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Levaquin
Although I'm sure Levaquin has its place in treatment I'm not sure I would ever consider even taking it. I was wondering if anyone has taken this medication and their reactions.
I have a friend who now has something drastic wrong with her shoulders and in severe pain. She is one who is effected in this way and it looks as if there is really no cure. Her Dr. said it was from Levaquin.
Just curious about others experiences on this drug. How are you supposed to know if you should even consider this med?
Purple98Lady
Answer:
Levaquin
Levaquin (levofloxacin) is a wide-spectrum antibiotic drug of the fluoroquinolone group. It is used to treat various bacterial infections, e.g. urinary tract and skin infections.
Other fluoroquinolones include ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin.
One possible side effect of the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics is tendon inflammation and in some cases, even tendon rupture. Achilles tendon rupture is a typical although rare adverse event due to fluoroquinolone treatment.
The incidence of tendinitis (tendon inflammation) is quoted in one study to be about 3 cases per 1,000 prescriptions. The frequency of tendon rupture is probably about 1/1000-1/10,000.
References:
Kenji Kowatari1, Kikuo Nakashima1, Atsushi Ono1, Masakazu Yoshihara1, Masafumi Amano1 and Satoshi Toh2
Levofloxacin-induced bilateral Achilles tendon rupture: a case report and review of the literature
JournalPublisherSpringer JapanISSN0949-2658 (Print) 1436-2023 (Online)Issue
Tendon Disorders Attributed to Fluoroquinolones:
A Study on 42 Spontaneous Reports in the
Period 1988 to 1998PAUL D. VAN DER LINDEN,1 EUG`ENE P. VAN PUIJENBROEK,2 JOHAN FEENSTRA,3
BAS A. IN ‘T VELD,3 MIRIAM C. J. M. STURKENBOOM,4 RON M. C. HERINGS,5
HUBERT G. M. LEUFKENS,5 AND BRUNO H. CH. STRICKER3ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH 45:235–239, 2001
Answer:
Levaquin
Thank you Dr. Joshua,
As I'm sure there are risk with any medication, you just never really know how a medication is going to react on you. I will not be taking this one. Fortunately I was never prescribed this one and I haven't had to take much medication. Hope to keep it this way:smile:
Thanks again
Purple98Lady
Answer:
Levaquin
Fluoroquinolones such as Levaquin are a very important part of the antibiotic arsenal, and all thing considered, serious side effects are rare. It's good to keep the side effects in mind, but also important to take all prescribed medication as directed.
I haven't personally heard of a chronic pain problem having resulted from fluoroquinolones, but of course there are always what we call idiosyncrasies, meaning that there is always the 1 in a million person that reacts to a given drug in a wholly unexpected way. On the other hand, it's difficult to pinpoint the cause afterwards, as is I'm sure in your friend's case. For instance, susceptible individuals (especially those with a HLA-B27 antigen) may develop a severe reactive arthritis/tendinitis following an infection - sometimes the drugs used to treat that infection may be mistakenly blamed for the resulting problems.
Medicine is difficult: Lack of treatment may lead to serious consequences; on the other hand, treatments always have risks, sometimes very serious ones.
Answer:
Levaquin
Its just really sad situation for her, she is receiving cort. shoulder injections with not much relief. She also has a neurological history with the nerve in the face(prior trigeminal surgery with sucess) and a history of arthritis. You would think with this history maybe it wouldn't of been prescribed. The odds are not high but it sure is sad if you are the one percent.
No treatment is just as bad as sometimes the treatment you never know and mostly can't know. All we can do is our best to be well informed. I still am a big believer if you dont really need medications don't take them. By that I mean ones your not familiar with and haven't discussed the side/effects prior with your Dr.:smile: