in the tissue. I believe the lack of blood caused the calcification which in turn made the tendon rupture. My husband had 2 operations to repair tendon ruptures but tore worse after both. He still has a tendon torn away from where it was attached in the back ankle of his left leg and a muscle torn apart in the middle of his right thigh. There is also nerve damage in his legs and hands now. He became disabled after all the damages from taking Cipro. He is a former Marine who could pick up a truck transmission by himself before taking Cipro. Now he can’t open a pack of lunchmeat. I’m not angry at doctors. They have no idea how damaging these medicines can be. No one informed them. Most still have no idea these medicines have even been black boxed. I believe a “dear doctor” letter should have been sent out long ago. Maybe then when the first round of ruptures happened a doctor would have known Cipro caused it and my husband wouldn’t have taken Cipro again. It is what it is though. Nothing will change the fact of what already has happened. The drug manufactorers are responsible for this. Their drug caused this and they should be held accountable. If I made something and sold it to someone and they became injured, I would be held accountable so why aren’t they? That’s what’s wrong. They are responible but yet get a free pass to continue harming others with their drug. “Collateral damage” is more or less what my husband is to them. They have their rights but where is my husband’s?

    Posted on June 23, 2011 at 9:33 am

  • Paul says:

    I am 39. 2 weeks ago I finished a 4 week course of cipro. 500mg twice daily. This week I have pains in my leg muscles like I used to get the day after playing a hard game of Rugby… but no rugby ball in sight! I also have very sore knees. Last week I had the same pain in my shoulders. I was prescribed Cipro for prostatis and it didn’t help. I wasn’t given any warning of side effects from cipro. I now see that my symptoms are common cipro effects. Funny, I went to the doc because I peed like an old man, now not only do I pee like an old man, I walk like one too :-). I Hope it goes away… .

    Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:26 pm

  • Jim says:

    After taking Cipro for 3.5 days (7 500mg pills) I started developing tendinits in the elbows. I researched Cipro and saw the warning about tendinitis and ruptures so quit immediately.

    Symptoms continued to get worse though. Joints snapping from shoulder, elbow, wrist, knees and even fingers. Both Knees got extremely stiff, tight and sore.

    The worst is my feet, in my right foot the tendons hurt so bad I can’t walk on it and have to use crutches. I did have burning in the legs and fee and numb fingers for a few days but that seems to have gotten better.

    My Dr. said Cipro didn’t cause my problems and in fact doesn’t even cause tendonitis. He is a complete clueless idiot — disregarding all the warnings. So I went to my ortho who immediately said that all these tendon problems concurrent with the Cipro that there was no doubt Cipro caused it.

    Its only been two weeks but I am not getting better yet. Ortho Dr. thinks I will but the worst pain is the foot — and I can’t even curl toes without severe pain in arch and in top of foot.

    Oh, my regular Dr. made a statement that he “prescribes Cipro like it was Pez Candy” and he doesn’t believe it causes any problems. What an idiot. No longer my Dr.

    And there was no BlackBox warning on my Prescription from CVS even though it was supposed to have started 3 years ago.

    Posted on October 9, 2011 at 9:23 am

  • Jim says:

    follow to above comment. Even though I only took the Cipro 3.5 days it was a 30 day prescription which would have been 60 500MG pills.

    Posted on October 9, 2011 at 9:33 am

  • Jeremy says:

    I have taken cipro for many years. Starting as a teenager, it seemed like anytime I was sick my doctors drug of choice was cipro. If I traveled out of the country I was told to take cipro before I left and continue taking it until I returned to avoid any potential illnesses while outside the US. Today I am sitting in the hospital with blood clots in my leg and lung as a result of my second Achilles tendon rupture. My first was 5 years ago and I just ruptured my other Achilles tendon about a month ago. I am fairly active and was more active when I tore my first tendon. I have to say I am shocked to have the same injury twice. If Cipro is at all responsible for this, it needs to be determined.

    Posted on January 8, 2012 at 9:44 am

  • Kate H. says:

    Hello, Jim, Jeremy, Paul, Connie, Ginger,…
    I pulled a copy of a study by the Mayo Clinic – Sports Medicine which convinced me to try magnesium as an intervention. I started 500mg/2x on Jan. 14, finished on Jan.21. Right flexor pain (caused a limp) on day 3 of drug, painful blisters on one foot appeared on day 4, more on other foot, day 5, and then the tendon pain and “locking” started. It has involved my wrists, both shoulders (affecting sleep), and now my left inside of my knee is swollen and stiff. My worst shoulder pain and “all over” shooting brief pains were relieved once I started 2 cups of magnesium sulfate every day (went 7 days, then took one day off, and now my knee is painful for the first time). I also have been eating lots of highly digestible proteins, making bone broths for gelatin (which helps assimilate other proteins), and drinking coconut water (juice) which has quite a bit of magnesium. My doctors (2 now) have offered no therapy whatsoever, and one for sure has tried to avoid documenting Cipro as the problem (writing dermatitis for the focused drug eruption blisters). Check out this title for the detail – “Musculoskeletal Complications of Fluoroquinolones: Guidelines and Precautions for Usage in the Athletic Population.” I was a very active teacher and distance runner (ran a half marathon in Nov), running 10-20 mi / week. Based on their paper and its implications, I am trying to remain totally low – key. The hardest part to keep from using too much is my right shoulder, which never gave me pain before, and now is often bad. I’m going to try to contact these docs (2 MDs and 1 DO) and get some more recommendations for fixing the damage.

