Cipro and Levaquin lawsuit filed by consumer group due to poor warnings about risk of tendon injury

Harvey Kirk

By Harvey Kirk
Posted January 7, 2008

ADD YOUR COMMENTS 122

The consumer protection group Public Citizen has filed a federal lawsuit against the FDA regarding tendon problems associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics. They are asking the court to require the federal drug regulators to act on a petition filed 16 months ago requesting that new warnings be added about side effects of antibiotics, such as Cipro and Levaquin, which could increase the risk of tendonitis and tendon ruptures.

Public Citizen is an independent national consumer advocacy organization. They originally filed a petition with the FDA on August 29, 2006 requesting that stronger warnings be issued about Cipro and Levaquin tendon rupture side effects. Last week they filed a federal lawsuit asking the court to require the FDA to act on their petition, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

The tendon problems could be associated with all antibiotics which are part of the fluoroquinolone family, including:

  • Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
  • Levaquin (levofloxacin)
  • Tequin (gatifloxacin)
  • Penetrex (enoxacin)
  • Factive (gemifloxacin)
  • Maxaquin (lomefloxacin)
  • Avelox (moxifloxacin)
  • Noroxin (norfloxacin)
  • Floxin (Ofloxacin)
  • Trovan (trovafloxacin)

The FDA has received reports of at least 336 individuals who experienced a tendon rupture after using Cipro, Levaquin or one of the fluoroquinolone antibiotics. The most common tendon rupture involved the Achilles tendon. In addition, hundreds of other people have experienced tendonitis and other tendon disorders. The numbers are concerning, since drug side effects actually reported to the FDA typically only involve about 1% to 10% of all problems experienced by users.

Public Citizen’s complaint indicates that the FDA has failed to require that the antibiotic manufacturers provide stronger warnings to protect users from the risk of tendon damage. The group argues that if consumers and doctors are made more aware about the potential risk of tendon ruptures, it could lead to earlier intervention and help avoid injuries, as many patients could be switched to another antibiotic if symptoms of a tendon rupture are recognized early.

The current warning labels for Levaquin and Cipro do include indication about potential risk of ruptured tendons, but the information is at the bottom of a list of other side effects on the antibiotics. Public Citizen indicates that the risk of tendon damage should be contained in a “black box warning”, which is the strongest warning that can be placed on a prescription medication. In addition, they argue that those given the antibiotics should receive pamphlets specifically explaining how they should immediately stop using the drugs if they experience pain or inflammation, which could be symptoms before a tendon ruptures.

If you, a friend or family member have suffered tendonitis or a tendon rupture which may be caused by side effects of Levaquin, Cipro or another antibiotic, contact the lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. to review your legal rights. Request a free legal consultation.

122 Comments • Add Your Comments

  • Georgia Scott says:

    I need to know from anyone if there are lingering side effects from this. I took Levaquin, and after I had taken my 18th pill, and could not walk at all, realized that something was very wrong. I did look at the sheet that comes with the medicine, didn’t understand some of the side effects. So I looked it up on line, and then I understood it. I called my Dr./dental surgeon, and he freaked out after he saw what had happened to other people. I of course, quit taking Levaquin, stopped before a rupture, but I think it was close. My sed rate was thru the roof. Then they got all worried about me after I had spent days in agony. Anyway, I am still having problems with my muscles, that I never had before. I need some information. Maybe you can help. Thank you for your time. Georgia Scott

    Posted on January 7, 2008 at 11:18 am

  • Austin Kirk says:

    Ms. Scott,

    Thank you for your comments. One of the main problems that Public Citizen seems to have with the current warnings is that they do not do enough to educate people about the risk of tendon damage so that they can recognize early symptoms and prevent permanent injury by stopping the drug. Luckily it sounds like you recognized the problems and stopped the drug before suffering a tendon rupture.

    You should definitely consult with your doctor regarding your concerns about on-going complaints of muscle pain to determine whether you may have any ongoing tendon disorders.

    If you wish to review your legal rights, feel free to contact our office toll free at (800) 522-0102 or by submitting a request for a free consultation.

    Posted on January 7, 2008 at 6:14 pm

  • Jennifer Wegener says:

    I am writing in response to Cipro. June 9th 2006 changed my life forever. I had surgery done on June 8th 2006 and was given Cipro so I would not get any infection. However, I was left something much worse. My body had a very bad reaction to Cipro that left my body numb. My nerves are now damaged and just recently I went to the doctor to find out I have tendonitis. Let me tell you that I had took only 3 pills and I wish everyday that I had not taken 1. This company needs to pay for the problems that I am going through. I am 36yrs old with 3 children. There was I time I thought I was dying because of this medication. I even had to have my liver checked to make sure there was no damage do to the complications of Cipro.

    Posted on January 17, 2008 at 9:28 am

  • Cheri says:

    I starting taking Cipro due to a diagnosis of a Severe UTIKidney Infection. I started have uncontrollable and painful muscle spasms from head to toe and thought I was having seizures. I could not walk, was shaking uncontrollably and all I could do was tell my husband I needed to go to the ER. My doctor prescribed me 1000 mg. a day (at one time) I took the medication for 4 days. By the time I took the 3rd dose, after being unable to move from the couch except for diarrhea or to vomit, I realized it was the medicine. I quit taking the meds 6 days ago and still have muscle spasms, ticks and extreme anxiety at at times. I am following up with my doctor today to get my lab work results and to see about going to a Neurologist. This drug should be monitored closer. I hope these effects go away. I have 2 children to live my body hurts ll the time. Explain that to a 11 and 12 year old. This is terrifying.

    Posted on February 1, 2008 at 2:51 pm

  • Pete says:

    I had taken Cipro for only two days, in Feb. of 07. Thus began my trip to hell I couldn’t have possibly imagined. I immediately had, and still have perhiperal neuopathy, vision and balance issues, and aching muscles and tendons all over my body. After a lot of research, I found this to be a very dangerous drug, and the drug companies know it. The hardest part is finding a doctor that will believe that fluoroquinolones can cause this; as many symptoms and reactions seem to be delayed. This antibiotic is passed out like candy in doctor’s offices, and has no business being a first line antibiotic. The public needs to be informed how dangerous and devastating this class of drugs can be. They have the ability to destroy your life, as Cipro has mine.

    Posted on February 2, 2008 at 1:19 pm

  • Brooke says:

    I too have been having problems for years since taking Levaquin and Cipro. I had a bad reaction to Cipro and my doctor turned around prescribed me Levaquin….telling me that I was allergic to Cipro. It has been a little over 6 years and I am still having trouble from this. What can I do?

    Posted on February 14, 2008 at 3:33 pm

  • Randy M. says:

    I was given Levaquin after emergency colon surgery in Florida during the first day of spring break, 2003. I had insomnia, confusion and most noticeably tendonitis. After returning to Iowa after an eight day hospital stay in Florida, I ruptured my achilles tendon and had surgery two days later. I am self employed and being disabled by the rupture was difficult.

    Posted on February 27, 2008 at 11:18 pm

  • Melissa says:

    In June of last year my doctor prescribed not only Cipro, but also Levaquin. Talk about a double whammy. Within a few days my right foot hurt so bad I could not walk. I am diabetic and figured that was the cause. I never thought it was the antibiotic. My doctor said I had three choices (he never thought it was antibiotic either), 1) get cortisone shot (found that could lead to rupture, 2) Go to orthapedic doc (very $$$ with my insurance or 3) Live with it as it would like resolve. The really intense pain went away, but the decreased ability to walk (like someone who is 80 although I am not even 40), the inability to climb stairs (unless I take each step with my left foot only and the inability to stand on my toes are still here along with milder pain. I walk with a limp now because I can barely push off with my right foot. There is no telling what other problems this drug can cause.

    Posted on March 1, 2008 at 10:12 pm

  • Melissa says:

    P. S. My research has not shown any links between achilles tendinites and diabetes.

    Posted on March 1, 2008 at 10:13 pm

  • Juanita says:

    On Feb.4th I started taking Levaquin 500mg once a day for 10days for Bronchitis, by the 8th I started getting neck pain. I thought it would go away after I stopped taking it but it increased to muscle cramps, aches, joint pain & popping. I haven’t been able to work since 2/19 and went to an Urgent Care Dr, she said it sounds like a side effect of Levaquin. When I went to my primary care Dr., he did blood testing and referred me to a Rheumatologist. They still don’t know what’s going on and I’m hoping these side effects will stop, I’m 42 and haven’t had problems like this before. My dr put me on bed rest with Tramadol for pain, the Rheumatologist prescribed Celebrex, which I’m not taking, they put me on Lyrica earlier thinking it would help but I was sent to the ER with the worst migraine, could not see, they had to give me 3 shots of pain meds to get me to where I was able to go home. Alot of these medications need stronger warnings on them to make us–consumers aware of what could happen if we take them.

    Posted on March 14, 2008 at 8:20 pm

  • Julie says:

    I just got off a 6-7 week course of Levaquin…..yes I said WEEKS!
    Since d/c Levaquin and slightly before d/c I was having pain in ALL MY JOINTS.
    Now my right shoulder is clicking inside, painful beyond imagination, I’ve slept no more than 3 hrs at a time for a MONTH since d/c the Levaquin. I have right elbow pain, pain in both hands, all 10 fingers, both wrists, both ankles both feet, all toes, my legs are ON FIRE 24 hrs a day. I am hurting so BAD.
    I saw the ENT that prescribed the Levaquin (also prednisone for 2 weeks during that time, possibly 3 weeks of prednisone, not quite sure)
    I’m barely walking, shuffling around, sofa bound…in severe pain that I can’t shake. ALL my muscles are SCREAMING so loud I can hear them.
    I’m 42 years old! How long is this going to last? FOREVER?
    Its already been close to a month and I’m at my wits end. My right shoulder feels like it is going to EXPLODE.
    If I sleep in my own bed I need help getting out of it, straightening up so I can shuffle to the sofa where I STAY ALL DAY AND NIGHT. I’m now sleeping on the sofa 3 hrs at a time, sometimes less.
    Levaquin has RUINED MY LIFE at this point!

    My ENT and my regular Dr barely made mention of it in my records this week which has me so mad I could spit nails if it wouldn’t hurt so bad doing it.
    I was crying in the ENT’s office today to no avail……told to take TYLENOL and go see a Rheumatologist if I’m not better….my follow up appt is set for SIX MONTHS from yesterday! SERIOUSLY! SIX MONTHS! (unless I dont get better allergy wise!)
    HELP!

    Posted on March 22, 2008 at 1:15 am

  • Julie says:

    PS: I feel like both of my Drs have totally blown off my severe PAIN!
    My ENT did relate my pain to the Levaquin but again, made no big deal over it and made barely a mention in my record. (he was recording for transcription in front of me)

    Both Drs prescribed the Levaquin but the ENT’s office prescribed it for 5-6 weeks, the regular doc only one week with the prednisone.
    So I think they are trying to cover their butts while I’m sitting here writhing in PAIN.
    I’m so upset that they didn’t give this any attention at all!
    My right shoulder is clicking so bad, I’m having to use my left arm/hand to do most everything and I’m originally right handed.
    PLEASE HELP.

    Posted on March 22, 2008 at 1:19 am

  • Brett says:

    Hi. My name is Brett. I was given an IV injection of 750 mg of levaquin while being evaluated in the ER for pneumonia. I was diagnosed with pneumonia a week prior, went to the ER because of feeling overly tired and week. They repeated an x ray and found no pneumonia which I ws told after I recieved the levaquin. As soon as it was injected, the vein in my arm inflamed and a red rash developed up my arm. As soon as I came home I developed restlesness, I couldnt see, I had weird pains in my head, etc. After reading about the medicine I found out people with brain tumors should not take this medicine, which implies me. I have a brain tumor. A month later, I could now walk without it killing my ankles and my knees. I somehow feel this is related to the levaquin.

