Did any of you have psych symptoms while taking Levaquin? If so, how soon did they start after beginning Levaquin?
Or could this be a Bart "herx"?
[ 20. August 2007, 04:59 PM: Message edited by: AndrewInCA ]
Posted by Ellie K (Member # 12056) on :
I had some psych symptoms--mostly anxiety attacks-- from Levaquin. I didn't feel much of anything for about 10 days into it, though.
I was also on Cat's Claw at the time, so that could have been contributing to things.
Posted by kitkat32 (Member # 9682) on :
I just recently took Levaquin for only 10 days.
It wasn't until the 3rd or 4th day that I started to have alot of pain.
I couldn't tell if it was tendon, muscle pain, herx or whatever. All I know is that I hurt all over.
I decided to stop taking it when I became really sore behind both of my knees. It was hard to straighten them out. It kept feeling like something was pulling in there. That I assumed to be tendon pain.
I go back to LLMD soon to see what I will switch to next.
kit
Posted by AndrewInCA (Member # 2010) on :
The reason I'm asking is that I appeared to have a total psychotic breakdown after one pill of Levaquin. This is after 2 months of Factive. (another quinilone)
I'm wondering if anyone else has had an increase in psych symptoms pretty quickly after starting Levaquin.
I already have BAD psych symptoms from the suspected Bart, so I'm desperate for feedback...
Posted by BartonFink (Member # 10818) on :
quote:Originally posted by AndrewInCA: The reason I'm asking is that I appeared to have a total psychotic breakdown after one pill of Levaquin. This is after 2 months of Factive. (another quinilone)
I'm wondering if anyone else has had an increase in psych symptoms pretty quickly after starting Levaquin.
I already have BAD psych symptoms from the suspected Bart, so I'm desperate for feedback...
Andrew, the exact same thing happened to me after ONE pill of Floxin (relative to Levaquin). Stopped taking the drug right there.
Posted by Paula Carnes (Member # 10912) on :
Here is a link to the best available article on quinolone risk and how to treat it if you have been harmed. The article is by Dr. Jay Cohen, MD who specializes in the study of drug risks.
Been taking Levaquin 750mg for 2 weeks...no weird reactions.
Posted by AndrewInCA (Member # 2010) on :
Hi Chamade, (and any others)
Did you have psych symptoms from the Bart to begin with?
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
Honestly I don't know...I was always pretty anxious, I don't know if that if from my chronic Lyme or not.
My main symptoms right now is burning pain in in feet and lower legs. I hope it is bartonella(or any kind of bacteria for that matter) and that the antibiotics will work.
Posted by AndrewInCA (Member # 2010) on :
chamade,
I just happened across a list of postings on medications.com for people who have had side effects from Levaquin. Alot of them are reporting pain in legs similar to what you're describing. Are you killing Bart, or is it a Levaquin side effect?
What's most surprising is the number of user reports on Levaquin - 1800 so far... often one or several posts a day:
My leg burning has been going on for months now ..way before I started Levaquin.
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
I wonder if factive would be a better choice?
Posted by AndrewInCA (Member # 2010) on :
I've been on Factive for two months - I don't see much improvement, but everyone is different. Although my symptoms have been almost entirely psych symptoms. One good thing - Factive has fewer side effects than Levaquin.
Posted by BartonFink (Member # 10818) on :
quote:
What's most surprising is the number of user reports on Levaquin - 1800 so far... often one or several posts a day:
I'm not surprised at all after what I have learned during the last 11/2 years. This drug is a poison and it has destroyed many lives.
Posted by lymeflox (Member # 10543) on :
AndrewInca:
Psychological abnormalities are very common with levaquin, factive and other fluoroquinolones. They are a guaranteed side effect for long or high dose treatments. The effects start sometimes right during the treatment, and many times more insidiously, over the following months. The most common are depersonalization, seizure-like episodes, brain fog, insomnia, short term memory loss, brain impairment, tremors, agitation, restlessness, depression and very very strong anxiety. The psyche disorders last from a few weeks to several years. "Bitter Pills" is a book written by Stephen Fried and narrates the story of his wife, that got psychological damages after taking a quinolone, that lasted years. You can find the book everywhere. For more comprehensive information on this subject you may have a look at the non commercial sites: www.fqresearch.org www.fluoroquinolones.org The problem with the fluoroquinolones is that we tend to think that almost all their side-toxic effects are a herxing or a relapse of our lyme symptoms, so we keep on taking them, injuring ourselves badly. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted by Rianna (Member # 11038) on :
I personally have no experience with Levaquin although am due to start Rifampin for Bart - could you not change to Rifampin?
Posted by sfcharm (Member # 9392) on :
I'm taking Levaquin for ten days now and have noticed that I'm having difficultyy falling asleep at night. In other words I'm wired!
I did speak with a fellow lymie yesterday who said she became manic while on Levaquin and stopped taking it.
Barb
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
I felt completely insane on Cipro (similar to Levaquin) -- really psychotic -- but it passed after about two days. It might help to wait it out: on the other hand, severe psychiatric symptoms can be a dangerous sign in the quinolones.
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Psychosis IS a possible side effect of the fluoroquinolones!!!! See excerpt from abstract: *************************************************
1: Chemotherapy. 2001;47 Suppl 3:9-14;
Comparison of side effects of levofloxacin versus other fluoroquinolones.
Carbon C.Internal Medicine Unit, Bichat-Claude Bernard Hospital, Paris, France.
The side-effect profile of levofloxacin was compared with that of other fluoroquinolones based on European and international data from approximately 130 million prescriptions. Levofloxacin was found to be very safe...
The main CNS problems associated with fluoroquinolones include dizziness, convulsions,
psychosis,
and insomnia. PMID: 11549784 (abstract truncated to highlight this sentence)
Posted by on :
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
..way before I started Levaquin.