lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
We are all aware of the dangers emerging of the quinolones, some of us are afraid to use them and are trying to avoid them. One of my LLMD's told me "floxing" is extremely rare, the drug does more good than harm. Both LLMD's I see will and do prescribe them. Burrascano in a video at a conference, says Levaquin has cured some of his patients.
I have taken Cipro pre-lyme w/o any adverse effect. However, according to this site ( http://www.fluoroquinolones.org/ ) we all have a "threshold" after we reach it we could be "floxed".
At medications.com Levaquin is listed second as the most reported drug w/ side effects, you can check any drug side effects posted by actual users of the meds here: http://www.medications.com/drugs
The truth is EVERY abx has some (serious) adverse effects that could occur, Flagyl is one of the worst. If we avoid these drugs,is it possible for some of us to get well?
SO....
Lets get some experienced FACTS from users of the quinolones, that will help all of us see if more people are helped or hurt by this class of drugs.
Copy and paste if you'd like to your post:
1). Have you used a quinolone? 2). Any good or adverse effects? 3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting? 4). What lenght of time were you on them? 5) Would you use them again? 6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
1). Have you used a quinolone?
Yes, Levaquin for a few months for Lyme/Bart, Cipro a few times for UTIs
2). Any good or adverse effects?
Major improvements on Levaquin. No adverse effects.
3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting?
I back tracked, but am still better than before I used the Levaquin. But I have other issues, such as mercury toxicity that need to be dealt with and I have liver/pancreas problems that were probably caused by Ketek (the abx I took after Levaquin) that have slowed my treatment.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
I think 3 months. Cipro has been 3-8 days a time.
5) Would you use them again?
Yes
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
No, I don't take anti-inflammatories.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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2. Any good or adverse effects? Helped put a stop to new pains in body. At this time do not have a positive answers to effects, will have a better idea as time goes on.
3. Were the effects good or bad long lasting?
I believe the effects where good and as stated it has put a stop to the pains that where increasing thru-out my body and no new ones have developed. As of now they are good long lasting effects,
4. What lenght of time were you on them?
4 months at 2 aday, 500mg 2 months at 1 aday 250mg Had a one month break as I was concerend about tendon pain thats when it was adjusted to 250mg. Not on cipro at present
5. Would you use them again? Yes
6. Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if use w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen-if you used this drug did you take it with an antu-inflammatory and was there any adverse effect? No
Posts: 108 | From maryland | Registered: Sep 2007
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Levaquin. In Oct 2007 5 weeks, developed Achilles pain (tendonitis), then retried in Dec 2007 for 3 weeks. While on it the second time I developed severe ear ringing, headaches, and eventual knee pain.
2). Any good or adverse effects?
Some of my Bartonella symptoms did resolve so it definitely works in some ways. However, I think I was floxed. About 3 weeks after having stopped it for the second time I developed severe insomnia along with the ear ringing that has never gone away (very severe ear ringing) and other CNS stuff (headaches, adrenaline rushes, CNS agitation)
3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting?
Because I am so distracted by the floxing it is hard to determine what is Lyme and what is from the levaquin. I don't know if the floxing is long lasting, but I certainly hope noe.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
Total of 8 weeks
5) Would you use them again?
Every individual responds differently to all meds so if you have not used Levaquin (or another Quinolone) and you have resistant Bartonella than you should consider trying it. Personally, I wish I had not tried it but I have been in treatment for over 2 years and had resisted using Levaquin because of the possible ``floxing'' effect. However, nothing was working so I became desperate and desperate times call for desperate measures. Though I wish I had made a different decision, given my options I don't think I could have - if that makes sense. I want to get better so I will do all I can, conventional and alternative, to try to do so. There have been so many folks who have had great experiences with Quinlones so you just never know.
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
I used Advil a few times while on Levaquin but I have no way of knowing if that added to the floxing. As an aside, if anyone who reads this and has been floxed, if you have some positive experiences (recovery) to share that would help as I need some positive thoughts!
Posts: 90 | From massachusetts | Registered: Aug 2006
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I got a bad headache at first, and it slowly went down, I thought the headache was from the bugs, I found out recently Have babs too. I have weird pains, but I had them before I took the levaquine. I stopped for 1 week after 4 weeks and my hand and foot pains are back, so trying another month, maybe.
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lymebytes
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11830
posted
Thank you for responses, interesting and informative for all of us.
I read at the quinolone site that it is possible symptoms of floxing can takee 5-6 years to resolve.
Scottie, lets hope that these are lyme symptoms and will disappear w/treatment. Other options for bart/ehrlichia are Doxy, mino and/or Rifampin.
Yes. Cipro for 21 days, and Levaquin for 12 weeks.
2). Any good or adverse effects?
Felt immensely better on both.
3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting?
I was taking Cipro for another infection, felt bad at first, then felt great. Once I stopped it, I got worse again.