    Posted on April 16, 2008 at 9:54 am

  • tony says:

    I need help in finding a Doctor in my area may who have dealt with severe achilles tendonititis from cipro thanks

    Posted on April 16, 2008 at 3:29 pm

  • lauren says:

    My life has changed 100% since taking the fda approved levaquin. Back in feb 2008 I had an infection , flu like the doctor gave me levaquin to treat it. I am an avid mountainbiker, snowboarder, dirtbiker, pilates instructor, and just an overall very , very active person. I exercise to keep my mind healty as well as my body heathly. I am very depessed since feb when all of the sudden i felt as if someone had shot me in the calf with a gun. never having a problen before I looked on the internet under this medication and sure enough the two are linked. i call my doctor right away and he told me, yes stop the medication , it has been known for this side affect. i also signed a release from the pharmacy saying the only side affect was “DO NOT TAKE LEVAQUIN WITH DAIRY” i have now been physically unable to live the lifestyle i once lived…THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE….MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY…

    Posted on May 6, 2008 at 10:02 am

  • Michael says:

    I took Levaquin for 33 days and during the time I was taking it for a prostate infection and urinaray tract infection, I was feeling pain all over my body. I just thought it was from the extra sprong yard work I was doing. I also had rashes on both hands. Well, here it is now 10 days after I stopped taking it and my feet hurt so bad, I can hardly walk, My hands, legs, knees, ankles, knuckles, shoulder blades, and elbows hurt at level 5-6 most days. Other days I am at level 1-2? But, the main problem is that I lost strength in my body and can barely use my left arm now. 47 yr old going on 97 yr old.

    Posted on May 6, 2008 at 3:34 pm

  • Matthew says:

    My wife & I were prescribed Levaquin in 11-06 for respiratory infections – she 1 week after myself. I had been on penicillin for a week prior to starting the Levaquin & it was not working so our MD prescribed the ‘L’. My wife developed joint pain after about 3 days & called our MD who advised her to stop taking it as it affected some people like that. It knocked out my res. problem & I thought it must be good. To the present – I developed pain in my groin & back last week & thought it was a kidney infection. Went to our MD who gave me a prescription for ‘L’ – kind of at my recommendation since it had seemed to work well on the res. infection. Surprise – I developed severe joint pain in my right shoulder & hips, & moderate pain in other joints. Couldn’t sleep for tossing & turning due to joint pain. The pain in my tendons & joints has developed to the point where my right arm is about 75% useless & my right hip feels like it is out of socket & walking is difficult. I have a high tolerance to pain but this is ridiculous. Decided to Google Levaquin & was somewhat shocked to see what appears to be pretty clear evidence that ‘L’ has some serious issues, at least for some of us. I am now wondering if the increasing joint pain I have been experiencing for the last year or so & had attributed to my having worked as a plumber for 25+ years (lots of crawling around & heavy objects to carry) might actually be an outworking of exposure to ‘L’. I just stopped taking it last night. My pain was getting so intense I knew something wasn’t right & decided to check the internet to check to see if anybody else had experienced what I have been going through. Right now I’m in considerable pain & hope that now I’ve stopped taking it I will get better. I sure hope this does not lead to long term injury. I am 54 & have 1 grand son & 1 on the way. I sure would hate missing playing with them.

    My prayers will be with all of you who are in this same boat…

    Posted on May 9, 2008 at 9:20 pm

  • Dawn says:

    On May 7,2008 while visiting my Dr. for lingering congestion, he gave me a prednisone shot and handed me packets of a medication called Factive. Just 5 minutes prior to that he was looking at my chart and we were discussing my allergies to various medications. He explained nothing to about either of the drugs that he gave me. After I returned home, and into the evening I began feeling very sick. My body felt like it was on fire, I was sweating profusly, pains were shooting thoughout my entire body, my face turned bright red. I had terrible weakness in my limbs, prickly pains as if being poked with needles, headache, my throat began to swell making it difficult to swallow, sharp pain in the sides of neck, and terrible pain at the back of my neck,at the base of my spine.I had insomnia while taking the medication, anxiety and depression.On May 8,2008 after only having taken 2 of the pills I felt even worse. I then got online to research the Prednisone and the Factive to my surprise it clearly stated that the 2 drugs are never to be taken, nor given together which my Dr. had done. The biggest surprise came when I read about the Factive that he handed me in his office, it is a Quinolone and I am deathly allergic to it. He had my chart right in front of him with that fact written on it. As if I haven’t suffered enough, new symptoms are still appearing daily. He was negligent in every way shape and form, and I am going after him!

    Posted on May 28, 2008 at 11:00 am

  • Linda says:

    I was just given a prescription for Levaquin for a bronchial infection and after reading your posts I am petrified to take this medication. I called my doctor and she said the side effects mentioned are nonsense, and that there are plenty of people taking Levaquin without suffering any side effects. I begged to differ with her, but to no avail. I have recently read that fluroquinolones are used for anthrax and other chemical war fare.

    Posted on June 14, 2008 at 9:09 pm

  • Dawn says:

    Doctor’s know about the horrible side effects of Quinolones which is what Levaquin is however they are trying to protect themselves from lawsuits, and attempting to protect the drug agencies. Research Levaquin online and you’ll find many terrible side effects. Google FQVictims.org!!! Everyone affected by any of these drugs listed in the Quinolone family of medicines should read it. It’s horrifying!

    Posted on June 17, 2008 at 11:26 am

  • Julianne says:

    After taking Levaquin for four days and stopping when I suddenly could not walk, my blood work has come back showing an elevated sed rate. I am being sent to a rheumatologist and a neurologist due to the results along with numbness, tendonitis and weakness. I was absolutely fine before being put on this medication by my ob/gyn for a bacteria that grew following a culture of a cyst that did not even bother me.

    This medicine is poison in my book. My ob/gyn was dismissive with me (I have now dismissed him) and “dumped” it onto my pcp who has been wonderful. He believes it is from the medicine and has reported it.

    I was prescirbed it on July 14th, 2008 and there was no black box warning about tendon ruptures or tendon problems. Supposedly, the FDA had issued a black box warning to be put on all bottles beginning on July 9th. The pamphlet I got with the medicine listed tendon problems as rare at the bottom of the page.

    I think we all need to band together and get this off of the market. There are too many cases like everyone on this site and all the others who were vital, active people prior to taking Levaquin and other antibiotics in this category.

    I will consult an attorney if what I have is permanent. I am just keeping a positive outlook and trying to go about my day the best I can. I will not let this change my life anymore then it has. I do a very gentle, healing type of yoga, meditate and am grateful that I can at least walk now and do not have to sit every few feet to rest. I just hope that the other side effects subside. I have a daughter who has lupus and I have always had empathy for her, but this has given me even more, because she feels like I do on a good day!

    Posted on August 2, 2008 at 7:37 pm

  • maria says:

    i was given levaquin through IV. within 5 mins of the IV levaquin flowing through me i started to get huge cyst like rises on the left side of my face.. it became very itchy. my mouth and throat became EXTREMELY dry.. i could not produce the tinyest amount of saliva and i began to dry heave. luckily i didn’t have any nerve damage.. the nurse gave me benadryl. levaquin is no good!!

    Posted on August 7, 2008 at 10:29 pm

  • shirley says:

    Hi
    I thought it was just me but sure glad to see I’m not a lone in the reactions from cipro,it was awful and my whole body hurt ad was dizzy and haven’t felt right since!!

    Posted on August 9, 2008 at 4:48 am

  • Robert says:

    I received two prescriptions of Lavaquin, the most recent Jan 2008. The 1st a 10 day consumption period, the 2nd 15 days. Reflecting back: I experienced pain in my hands/wrist, elbow & right hip shortly after starting the 10 day period. I didn’t know what to attribute the pain to, never had joint or limb problems. I’ve always been athletically advanced, at 43, I was able to compete against 25/35 year old players & dominate 40 & over players. Reflecting back: Days after taking Lavaquin I couldn’t participate in any activity without pain. Now, I can’t carry things without pain. As a fire figher, it’s painful to work with hose and/or tools for long periods of time, but I have no choice, it’s my livelihood! I have constant pain in my right elbow and wrist that runs into my hand. Pain in my hip after sitting or lying for long periods. Instead of normal sleep, I wake up throughout the night in pain. I’m totally frustrated!!! All of the sudden the things I have to do and love to do I can’t, or do in moderation with pain. I’m 46 in age, but my body is retired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted on August 10, 2008 at 1:59 pm

  • Peggy says:

    I’ve had Cipro several times in my life, once for an extended period of time for an infection after surgery. I haven’t had a ruptered tendon, but have Fibromyalgia. I’m wondering if there is any connection between the drug and Fibro…there are so many people being diagnosed with Fibro, I’m wondering what is causing it. It’s no fun to live with.

    Posted on August 14, 2008 at 1:06 pm

  • Tami says:

    I was subpose to take Levequin for 10days by the 8th day I couldn’t move my hand and it was hard to walk.
    So I called the doctor that gave my the prescription and he told me it wasn’t a side affect. So I stoppped it and started to do some digging and it is a side affect.
    So now my hands are ok not the best like the where and for my job as a Massage Therapist
    I need my hands, and for the walking part I still have problems in the morning.
    I have told all my clients not to take this drug, its harmful to the body.
    i think these doctor need to be doing more reseach on these drugs they give out.
    (there was no black box warning! I just recieved these medication on July 24th 2008) Was the FDA now!

    Posted on August 15, 2008 at 8:06 pm

  • Jo Anne says:

    In December of 1995, I was admitted into the hospital with a diagnosis of mastitis shortly after giving birth. With a 104 degree temperature resulting from an infection, surgery was performed. Upon release, I was given a perscription for Cipro and another one after that. I took Cipro for about 6-8 weeks under doctors orders. Practically, every joint and my lower back was in pain. Many tests later and no clear results. To this day at the age of 46, I continue to have joint pain & back pain. I have always believed it was from taking Cipro. This goes on my “ALLERGIC TO” Medicine list.

    Posted on August 18, 2008 at 2:52 pm

  • Brenda says:

    I too have Fibromyalgia, but after reading these comments, I’m not sure of the timing. I had taken Cipro a few years ago, on two separate occasions for UTI/bladder infections. And now I am on Levaquin for a serious infection. I’ve been taking it for 2 months and am supposed to have another month to go, but after hearing about this lawsuit, it explains a lot. I already had great pain levels with the Fibromyalgia, but now my pain levels have increased rapidly. My knees, arms, hands, elbows, shoulders and hips are in constant pain, and have been getting drastically worse in the last 2 months. Now I wonder if all my “Fibro” pain has been caused by these drugs. I’m going to see my doctor, today, about this. I called him a week and a half ago, as soon as I heard about the possible connection to Levaquin. Until then, I was just “biting the bullet”, assuming that my increased pain was due to a legitimate health problem. Now I’m not so sure. I work in a factory, and it is becoming increasingly more difficult to want to go to work. My hands hurt so bad, I have difficulty opening up a water bottle, and I used to be the one to open bottles and jars for others. When I had to take a long drive last month, my hands have not recovered from that, yet. I still feel like I’m holding on to the steering wheel. And last night at work, I started having muscle spasms above my right elbow. And what exactly is a “black box warning”? Is it supposed to be highlighted on the label with color?? I just received my 3rd month’s prescription, and I saw nothing but the standard token warnings.

    Posted on August 20, 2008 at 6:45 am

  • Trish says:

    I am in shock, because I was recently put on Levaquin by a nurse practitioner for a severe UTI. I took 5 doses and was having chest pains. I started to think maybe I had a heart problem, but then I read the information about the drug. I called my Dr., who wasn’t yet aware I was taking it. He immediately took me off of the drug. Since then, I have had muscle and joint pain. I never realized it could be due to the Levaquin until I heard a commercial on TV about it. I got online and found this site. I am not sure if I should worry, because I am not sure if I have any long term damage. I am not sure what I should do.

    Posted on August 21, 2008 at 10:34 am

  • margie says:

    i am currently taking cipro for a bladder infection.i have been taking cipro on and off for around 3 years, and I am taking strong pain medication i stay in so much pain in my muscles and back. sometimes my legs won’t allow me to clim stairs. the dr. tried me on several pain killers and meds. i don’t know if anyone is familiar with the condition i have, but it is called interstitial cystitis, and there is no cure. the bladder walls are thin ,therefore i’m susceptibe to infections frequently. cipro is the drug that’s always prescribed for my condition. now i wonder if it’s caused all of my other problems.

    Posted on August 26, 2008 at 5:02 pm

  • william says:

    I started the cipro today on 8/26/2008 and within a few hours my whold body was hurting.The back of me calves and shoulders feel like someone was stabbing me.I only took that on pill,so i immediatly stop taking it.I was diagnosed with uri at the dr today and only took that one pill.

