Levaquin (Levofloxacin) Side Effects Leave Long-Lasting Disabilities

Antibiotics are magical. Americans think of such drugs as miracle medicines. It all stems from the discovery of penicillin. Here was a drug that changed history. People who would have normally died from infections could be saved. As a result, most antibiotics, including Levaquin (levofloxacin), are perceived as highly effective and extremely safe. But we have heard from far too many people that levofloxacin left them with long-lasting disabilities. Here is just one such story:

Q. I was prescribed the generic antibiotic Levaquin (levofloxacin) on 6/25/13 for “walking pneumonia.” The doctor did not provide any information about the drug. The prescription was for one a day for 10 days.

After two days (2 pills) I was in such extreme pain throughout my entire body that I could not walk, get up or go down stairs. I was in a wheelchair for a week and had to use a walker for a couple of weeks more. The pain in my joints, especially my neck, upper shoulders, lower back, legs, knees, etc. was almost unbearable.

It has now been almost eight months and I am still experiencing joint pains that seem to move around my body: one day my neck hurts; another day it’s my knees, thighs, hamstrings; then my back is affected.

When the pains began, I tried to contact the doctor. I left messages with her office that I could not tolerate the Levaquin and to please give me something else.  She apparently was calling the wrong number, (the office had both my numbers!) and never spoke to me.  Finally, after taking 6 of the pills, I decided to stop as I figured I’d be dead with 4 more!

Upon returning to the doctor a week after my first visit, I told her of my experience and that I had stopped taking the antibiotic.  She insisted my side effect reactions had nothing to do with the Levaquin and were not a result of this drug!  She told me to take 800mg of ibuprofen three times a day for the pain.

A month later in July I saw my orthopedist.  He could offer no help, but his nurse shared with me that she had had the same side effects from Levaquin and that it had been a year and she was still experiencing joint pains all over; one day here, another day there.

Going on the Internet I discovered that many other people have suffered the same side effects as I had…some for years!  I called the FDA to report the above, but was not able to get any of the required information from the pharmacy (no manufacturer, expiration date, Lot.#, etc.). I completed 5 pages of information on the FDA’s MedWatch form about side effects and such and faxed them to the FDA.  I also discovered there are some 3400 lawsuits regarding levofloxacin.

A. You are not the first person to report serious complications from levofloxacin (Levaquin). This is an antibiotic in the class called fluoroquinolones (FQs) or quinolones for short. Other medications in this category include ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gemifloxacin (Factive), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox) and norfloxacin (Noroxin).

You are also correct that it is hard to complete the FDA’s MedWatch forms because it is almost impossible to get the essential information they demand (manufacturer, expiration date, Lot # and NDC number) from the pill bottle.

The FDA Comes Clean on Levaquin (levofloxacin) & Other FQs:

Quinolone antibiotics have been around for more than 30 years. Doctors prescribe these drugs for a range of infections including:

• UTIs or urinary tract infections
• URIs or upper respiratory tract infections such as sinusitis or pneumonia
• Chronic bronchitis
• Skin infections
• Bacterial prostatitis

For many of those years prescribers assumed that side effects were not that big a deal. Most did not realize that adverse drug reactions could persist even after the medications were stopped.

Millions of people have taken drugs like Cipro (ciprofloxacin) or Levaquin (levofloxacin) without being informed of potential problems. In 2016 the FDA issued the following safety communication:

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising that the serious side effects associated with fluoroquinolone antibacterial drugs generally outweigh the benefits for patients with acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis, and uncomplicated urinary tract infections who have other treatment options. For patients with these conditions, fluoroquinolones should be reserved for those who do not have alternative treatment options.

“An FDA safety review has shown that fluoroquinolones when used systemically (i.e. tablets, capsules, and injectable) are associated with disabling and potentially permanent serious side effects that can occur together. These side effects can involve the tendons, muscles, joints, nerves, and central nervous system.”

Prior to this announcement, many physicians discounted reports from patients of long-lasting, disabling reactions to FQs. Even with the FDA’s safety communication, many health professionals do not warn patients in advance what could happen. The only way to appreciate the gravity of the situation is to read actual accounts from real people:

Stories from Readers:

Doug shared his joint problems:

“I was taking a 30-day prescription of Cipro for a prostate infection. After playing full court basketball, I awoke the next morning to knees that felt as though they were encased in concrete.

“My legs constantly ache as if I had just walked 20 miles.  Many nights I cannot sleep due to the pain in my legs and, for now, I cannot play basketball as the left knee area, in particular, is too weak.