So we started Levaquin and after six weeks progressively got better until I felt fine. Now I'm weaning off all meds.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
Cipro 21 days, Levaquin 12 weeks.
5) Would you use them again?
Yes.
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
Yes, I did use anti-inflammatories as needed.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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I was given Levaquin after an appendectomy for an infected incision site.
2). Any good or adverse effects?
Had to stop taking it because the tendons in my thighs and calves felt like they were about to explode; I also felt agitated and anxious.
3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting?
The bad effect of the tendons took 2 1/2 months to resolve after stopping abx.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
Only on Levaquin for 8 days when the tendon stuff started. Stopped immediately and switched to Keflex.
5) Would you use them again?
No. I'm pretty apprehensive about adding tendon ruptures to my laundry list of complaints!
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
never used it with an ant-inflammatory.
C'est tout,
wiserforit
Posts: 508 | From Banks of the Hudson | Registered: Jul 2006
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I had no problems taking Cipro. I got floxed with only one 500mg Levaquin pill and without a doubt, thought I was going to die for months.
3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting?
Extremely bad for 6 months, bad after another 6 months, and 75% improved after another 6 months. I'm still concerned I may have some permanent damage, but only time will tell now.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
I took Cipro many years ago for a number of months. I took only one 500mg Levaquin pill in August of 2006. Apparently, I had already reached my threshold and didn't know it, until I took it.
5) Would you use them again?
No. I would rather die, because honestly, that's how horrible being floxed is. You can't possibly even imagine what it feels like, until it happens to you.
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
No.
I hope this helps you!
Love, Light, & Health, Jennie
-------------------- My Lyme dx:11/05. My Mom's Lyme dx:5/16. ISO ASAP-Lyme Literate Dr & Neurologist-Prefer IL, IN, KY, MO, OH, TN. Can travel farther. Finances limited. Prefer Drs take Medicare or Payments. Need great list to find best fit. Tyvm. Posts: 701 | From Owensboro, KY | Registered: Sep 2005
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See the side effects list, I got more than half of them, mainly cns/pns symptoms. Still very sick after 2 years.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
1 day.
5) Would you use them again?
NEVER.
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
-------------------- Please dont suggest "ask your LLMD" because we dont have them here in this country... I just have to count on you fellow patients. Posts: 246 | From Finland | Registered: Dec 2006
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First time thought he was herxing because there was no much tendon pain, and he thought that tendon pain was the symptom of quinolone toxicity to watch for. We also thought that the symptoms were lyme symptoms because some of them were present before the antibiotic. Second time brutal "herxing", that in fact was a floxing, and most developed along the months after ending the treatment.
3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting?
First time one and a half years. Second time seven years and counting.
4). What lenght of time were you on them?
BIL was on them 4 weeks first time and 2 weeks the second one.
5) Would you use them again?
He cannot take any quinolone at all, not even the relatively small amounts that most meat, commercially raised fish and dairy contain.
6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
There is not a supposition, but a fact. Combined with anti-inflammatories the adverse effects are stronger. BIL did not take any NSAIDS, but know of many people that did, and some got very long lasting brain damage (6, 7 or 8 years, and still not well), and two committed suicide due to the severe anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts caused by the levaquin.
He had taken cipro several times before, but apparently the drug was building up in him over the years. The summary is also <>
Posts: 94 | From canada | Registered: Nov 2006
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CD57
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11749
posted
Good poll, Lymebytes. Interesting responses.
Has anyone used Avelox? That's the newer generation Levaquin that's not supposed to be as bad.
Posts: 3528 | From US | Registered: Apr 2007
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heiwalove
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6467
posted
wow. i know some people have remarkably positive responses to cipro and levaquin but reading this poll there's no way on earth i'd take either one of them, ever.
posted
). Have you used a quinolone? 2). Any good or adverse effects? 3). Were the effects (good or bad) long lasting? 4). What lenght of time were you on them? 5) Would you use them again? 6) Quinolones are more dangerous (supposidly) if used w/anti inflammatory such as Ibuprofen -if you used this drug did you take it with an anti inflammatory and was there any adverse effect?
1. My 9 year old (at the time) daughter did-Cipro. 2. Cipro assisted in clearing a strange osteomyelitis and was chosen after she had renal failure from initial treatment of IV gent and ceftriaxone. 3.The ID people cautioned us that the infection might never resolve. In fact, it was totally cleared up. 4. She was on it for 305 days (ignorance is bliss-I was warned about the tendons but who knew about floxing?) 5. Based on HER experience, I'd try them if my LLMD wanted me to. Fortunately, he doesn't!I do need to remind her to remember this issue for the rest of her life, though. She was on it a LONG time. 6. Noone told us this. Thankfully she was pretty much out of pain after the surgery and IVs so I doubt she took anything.
Posts: 520 | From Maryland | Registered: Jan 2007
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