    Posted on August 27, 2008 at 4:50 am

  • Carol says:

    I have been on a tremendous amount of antibiotics for years. It seems like I have had a different infection every month from sinus infections to urinary tract infections. I have been given Cipro, Levaquin, Avelox. I have been having problems with my muscles now for the last 3 years. It started with my lower back and was told after numerous visits to pain clinics, neurologists, for different medications, pain meds and shots. I was even on short term disability for 6 weeks. I’ve had MRI’s, CT scans, EMG’s until I’m blue in the face. I was told I have what is called piriformis syndrome. I even had a botox injection in that muscle which insurance would not pay for since they felt like it was experimental. I paid out of my own pocket $850 for that shot. I didn’t care as long as the pain in my back and muscle would go away. But, that didn’t work either. A couple of months ago, I was having pain in my left arm and went to the doctor who told me that he thought I had tendonitis. Well, I don’t have that…now was told I have fibromyalgia. I’m on Lyrica now, it’s not working either. I’m currently on Cipro 500 mg. twice a day for another urinary tract infection. My urine culture was only sensitive to Cipro. I’m in so much pain every time I go up stairs, after getting up from a chair, muscle spasms in my leg and now I can’t even grip anything in my right arm. I’m a secretary and I need my hands and arms.

    Posted on September 3, 2008 at 6:35 pm

  • Manon says:

    My mother has taken Cipro for UTI over the past years as prescribed by her doctor. The infection went away but she passed out. This past May she passed out and had an epilectic seizure. After a month stay in the hospital she was diagnosed with Kidney cancer and she has lesions on her brain. I had mentioned to the doctors at the hospital that my mother took Cipro and they shrugged it off. I really have a bad feeling about that drug and would never recommend it.

    Posted on September 4, 2008 at 10:28 pm

  • kevin says:

    TOOK CYPRO. FOR PROSTITES FOR THREE MONTHS IN 05 AND 06 FOR FLUE AN STILL HAVE PAIN AND STIFFNESS IN MY HEALS TOLD DOCTOR FIRST TINME AND HE SAID THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF SIDE AFECTS BUT ONLY ONE HE WOULD PRESCRIBE CANT WORK LONGER THAN THREE HOURS WITH OUT STIFFNESS AND PAIN

    Posted on September 20, 2008 at 6:11 pm

  • Alexsa says:

    My rotator cuff tore while taken cipro.

    Posted on September 22, 2008 at 12:52 pm

  • Frances says:

    Sinus infection April 5, 2008. Rx for Cipro – 2 weeks. Allergy doctor
    doing labs said she wanted me on Levaquin instead and gave me that and prednizone. In three days I sat like a zombie for an hour or more at
    a time without realizing it. I could barely move, could not lift my arms from my side and just shuffle to wherever – mostly the bed or sofa. I could not sleep or rest in any position and hurt something terrible. At 2am one morning I got out the papers from the pharmacy, realizing it
    was not just sick from sinus and everything I was experincing was
    on the papers in some way. I had to take one hand and push the
    other arm out from my side. Under each arm was a large lump and
    my tendons were strutted unbelievably. I called the doctor at 8am
    and was told I couldn’t possibly be that sick. I faxed the info to them
    and was told not to take any more (which I had not) and it should be
    out of my system in 48 hrs. If not see another doctor. I, too, was
    rather brushed off, it was embarrasing to say the least, to be in such
    pain, in such a state and doctors would not acknowledge the pain
    and situation I was in. I still am in my right side. It seemed to settle in

    Posted on October 6, 2008 at 11:36 pm

  • Rebecca says:

    I keep reading these stories, understanding the pain most of you have gone through.
    I only took Cipro for 10 days. I had a minor surgery and then left for Thailand for a month. I immidiately started taking Cipro to prevent possible infection to the area. Immediately I started having joint pain in my wrists. I blamed it on a rough Thai massage. But 10 days later, the pain was much worse… having spread to my knees, ankles, every joint in my fingers, my lower back, shoulders. I could not get out of bed for three days. I was laying alone in Thailand without my family thinking I was dying. Why should a 23 year old be in so much pain?? I came to my own conclusion that it must have been the Cipro after reading on the internet.
    The severe pain passed, but I feel that I am still affected by the short dose. Since then I have visited a rheumatoligist and been diagnosed with “mixed connective tissue disorder”. I few months ago I hurt my back and am still hurting. I have a hard time not blaming that on Cipro also.
    I also remember taking Levaquin about 8 or 10 years ago and fainting on my way to the bathroom one night.
    These meds should not be taken.

    Posted on October 22, 2008 at 12:50 am

  • Barbara says:

    To put it bluntly, Levaquin has ruined both of my knees, predominantly the right one. After taking only a 5 pack dose in about 4 days, at the end of March, “08, my knees are absolutely killing me. They are constantly in pain, sometimes the pain being extremely bad. It is very hard to bend them to sit, or stand back up. They hurt lying down. Over-the-counter pain pills are doing no good. Getting a good nights sleep is gone, too. I am scheduled to go to a pain center, so I’ll see what can be done to improve the quality of my life. I also took Cipro in July “08, but after only taking 4 pills, I quit because it caused bad pain in the backs of both legs. That cleared up, but it still may have contributed to the knee pain I already had.

    Posted on October 24, 2008 at 3:25 pm

  • Chris says:

    I took Levaquin for a sinus infection. When I was done taking the prescribed dosage, my elbow hurt so bad I couldn’t even lift my cup of coffee! My Dr diagnosed it as tennis elbow. I did not connect my pain to Levaquin until I saw an add on TV. I did not physically injure my elbow so why else would it hurt so bad? Too coincidental for me. It still hurts today. I hope the pain does go away

    Posted on October 26, 2008 at 8:29 pm

  • Terri says:

    I have been on and off cipro and Levaquin for years and after reading all this, I now know what all my joint pain must be from. I just thought being in your 40’s , that this is the way we are supposed to feel. I have had such horrible joint pain in my shoulders, elbows, wrists back, and especially knees and feet for the last 8 years for many different things such as chronic bronchitis, allergies, ear and respitory infections and other things. I was on cipro and levaquin most of the time along with avelox. There was a time about 5 years ago that I had problems with respitory infections and I practically lived on Levaquin and cipro. For the last several years my joint pain got increasingly worse and I have never been able to figure out why i feel so horrible. I’m in pain sitting here writing this, i”m used to having this pain and have learned to live with it for several years, taking tylenol when it gets really bad, just to get through the day. Here we trust our Dr’s and take what they prescribe because they are told it’s safe!!! How safe are We , and how safe are our children. I’m so glad just to know that it’s not because I’m in my 40’s , and that there is a cause!

    Posted on October 29, 2008 at 2:59 pm

  • Kimberly says:

    I was prescribed Cipro for a UTI. Two days after starting the Cipro I woke up one morning having intense lower back and groin pain. When it didn’t subside I called the Dr thinking maybe the UTI had turned into a kidney infection. They called me back saying they weren’t sure what was going on but wanted me to get on another antibiotic-Macrobid, which I will start tomorrow. In the meantime, my back pain is getting worse by the day, it still travels into my groin area and down into my legs, and I am now experiencing neck pain and stiffness as well. I toss and turn all night trying to get “comfortable”, with no luck. OTC pain meds do NOTHING for the pain, a hitting pad is the closest I come to relief, and it’s NOT relief, just allows me to fall asleep at night, at least for a little while. I am calling the doctor first thing tomorrow, I’m printing this page out and taking it to him. I am truly hoping these affects aren’t permanant. I had never taken Cipro before this, and sites like this one have just confirmed my belief that the Cipro caused all the pain I’m in. I am educating everyone I know about these drugs. I am only 27, have two kids and husband, I should be up and active with them, like I used to be, not taking *heating pad breaks* every few mins just to function. This is sad, and rediculous. What is wrong with the world today-oh yeah, GREED, that’s what’s wrong.

    Posted on November 2, 2008 at 4:56 pm

  • Janese says:

    I was given a prescription for levaquin back in 2004 for pneumonia. I didn’t know anything about tendon problems. In the last 4 years I developed bursitis, tendonitis in my upper arms and shoulders. I could barely use my left arm and I had pain in my left shoulder. I wasn’t diagnosed until this year in February. I didn’t know what it was. I had a shot of cortisone and I can now lift my left arm. But I still have pain in my right shoulder and upper left arm. I wish I had known.

    Posted on November 2, 2008 at 8:25 pm

  • Adrienne says:

    I have been suffering for a long time with bladder infections and had been treated for this conditionby the stretching of my uretha tube so as to enable me to completely empty the bladder of urine when I went to the bathroom. After each treatment I was given an antibiotic to prevent further infection. Most of the time the antibiotic was either Cipro or Levaquin and thereafter each time I called my Urologist with complaints of pain upon urination was given Cipro to take. I have been operated on my right foot for a ruptured posterior tendon, had my right foot reconstructed after it collapsed after the operaton and thereafter a couple of months later had to have a third operaton on the same heel and foot due to a problem with my achilles tendon. I also have been diagnosed with a torn roto cuff of my right arm and in 2001 was disagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. There is no histoy in my family of this conditon ever before existing. After all the operations and physical therapy I have been left with a right foot which has endured much pain and numbness and is like having a dead foot from all the trauma all due to the weakness of the tendons in my foot. I wonder if Cipro and Levaquin have made my Golden Years turn to brass since I cannot walk or function normally without the use of a cane, walker or medication.

    Posted on November 3, 2008 at 11:04 pm

  • brad says:

    I took Cipro for a prostate infection 2 years ago. Later I had weakness in my legs. I went to a neurologists for treatment. I told the neurologist about CIPRO as a drug I had taken. The neurologist did not catch this, I went through MRI’s of the brain, legs, and a blood flow study of my legs. Nothing was found. In 6 months my symptoms have lessened and I quit seeing the neurologist. I then got another infection and took CIPRO and wham, it hit hard, legs and arms. I put two and two together and looked at the internet and realized this was my cause. Today, I have left over weakness in my legs and arms, it is not causing any ambulatory problems, but it does not feel good, and has reduced the quality of my life.

    Posted on November 6, 2008 at 1:03 pm

  • Michael says:

    Hello. I have taken Levaquin and Cipro on only two (my recollection) occasions between 2001 and 2002/3. Since then I have had tendonitus for the first time in 2004 which will not completely go away and two instances of Costochondritis which I had never ever had before. I repeat neither condition had ever happened to me. Both are becoming chronic and that is inhibiting both my exercise routines like weights and yoga and hobbies like martial arts. I was told that both injuries were from unknown causes (neither were said to be caused by weights or punching), which if true is fine – such is life, but if there’s a chance that those idiotic drugs caused them then ‘d love to punish the companies that pushed them. Could it really be true that there’s a legitimate reason to blame those two drugs for my rather weird and stupidly painful onset of bicep tendon and carteledge inflamations

    Posted on November 8, 2008 at 12:03 am

  • mary says:

    In 2/2002 I was prescribed Cipro for a spider bite. I worked at a large animal Vet clinic. Within the year I had to quit, I could not hold anything for very long due to numbness and pain. Now I can’t even hold the phone. I had to change my profession due to lack of strength. No money to pay for surgery, I had no idea that Cipro may be the cause!

    Posted on November 9, 2008 at 4:55 pm

  • Danielle says:

    A few years ago I was given Levaquin and my joints started feeling very tender and it was difficult to move. Afetr several days of this, I couldn’t get out of bed at all…family had to come over and dress me to get me to the doctor. I had developed Serum Sickness due to this medication and it enflamed every single joint in my body to the point that had I not gone in to see my doctor that day, I could have died.

    Posted on November 12, 2008 at 12:40 pm

  • Sharon says:

    I was recently given free samples of Levaquin so I didnt have any warning info. I have a disease that effects my muscles and I have been on steroids for many years for it. After 5 days of the Levaquin
    I am having so much trouble walking. I didnt know what it was till I searched Levaquin online. I hit my already weak muscles in my Achilles heel in both legs. And after reading more info on here I am worried this
    might not get better.. what if anything can you do for this? I saw an orthopedic doctor but he sort of snickered at me because I had diagnoised my own problem on the internet but he gave me no info on as what to do for my legs. He just said they were not torn just irritated and sore.

    Posted on November 17, 2008 at 5:44 pm

  • Pam says:

    I took Levaquin about three years ago for a respiratory infection and after ten days I developed achilles tendonitis. The physician assistant I saw suspected the drug was the cause of the tendonitis. I recovered from it after months of treatment and therapy. In October of this year I ruptured my achilles after a fall. Does anyone have any information on permanent damage to tendons after taking this drug.

    Posted on December 6, 2008 at 8:34 pm

  • tina says:

    Two years ago, I was halfway through my second round of Cipro for a bladder infection. My hips and knees became very sore, to the point where I could almost not make it up the stairs at work. My doctor said that it couldn’t be a reaction to the Cipro, but the pharmacist I spoke to told me to stop taking it immediately, that it could cause my tendons to rupture. At the time, my knees, hips, and ankles began to pop and were very sore, now it’s spread to my foot, it’s starting in my shoulder and hands, too. I’ve been chasing this pain ever since, and they can’t find a cause or fix it. I go to work as a 42 year old, and come home feeling like I’m 62! I can no longer work a second job to supplement my teacher’s income- if this keeps progressing, I’m not sure how I’ll keep teaching anyway. I really can’t imagine what 2 more years will bring, as my joints seem to be dissolving.

    Posted on December 15, 2008 at 11:20 pm

  • Jennifer says:

    Last week I was given a prescription for Cipro for a UTI. I wasn’t familiar with Cipro so I asked my doctor what it was. She said it was a very common antibiotic used for UITs but she did not give me any warning on what the potential side effects could be. After picking up my prescription I began reading through the literature that came with it. I was surprised to see that tendons have been known to rupture when taking Cipro. But as with any drug there are potential side effects. After taking Cipro for two days I started to notice my feet were really sore and it was difficult to walk. I called my doctor on day three (last Friday) and was told to stop taking Cipro. It was my final day anyway. I was told to not use any stairs and to not to strain myself over the weekend. So I stayed down all weekend with my feet up. On Monday, I had a follow-up visit with my doctor and was still experiencing a great deal of pain in my left foot. She referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. I saw him yesterday (Tuesday) and when he asked me what I was seeing him for, I explained that I had taken a prescription for Cipro. He put his head in his hands and then told me that Cipro is notorious for tendon issues. I now have a boot that I have to wear until 1/6/09. At that time, I will go back for a follow-up appointment with him. He said that he wanted to stabalize my foot and he is hoping that I do not suffer any tendon ruptures. My achilles is extremely sore but the tendons at the bottom of my foot hurt more. I am on my feet all day at work and don’t have a choice.

    Before using Cipro, I did Yoga twice a day and I also exercised regularly. I am a very active person so being forced to basically do nothing is extremely difficult for me. Yoga was my way of releasing tension and also keeping myself in shape. Now that is not an option.

    I have emailed the FDA and explained my situation. Their reply to me was that the benefits outweight the side effects. I strongly disagree with this statement. After researching Cipro, reading the complaints, and getting the response from the FDA that I did, I do believe there are more people out there than are being reported having issues with Cipro. I also sent a letter to MedWatch, which is an arm of the FDA, to tell them of my adverse reaction.

    Posted on December 17, 2008 at 4:19 pm

  • Joseph says:

    In May of 2008, I underwent cancer biophysies and was given the drug Cipro to be taken for 8 days. In October of the same year as I was walking from one room in my house to another,my quad tendon partially ruptured.My regular physician and my ortho felt that the Cipro might have been the cause of my now ongoing struugle through the pain and physical therapy!!!!

    Posted on January 6, 2009 at 12:07 pm

  • Bethany says:

    Yesterday I finished my 7 day course of (750 mg a day) Levaquin. I have had trouble sleeping throughout the course but attributed it to having Pneumonia. When I woke up (sometimes at 2:30 am) I was up for good, I could never stay asleep or go back to sleep. I had horrible hip pain but the problem lately is that my whole respiratory track feels painfully dry! I swear I can feel my trachea and small tubes in my lungs sticking together because of a lack of moisture. I have run a humidifier all day and night for several days with no improvement. I am also still short of breath and am not sure if all of this is related. Glad I haven’t had any joint pain but I hope this goes away too. So sorry for everyones horrible experiences. I am a Nurse and I am just blown away at all of these websites with Levaquin sufferers stating the obvious! Take it off the market!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted on January 15, 2009 at 3:23 pm

  • Laura says:

    I am so angry about the mess our medical community is in. The drug companies in the U.S. are literally getting away with murder and in less severe cases such as our own, are being allowed to market harmful substances to people who trust that our physicians will uphold the oath they took and “do no harm”. I recently discovered that the medical journals published in our country are supported (controlled) by the drug companies! It is no wonder that people like ourselves are in pain and sit frustrated on our couches, feeling like a part of our lives have been stolen from us, and we have no recourse at all!
    I took Cipro 500mg twice a day for 5 days for a UTI. After the first day, I started feeling fatiqued and nauseated.The second day, my muscles burned like I had done a serious work-out EVERY TIME I MOVED! The third day, I felt bad enough that my husband looked up the drug on the internet and told me I needed to lay on the couch and do nothing, as rest was the precaution for avoiding more serious side effects like tendon rupture. I finished my course of Cipro about a month ago and still have the nagging burning sensation in all my muscles. I am unable to work in the yard doing tree trimming or digging in the garden without feeling like my arms are going to fall off and when I do actually try to complete anything physical like carrying a basket of laundry up or down the stairs, my muscles feel so fatigued that they shake.
    Yeah, I am angry! I’m angry with MYSELF for trusting the FDA, for trusting a licensed physician, for trusting a pharmacist who has dispensed countless remedies to myself and my family. I am most angry at the drug companies, who have become merchants of deception!

    Posted on March 13, 2009 at 1:45 pm

  • Kean says:

    i was just prescribed levaquin yesterday. took 1 pill last night. Was watching tv at the barber shop and a class action lawsuit commercial came on about this. i hope 1 pill does not hurt me, but if I am allergic to everything else it seems…..

    Posted on March 31, 2009 at 8:54 pm

  • Crissy says:

    I just recently had a few trips to the ER in which I was prescribed Cipro. The first one was March 8th where I had severe case of UTI. The Cipro at that time seemed to not have no side effect for me… 2 weeks later I had to return to the ER due to flu like symptoms in which I was told I had the beginning stages of pneumonia and they prescribed another week of Cipro to me, within 3 days of taking the medication I seen no improvement, actually I felt 10X worse! So I returned to the ER an they ended up putting me in the hospital for Pneumonia and low oxygen levels. At that time they switched me over to Levaquin. The VERY NEXT DAY after having the antibiotics go through my IV I noticed my left hip was in extremely severe pain. The nurses asked me how I was doing in the 4 days I spent in the hospital and EACH time I mentioned the pain.They obviously thought nothing of it and I just thought it was due to being sick. After reading this I am leaning towards it being part of the side effect. After they sent me home they wanted me to continue to take the Levaquin for 5 more days but not having prescription coverage (costed $140 for a 5 day supply) I contacted the dr’s office and they said for me to finish the Cipro so I would not do without. For those 5 days I still had the pain in my hip… I have been off of it now for a week and I no longer have the pain in my hip, but it seems I am still weak and it is much harder to walk than it was before. Also, one night I was sitting watching TV and the muscles in my left hand started tightening up. Figuring it was part of the carpal tunnel I tried to get it to relax, at one point my pointer finger tightened up and the tip of it automatically twisted inward and locked up on me. I’ve never had this happen before and I’m interested to know if anyone else has had anything like this happen. I kept all the paperwork for my medication just in case things get worse. Hopefully it won’t but it has made me miserable!

    Posted on April 2, 2009 at 1:17 am

  • lauren says:

    I was given levaquin and avelox in a 3 month period of time. Shortly after I started taking the levaquin I started having numbness in my left hand. I thought I was devleoping carpel tunnel symdrone. Then I was given avelox for another sinus infection in march. Shortly after taking 2 tablets I started feeling really bad like something was really wrong with me. My body hurt all over. My joints hurt really bad and each day seemed to get worse. My numbness in my left hand became numbness in my left forearm, right forearm, left leg and foot. I decided to go see my Dr. who told me that it was the medications that I had taken causing my issues. I have another problem on top of all this. I have diabetes. I have had diabetes for 33 years and have taken very good care of myself. So for me to experience this is scary because of the nerve damage associated with these antibotics. I have no nerve damage associated with my diabetes and also no diabetic retinopathy of the eyes. So for this to happen to me is very upsetting and makes me furious at these so called drug companies. This is a drug alright, a drug to kill you not help you. You have to wonder how much is your life worth to them in being a rat in a lab. I have taken great pride in caring for myself and my diabetes all these years and these meds do this to me in a very short 5 to 7 day period. It took me 33 years to have no nerve damage. Now it looks like the drug co. did it for me in 5 to 7 days.

    Posted on April 7, 2009 at 9:54 pm

  • Ali says:

    I was prescribed Cipro prior to a vacation in the Dominican Republic to prevent food poisoning or infection from contaminated water. The vacation from hell! I had severs anxiety which I could not figure out, paranoia, severe stomach pains, joint pains, and my calves and arms became so stiff and sore I could hardly move them. I didn’t realize it was the Cipro until I was brushing my teeth on the fourth day and my gums were bleeding profusely. I stopped taking the Cipro, Too late, the damage was done. I ran a fever and by the time I got back home I was urinating blood. I ended up spending a night in the hospital. I continued to have calf pain for months and severe abdominal pain. I ended up having my very inflamed gallbladder out–but had no gallstones. I asked the surgeon if the inflammation could be due to damage from the cipro. He said it was possible. I had never had any trouble with my gallbladder before. To this day I still have abdominal pain. Had I known the severe side-effects of this drug I would never have taken it.

    Posted on April 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm

  • Barbara says:

    I took levaquin on April 9th 2008 and within 10 minutes I was swelled up and gasping for my breathe had to go to ER ,was there for 3.5 hrs it about killed me now I’m achy in my joints how long will this last I feel horrible .

    Posted on April 12, 2009 at 12:22 pm

  • Angela says:

    I’m a 45 year old female that took Levaquin in 2005 for a UTI. Only took one pill and within 30 minutes was on my way to the ER for a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling, itching, etc) After several hours in the ER I was released and since then I began my long journey with shoulder, arm, leg, hands, and feet pain. Had no idea that this drug was the cause of my sleepless nights and agonizing pain!

    Posted on April 18, 2009 at 8:36 pm

  • Jill says:

    I have been given Cipro, Levaquin and Tequin I don’t even know HOW many times. The first time I was given Cipro, I must have been about 15 or 16. I noticed around that time I had hard times playing sports and doing activities I usually had no problem with. By senior year, I was given Levaquin for a nasty sinus infection. That next year was followed by more extreme joint and muscle pain and fatigue. By my sophomore year in college I wasn’t sleeping and couldn’t even ride a bike anymore. They put me on muscle relaxers, naproxen and thus began many years of testing. I finally ended up in the hospital with a SED rate off the charts and a fever spiking every 15 minutes. I was hospitalized for a week, and they still had no answers. I went on prednisone, vioxx, and a number of cancer meds…along with more doses of Tequin. I couldn’t walk for about 4 months. It was hell on earth.
    I finally had enough, weaned myself off of everything and stopped listening to my doctors. I’m 27 now and while I’m better, I still get severe joint pain, especially in my shoulders and ankles. My last dose of Levaquin was two years ago. Sometimes it just gets so hard, especially since I’m a mom now.
    Honestly, finding out about this lawsuit brought tears to my eyes. So many years in constant pain. Having doctors treat me like I was crazy. Wondering all the time what was wrong with me…
    I realize that this lawsuit is specifically for the tendon issue- I just wonder about all of us who have had even more severe reactions which now are adknowledged as being from these antibiotics. Is there anything we can do? I know I spent a lot of money in medical bills, and had to drop out of college because of the physical pain.

    Posted on April 20, 2009 at 8:19 pm

  • Angela says:

    My husband took levaquin in 2006 and has just about lost use of his right arm. His pain is located down the tendon from the bend of his arm to his fingertips. Just wondering if this could be caused by the levaquin. He was told by one dr. that he had tendonitis . Another Dr. has told him that is a torn muscle . He is only 34.