    Posted on February 5, 2012 at 8:58 pm

  • Kate H. says:

    EDIT above comment…

    “2 cups of magnesium sulfate” in a BATH for 20+ min, not orally! Sorry!

    Posted on February 5, 2012 at 9:01 pm

  • Brian says:

    I am a service connected disabled veteran. My va doctor perscribed Cipro for my prostate, 500 mg twice a day for a month, my left knee is now swollen and have pain all the time. The VA pharmacy gave me a bottle of 42 tabs. The only warning( avoid direct sunlight)

    Posted on August 2, 2015 at 7:57 pm

  • Anna says:

    2 years ago I was prescribed Cipro for an ear infection. Little did I know it was going to completely disable me. Before Cipro, I was an active, healthy 35 year old woman. Now I cannot work or drive and am facing a shoulder surgery for 2 tendon tears and a muscle tear. The latest thing is pain in my Achilles. My husband grew tired of me being ill and left me. I am a RN. I knew the warnings and I called my dr 3 times before stopping the drug myself on day 14. Each time he denied it was the drug and would not change my antibiotic. By day 14 I was having 10-12 seizures a day, my resting heart rate was 160, I suffered from extreme panic attacks, and I have not had a pain free day since that fateful day Cipro came into my life. I desperately don’t want to lose hope. I am young and I have my whole life ahead of me. But 2 years later with tears and constant pain it is difficult not to lose hope. I have lost everything. My savings, my job, my husband, my house, I now live with my parents in their duplex and they take care of me. This is truly what I would imagine hell to be like and I can’t seem to find a way to escape. Flouroquinolones are chemo drugs. They kill human DNA. They are last resort drugs and yet Cipro is the number 1 prescribed drug in America. The ignorance and defiance of the physicians is maddening. They should have to walk in my shoes for one day and they would stop calling me a drug seeker. I grieve who I used to be. I grieve how free I was. This has been the most physically and emotionally devastating thing has ever happened to me and I am trying with all of my heart to hold on and keep the faith that one day I will be out of pain and my old self again. Unfortunately I’m starting to think that might not be until I’m on the other side of heaven.

    Posted on June 8, 2016 at 1:40 am

  • Darrell says:

    I took cipro for urinary tract infection few years ago took it about 3or 4 months now my shoulders both have limited range of motion and my hip joints can’t cross my legs I’m a type1 diabetic for 30 some years thought that was causing my problems.

    Posted on February 1, 2020 at 11:34 pm

  • Cindy says:

    well I had been taking cipro and Levaquin for years as I produce kidney stones all the time… on or around 10/6/2017 I started having severe pain in my left Achilles Tendon. My diagnosis at that time was: Distal Achilles Tendinopathy with insertional enthesohyte. I had no idea what it might be until I seen a post on Facebook regarding a lady that had severe tendon issues after taking Cipro…. I researched it and come to fine that this is a possibility that mine is the same, but not as severe at this time… I was never told that this medication can cause these issues, had I known I would have never taken them… Of course all of this started when I was around 18 years of age and took the Doctors word for everything… I have had severe pain in my shoulders, neck and back areas as well. I do not know if this is from taking these antibiotic. I can not wear shoes with backs on them, I still have severe pain off/on with severe cramping in my leg that will wake me up from a deep sleep, severe enough that if you touch my leg if feels like my skin is peeling off. I still have MD’s try to give me Cipro or Levaquin even though I added these medications to my allergy list.

    Posted on February 10, 2022 at 9:45 am

  • Chris says:

    At age 40 (2000) I was diagnosed with diverticulosis. When my diverticuli would become inflamed, the colon would be obstructed and I would get an infection that would only clear up by taking CIPRO. Taking bulk fiber everyday keeps the diverticulitis somewhat at bay..

    In that same year (2000), separated by 9 months I had two full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon (left and right shoulder.) Those rotator tears resulted in severely painful full-open surgeries with recovery and rehab each time lasting 6 months.

    In 2005, I tore my plantar fascia, and as a golfer I repeatedly have torn the tendons in my elbows and forearms (golfers elbow and tennis elbow) all while golfing.

    In 2019, I re-tore my right rotator resulting in my third shoulder surgery..

    I regularly receive cortisone shots in my hands (base of thumb where it meets the wrists for ongoing severe pain for the last 15 years.

    I was never informed by any experts regarding the possible link to CIPRO use and ligament & tendon tears but I am convinced that my recurring ligaments & tendon issues combined with my occasional CIPRO use makes a strong link to cause and effect.

    Posted on February 19, 2024 at 10:43 pm

Add Your Comments

  • Have Your Comments Reviewed by a Lawyer

    Provide contact information below and additional private comments if you want an attorney to contact you to review a potential case.

    The information below will not be published to this page.

  • NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.