A few months agao I tried Levaquin for about 5 weeks in order to treat my longstanding Bartonella and my LLMD took me off because I had some tendon pain. We decided to try again because aside from the tendon pain this is the only antibiotic that has helped and I didn't seem to expereince any other side effects. So, now I've been back on for 8 days and by day 3 I started to feel pretty tired and sort of "flu-ish" but I'm not getting the flu and a definite increase in ear-rining (which I also already had). These can be a normal Lyme symptoms for me so it's hard to differentiate LYme from drug side effects. I continue to be tired - I'm not sure if it's getting worse or staying the same but it's definately not getting better. I'll call my doctor today to see what he thinks but I'm wondering of others experiences? Please no horror stories about Levaquin - I've heard them all and I don't want to scare myself because it has helped in the past - I just want some thoughts from you guys on what I might do. Thanks, Nicole
Posts: 90 | From massachusetts | Registered: Aug 2006
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My wife was treated with 500mG Levaquin for one month in July 2003 for Bartonella. She experience a very severe Herxheimer like reaction, she was bedridden, feverish, unable to walk, very strong flu-like symptoms, misery. Near the end of the one month period, tendonitis pain begain to appear. She voiced her concerns to LLMD #1. He got cold feet and stopped therapy.
During the following weeks she improved greatly and we thought finally we were making progress. (My wife was initially co-infected with Borrelia, Bartonella, Erlichia, Mycoplasma, and Babesia.) Slowly but surely the Bartonella like symptoms returned. I fired LLMD #1 not too long after that.
30 months later, Jan 2007, LLMD #2 treated my wife with Levaquin, once again, for one month. By this time she was suffering major, full body muscle spasms from the Bartonella, and she was visiting the ER often for I.V. valium to calm the spasms down.
2 1/2 years had passed, several tens of thousands of out of pocket dollars had been spent, and the under-treated Bartonella has restablished itself worse than ever.
In any case the Levaquin caused the very same severe Herxiemer like reaction along with same significant improvement therafter, and of course the same tendonitis pain. LLMD #2 also got cold feet and stopped therapy. LLMD #2 substituted Ciproflaxcin with no result and then Rifampin also with no effect.
I then wrote a letter to LLMD#2 and told her to get her act together and give my wife the Levaquin which worked so well 2 out of 2 times that my wife was on it. I told her what doseage to prescribe, what frequency, and for how long. In our case it was 250mG per day, 4 days per week, 3 days per week no medication, then restart the following week the same routine. Continue for three weeks in a row then stop all Levaquin during week #4, then start back up again at week #5 during month number 2, and so on. Following this schedule we were able to hold off the tendonitis pain onset for 9 weeks at which time we stopped all of the Levaquin. For those 9 weeks it was hell for us because the herxhiemer like reactions were frightening.
However, my long suffering wife is now cured of Bartonella. LLMD #2 does not like me because I told her what to do, but she enjoys cashing my checks. My wife is cured of Babesia, Erlichia, Mycoplasma, and Bartonella. We are now working on Borrelia.
Lessons learned: #1 don't complain too much about therapy side effects otherwise the doctor will cut you off from one of the few medications that really works. Use your own judgement; i.e. cut back or temporarily stop therapy to allow recovery. Then restart until the pathogen is dead. Levaquin is toxic but if it was not toxic to you then it would not be toxic to "it". You are not going to kill tick borne diseases with bubblegum flavored antibiotics. #2 If you are cash paying customer don't be afraid to tell the LLMD what needs to be done in your specific case.
The LLMD is a tool that you yourself must manipulate to get the job of regaining your health back.
Godspeed.
Posts: 45 | From upstate NY | Registered: Sep 2007
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Pocono Lyme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5939
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Hi Nicole,
I started Levaquin 13 days ago and started with that flu like feeling at about day 10. Then came the crushing fatigue. Couldn't do much of anything.
I also had the ear noise then ear pain. Right side only. Most of my symptoms have been primarily right sided.
At the same time it feels as if things are beginning to "unblock". The flu like feeling only lasted a couple of days, the fatigue is better today, ear pain eased.
I haven't had the flu like feeling since doing Rifampin last year. I take this as a good thing as it Does feel like it's hitting right where I need it to.
I'm hopeful. wishing you good results with this.
-------------------- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11
9 But he said to me, �My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.� Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ�s power may rest on me. Posts: 1445 | From Poconos, PA | Registered: Jul 2004
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
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I felt bad and fluish/Lymie for the first six weeks on the Levaquin. After that I made great strides with the drug. I was on it for 3 months and just today am switching over to Rifampin.
I would hang in there unless you start getting tendon pain.
Keep up with detox so you can get through the herx better .... but it sounds just like my experience, which lasted six weeks.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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savebabe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9847
posted
I have been on levaquin for about 2 weeks now and I feel fatigued and toxic as well.
I use burbur, parsley and glutathione to reduce the horrible herx reactions.
Posts: 1603 | From ny | Registered: Aug 2006
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No intention to remind of horror stories but to have taken levaquin without much side effects in the past does not guarantee that the next time the cumulative toxicity will not reach the hell-broken-loose level. Tendon pain is one of the least serious side effects of levaquin. Tinnitus (ear ringing) is a sign of central nervous system toxicity. Feeling flu-ish is also a warning symptom of mounting toxicity. Fortunately some people here have taken it and have not experienced debilitating toxic effects neither during the treatment, nor some months after as it happens to other persons.
Posts: 94 | From canada | Registered: Nov 2006
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