    Posted on April 26, 2009 at 9:16 pm

  • Connie says:

    I have Lupus,and get sick quite often, I get pneumonia,bronchitis,UTI and sinus infections a lot. I have been prescribed Levaquin and Cipro quite often. This past Jan. and Feb. I was given Levaquin and Cipro due to them not taking care of the problem. Then a month ago I was walking across a soggy field to get to my daughters softball game and took a step and felt something in the calf of my right leg rip. I had previously had a heart catherization,my cardiologist called to check on me and I told them of my muscle pain in my calf; they told me to go directly to the E.R. they feared that I may have a bloodclot. I went to the E.R. and they did an ultrasound, but said I didn’t have a bloodclot,and told me to hold ice on it. I did and it eased up some, but just wasn’t right. Just this past monday, leaving another softball game, I took a step and felt another rip in the same leg. Yesterday, 4/30/09 I went to my Dr. and told them of the two times that my calf had a ripping sound and that I couldn’t walk right. They send me immediately for a MRI, and they called and told me they made an appt. for me with a Orthopedic Specialist, that I have two tears in my tendon. Then today while hobbiling on my bad leg, my left calf is starting the same problems. I can’t believe that the FDA is still producing a medication that is injuring people like these prescriptions. I am 49 yrs. old. I’m very frustrated about this problem. I would not have known about this problem w/ these medicines but my 16 yr. old daughter was telling one of her teachers today at school and the teacher told her about Levaquin and Cipro. We just got home from a softball game and I decided to look it up on the computer. OMG!! This is horrible!!!!!!!!!

    Posted on May 1, 2009 at 10:38 pm

  • dan says:

    I was damaged by cipro when I was just 15 years old. 9 years later I am still completely messed up. I try to lead a full life but the makers of Cipro caused my life to be altered forever. They should be paying for this.

    Posted on May 17, 2009 at 6:14 pm

  • Doug says:

    My wife was given Levequin in the spring of 2006 for a severe sinus infection. She was on several antibiotics prior to L but nothing worked. She was on L for 6 weeks. After taking L she went down hill. Severe muscle pain, joint pain in all joints, hot flashes, fatigue you name it has happened to her. We have been to every doctor and they can’t find anything wrong. Yes, the “fibr..” word has been mentioned. Before taking Levequin she was a healthy vibrant person. I had a hard time keeping up with her. Now she can hardly leave the house to put gas in the car. Her livlihood is nil. Our livlihood is almost gone. We have two young children that have suffered greatly. No vacations. Very little contact with the outside world. She has become trapped. She had an online business. Due to her inability to perform simple daily functions we had to stop the business. We lost tens of thousands of dollars and had to declare Bankruptcy. three years of pain meds, every medication you can think of. Countless Dr visits, Neurologists, Pain Mgmt Doctors, Rheumatologists, Internal Med Docs…again you name we saw it. NOTHING. She has O.K. days and bad days. Depression etc…

    Don’t know what else to do. We are at a loss.

    After seeing an ad on T.V. about Levequin I decided to check into it. Here i am angry as hell. I see many of you have the same symptoms she has had for three years. Generally speaking I am not a litigist person. But I want some answers, retrobution and most of all NO-ONE else to have to go through what we have been going through.

    What can i do?

    Posted on June 30, 2009 at 10:43 pm

  • Barbara from SC says:

    I have taken Levaquin several times since 2003. I had to have a picc line put in in 03 to take 2 more weeks of antibiotics since the 7 day stay in the hospital for cellulitis didn’t completely clear up and that caused a blood clot in my arm. The line was removed on the third day and I was hospitalized again the next day for another 8 days for that and what they said was a infection in the arm too.

    I didn’t have any immediate pain as some of the others have said that they did, but I did have the insomnia. I had never had a problem with sleeping. I also noticed that my right arm at the elbow and my right shoulder were getting sore and hard to bend. I just figured it was coming from the problem with the blood clot. I also noticed that my joints were sore and would be worse with daily activities. I just chalked it up to age, since I was pushing 50.

    I was in the hospital in 2008 for pneumonia and was given Levaquin through the IV. No personal phycian now, so was admitted by the ER doctor. Again, no immediate pain, but still the insomnia came back.
    I did notice that the bottoms of my feet would get so sore when I was on them, that I can’t hardly walk. They feel like someone has beat the bottoms of them with a hammer or something. They have been getting worse since. If I am on my feet a lot the pain is excruciating. When I sit down and are get off of them, it feels like pins sticking in the bottom of them and like they are on fire. I can’t hardly get up after sitting down and want to cry with the pain when I do get up on them. It takes me several minutes before I can even take a step and have to hold on to something to be able to walk, and the pain is so severe. Have not seen a doctor about it, because I just thought it might be from the job that I had with the cement floors. Up and down all day.. But then I think, I had worked before that for 2 years at a job where the floors were cement too and was on your feet constantly except for breaks or lunch and never had a problem there…

    It’s getting worse as time goes by and just wondering if this problem could be caused from the Levaquin?

    Posted on July 19, 2009 at 9:31 am

  • Ann says:

    I started taking ciprofloxacin on July 20, 2009. The dr prescribed it for a uti. I took the drug twice a day for 7 days. Within the week I took the drug, I developed what looked like mosquito bits and hives on my upper left arm, on my left hip and buttocks, and my left leg. I also develop pain in both knees and 5 large round spots down my spine. When I would reach behind me and touch them I felt pain. Each one hurt individually. I can only sit down for short periiods of time because the back of my thighs and buttucks begin to hurt. I experience all my joints aching for a day and my left had was a bit numb for one day.

    After retuning to the dr, he prescribed benadryl, which I have been taking for the past 4 days. It helped clear up the upper part of my body, but my left leg isn’t getting any better. I am hopeful that my leg will get better soon.

    It is obvious that we have taken an extremely toxic drug that has weaken, if not totally destroyed our bodies. Since no help is forthcoming, many of you will try to heal yourselves through whatever means you or the people around you can come up with.
    If you discover a way to reverse the effects of this toxic drug, I hope you will share it with the rest of us. I certainly will.

    Posted on August 4, 2009 at 11:01 pm

  • Anna says:

    I am not sure when exactly I took Levaquin and Cipro. It was definitely withing past couple of years. I had a recurrent UTIs and tried many different antibiotics. I am pretty sure Levaquin and Cipro were two of them. A nurse practitioner from my College prescribed Cipro. Levaquin I got from my doctor. During that time I tore a tendon in my ankle and been having joint problems in my knees wrists and ankles. I am wondering if these problems could be related to Levaquin or Cipro I was taking for utis.

    Posted on August 13, 2009 at 1:22 am

  • Sharon says:

    I feel that I am also one of the unfortunate ones that trusted their doctor and the medicine they prescribe. I had surgery on July 17, 2009 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. I was in the hospital for 2 days, after having surgery on my neck for cervical disc disease with three impinged nerves to my left arm after 7 days I was back in the ER for an infection in my incision. They lanced open the infecton and took cultures then admitted me to the hospital. The next day several different doctors came in but they had me so drugged up that I don’t really remember who came in and what they were telling me. Thank goodness my daughter was with me the whole time so she pretty much new what was going on. Then the infectious disease control doctors came in and told me they were running cultures to find out what kind of antibiotic they could give me to control the infection. Finally they started me on an antbiotic of course it was cipro and given through an IV. I was not told about any side effects or given any kind of information except it was the only antibotic that would take care of the infection I had. Finally they released me from the hospital after 3 days. They gave me a prescription for cipro 500mgs to take for 10 days, well within 3 to 4 days I ended up in the ER again because the infection got worse. This time I ended up in the hospital for 5 days with the cultures and the infectious disease people, finally they took me back to the OR and they did what was called a wash out. They had to open me up again and wash out all the infection. This all happened the night I had went back to the emergency room. After that I was given a stronger dose through an IV at least 6 to 9 bags while I was still in the hospital. Through out all of this I was given morphin, norco, percocet,soma, zanaflex, and xanex, so of course I was’t feeling much pain. Several days later when I went home they gave me a prescription for 750mgs of cipro for another 10 days.I pretty much spent the whole time in bed because I couldn’t move or I hurt so bad I couldn’t get up without help, then someone had to stand next to me to make sure I didn’t fall over. One day I had to go to court and all of a sudden my legs felt like jello, my daughter had to hold me up so I didn’t fall and my grand-daughter went to get help. I have had the jello legs about 3 times while at home and have fallen, one time hitting the back of my head that hurt for several days. I loose my balance alot and I talk about things and mention wrong names and places, my daughter thinks I’m going crazy sometimes and always corrects me when I mess up. Now I’m having pain in my left shoulder, I have had surgery on my left shoulder for a tear in my rotator cuff, and thats what it feels like again. So here I go again back to more doctors and the possibility of having another tear in my rotator cuff. It’s bad enough that I hurt all over and don’t feel like getting out of bed everyday, and sometimes I don’t, but I’f I have to go through rotator cuff surgery again I will probably go out of my mind. My neck still hurts enough and I can’t imagine going through another surgery, especially since I hurt all over now. I just hope I don’t have to live like this for the rest of my life. I do blame the doctors, the drug companies and hospitals for what they have done to each and everyone who has left a reply on this page, lets all just hope this will improve for all of us and they will bane these drugs so no one else with have to live this hell !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted on August 21, 2009 at 2:35 am

  • Judith says:

    I was given Levaquin by the Nurse Practitioner at my Dr.s office for a bacteria problem in my lungs. I only took 7 of the 10 pills. A day or so later I had bad pain in my left shoulder. I made an appointment with a Orthopedic Dr. and the tests showed my bones were in good shape, he had no idea what was causing this. Next my right hip and leg started to hurt the same way. A friend saw the TV notice about Levaquin and said it mentioned tendons, rotary cuff, musles etc. I took the first pill on August 3, 2009. This is a problem as I really need the use of my arm and leg. They were working fine before I took this terrible medicine.

    Posted on August 21, 2009 at 11:57 am

  • Michele says:

    I was prescribed Levaquin (500 mg) on 8-20-09 with 7 pills. I was also prescribed another medication, both for Diverculitis..an inflamation of the intestines. One of them was giving me this horrible metallic taste in my mouth, so I went online to see which medication it was. Well as I started reading, I read about what side effect the Levaquin has. A few days ago, after working at my computer, I got up to go to the kitchen to get a drink, and I could not stand straight up. The muscles had somehow contracted (is what it felt like) and I got this burning pain on both sides of my ankles just below the ankle bone. I thought this was from sitting too long, so I kind of shrugged it off…until I read it was the Levaquin. When I got up in the morning, I had to walk to the bathroom hunched over like an old man. Today when I got up, my left elbowwas sore. My ankles do not stop hurting. Sometimes its bad, sometimes its bearable. This is after only 5 pills. I still have 2 left. I called my doctor and all the nurse said was, “Stop taking it. We will prescribe you something else.” Like everyone else above me on this board, my question is the same. Is this a lifelong injury or will it subside? I am 56 years old and I also suffer from Panic Disorder and was left with a good bye gift from my ex-husband – Hepatitis C. Is this Levaquin going to damage my liver? I definitely do not need this on top of all that. I consider myself healthy for the most part…no symptoms of the Hep C so far but if this triggers it….I’m a doomed person.

    Posted on August 25, 2009 at 5:16 pm

  • Chris says:

    I can’t believe all that I’m reading here. I was prescribed Cipro for possible kidney infection, two days ago. I took one 500 mg pill and felt fine. A few hours after the second dose, however, I felt some “heaviness” and a little numbness in both my right leg and right wrist. This didn’t seem right; I called the Doctor and explained that I didn’t think the Cipro was agreeing with me, and could I stop taking it after two doses (I know you’re not supposed to just stop taking antibiotics suddenly). Doctor said yes, after only two doses I could stop taking and no harm should be done. Then I found this website, read all these awful stories, and am almost paralyzed with fear. I still have some achiness and numbness in my knee joints and (especially) right hand – my ring and pinky finger feel numb and it’s a bit difficult to type. Even though I only took two doses – and will NEVER take another – I wonder if I’ve caused myself permanent damage??? Or maybe I’m just scaring myself by reading all these stories, and “tricking” myself into feeling achy… I admit I am a hypochondriac. But if I had any idea Cipro could have such horrific side effects, I would never have taken it. Just 2 pills but is the damage done? Now I’m just sitting here wondering what’s in store for me.

