I have been on Levaquin for 5 weeks. I've made some improvement. However, 2 weeks ago my achilles tendons started to get sore - I only notice it in the morning when I wake up and take my first steps. Coincidentally, I had also purchased new walking shoes at the exact time my tendons started to be sore and I walk every day. So, my doc ended up taking me off the Levaquin. We are not sure it's the issue but better to be safe. It was really working, the first abx out of more than 10 tries so I'm dissapointed. He said we may be able to try again later. Does anyone have experience with having tendon pain, going off and then back on without issues? Or, has anyone stayed on it through the tendon issues and been OK? I'd like to get back on it but of course I need to be realistic. Help! Thanks. Nicolette
Posted by sizzled (Member # 1357) on :
ldfighter posted this awhiile back..."Just want to add for anyone taking a quinolone that supplementation with magnesium and Vit E *may* help to prevent tendon rupture, this was mentioned at a conference. I took Levaquin with magnesium and had no problems at all, tendon or otherwise, but I may have just been lucky.
Study on magnesium and Vit E with quinolones, preventing damage in rats:
Hope this helps!
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
If you were responding to Levaquin, why not try another bart drug like Rifampin?
I am on Levaquin and have had no trouble, but my LLMD did tell me to watch out for tendonitis. I am supplementing Mag.
Posted by nicolette (Member # 8133) on :
I was actually on both Levaquin and Rifampin - but I've been on Rifampin in the past and it really doesn't do much for the Bart that I have.
Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :
I started having tendon pain with Cipro and was about to go off of it permanently when I tried Kirkman Labs Magnesium Sulfate Cream (I had some already) to increase my magnesium, and it REALLY helped with the tendon pain. WaterOz magnesium is really good too. The nice thing about the cream is that you can just put a little bit on all day long, and/or you can rub it right in the tendon area.