“Ever since that time (20 months ago) I have suffered in every way imaginable. Sometimes I cannot even walk up my apartment stairs. I have seen my doctor, an acupuncturist and chiropractors. No one can make it go away. This has totally impacted my life, since I can’t play tennis and have a very hard time playing basketball. Do you have a suggestion?”

Ellen reported this reaction to levofloxacin:

“I have had side effects from levofloxacin and I’ve been getting the runaround from the doctor’s office. It has affected my hands, my fingers, my knees, my ankles, my elbows and my hip. It moves around and I haven’t been able to work because of it. I never know how bad one day is going to be to the next.”

Greg has tendon problems:

“I took this medicine four years ago. I was also very physically active before taking it. After 7 days on the med, I developed body-wide tendon and nerve damage that has yet to improve. There are literally thousands of people who have been crippled.”

D.B. is another person who cannot exercise after taking an FQ:

“I had a similar experience with Cipro. I took it a year and a half ago and have had terrible joint problems ever since. The problems started almost immediately after taking Cipro. I’ve had to spend thousands on tests, physical therapy and doctors’ visits. The worst is my feet and ankles hurt so bad that walking is difficult now. I can no longer exercise without suffering days of pain. All this time, there is some improvement but much of the damage is permanent.”

L.P. reveals that it does not take a big dose to cause long-lasting agony:

“I took Levaquin on Nov.14, 2012. After 6 pills I had Achilles tendonitis, small tears, muscle aches and joint pain all over. Two years later I am still suffering from tendonitis, bursitis in my shoulder joints, fatigue and insomnia. I never ached so much in my life and it continues to get worse. I walk with a cane. There is numbness in my foot and leg diagnosed as neuropathy. Levaquin was prescribed for suspected urinary tract infection. It was contraindicated with my other meds and my age. This just should not be.

“This drug has caused permanent damage and ended most of my life activities. Doctors need to be informed what this med does and care about the consequences. I hope this antibiotic gets off the market or is used only in a life or death situation.”

The People’s Pharmacy Warnings About Fluoroquinolones:

We could provide hundreds of other stories, but by now you have the idea. (You can read more in the comment section below or at this article.

We have been warning about serious FQ side effects for over 20 years. We think the FDA was way too slow to alert health professionals and patients to some of the most serious complications of these drugs. According to the Food and Drug Administration, more than 21 million people get a prescription for a quinolone antibiotic each year.

The FDA issued an alert about FQs in 2013 about neuropathy:

“This serious nerve damage potentially caused by fluoroquinolones may occur soon after these drugs are taken and may be permanent… Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder occurring in the arms or legs. Symptoms include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, or a change in sensation to light touch, pain or temperature, or the sense of body position. It can occur at any time during treatment with fluoroquinolones and can last for months to years after the drug is stopped or be permanent. Patients using fluoroquinolones who develop any symptoms of peripheral neuropathy should tell their health care professionals right away.”

In addition to the nerve damage, these drugs can cause lots of other serious complications, including tendinitis or even tendon rupture. When this happens it can be a life-altering event. Joint pain and arthritis-like adverse reactions have not generally been recognized as a long-lasting complication of quinolones in adults, though they have been noted in children. We long believed the people who reported this problem on our website rather than the official prescribing information for these antibiotics. It took the FDA decades to acknowledge the problems with tendons and nerves. The agency was also slow to recognize the joint complications.

Unlike many of the people who have reported problems on this website, we are not calling for the banning of quinolone antibiotics. Goodness knows, we are running out of effective medications against serious infections given the degree of bacterial resistance that has evolved over the years. But doctors must inform patients of potential fluoroquinolone side effects BEFORE people start taking such drugs. Here is a list to be aware of:

Fluoroquinolone Side Effects and Complications:

• Digestive distress, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, heartburn, vomiting
• Headache, dizziness
• Agitation, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, confusion
• Insomnia
• Tendon problems, tendinitis, tendon rupture
• Retinal detachment
• Nerve damage, peripheral neuropathy, nerve tingling, numbness
• Allergic reactions, skin rash, anaphylaxis (life-threatening reaction requiring immediate medical attention!)
• Super-infections including C. diff diarrhea
• Hallucinations, psychosis, seizures
• Depression, suicidal thoughts or actions
• Irregular heart rhythms, torsades de pointes, QT prolongation
• Kidney or liver damage
• Blood disorders
• Arthritis, muscle and joint pain, weakness

Share your own experience with FQ antibiotics below. We want to hear the pros and cons of such drugs. Let others know how such medications worked for you and what, if any, side effects you have experienced.

Revised: 3/23/17