    Posted on August 27, 2009 at 9:56 am

  • Missi says:

    I took one 500 mg Levaquin Sept 8, 2007. Went numb on left side, severe debilitating headache and dizziness, blurred vision, muscle weakness, unable to stand, nauseated, could not walk for many days. Called doctor, who said, KEEP TAKING IT, he had given me 10 days of samples. My husband helped me to the computer and I researched Levaquin, found out it was a POISON, so was CIPRO, same stuff. I called back and DEMANDED another antibiotic to treat the painful UTI and they tried to give me CIPRO, I told the PA that I refused to take it also, she acted offended and got miffed that I would question her judgment. I told her to give me something else like BACTRUM as I had no problems with sulfur based. She agreed, I took the bactrum and the UTI started clearing up, I had no strange reaction to it. BUT, since taking the Levaquin, my shoulders and arms started going in and out of socket and going numb when I lie down to sleep, EVERY JOINT IN MY BODY, hurts, crackles, and goes in and out of place, especially my left hip. For several months, my ribcage hurt very much, felt like someone was ripping the cartiledge apart, could not walk more than 3-5 minutes for months. My sleep was not the same, very interrupted, muscle cramps, shoulder pains, numbness in arms, hands, fingers. My toes continue to have intermittent numbness, weird rash appears sometimes. My bowels are very upset intermittently, sometimes severe pain, some days I’m so weak I cannot get out of bed. I was very healthy before taking Levaquin. I had no antibiotics for about 13 years before taking the ONE Levaquin pill. My husband has been helping to pray me through this ordeal. I have just been suffering with pain, weakness, and debilitation for two years now. I didn’t know what was happening to me or that each of the weird symptoms were related. Then I received a SPAM email that said, HEY HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN LEVAQUIN? CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, MANY HAVE BEEN INJURED. Yes, I know, a SPAM email, but I thought well maybe I’ll read about it since I took one and had so many problems with it. I started researching the internet, and crying and crying because I have been experiencing the same things as so many others, although many have had even more tragic problems than I. I will be praying for all of you who have been damaged and ruined by Levaquin, etc. My husband has prayed for me many times and the pain would ease up so that I could function. I’m still looking for answers to reverse the poison, an anti-venom of sorts. Meanwhile, these people who made the medication must be held accountable. Maybe someone could MAKE THEM DO MORE/PROPER TESTING AND PROVIDE A CURE FOR THE DAMAGE THEIR DRUGS HAVE DONE. I’m only 42, and I am tired of limping around and being in pain, and having to stay in bed some days. I took the medicine during the last semester of completing my Master’s Degree in Business Administration. I couldn’t work the way I had hoped, I tried but ended up having to telecommute and work mostly in a chair using a computer. This ordeal has certainly changed my career plans and options. I have to cling to hope, and pray that there will be something done to help all of us who were damaged by this JUNK!

    Posted on September 9, 2009 at 5:32 pm

  • Violet says:

    I was recovering from pneunomia, still not well, when I saw a doctor, who prescribed Lovaquin 750 mg, for 7 days. After a few days, I experienced urinary tract infection, dry mouth, swollen tounge and difficulty to sleep. The week went by and I did not improve. I called my doctor, who responded by telling the nurse to tell me that “You will be allright” I am slowly recuperating. Would you trust this doctor?

    Posted on September 15, 2009 at 2:58 pm

  • brittany says:

    I am 23, was diagnosed with a kidney infection 6 days ago and was prescribed Cipro 1000mg for ten days, 6 of which I have taken. I’ve had chronic bladder infections for years and have taken it numerous times. This morning I was making the bed and completely tore something in my elbow, I can barely move it. I also have had problems with a weak ankle in the last few years, I sprain it by walking sometimes. Never had anything remotely wrong with my joints before. I am infuriated, what if this doesn’t get better? I will not take any more meds, but i’m really worried. A bit of advice, I recently looked into d-mannose for UTI’s and kidney problems, it’s an all natural supplement at the health food store that cures them immediately! Please look it up, DO NOT TAKE QUINILONES!!!!( cipro or levaquin!

    Posted on September 18, 2009 at 10:22 pm

  • risa says:

    cipro and all flouroquinolones ARE ALL HIGH CONTENTS OF FLOURIDE this drug,cipro gave me dry eyes and dry sinuses pain in all 4 areas of the sinuses head pain that feels like a burn in the brain my doctor says no one has ever complained i think she gets kickbacks to prescribe this filfthy drug and i am MAD AS HELL!!!!!!!! doctors are the evil salespeople of these KILLER drugs!!!! if i had my way i stand on my soap box and yell to take this shit class of drugs off the planet! if i ever recover i will let others know any drug can harn but this is suicide on paper!!!!!

    Posted on November 27, 2009 at 7:14 pm

  • Dominique says:

    I have had both medications and just finished my second dose of Levaquin. I have mainly muscle and joint pain.

    Posted on January 4, 2010 at 7:13 pm

  • Dayna says:

    I was prescribed Cipro for a kidney infection took it 3 days and had severe joint pain , headaches and pressure to the back of my head not to mention hallucinations and anxiety. This drug is TOXIC and taking over lives over!!! Im a mother of three and have a rare Neurological problem as it was and wasnt aware but my Dr. should have been sometimes I think they want to kill us off for population reasons. Sending all these messages I hope will soon shut this poisonous drug done. Good luck to all and God Bless we all need it!!

    Posted on January 24, 2010 at 3:48 pm

  • Rachel says:

    I was given 4 bags of 750 mg Levaquin 0n Nov. 23-26 2009 for phenewmonia and a prescription for two 750 pills to take home. on Dec.2 2010 while straightening the sheets on my bed the second joint of my middle finger popped back. It has been very swolen, week and painful and looks unattractive. It has straightened some on the end but still has a knot in it. On Dec. 17, I was unloadind groceries and my right wrist froze up. Every since I havev had pain, swelling ,stiffness and weakness. I have had two cources of steroids which gave me temporary relief. I think Levaquin sgould be taken off the market.

    Posted on January 28, 2010 at 3:15 am

  • Karen says:

    I have already contacted a lawyer in Texas about the Levaquin. I have not had a tendon rupture but I am not sure about a possible tendon tear in my shoulder. The doctor will not call in for me to have an MRI. He says it is not the Levaquin. His wife is the secretary and was rather unprofessional in that she raised her voice and said, “We haven’t ever had a patient that had an allergic reaction to Levaquin.” I have severe joint pain in my shoulders, neck, jaws, back and hips. It has been 2 1/2 months and the pain is not as intense as at first but I am still in alot of pain. I am 46 and feel like I am in my 80’s. I have spent quite a bit of money on blood work, seeing a Rheumatologist, supplements galore, massage and chiropractic therapy.

    Posted on February 20, 2010 at 8:03 pm

  • Stacy says:

    Took Levaquin a year ago for an ear infection and my tendons in my feet felt painful. Took Cipro a month ago and the tendons particularly in my right foot make walking really painful. Currently I am being treated for the pain with pain medication prescribed by the doctor. I am 32 years old and should not be having these issues with the medication. The doctor should have told me to stay in bed while on the medication. Because I use my right foot while driving all the time, it is not right that I should have to suffer pain every day with every step I take. I shouldn’t have to take medication to solve another problem caused by another medication.

    Posted on February 27, 2010 at 9:19 pm

  • Amanda says:

    Took Cipro over a week ago. 250 mg for 3 days. Had taken it previously but no side effects. This time was different. The day after I started it I had severe joint pain and a burning/tingling sensation in my hands. 2 days AFTER I stopped the burning and tingling got worse. It peaked then gradually got better. My hands are still tingling a little but they are not nearly as bad as they were. At the peak of the burning sensation I was keeping an ice pack on them. My joints are still are aching and I am so afraid this will not go away. I’ve also been having severe depression and panic attacks. I am only 24 years old but feel like I am 50. If ANYONE knows how to make any of my symptoms get better please email me. Painkillers don’t really work. Prior to this I was active and healthy; I exersized daily and ate well. Now I can barely swallow my faverite foods. Also, if anyone wants to talk about a class action lawsuit against the makers of Cipro please email me; this drug is ruining lives and needs to be pulled off the market. To be honest though, no amount of money would make me as happy as getting better. Like i said before, I am only 24 years old and i am so afraid this will get worse or not get better.

    Posted on March 4, 2010 at 8:16 pm

  • Michaela says:

    I took Cipro and Avelox three times – the last time in 2000. During the third (and last!) course of it, I experienced muscle pain throughout my body. I reported it to the doctor, and never again took a flouroquinolone drug. The pain resolved in about two weeks.

    In 2008, I got chronic tendonitis in both elbows. Last month (Feb 2010) I had to have surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in the left elbow. Has anyone else on this site experienced a years-long time lapse between taking the drug and getting tendonitis that does not resolve?

    Posted on March 22, 2010 at 6:33 pm

  • Nancy B says:

    To all that have been affected by Cipro and want to do something about it–count me in!

    Last July (at 44 years old) I was prescribed Cipro for a bacterial infection following surgery at a prominent NYC hospital and remained on the drug for at least TWO months before an infectious disease doc at another hospital in Chicago abruptly stopped me (without explanation) from taking it and replaced it with Cephalexin.

    The surgery was major to remove a small cancerous lesion, and the pain I suffered from the surgery was nothing compared to the problems I ultimately had from the Cipro. After taking Cipro, I developed severe pain in my left shoulder that radiated through to my left arm. That arm became lame for almost three months before spreading to my right arm. I had bone scans and nothing could be found. I became so debilitated that I ended up in a wheel chair for a few weeks–believing all the while that it was a problem resulting from the surgery.

    I then began seeing an infectious disease specialist who took me off of the Cipro, still today (nearly 8 months later) I am experiencing pain in my left shoulder and arm and restless leg aches at night. The docs all attribute it to possible side effects from the surgery I had, but the reality is it was the Cipro!!! I am now doing physical therapy twice a week to alleviate “frozen shoulder” (translation–tendonitis of the shoulder), but the therapists can’t tell me for sure if this is will be a permanent fix. So, I’m taking a wait and see approach.

    I sure would like to get this product taken off the market–especially because I just learned that my adult daughter was prescribed Cipro for a recent UTI (no side effects to report for her thank God!). So docs are routinely giving this poison to unsuspecting people without any warnings.

    Although my docs discovered a small cancerous lesion (which was cured by surgical removal), I had never taken a drug stronger than ibuprofen in my life and was otherwise a healthy mom. Now I fear that the way I feel these days with my shoulders and the achiness and soreness throughout my joints, as well as chronic fatigue may be my future. No drug company should be powerful enough to upset one’s life this way.

    If a class action suit is in the offing, count me in. In the meantime, keep safe and spread the word about the horrors of the drug and its counterparts to everyone you come in contact with.

    Posted on March 27, 2010 at 1:11 am

  • Cinde says:

    My doctor put me on a long time Cipro to help bladder infection with bacteria. I called the doctor after taking a month with pain in my legs and that was the only thing new I had taken. He said stop right away and start back in one month. I stopped and the pain went away so I took his advice and started back. I wish I had never started back. Now after a year, the pain is every day of my life. I wish others could be told before taking this drug.

    Posted on June 23, 2010 at 12:53 pm

  • Reinaldo says:

    I have been given cipro for years and have tendonitus and a torn rotator cup tendon and live in Puerto Rico and they don’t give any black box warning just the medication.I have been trying to find a lawyer since 2008 no luck please help

    Posted on July 4, 2010 at 1:23 pm

  • Kay says:

    Three years ago I was given Leviquin by a nurse practioner in my internal medicine doctor’s office for upper respiratory infection. Within a week I could not walk because of the pain in my legs. At one point, I cried and told my husband that I though I was becoming an invalid at age 60. The pain was horrendous! After a week, I stopped taking the ten-day supply and wrote a message on the prescription bottle that it was causing leg pains. Eventually, after about a year, the problem got better, but comes back occasionally. I had xrays of my knees several months late, and the doctor told me I had normal arthritis for someone my age. I simply do not believe that and think he was covering for the NP giving me the drug. However, about a year and a half ago, I had an ear, nose, throat doctor prescribe Cipro for my ear infection. I did not mention the Leviquin story because I did not know the relatioship at that time. However, once again, I experienced pain in the calves of my legs (left one particularily), and in the tendon behind the ankle of my right foot. It got so painful that my daughter, who is an opthalmologist, thought I might have a blood clot. I called the doctor to tell him the side effects, but he was on vacation, so I just quit taking it, too. It was then that I heard on the news about the relationsip of Leviquin and Cipro. I told my internist that I never wanted to take it again, and he stated that he would prescribe it if he thought it would help me. In other words, he dismissed my complaint even though he had prescribed the xrays. After over three years, I am now back to almost normal and will NEVER take either of these drugs again. I also requested that my medical charts should state that I cannot take these drugs. The internal medicine doctor has since moved, so I will not have to worry about him giving me something that does that much harm, and the ENT doctor was glad to comply.

