Topic: Need some Advice-Levaquin....Updated please help!
tricia386
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29623
posted
So, I started on levaquin on Monday 250 mgs and working my way up. Everything was fine and then BOOM.
I had bad shin pain, heel pain, pain in my uppsr arms near my triceps. Pain and burning in my forearms, pain in my wrists.
I called my LLMD they said to stop and see how you feel in a few days.
Well, I went google happy and read all these horribble side effects and how people are permantely damaged from Levaquin even after just one or two doeses and their lives are never the same.
I have a bit of health anxiety who doesnt. So now I am thinking the worst. (
But my question is. How do you know if its a herx or if its a side effect?? What if I am permately damaged my body. Everything just HURTS!
I have read many of stories about individual who feel the same way I did after a few doses now they are in a wheel chair or in pain.
I am so scared and nervous right now. I just keep crying at the fact that I might have ruined my life. Mind you I am very sensitve to medicines.
Can anyone offer some insight.
I have a very high bart load and I know levaquin is the drug of choice.
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
I experienced the same as you after 4 weeks of levaquin when I crashed completely. Everything hurt. This gradually became less over the following weeks/months. You have a good chance to get better.
TF
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Member # 14183
posted
See this quote from Burrascano, page 25:
"Levofloxacin is generally well tolerated, with almost no stomach upset.. . . There is, however, one side effect that would require it to be stopped- it may cause a painful tendonitis, usually of the largest tendons. If this happens, then the levofloxacin must be stopped or tendon rupture may occur. It has been suggested that loading the patient with magnesium may prevent this problem, and if the tendons do become affected, parenteral high dose vitamin C (plus parenteral magnesium) may afford rapid relief."
So, based on this, you may want to try high dose vitamin C and lots of magnesium. If you don't get relief in a few days, you could ask your doc for IV vit. C and mag as Burrascano mentions above.
I trust you will feel better in a few days. But, you will get in touch with your doctor if not.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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tricia386
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posted
Still in pain 2 days after stopping only took 1000mgs total in 4 days I am so worried I have been poisoned. I read do many stories it all sounds so similar to my symptoms.
Can anyone offer any help please
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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TF
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Member # 14183
posted
The vitamin C and magnesium as stated above.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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tricia386
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posted
I have been... Pain worse today
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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ktkdommer
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 29020
posted
I took levaquin for months with no issues.
Pain is a symptom of many herxes.
Anything else new to your treatment? Herbs?
Hope you are better soon!
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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nonna05
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posted
Lemon water,// are you taking a little food with?? Yes anything else new or taken off of since this started.. Is Levaquin the ONLY thing you're taking???
More info,, somebody might be able to help.
Happy Holiday's, Nonna
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
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sammy
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Member # 13952
posted
Try to figure out where the pain is coming from. Is it deep bone pain? Is it coming from the muscles? Is it coming from where the muscles attach to the bones (this would be your tendons and ligaments)? It is your joints?
This will help you and your doctor know what's going on. Whether this is a herx or possible side effect.
For me Bartonella causes severe deep bone pain in my legs. The pain was indescribable. It took awhile for the Levaquin to help, we actually had to increase my dose after a few months.
Hang in there Tricia. If this antibiotic doesn't work out for you, your doctor will help you find something that does work better. Hugs Posts: 5237 | From here | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
I would suggest trying an epsom salts bath with baking soda. Start with 1/2 cup of each and you can work up to 2 or 3 cups of each. Stay in a warm (not hot) bath for 20 or 30 minutes if tolerated. If you get dizzy or weak stop sooner.
Your body will only absorb as much magnesium as it needs from the bath. But it is absorbed much better in a bath than orally.
Hubby was on 750 mg of levaquin daily for several months recently. He had mild tendon pain the entire time, but fortunately it stopped within a week or so of stopping the med.
You could also try something for lymph drainage -- red root tincture is probably the best.
And if it is just overall body inflammation then wobenzyme should help.
Don't give up and keep trying until you find something that relieves your symptoms.
Bea Seibert
Posts: 7306 | From Martinsville,VA,USA | Registered: Oct 2004
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tricia386
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Member # 29623
posted
Well the pain is in m feet and around my ankles. It shoots up to my shins and then my calfs are tight.
The pain is also in my wrists and fingers and upper arms. My arms are very week and burn.
My stomach is also a mess could just be from anxiety and worry I'm also very cold.
This will be day 3 0ff med and no improvement.
Very worried I've been floxed.
I have been taking mag baths they do help a lil. I caved snd took aleve it helped a lil but not much
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
Wow, I never had the extremem pain that alot of you have experienced. I took levaquin for about a week or two and was extremely ill from it. I had brain fog like I never had before in my entire life, couldn't think, was screwing up at work. Thought I was going to los my job and it made me lose weight really fast too.
I told my LLMD and he said it is a very hard drug to cope with.
Hope you get better.
-------------------- 7/09- WB IGG Neg all bands -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41. Treated w/ 21 days of Doxy. 10/09- WB IGG Pos bands 41 & 58 -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41. 04/11- WB IGG Pos band 66 -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41 Pos EBV. Posts: 121 | From Western PA | Registered: Oct 2009
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lyme in Putnam
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posted
It's hard to say whats working and what's a side effect. I just stopped rif for a little while. He wants to put me on levaquin, my llnd wants to do balancing of adrenals, I'm a mess. Get off or stay off till it clears a little. I know it's keep going, but you gotta live in between. It's disheartening when you think it's helping and hard to tolerate. Feel better.
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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tricia386
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Member # 29623
posted
I'm very stiff in my joints fingers wrists shins hurt feet Hurt. Calfs are tight and muscle weakness in the top of my arms. Stopped taking it Friday hopefully will start to feel better soon.
Very nervous.
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
This sounds like a herx. Do you have some Glutathione or Alka Seltzer Gold, Parsley or Burber to deal with it and clear some of the die-off?
If any of these take the symptoms down than its definitely a herx. Try to get some of the toxins out and it should help.
Hopefully you will be feeling batter soon. At least you know its working!!
-------------------- unsure445 Posts: 824 | From northeast | Registered: Jun 2008
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bcb1200
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posted
I agree..I'm not a doc, but all of the aches / pains you describe sound very Bart-like.
Are you sure it isn't a herx?
Rememer...I"m not a doctor.
-------------------- Bite date ? 2/10 symptoms began 5/10 dx'd, after 3 months numerous test and doctors
IgM Igenex +/CDC + + 23/25, 30, 31, 34, 41, 83/93
Currently on:
Currently at around 95% +/- most days. Posts: 3139 | From Massachusetts | Registered: May 2010
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surprise
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Member # 34987
posted
I was on Levaquin for 6-7 weeks (alone)
I agree on the Epsom salt baths- I did them every night, and also supplemented some extra magnesium in the a.m. away from Levaquin dose.
I was paranoid, and I did have leg pains, but did okay.
I agree with the detox suggestions, and upping magnesium.
Hope you feel better soon.
-------------------- Lyme positive PCR blood, and positive Bartonella henselae Igenex, 2011. low positive Fry biofilm test, 2012. Update 7/16- After extensive treatments, doing okay! Posts: 2518 | From USA | Registered: Nov 2011
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tricia386
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posted
I just got some alkezeter gold drinking lots of lemon water will tak bath later.
Cold be a herx after only 4 days at 250 mgs?? I do have a high Bart load. Just worried its noT a herx.
How long can a herx last??
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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Did you get a booklet with your prescription? It was more like a 2 page letter, if you say warning patients of the tendon issues that levaquin can cause.
Went into very deep detail about what happens. Try looking on the lavaquin website (if there is one, sure there is) and see what they are saying may happen.
-------------------- 7/09- WB IGG Neg all bands -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41. Treated w/ 21 days of Doxy. 10/09- WB IGG Pos bands 41 & 58 -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41. 04/11- WB IGG Pos band 66 -WB IGM Pos bands 23 & 41 Pos EBV. Posts: 121 | From Western PA | Registered: Oct 2009
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tricia386
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posted
I did get the booklet, this drug is so scary. Wish I never took it so scared
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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tricia386
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Member # 29623
posted
The alkezher didn't really help does this mean it's no a herx??
Am I freaking out for no reason
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
Can someone explain more about alka-seltzer gold and what that's supposed to do?
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tricia386
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Member # 29623
posted
How long should a herx last?
I'm so worried I have a bad feeling that I've been floxed.
I'll update tom on symptoms please pray for me
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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posted
a day, a week, a month, a few months, a year
ya never know
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96239 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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tricia386
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Member # 29623
posted
I'm never taking this drug again.
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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lyme in Putnam
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Trish, you'll be ok. I feel this way on the rifampin but i wasn't good before then. I can't do. you'll be ok.
-------------------- He took u to it, He'll you through Posts: 2837 | From NE. | Registered: Apr 2007
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tricia386
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posted
So Update. My legs seem to be doing alittle better today. Not much but a little.
I am still having so much stiffness and weakness in my arms and wrists and fingers. It hard for me to hold bags and such and it spreads to my shoulders.
I have alot of pain in my arch and around my foot and in my shins. everything is cracking and poping.
Ugh I hope this passes. getting alittle concerned my last dose of Levaquin was on Thursday I took 250mgs for 4 days! I really hoope its a herx I am so much worse off then b4 I took levaquin.
I really hope i didnt get posioned.
-------------------- Lyme activated in April 2010 by gardasil vaccine. DX: Lyme,Babs,Myco,Bart 11/10 Treatment Started: 3/28/11 Posts: 1752 | From Albany, NY | Registered: Dec 2010
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