    Posted on July 20, 2010 at 12:08 am

  • Mark says:

    During a series of upper resperatory infections my doctor gave me a high dose of “sample” Leviquin. I began experiencing psychosis, both visual and audio. I became paranoid and agitated. I began to feel like my life was so bad I felt like I wanted to end it all, suicide. about the 10th day of the series I picked up a light dresser drawer in my son’s room and I felt and heard this loud POP! I couldn’t use my left hand for weeks and then barely for over a year. Now my right shoulder is barely funtional and all of my joints hurt constantly. I fear taking any kind of antibiotic now and each time tell my employer and family to watch me carefully. Suicide is a one way choice and since it seems to drive me loopy I attempt to avoid them. My resperatory illness has become worse and My ENT wants to put a tube in my ear. Doctors are not very good at their jobs and hide their mistakes. There is a culture of deceit prevalent in that profession. All it takes is a “C” to graduate. The entire experience caused me so much continuing pain and anguish after humiliating myself. A once temporary anxiety issue caused by grief in losing a brother and parents eventually turned into a bazaar series of anxiety merely over little things. I believe the Leviquin has destroyed something in my body that prevented the anxiety attacks and the joint pain. I was once very athletic but find myself struggling just to get up and walk across the room. This makes me feel like an old useless man and has placed me in a state of constant pain. The pain levels soared through the roof which along with the anxieties kept me from deployment in 2004/2005. I barely kept a job but had to take of a tremendous amount of time and then work like crazy, in pain, to catch up. I’m a good employee with engineering level education and experience. But now I’m retraining because missing too much work came too close to being fired. Working those 60 to 80 hour work weeks are no longer possible to keep up with the civil engineering design projects I once was able to endure. Now I’m unemployed and have returned to school for a graduate degree to teach. Now I hope I can actually stay on my feet to teach.

    Posted on August 27, 2010 at 11:53 am

  • Donald says:

    I was prescribed Cipro for prostatitis. I took it everyday for five years. I have had tendon problems in almost every joint in my body. I am starting to have more and more problems as I get older and less active. I have ligament pain in my hips, knees, elbows and shoulders. I have read that there are no reports of long term problems after you stop taking Cipro. My joint pain has not stopped and if I am not carefull or forget to stretch before doing any physical activity I injure my tendons.

    Posted on September 15, 2010 at 9:46 am

  • Greta says:

    My Doctor prescribe me Ciprofloxacin to treat a bacteria in my body from a cough I couldn’t kick.Well the life was changed.After taking pills for 4 days 500mg.My left arm hurts like hell.Pain took over half of my 85% of my arm.cannot hold anything with my hand.Stop taking the meds after 4days and now it’s 9days later ,my elbow erea still hurts like hell.My arm hurt so bad.My Dr change my medication and pain is still there.

    Posted on October 8, 2010 at 6:03 pm

  • Nancy says:

    I am 51 years old and have taken Cipro and Levaquin several times over the last five years for Intestinal infections. I have experienced severe joint and tendon pain in my elbows, feet, hips and most recently in my knees. I kept telling my Drs about it and they tested me for autoimmune disorders, always coming up negative. I began to feel crazy! I started going to physical therapy for the knee pain. The Therapist asked me what kind of antibiotic did the Drs put you on last time you had an intestinal infection? Was it Levaquin? Instantly I realized what was causing my pain. The therapist stated she sees patients with this problem. My Dr. never mentioned it. I at one time suspected the antibiotic when I read the insert it said discontinue use if you experience tendon rupture. To me that meant the tendon pulled away from the muscle. Not tendonitis or joint pain. I am a nurse and have had a go from full time employment to part time because of this knee pain. Im praying it will get better with time. The drug companys need to inform people so they will understand. I am a health professional and I didnt understand the side effects.

    Posted on October 15, 2010 at 12:15 am

  • ROBIN says:

    I was told by my doctor that I had tendonitis in the right thumb,at the time I was in so much pain I could not move my right thumb.I was given this drug cirpo in March after going to my family doctor for a uti infection. In June of 2006 I had to have a lower back operation , I was put on Leavquin and nothing happen to my body at that time as far as any ruptures but I never stop hurting every bone that could hurt did hurt.At the time of all of this I was 43 yrs. old and alway’s feeling like a much older woman as time roll on I was put on so much medicine for all of the pain that I was having and still is having to date. In March after taking this cirpo I started having a lot of hurting I went to another dr. office at that time I was told that I was going to have to have an surgery on my right thumb to make it work again. I still have sharp pains in my thumb, if any lawsuits are going on I want to get in on it because the dr. never inform me that cirpo had that kind of side effect , I’m on so many diffent drugs and in there on little way there are affecting my body.

    Posted on October 28, 2010 at 5:04 pm

  • Laurie says:

    Was given Cipro to get rid of an ecoli infection and ear infection I got from Scuba Diving in Mexico. Two weeks after the antibiotics I woke up with my foot joint swollen and my back all stiff. I have had clicking and popping all over my body, my muscles feel like they are on fire and some days are better than others, but I am still struggling. The pain when it comes is surreal.

    Posted on January 5, 2011 at 6:23 pm

  • Jennifer says:

    My 62 year old mom was in the hospital with what turned out to be a virus but because she has stage 4 cancer they pumped her full of 4 different antibiotics one being Levaquin now a month after being in the hospital (about 7 days being on 500mg Levaquin) the tendons in her hips will not support her when she first goes from sitting to standing. They shake uncontrollably and she has to brace her self. She gets immediate headaches and low back pain at the sametime. It’s enough she is fighting cancer but now this. Her dr. put her on steroids which seemed to help yesterday until late in the day her legs were back to giving out. I’m scared to death of a bad fall. She also now has a swollen area around her kneck/shoulder no one can figure out and I bet they find out its a tendon issue. We find out in the next few days

    Posted on March 13, 2011 at 9:22 am

  • Joy says:

    I’ve read most of these comments and it is terrible to know that our government let’s the drug still be on the market. I had no idea of the kinds of pain and side effects I’d experience from taking this drug Cipro. All because of a urinary tract infection. I went to a FREE CLINIC for them to tell me that the drug has been black boxed and that I should not take it anymore. Keep in mind I said FREE and the doctor I see whose nurse prescribed this to me I have to PAY. Not to mention I was given 50 of those horrible Cipro pills. Ever since things have been a nightmare. My stool is very dark in color, I have diarrhea all day, I feel nausea all day and not to mention the severe acute pain I have at any given time, dry mouth ect. This is still going on now and I have stopped taking them. HELP get this drug out of here.

    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 9:06 am

  • lawrence says:

    I took cipro and have had life altering side effects, I can barely get around and I was a healthy middle aged man prior. HAS ANYONE HAD LUCK FINDING AN ATTORNEY FOR CIPRO? I have been calling daily with no avail. Any legal advice would be greatly appreciated.

    Posted on March 14, 2011 at 11:03 pm

  • Norma says:

    I was diagnosed with TTP in 2004, spending nearly 2 months in the hospital. I had to take Plasmafloresis treatments daily , lasting 4 hours each treatment. After my hospital discharge, I was prescribed Cipro for some bacterial infections resulting from Diverticulitis. Over the next few years, off and on, I took (4) rounds of Cipro as well as Levaquin.. I noticed soon after the 2nd round of Cipro, I experienced pain in my right shoulder and right hip. Eventually, I had to have rotator cuff curgery on the shoulder for the tendon repair. In the early part of 2005 the pain in my right hip worsened. I was treated conservatively by my orthopaedic group with anti-inflammatories, exercises, cortisone injections, and several sessions of physical therapy. I had MRI,s CT scans, and X-rays. It finally was diagnosed as (2) Gluteal Medial and Gluteal Minimus tears of the right hip.

    I have pain from the time that I get out of bed in the AM, going up stairs, walking inclines, pivoting, stooping, and all other daily activities.

    I am scheduled to have an open hip Abductor Repair of these tendons the last of May of this year. I can directly attribute my symptoms to taking these two medications. No one should have to suffer 6 years of painful walking and such a hindrance to their daily lives because of such a TOXIC drug. This, definitely, should be taken off of the market so that no one else would have to suffer what I’ve experienced. I’m an RN that has been severely affected by the inability of living a normal pain-free life. It has affected every aspect of my life. Let’s band together to see that this drug is no longer available to harm others. IT’S A BAD DRUG!!!

    Posted on March 22, 2011 at 3:49 pm

  • Donna says:

    I was diagnosed with a sinus infection in Feburary 2011 was given 2 steroids shots and a two week supply of cipro.Three days after I was having trouble walking and finally got into a orthopaedic doctor xrays showed I had bilateral achilly tendonitis caused by cipro.So I went back to get a copy of the side effects from drug store and it said DO NOT TAKE WITH STEROIDS. How was I suppose to know? I also looked on line it said the label should have a BLACK BOX WARNING on it. There was no such thing .I started out I could not walk the pain was extreme I.I had to crawl to the bathroom to use it
    and unable to push myself up to use it.This is where I am today I am on the sixth week of being out of work and thefifth week of therpy.
    My achilles has been so tight I could not move my feet from left to right that is improving. I have lost all my stengh in my legs and my balance is off. I have been at my job for sixteen years and under FMLA you are only elible to be out of work for twelve weeks my job requires me to walk ninty percent .Unless I can do my job 100 percent I cannot return to my job. Not only will I lose my job and
    insurance for my whole family, medical bills are rising my way of life has changed I can’t even walk in a store for a short time. Dr. want to try something called plasma enriched injection with could not
    improve tendon at all .but could improve them 40 Percent but insurance doesn’t pay for it .Its consided surgery so it will be expensive. What are people going to do no one knows the long term effects or if will ever be cured. The drug companies and doctors are at fault They need to be held accountable, but I have called about 20 lawyers they all have denied me in pursuing the case
    said its to hard to fight drug company. So if anyone can do anything
    to help me or anyone else so this won’t happen to anyone else.

    Posted on April 15, 2011 at 7:22 pm

  • Jake says:

    I had bad food poisoning and was prescribed 1000mg of cipro. In 3 days my stomach problem was gone but that was not the end. Day three I had a back ache, day 4 I couldn’t walk. B y day five Bedridden. My ankle is swollen and I cant walk on it, Back tight as a drum and sore and my Sciatica is so painful I can not sleep at night.
    I(m trying to a reverse count on days since I started this nightmare.. Pain is a way of life now. I have to work so I limp around in pain.
    I used to be active and full of life. Cipro has taken all that from me. its poison.

    Posted on June 15, 2011 at 3:01 pm

  • Trisha says:

    In Jan. of 2011, I was given CIpro by my general doctor’s physician asst. for a UTI, which was actually a kidney stone. When I went to ER in pain, I told them I was taking Cipro. They gave me an NSAID via IV for pain. These two drugs shouldn’t have been mixed, but I did not know that. I began to suffer extreme anxiety. One week later, I developed vision problems: dry eyes, light sensitivity, floaters, double vision, and finally developed Central Serous Retinopathy in my right eye. The anixiety lingered for weeks. I was also very tired and slept a ridiculous amount. In addition, I developed an intolerance for caffeine and NSAIDS. I was prescribed NEVANAC for my eye and developed tremors in my thumbs. I developed numbness and tingling in my face, twitching eyes, pain behind eyes, and continued dry eyes along with a buzzing in my right leg, muscle twitches all over, and tightness in my leg muscles.

    I have very mild psoriasis that stays in remission most of the time, and this is on my charts as a pre-existing condition. For this reason, I shouldn’t have been given Cipro–Psoriasis sometimes develops into arthritis with age.

    I was given Cipro for another UTI in February, took one, and had difficulty breathing, tinnitus, and a rushing pressure in my head. I reported this to my urologist. It was considered an allergic reaction. A couple of days later, I had swelling and a burning pain in the chest where my ribs connect.

    In March, my general doctor prescribed my Ofloxacin ear drops for an ear infection, and I tool them the first week of April. I started to refuse them and explained I did not want any meds that might effect my eye, including steroids, antibiotics, decongestants, and antihistamines. He assured me that the med would remain in my ear. It did not. My CSR got much worse, and I started seeing sparkles and lightning blots in my field of vision as I finished the round of antibiotics. I also felt a great deal of fatigue. One month later, I had crepitus in all joints, tendonitis for a week in both wrists and just below both knees, a gastrointestinal illness (possibly c. difficile) , bleeding in my capillaries, and burning in my chest where my ribs connect. At present, all of these symptoms persist and my general doctor is angry with me because I complained that they are ignoring my symptoms. I have been to their office six times in last month demanding help and tests. My ENT recently diagnosed hearing loss and bone loss in my left ear. Clearly, this drug eats away at joints and bones. It also destroys muscles and enters the central nervous system. The combination of NSAID and Cipro pushed the drug into every part of my body. The ear drops, WHICH ARE PRESCRIBED TO BABIES AND CHILDREN, have caused more severe reactions even though the dose was less. Clearly, the drug builds up in the body. And, after all this, my general doctor tried to prescribe me Levaquin. I did not take it. I demanded a z-pack. I think it might have killed me.

    Doctors have no idea what they are prescribing and are unaware of interactions or black box warnings. In each case these drugs were given to me as first-choice. Other antibiotics would have worked. I want my health back. I want my strength back. And, I really wish my doctors would listen. I have spent so much money going to the office only to be ignored or prescribed another drug in this same family. I just finished a Ph.D. and have my whole life ahead of me, but I am wondering f I have my health. I am afraid I do not.

    Are their lawsuits against Ofloxacin? I know CIpro is no longer being litigated. What do we do when our side effects do not yet involve tendon ruptures?

    Posted on June 20, 2011 at 3:15 am

  • Sondra says:

    I was prescribed Cipro for twice for a UTI infection. My ankles begin to hurt and became very painful. I was walking one day and for no apparent reason I could barely walk. I experienced muscle weakness in my right leg. I was also given Levaquin for food poisoning last year. Now I can barely take two steps without being in pain. I cannot stand in one place for a long time without my ankles and feet terribly hurting. Help please! Sondra

    Posted on November 30, 2011 at 11:05 am

  • Peter says:

    I was prescribed Cipro for protatitis recently. The course was to be 25 days. I started to feel weakness and a burning feeling in my arms and shoulders. Generally I feel tremors and twitching in my arms and legs now. I decided to stop afer 20 days after reading about these symptoms. Doctor and family won’t believe what I am telling them. They put it down to anxiety. Now I am very worried after reading that the nerve damage could be permanent.

    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:26 am

  • ervin says:

    Severe muscle and joint pain in arms and elbow after 2weeks of cipro

    Posted on January 11, 2012 at 10:26 pm

  • freddie says:

    after taking a course of cipro, have got severe pain in my groin and have been advised cipro was to blame. I wish it had been explained to me by my doctor in which case would have stopped an not taken the full dose of treatment. I live in ENGLAND.

    Posted on March 10, 2012 at 7:51 am

  • didem says:

    How can they ignore what so many people are saying? Those who know these symptoms are possible why are they keeping silent? My life has changed 3 months ago in the year 2011. I see that there were people in the 2003’s and nothing has happened since then. So we are getting more in number because some people are greedy and some keep silent.

    Posted on April 9, 2012 at 10:36 am

  • Charles says:

    I was given levaquin and cipro in the summer of 2010 for urinary tract infections because I had Foley catheters in place for a year. (I was later diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer,10 on the Gleason scale,that has spread to my bones).I had TURP surgery in March 2011 so I don’t need catheters anymore.Anyway,the tendon in my left arm that connects my upper arm to my shoulder ruptured.I went to a county hospital in Los Angeles and told them I couldn’t use my arm and I thought it was broken.They admitted me at 2 PM in the E.R. and released me the next morning at 7 AM.The osteopath that examined me never found the problem because she was going on the supposition that I had a broken bone.They did a series of x-rays in different positions which hurt to move my arm around,so they had to give me Vicodin.Then they did an ultrasound to check blood flow into and out of my arm,and that hurt so much they had to give me a shot of Morphine to complete the test.The osteopath pats me on the shoulder at 7 AM and says “All better?” and released me with a prescription for Tramadol like the problem was all in my head.Lucky I had the Tramadol because it took a month for my tendon to heal.I couldn’t use my arm and had to sleep with my arm against a pillow for that month.Finally,after a month I could sleep on my other side without my arm feeling disconnected.All osteopaths should ask the question “have you been taking Cipro or Levaquin” if they don’t see a broken bone.Also,I believe both of these antibiotics are still on the market even though tens of thousands of people have been injured.I also am probably out of luck as far as a lawsuit because of the length of time that has passed even though my arm still hurts from time to time because of improper healing.

    Posted on April 18, 2012 at 3:53 pm

  • Teresa says:

    I took Cipro for two weeks at beginning of January for an infected leg ulcer. The first week I was fine. The second week I developed swollen painful joints all over my body. I could push the fluid around my swollen thumb and wrist joints. All my muscles ached and I had a severe pain in my left side. I shrieked with pain getting out of bed or chairs. The third week I developed violent vomitting that went on for 5 days, was so weak I could not get out of bed without help.Since then I have developed very bad hot flushes and night sweats. My joints still hurt. This drug is dangerous and should be taken off the market. How many more people world wide have to suffer these dreadful side effects before the pharmacutical industry listens to our complaints. We are all guinea pigs.

    Posted on May 7, 2012 at 9:55 am

  • Enrique says:

    The docs gave me Cipro for a bacterial infection. A couple of day after the last pill i got the worst pain in my life on my left Elbo. The pain was so bad I went to the emergency room. The doc did X-ray and ultra sound but their was no infection or sign of anything that would be causing such pain, so they gave me naproxen and sent me on my way. 1 month later and I cant move the thumb on my left arm and my it feels as if my funny bone is constantly getting hit. I cant work out or even change the channel on the remote to the tv. This is scary stuff and im hoping this goes away soon.

    Posted on May 31, 2012 at 7:23 pm

  • Marla says:

    I am a healthy 29yr old without ever having any cartilage or joint stress. I have been on Cipro for a month and a half due to infection on my foot from a cut.. After a month started feeling achy feet and ankles especially in the morning. Thought it was weird but continued on with my normal routine~ Hairstylist/makeup artist on my feet all day. Continued normal exercise (bc of no warnings of tendonitis!!!!!).. I got tendonitis now on one of my ankles towards the inside. Called the doctor and he says to get off of it. 4 days later still pain and stiffness.. I see him in 3 days for a visit.. Now just today on the outside of my foot I have swelling and more pain. I am soo scared my tendon is going to rupture.. I need to work and cant be dealing with this right now.. I am NOT happy.. Someone should have warned me to be careful and call if I had these symptoms!! I may need a lawyer if this doesnt get better soon!! If this doc was so nonchallant about me quitting cipro when i had problems then why did he have me on these for a month and a half 2 doses a day!!

    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 7:24 pm

  • patrick says:

    I was started on ciproflloxacin for a GI upset. I started to get involuntary extremely painful spasms of my shoulder, upper arm and back lasting about 10 seconds a time. They are brought on by slight movement in the wrong direction and at times cannot hardly walk. Sleep very difficult have to lie extremely still. I thought is was the bug affecting my muscles, but now feel sure its the cipro. Have stopped it and hope the spasms go soon.

    Posted on August 28, 2012 at 8:45 pm

  • Linda says:

    my son is disabled was given levaquin for cellulitis and he cant get up and down now. he is unable to tell me what is wrong and i think from what i have read it is because of the levaquin. i dont know what he feels so i have to guess at what is going on. I hope and pray that it gets better soon.he has a hard time as it is without this.They need to take these medications of the market.i think they have caused to much pain for to many people. I hope every one gets over the pain soon.

    Posted on April 12, 2013 at 11:50 pm

  • Tina says:

    I took levofloxin not long ago for sinus infection and had facial swelling and dull annoying headache . Swelling got better by third day so continued. During the last 3 days give or take taking it starting with abdominal pain. Thought it was an old hernia from my twins.. went to Dr and looks like gall bladder. Have to see surgeon about removing it. Called pharmacist but he said doesn’t show anywhere Levofloxin causes gall bladder problems . I Google and shows some cases are reported. I’m a parent of special needs kids who rarely gets a break. I don’t have time for this or help after surgery . Also have tingling electric feeling in fingers and toes. More concerned about gall bladder. Has this happen to many? Enough people to get it off market?
    Thank you!

    Posted on December 16, 2014 at 1:13 am

  • Janet says:

    Julie I was also on weeks of cipro and levaquin, My entire body was blown apart like a bomb.

    Posted on May 1, 2015 at 10:26 am

  • Donna says:

    i suffered from a very bad kidney infection and was prescribed ciprofloxacin. After taking this for only two days, I was in excruciating pain in my shoulder. I am going to my doctor in e morning to find out what is going on. This pain is just as bad as the kidney infection itself. If this medication causes so many problem why is it okay and on the market.

    Posted on July 8, 2015 at 12:53 am

  • Anjelique says:

    It’s been a week and a half since I have been off cipro. The initial symptoms were excruiating headache, stomach pain, sweats, vertigo, numbness and tingling in hands and feet, muscle spasms in both my biceps. Now, I am having bouts of nausea, my right gastroc (calve muscle) spasmed so hard in the middle of the night on Saturday, while I was asleep, that I am have trouble walking all day. I still have the vertigo, my left hand has gone ice cold a few time. I am just tired and sore all over. It’s like my body can’t recover.

    Posted on November 16, 2015 at 2:20 pm

  • NeShun says:

    Prescribed Cipro for a UTI, after taking only two pills I’m experiencing extreme lower back pain and aches in my right arm. I am stopping this medication immediately!

    Posted on December 28, 2015 at 4:59 am

  • pam says:

    I have been experiencing alot of pain in back,hips,legs and stomach. Have been on cipro twice. Just got off it after 5days was hurting so bad couldn’t take last two doses. now have all kind of muscle promblems. I won’t take this dug again. Damage is done.

    Posted on March 26, 2016 at 5:00 pm

  • Ruth says:

    I have such pain in my foot from tendon damage after taking cipro for diverticulitus. Both were in such pain I could not even walk. One seems to have healed but the pain in my left foot is so bad I can not do much some days. Will this ever heal or be normal again. The heel and tendons around the ankle hurt. What if anything can I do to help the healing. I will never take cipro again. I told a nurse practitioner about this and she denied cipro is bad. she stated if it was so bad we would not be recommending or giving to patients.

    Posted on July 4, 2016 at 2:26 am

  • N says:

    Back in 2008 – 2012 from antibiotics taking cipro I had severe pain in my body joints and carpal tunnel type pain in my wrists and hands, numbness in my extremeties. I went to comb my hair lifting my right arm and counldn’t even muscle it my right shoulder and arm socket stabbing pain. At one point I just laid on the bed and couldn’t move from joints hurting. I took magnesium and tylenol at max dose. I went to the physical therapist. I mentioned in passing that I had taken cipro and she STOPPED and said this was what it was from.

    I recently 2022 went to the ER from Kidney inf, being antibiotic resistant, my only option was to take cipro, I was on it a month. This time I have an overall feeling of complete exhaustion, stabbing pain in my right thumb joint and weakness of my right thumb and pain when I try to pick anything up I can barely pick anything up. I have a pain under my right rib cage when I move sometimes it’s like collapsing feeling and like I was punched. Due to resistance I had no choice but to use cipro.

    Posted on April 6, 2022 at 3:06 pm

  • Steven says:

    Both Achilles tendons ruptured while on Cypro 5 weeks, urologist prescribed with no warning, actually advised me to continue my daily exercise routine. In casts both legs, orthopedic surgeon said definitely caused by Cypro, need attorney. 903 292 2744.

    Posted on December 25, 2022 at 11:38 am

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